OUow
OU Diphthong
OU makes the “ow” sound, like in 'out' and 'house'.
How this rule works
OU glides from “ah” into “oo”, which together make the “ow” sound. It usually appears in the middle of a word. OU has several possible sounds, but “ow” is the most common.
Remember: OU — ouch! I'm out of the house!
Examples
Words that use this rule
76 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds.
aboutaloudamountannounceannouncedannouncementbackgroundbouncebouncedboundboundaryboundlesscloudcloudscouchcountcountedcountercounteredcounterfeitingcountingcountlesscrouchdoubtfoulfoundfoundationalfoundinggroundhoundhousehousesloudloudestloudlyloungemountmountainmousemouthnounone thousandounceoustoutoutingoutrageoutsideplaygroundpouchpouncepoundpoutprofoundpronounceproudproudlyroundscoutshoutshoutedshoutingshoutsslouchsnoutsoundsoundssouthsproutstoutsurroundten thousandthousandundergroundwithoutwound
Exceptions
OU also says /uː/ ('soup'), /ʌ/ ('touch'), /oʊ/ ('soul'), and /ɔː/ ('four').
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