42 Broad A Words for Speech Therapy

This list has 42 Broad A words for speech therapy: 14 with the broad A sound at the beginning, 14 in the middle, and 14 at the end. Use them for practice at home or in the clinic, and expect most children to master the broad A sound by age 3.

Example Broad A words: on, are, aren, honor, army (beginning); don, was, not, got, want (middle); ma, ya, ha, la, grandma (end).

Total words:42
Initial:14
Medial:14
Final:14

Initial Broad A Words (14)

Words with the broad A sound at the beginning of words. 14 words for speech therapy practice.

onarearenhonorarmyhonestartarmawfulobviouslyarmsoperationopportunityonto
View initial position practice tips

Medial Broad A Words (14)

Words with the broad A sound in the middle of words. 14 words for speech therapy practice.

donwasnotgotwantgonnasorrygodstoplotgottawannamomjob
View medial position practice tips

Final Broad A Words (14)

Words with the broad A sound at the end of words. 14 words for speech therapy practice.

mayahalagrandmagrandpanahpadaafricarawjaahayah
View final position practice tips

About the Broad A Sound

Background information to help you support your child's speech development.

The open "ah" vowel in father, hot, stop and car. The mouth is wide open and the tongue sits low and back. In General American this is also the vowel of "cot" — most American speakers use it for words British speakers say with a rounded vowel.

Most children master the broad A sound by age 3. Vowels come in earlier than most consonants: children generally have their full vowel system before the late-developing consonants such as /R/, /S/ and /TH/. Vowel errors are far less common than consonant errors, so one that is still there in a school-age child is worth raising with a speech-language pathologist.

How to Practice Broad A Words at Home

Evidence-based strategies for getting the most out of word list practice.

1

Start with just 5 words at a time. Short, focused practice sessions (5-10 minutes) are more effective than long ones.

2

Say each word slowly and clearly so your child can hear the broad A sound. Exaggerate the sound slightly.

3

Practice words in all three positions (initial, medial, final) but focus on whichever position your child finds easiest first.

4

Once individual words are easy, combine them into short phrases and sentences for carryover practice.

5

Use a mirror during practice so your child can see their mouth movements and compare them to yours.

6

Keep it fun — turn the word list into a game, use stickers as rewards, or practice during everyday activities.

Broad A Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are some Broad A words for speech therapy?
Common broad A words include on, are, aren, honor, army at the beginning of a word, don, was, not, got, want in the middle, and ma, ya, ha, la, grandma at the end of a word. This page lists 42 in total.
How many Broad A words are on this list?
42: 14 initial-position words, 14 medial-position words, and 14 final-position words.
At what age should a child master the Broad A sound?
Most children master the broad A sound by age 3. Vowels come in earlier than most consonants: children generally have their full vowel system before the late-developing consonants such as /R/, /S/ and /TH/. Vowel errors are far less common than consonant errors, so one that is still there in a school-age child is worth raising with a speech-language pathologist.
How do you make the Broad A sound?
This is the sound a doctor asks for with "say aaah", which makes it easy to elicit. Keep the lips relaxed and unrounded; adding lip rounding turns it into the "aw" vowel.
What are common Broad A sound errors?
The most common broad A errors are: Substituting the AW sound (AW as in saw) for the broad A sound.; Substituting the short A sound (Short A as in cat) for the broad A sound..

More Broad A Sound Resources

Explore our complete guide, position-specific lists, and interactive games for the broad A sound.

Broad A Sound Guide

How to make it, common errors, tips, and FAQ

Initial Broad A Words

14 words with practice tips and sentences

Medial Broad A Words

14 words with practice tips and sentences

Final Broad A Words

14 words with practice tips and sentences

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each speech sound should appear

All Speech Therapy Word Lists

Word lists for every sound we cover

Speech Therapy Activities

Ways to practice Broad A words beyond the list

Practice with Games

Interactive games and practice tools for the broad A sound

Practice Broad A Words with Interactive Games

Turn this word list into fun practice sessions with pronunciation games, stories, and flashcards targeting the broad A sound.

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