Learn How to Pronounce bow
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How to pronounce:
bow
Definition:
(nou) a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces (nou) a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments (nou) front part of a vessel or aircraft (nou) a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow (nou) something curved in shape (nou) bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting (nou) an appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience (nou) a decorative interlacing of ribbons (nou) a stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments
Phonetic Transcription:
baʊ
Examples:
The composite bow was adopted because of the limitations of the simple bow.
Bend the knees and bow the legs.
She strung a bow and shot.
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Common mistakes of bow pronunciation
- Mispronouncing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "bow" as /boʊ/ (US) or /bəʊ/ (UK) with a short vowel sound. Tip: Focus on elongating the vowel to match the correct sound.
- Confusing with "bough": The word "bow" can be confused with "bough," which has a different meaning and pronunciation. "Bough" is pronounced /baʊ/. Tip: Remember that "bow" has a long "o" sound.
- Incorrect stress placement: Some may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "bow" as /ˈbaʊ/. Tip: Ensure the word is pronounced with a single syllable and proper vowel length.
- Blending with other words: Learners sometimes blend "bow" with surrounding words, making it sound unclear. Tip: Practice saying "bow" clearly in isolation before using it in sentences.
- Misunderstanding the context: "Bow" can refer to the front of a ship or a gesture of bending. Some may mispronounce it based on context. Tip: Clarify the meaning in context to reinforce the correct pronunciation.