Here's a breakdown:
Open vowels:
* Mouth position: The mouth is relatively open, with the tongue positioned low in the mouth.
* Sound: These vowels tend to be more resonant and "open" sounding. Think of the vowel sound in "father" or "hot."
* Examples: The vowels in "father," "hot," "cat," and "dog" are considered open vowels.
Closed vowels:
* Mouth position: The mouth is more closed, with the tongue positioned higher in the mouth.
* Sound: These vowels tend to be higher and "closed" sounding. Think of the vowel sound in "beet" or "book."
* Examples: The vowels in "beet," "book," "feet," and "boot" are considered closed vowels.
Important things to remember:
* This is a simplified explanation: There are many variations within these categories, and the precise placement of the tongue and shape of the mouth can vary.
* The term "open" and "closed" can also be used to describe the degree of lip rounding: For example, a rounded vowel, like "oo" in "food," is considered more "closed" than a non-rounded vowel, like "ee" in "see."
In short: "Open" and "closed" are terms used to describe the position of the mouth and tongue when making vowel sounds. Open vowels are made with the mouth more open and the tongue lower, while closed vowels are made with the mouth more closed and the tongue higher.