Unstressed а and o Compared
The letters а and о sound very similar when unstressed. When а and о are unstressed and are in the initial syllable or in the syllable before the stress they sound like stressed а, but less strong. In other unstressed syllables, they sound like a in above.
азо́т
ао́та апо́стол ваго́н вода́ голова́ колбаса́ кома́нда ко́мната на́ново пода́рак подосно́ва ро́за табаково́да тома́т хао́с |
nitrogen
aorta apostle wagon water head sausage command room anew gift underlying cause rose the tobacco grower’s tomato chaos |