Vowel

Sounds of American English

Practice Activity: How Do You Move Your Lips?


The shape of your lips is very important when you’re pronouncing vowel sounds.

Rounded Vowels Unrounded Vowels Mixed Vowels
When we say these vowel When we say these vowel When we say this sound, our lips
sounds, our lips are rounded: sounds, our lips are not rounded: start out rounded and then
become unrounded:
/uw/ as in food /iy/ as in meet /oy/ as in boy
/ʊ/ as in good /ɪ/ as in hit
/ow/ as in coat /ey/ as in main When we say one sound, our lips
/ɔ/ as in bought /ɛ/ as in red start out unrounded and then
/æ/ as in cat become rounded:
/ʌ/ and /ə/ as in above /aw/ as in cow

v Pronunciation hint: : To make sure your lips are round enough for sounds
like /uw/ and the last part of /ow/ or /aw/, put the end of a drinking straw in
your mouth and shape your lips around it.

v For /ʊ/, use a larger straw to make your lips a little less rounded.


v What shape are your lips when you say the vowel sounds in these words?
1. suit □ very round □ a little round □ not round □ open wide
2. week □ very round □ a little round □ not round □ open wide
3. park □ very round □ a little round □ not round □ open wide
4. cow □ very round at the end □ not round at the end □ open wide at the end
5. corn □ very round □ a little round □ not round □ open wide


v Practice reading this story. Notice the shape of your mouth when you say the vowel sounds.
Peter wanted to try cooking something new. He was tired of eating just sandwiches, so he
decided to learn to make pizza. He looked online and found a recipe called “Super Simple
Cheese Pizza.” That sounded good.
He went to the supermarket, bought the ingredients, and brought them home. Things didn’t
go as well as he’d hoped. The crust was lumpy, the sauce was too salty, and he cut his finger
while he was grating the cheese.
He put the pizza in the oven, but then he forgot about it and the pizza burned. Finally, Peter
gave up and went to Patty’s Pizza Emporium for dinner.