This video teaches you all about the diphthong /aʊ/, a combination of the vowel sound /a/, open back unrounded vowel and /ʊ/, a near-close back rounded vowel. These two come together and as we glide in one smooth movement from /a/ to /ʊ/ a new sound is created: the long diphthong /aʊ/.
Remember, while single vowel sounds (= monophthongs) are separated into two groups – long and short vowel sounds, all diphthongs are classified as long vowel sounds. Another specific feature is also that there is movement of the articulators (tongue, lips, jaw …) when we form the sound. You will learn how to pronounce the sound and how it is typically spelt. At the end, there is also a short test so you can check how much you have understood.