oa
Vowel teams
The oa sound in English: /oʊ/
IPA: /oʊ/ · Closest Arabic sound: اسم الحرف O (أو)
How to say it
The oa sound explained
oa says 'oh' like the name of the letter O: boat, goat, coat.
Vowel teams: Two vowels together make one long sound, such as ee, ai and oa.
With audio and meaning
Words with oa
Tap a word to hear it and repeat it with your child
Tip for parents and teachers
The goat in the boat wears a coat: a silly sentence to fix oa.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pronounce oa in English?
oa says 'oh' like the name of the letter O: boat, goat, coat. The sound is /oʊ/, closest to the Arabic اسم الحرف O.
Which words have oa?
Boat (قارب), Goat (ماعز), Coat (معطف), Road (طريق), Soap (صابون), Toast (خبز محمّص).
What is the difference between a digraph and a blend?
In a digraph (like sh and ch) the two letters make one new sound; in a blend (like st and bl) each letter keeps its own sound and they are said quickly one after the other.
Vowel teams