LISTEN
listen_to_-uh-.mp3
File Size: 272 kb
File Type: mp3
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/ʌ/.../ʌ/.../ʌ/.../ʌ/...
​
cup...must...summer...wa​nted

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /ʌ/ is a mid, central, lax vowel.
  • Your lips should be relaxed, not rounded or spread.
  • Let your tongue rest in the center of your mouth, without touching any part of your mouth.
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate.

Spelling:
  • "u" - cup, dumb
  • "o" - onion, month
  • "ou" - rough, country
  • "oo" - blood, flood
  • "oe" (not common) - does

COMPARE
Compare /ʌ/ with /ɑ/:
compare_uh-ah_1.mp3
File Size: 336 kb
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/ʌ/.../ɑ/.../ʌ/.../ɑ/.../ʌ/.../ɑ/...

These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is a mid vowel, and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ʌ/, your tongue should be in the middle of your mouth and your mouth should not be opened widely.
You can hear the difference between /ʌ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
compare_uh-a_words.mp3
File Size: 380 kb
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1. A. luck, B. lock
2. A. sub, B. sob
3. A. sung, B. song
4. A. fund, B. fond
5. A. buses, B. bosses
6. A. color, B. collar

​Practice recognizing words with /ʌ/ and /ɑ/ by taking the quiz below.

Now, compare /ʌ/ with /ɜr/:
compare_uh-er_1.mp3
File Size: 128 kb
File Type: mp3
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/ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/...

These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is pronounced with a central tongue, while /ɜr/ is pronounced with a slightly higher tongue. Your lips should be slightly rounded when you pronounce /ɜr/, but not when you pronounce /ʌ/.

​You can hear the difference between /ʌ/ and /ɜr/ in these words.
compare_uh-er_words.mp3
File Size: 199 kb
File Type: mp3
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1. A. hut, B. hurt
2. A. fuzz, B. furs
3. A. such, B. search
4. A. ton, B. turn
5. A. huddle, B. hurdle​
6. A. suffer, B. surfer

Practice recognizing words with /ʌ/ and /ɜr/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-uh-.mp3
File Size: 747 kb
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1. up
2. luck
3. cut
4. mud
5. rough
6. must
7. rush
8. come
9. lump
10. drunk
11. butter
12. another
13. above
14. color
15. conduct
16. summer
17. among
18. government
19. wonderful
20. uncomfortable

​Now, practice /ʌ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentence.
sentences_with_-uh-.mp3
File Size: 1293 kb
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1. what - cut - butter
What can I use to cut the butter?
2. does - want – country - customs
Does he want to learn our country’s customs?
3. mother - coming - Sunday
My mother is coming on Sunday.
4. bus - another - one
If we miss the bus, we will wait for another one
5. colors – sunset – wonderful
The colors of the sunset are wonderful.
6. government – budget – summer
​The government will set a budget by this summer.

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

USE IT!
Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.
​
Prepare:
What is the difference between central (national) and local (city or province) government in your country? These are the responsibilities a government may have:
  • Collect taxes
  • Provide guidelines for new industries
  • Conduct elections
  • Punish criminals
  • Conduct foreign affairs
  • Create public schools​
  • Control the money system
  • Set a budget
  • Provide security​
  • Improve infrastructure (roads, transportation, power and water systems)
  • Provide funds for education
  • Inform the public about new policies​
  • Preserve national traditions and customs​
  • Collect taxes
  • Provide guidelines for new industries
  • Conduct elections
  • Punish criminals
  • Conduct foreign affairs
  • Create public schools​
  • Control the money system​
  • Set a budget
  • Provide security​
  • Improve infrastructure (roads, transportation, power and water systems)
  • Provide funds for education
  • Inform the public about new policies​
  • Preserve national traditions and customs​

Record:
In your recording, talk about government in your home country. Compare the responsibilities of the central government with the responsibilities of local government. 

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate