ou/ow diphth

Rule Core

The digraphs ou/ow commonly represent the diphthong /aʊ/, a smooth glide from an open /a/ to a rounded /ʊ/. This occurs most often in stressed syllables, as in out, town, devour. Note that ou can also spell /oʊ/ in limited lexical sets (e.g., soul), which must be memorized.

Articulation Guide

Begin with a low, open jaw and relaxed lips. As the sound progresses, raise the tongue slightly and round the lips. Airflow remains steady; the key is a clear vowel glide, not two separate sounds.

Word Analysis

devour: de-vour. Primary stress falls on the second syllable. The ou spells /aʊ/, requiring a wide opening before lip rounding. Avoid substituting /oʊ/.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Do not confuse ou/ow = /aʊ/ with oa/ow = /oʊ/. Watch for exceptions in unstressed syllables and loanwords where ou follows different phonotactic patterns.