START
/ɑː/
Tips
In the US, they smile; in the UK, we don’t.
Tongue. Back, down, open.
Lips. Relaxed, open and unrounded.
Examples
car
park
father
ask
Watch for
- Make it long and back: say heart /hɑːt/, not /hʌt/.
- No R: say car /kɑː/, not /kar/.
- /h/ is soft breath, not Russian х: say heart /hɑːt/, not /xɑːt/.