The correct pronunciation of “our” in English depends on the word’s placement within a sentence. When “our” is used as a possessive pronoun (e.g., “This is our house”), it is typically pronounced with a long “ow” sound, similar to the word “cow.” In contrast, when “our” is used as an object pronoun (e.g., “The teacher gave us a test”), it is typically pronounced with a short “u” sound, as in the word “bus.” It’s important to note that regional variations may exist, and some speakers may pronounce “our” differently depending on their dialect or accent.
The distinction between the long and short pronunciations of “our” helps to clarify meaning and avoid confusion in spoken language. The possessive pronoun “our” indicates ownership or belonging, while the object pronoun “us” indicates that something is being done to or for a group of people that includes the speaker.