OW, as in cow or as in snow

1. 1
   cow/kaʊ/

   noun

   A female farm animal kept for milk.
2. 2
   crowd/kraʊd/

   noun

   A large number of people together.
3. 3
   flower/ˈflaʊər/

   noun

   The colorful part of a plant that blooms.
4. 4
   allow/əˈlaʊ/

   verb

   To let someone do something.
5. 5
   now/naʊ/

   adverb

   At this moment.
6. 6
   row/roʊ/

   noun

   A line of people or things side by side.
7. 7
   know/noʊ/

   verb

   To have a fact in your head and be sure of it.
8. 8
   grow/ɡroʊ/

   verb

   To get bigger naturally, like a plant.
9. 9
   below/bɪˈloʊ/iAlso said biːˈloʊ.

   adverb

   In a lower place.
10. 10
    slow/sloʊ/

    adjective

    Not moving quickly.

The sentences

1. The cow in that field looks hungry today.

2. The crowd was too loud to hear you.

3. What's the name of this flower by the door?

4. Do they allow dogs inside the restaurant?

5. Can we leave now, or should we wait?

6. Let's sit in the back row tonight.

7. I don't know where the station is.

8. These tomatoes grow best in full sun.

9. Read the notes below before you sign.

10. The train is slow, so we'll be late.

Pronunciation

• flower/ˈflaʊər/

  Say it in two beats, rhyming with power, not like the word flow.

• allow/əˈlaʊ/

  The second part rhymes with cow, not with low.

• row/roʊ/

  In this sense it rhymes with snow; the row that means a fight rhymes with cow.

• know/noʊ/

  The k is silent, so it comes out exactly like "no".

Good to know

tipping

In restaurants, people usually tip between 15 and 20 percent of the bill before tax. It is not included automatically, so you add it yourself when you pay.

small talk

Strangers often exchange a quick "how are you" or comment on the weather before getting to business. A short, friendly answer is expected, not a real update on your day.

tap water

Asking for tap water at a restaurant is normal and it comes free. If you want bottled water, ask for it by name.

personal space

People usually stand a little farther apart when talking than in many other countries. Getting too close can feel uncomfortable to a local.

Questions

How do you say know out loud?

The k is silent, so know comes out exactly like "no".

Does flower rhyme with flow?

No. Say flower in two beats, rhyming with power, not like the word flow.

Why do cow and row sound different?

The letters ow can stand for two different sounds in English: cow, crowd and allow rhyme with each other, while row, know, grow, below and slow rhyme with a different sound, snow.