English pronunciation: Diphthongs - /aʊ/

Sample pronunciation audio

Start with one sample audio file for diphthongs - /aʊ/.

Quick tip

Diphthongs glide from one vowel position to another in a single syllable.

Letters and IPA

Practice words

• now

• how

• down

• town

• brown

Minimal pairs

• now / no
• how / hoe
• down / dawn
• town / tone
• brown / bran

How to produce this sound

Start with your mouth open as for 'a' in 'cat', then quickly move to a rounded lip position as in 'oo' in 'food'.

Common mix-ups

• now / no
• down / dawn
• how / hoe
• town / tone
• brown / bran

Closest comparison

now, how, down, town, brown