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In American English the /ɔ/ sound as in caught and all is very similar to the /ɑ/ sound as in want or hot. In fact, these two sounds, /ɔ/ and /ɑ/, are so similar in many parts of the United States, that some language experts even claim that they are the same sound. So, while going through these lessons, if you are not able to clearly distinguish between these two vowels, don’t worry about it; neither can many native speakers of American English.
Warning: Common Mistake
If you studied English outside of the United States, you might have learned British pronunciation. The vowel sound that is most noticeably different between British and American English is the /ɔ/. In British English, this sound is much more rounded, almost like the /oʊ/. The words “coat” and “caught” sound similar in British English but as you have learned, they are very different in American English. Let’s practice pronouncing the differences between these two sounds /ɔ/ and /oʊ/.
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