6 Rule 1: the vowels o and a
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In Russian, the vowels о and a are pronounced as о and a only when they are stressed. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Listen as your instructor reads these words aloud and repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson.
торт вино́ лимо́н патрио́т бюро́ сорт но́рма жарго́н Во́лга кино́ зо́на метро́ кио́ск ко́фе но́мер -
In Russian, the vowels о and a are pronounced as о and a only when they are stressed. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Listen as your instructor reads these words aloud and repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson. Now listen and repeat:
Москва́ конце́рт кана́л ава́нс поэ́т коме́та Кана́да абсу́рд рома́н газе́та Пентаго́н ао́рта хокке́й бале́т диплома́т орке́стр проте́ст туале́т аэропо́рт океа́н Толсто́й бана́н агроно́м оме́га -
In all other unstressed syllables both vowels о and а are pronounced like the short, indistinct "a" in tuna. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Now listen and repeat:
па́спорт ма́ска тра́ктор га́мма а́том да́ча до́ктор самова́р фо́то стадио́н э́кспорт Дина́мо Ло́ндон молоко́ хро́ника ка́ша кли́мат маши́на