42 OW Words for Speech Therapy

This list has 42 OW words for speech therapy: 14 with the OW 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 OW sound by age 3.

Example OW words: out, hours, ourselves, ours, outfit (beginning); about, down, found, without, town (middle); now, how, wow, somehow, allow (end).

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

Initial OW Words (14)

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

outhoursourselvesoursoutfitouchoutrageousoutfitsoutcomeoutrageoutlookoutdooroutliveouthouse
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Medial OW Words (14)

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

aboutdownfoundwithouttownsoundspowersoundcountproudgroundthousandrounddoubt
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Final OW Words (14)

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

nowhowwowsomehowallowthoubowanyhowchowvowciaomeowluausouthpaw
View final position practice tips

About the OW Sound

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

The "ow" in cow, house, out and down. The mouth starts wide open in an "ah" and glides back and up toward the long OO, so the lips round as the sound finishes.

Most children master the OW 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 OW 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 OW 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.

OW Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are some OW words for speech therapy?
Common OW words include out, hours, ourselves, ours, outfit at the beginning of a word, about, down, found, without, town in the middle, and now, how, wow, somehow, allow at the end of a word. This page lists 42 in total.
How many OW 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 OW sound?
Most children master the OW 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 OW sound?
Cue it as the "ouch" sound. The lips should start relaxed and end rounded — if they never round, it flattens into a plain "ah".
What are common OW sound errors?
The most common OW errors are: Substituting the broad A sound (Broad A as in father) for the OW sound.; Substituting the AW sound (AW as in saw) for the OW sound..

More OW Sound Resources

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

OW Sound Guide

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

Initial OW Words

14 words with practice tips and sentences

Medial OW Words

14 words with practice tips and sentences

Final OW 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 OW words beyond the list

Practice with Games

Interactive games and practice tools for the OW sound

Practice OW Words with Interactive Games

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

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