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How to Pronounce “Go” /ɡoʊ/ — IPA, Audio, and Syllables

Pronunciation of “Go” at a Glance

Go /ɡoʊ/
1 syllable Stress on first syllable A1
GO

To move or travel from one place to a different place; to depart or leave a location.

In IPA, "go" is written /ɡoʊ/. It has 1 syllable, with the primary stress falling on the first syllable.

How Many Syllables in “Go”?

"go" has 1 syllable: go. The first syllable, "go", carries the main stress when you say the word out loud.

Syllable 1
GO
Hear the whole word:

How to Say Each Syllable of “Go”

Pronouncing "go" cleanly comes down to nailing each syllable on its own before putting them back together. Here is what your mouth, tongue, and lips do for each part.

Syllable 1: GO /ɡoʊ/

Diphthong /oʊ/ as in "go" — glide from /o/ toward /ʊ/.

Speak this syllable a little louder, longer, and at a higher pitch — that is what English speakers hear as "stress".

Once each syllable feels comfortable, blend them at a slow pace ("go") and gradually speed up to natural speech.

How to Practice Saying “Go”

Practice tip for "go"

Pronounced like 'goh'; rhymes with 'know', 'slow', and 'show'.

Click the button, say the word out loud, and the page will score how close you are to the correct pronunciation.

Hear “Go” in Real Sentences

The fastest way to internalise a new pronunciation is to hear it inside natural sentences, where rhythm, linking, and stress all interact. Tap any sentence below to hear it spoken aloud.

  1. 1 A1 daily

    I go to work every morning at eight o'clock.

  2. 2 A1 conversation

    Where are you going this afternoon?

  3. 3 A1 written

    They have gone to the store to buy groceries.

Practice tip: shadow each sentence — play it, immediately repeat it out loud, then play it again to compare. Three rounds is usually enough to lock in the rhythm.

Words That Sound Like “Go”

Looking for words that rhyme with "go"? The full rhyming dictionary entry has perfect rhymes, near-rhymes, and rhyming phrases for songwriting and pronunciation practice.

See the full list of words that rhyme with "go" →

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Pronounce “Go”

How do you pronounce "go"?

"Go" is pronounced /ɡoʊ/. Pronounced like 'goh'; rhymes with 'know', 'slow', and 'show'.

How many syllables does "go" have?

"go" has 1 syllables: go.

Which syllable is stressed in "go"?

The first syllable, "go", is stressed in "go". The full stress pattern is O — primary stress on "go", and the remaining syllables are unstressed.

Is "go" pronounced the same in American and British English?

"go" is pronounced essentially the same way in American and British English: /ɡoʊ/.

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