Oa

ɔː

boar /bɔːr/

əʊ

goat /gəʊt/

The sequence "oa" has two pronunciations in English: /əʊ/ as in "boat" and /ɔː/ as in "boar".

Followed by "r" the sound is always /ɔːr/ (in Received Pronunciation "r" is silent unless it’s followed by a vowel).

Examples

• as /əʊ/: approach, boat, coach, coal, coat, coast, float, foam, goal, goat, load, loan, oats, road, roast, throat, toast

at the end of the word: cocoa

• as /ɔː/: abroad, broad

Followed by "r": boar, board, coarse, hoard, oar, roar, soar;

Different syllables

• /əʊ.ə/: boa, coalition, coalesce, Noah, protozoan, psychoanalysis
• /əʊ.ɑː/: coati, koala
• /əʊ.æ/: coagulate, proactive, radioactive
• /əʊ.eɪ/: oasis

Other

• /wɑː/: quinoa