OLIVE SOCK is a non–moving vowel sound.

  • Open your mouth/drop your jaw for this sound. The mouth is more open for this sound than any other.
  • The lips are relaxed, not rounded.
  • It may feel funny to open your mouth this way. Watch yourself in the mirror as you practice.

ROSE BOAT is a moving vowel sound.

  • The moment happens by rounding your lips away from your teeth like you are speaking the /w/ sound
  • You may have a very similar sound in your first language that is a non-moving vowel sound.

 

OLIVE SOCK

  • Saying a ROSE BOAT sound instead of OLIVE SOCK

ROSE BOAT

  • You probably have a very similar non-moving “o” sound in your first language. The tendency is to use this non-moving sound when you speak English. This makes your ROSE BOAT sound too abrupt, especially in words that end in the ROSE BOAT sound, like “no,” “though” and “go.”

 

OLIVE SOCK:

  • o: not, body, operate, job
  • a: father, watch, water

The letter “O,” standing on it’s own in a syllable without another vowel letter next to it, will usually sound like OLIVE SOCK.

ROSE BOAT:

  • o: no, home only
  • oa: coat, loan, road
  • ow: low, own, window
  • ough: dough, though

OLIVE SOCK & ROSE BOAT Training

The following exercises combine listening, shadowing, and gradually increasing complexity to help you internalize new sounds and rhythm patterns in your spoken English.

Level 1 is available to all visitors. CEA members unlock the complete training.

Goal: Hear and produce each vowel sound clearly in single words.

  • Listen to the minimal pair words. Can you hear the contrast?
  • Say the words with me, keeping each sound clear and distinct.
  • Record yourself saying the pairs. Then listen back—do your OLIVE SOCK and ROSE BOAT vowels sound different?

Mini Challenge: “Flood” the words in each column (say all of one column in a row). Can you keep the vowel sound consistent from top to bottom?

OLIVE SOCK & ROSE BOAT Minimal Pairs

  • ROSE BOAT

  • OLIVE SOCK

  • Play Icon

    hope

  • Play Icon

    hop

  • Play Icon

    wrote

  • Play Icon

    rot

  • Play Icon

    cope

  • Play Icon

    cop

  • Play Icon

    note

  • Play Icon

    not

  • Play Icon

    goat

  • Play Icon

    got

The OLIVE SOCK and ROSE BOAT vowel sounds appear in many common English words. Refining these sounds will make your speech clearer and easier to understand. Below you’ll find a list of 100 OLIVE SOCK and 100 ROSE BOAT words, organized for easy practice.

(Clear English Academy members will also find audio recordings for these words plus guided practice at the phrase, sentence, and conversation level.)

100 Super Common OLIVE SOCK Words

not economy modern honest copy
problem hospital positive calm quantity
water involve shot wash novel
lot top option honor profit
job drop object massage complicate
father upon concept wander ironic
body common conduct (n) qualify deposit
watch hot bottom broth opposite
follow response conflict (n) socks modify
stop stock spot pot optimist
policy beyond block shock drama
process quality closet column pasta
probably box adopt bottle garage
college knowledge collar apologize knock
economic rock confidence obvious bother
possible respond forgot holiday compliment
model popular solid monitor anomaly
project politics progress thermometer moderate (adj)
technology conference product chocolate obstacle
Congress property broccoli doctor document

 

100 Super Common ROSE BOAT Words

go low associate (n) sofa quote
no moment load blow snow
most although soldier clothes motion
so oh owner coast bowl
only local coach below host
those control total throat ocean
over role notice photo row
know whole vote appropriate totally
own hope alone soul sodium
old road global emotional smoke
show phone nobody poll vocal
program wrote joke proposal flow
hold close (n) stone impose opposed
home throw slow code expose
though goal boat protein close (v)
both focus suppose loan lower
almost note soap notion post
social approach explode broken opponent
profile growth coat component exposure
open hello promote zone negotiate

Your next step: Become a CEA member and get...

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Join live monthly sessions where I answer student questions, give pronunciation tips, and offer insight to help you keep growing.

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Frequently Asked Questions.

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