The sound /ʊ/ back, high, lax, rounded vowel
Spelling:
- “oo” – took, good
- “u” – put, bush
- “o” – wolf, woman
- “oul” – would, should
Grammar Tip: The sound /ʊ/ is in several important modal verbs: could, should, would. These modal verbs are special auxiliary verbs that affect the meaning of the verb following the modal.
/ʊ/…/ʊ/…/ʊ/…/ʊ/…
good…put…full…pudding
good…put…full…pudding
COMPARE
Compare /ʊ/ with /uw/:
/ʊ/…/uw/…/ʊ/…/uw/…/ʊ/…/uw/…
These are both high, back, rounded vowels. However, /ʊ/ is a lax vowel and /uw/ is a tense vowel. In order to pronounce /ʊ/, your tongue must be relaxed.
These are both high, back, rounded vowels. However, /ʊ/ is a lax vowel and /uw/ is a tense vowel. In order to pronounce /ʊ/, your tongue must be relaxed.
You can hear the difference between /ʊ/ and /uw/ in these words.
1. A. could, B. cooed
2. A. look, B. Luke
3. A. hood, B. who'd
4. A. soot, B. suit
5. A. full, B. fool
6. A. pulls, B. pools
2. A. look, B. Luke
3. A. hood, B. who'd
4. A. soot, B. suit
5. A. full, B. fool
6. A. pulls, B. pools
Now compare /ʊ/ with /ʌ/:
/ʊ/…/ʌ/…/ʊ/…/ʌ/…/ʊ/…/ʌ/…
These vowels often have the same spelling in English, and they are both lax vowels. However, /ʊ/ is a high, back, rounded vowel and /ʌ/ is a mid, central, unrounded vowel. When you pronounce /ʊ/, your lips must be rounded.
These vowels often have the same spelling in English, and they are both lax vowels. However, /ʊ/ is a high, back, rounded vowel and /ʌ/ is a mid, central, unrounded vowel. When you pronounce /ʊ/, your lips must be rounded.
You can hear the difference between /ʊ/ and /ʌ/ in these words.
1. A. look, B. luck
2. A. stood, B. stud
3. A. put, B. putt
4. A. roof, B. rough
5. A. shook, B. shuck
6. A. hoofed, B. huffed
2. A. stood, B. stud
3. A. put, B. putt
4. A. roof, B. rough
5. A. shook, B. shuck
6. A. hoofed, B. huffed
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
1. good
2. book
3. foot
4. could
5. push
6. looks
7. dull
8. would
9. cure
10. woman
2. book
3. foot
4. could
5. push
6. looks
7. dull
8. would
9. cure
10. woman
11. sugar
12. pudding
13. bully
14. cushion
15. cooking
16. bullet
17. schoolbook
18. football
19. childhood
20. understood
12. pudding
13. bully
14. cushion
15. cooking
16. bullet
17. schoolbook
18. football
19. childhood
20. understood
Now, practice /ʊ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
1. good – books
Have you read any good books lately?
2. put – sugar – pudding
Where did you put the sugar for the pudding?
3. pushed – bushes
The kids pushed the wagon behind the bushes.
4. should – look – textbook
You should look at the review section of the textbook.
5. sure – understood
I’m not sure I understood you correctly.
6. childhood – full - good
My childhood was full of good experiences.
Have you read any good books lately?
2. put – sugar – pudding
Where did you put the sugar for the pudding?
3. pushed – bushes
The kids pushed the wagon behind the bushes.
4. should – look – textbook
You should look at the review section of the textbook.
5. sure – understood
I’m not sure I understood you correctly.
6. childhood – full - good
My childhood was full of good experiences.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
Consonants /d/ and /g/
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