The word "mother" has the vowel sound represented by the letter "o." This sound is the /ʌ/ sound, which is a short, mid-central, and unrounded vowel. In the context of American English and many dialects of British English, this sound can be found in other words as well. Let's break this down:
1. Verb: The word "verb" does not have the /ʌ/ sound. It has a vowel sound similar to /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ in some dialects. Hence, it does not match the sound in "mother."
2. Mercy: The vowel sound in "mercy" is typically pronounced as /ɜː/ or /ɜr/, which differs from the /ʌ/ sound in "mother."
3. About: "About" contains the /ə/ sound, especially in the first syllable, which is closer to a schwa sound. The vowel sounds in "about" do not match the /ʌ/ sound in "mother."
4. Jump: In "jump," the vowel sound is the same /ʌ/ sound as in "mother." It is the same short, mid-central, unrounded vowel.
Therefore, the word "jump" shares the same vowel sound with "mother."