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The IPA sound aʊ is usually written ow or ou in English.

Words where aʊ is written ow

how, now, cow, sow (noun), fowl, vow, brow
flower, power, towel
town, brown, gown
growl, howl, meow (but not sow [verb], low, slow, grow, bowl)

 

Words where aʊ is written ou

out, about, found, sound, noun, count, shout, ouch, scout, trout, announce, doubt
(but not double, trouble)
bough, plough (British spelling, plow in US spelling)
(but not through, thorough, enough, dough, cough, slough)

 

Words with a surprise aʊ sound

sauerkraut, Bauhaus, hausfrau, graupel, Faust
These are a surprise because the English letters au normally make the IPA ɔː sound as in door. For example: caught, cauterise, daughter, haughty, naughty, nautical, taught, taut.

 

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