LISTEN
listen_to_-uw-.mp3
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/uw/.../uw/.../uw/.../uw/...

food...cute...soon...tu​tor

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /uw/ is a high, back, tense, round vowel.
  • Make a tight circle with your lips
  • Pull your tongue back.
  • Tighten your tongue
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate.
 
stressed_-uw-.mp3
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This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:
  • ​neutral
  • beautiful
  • confuse
unstressed_-uw-.mp3
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However, /uw/ can also be unstressed. In an unstressed syllable, /uw/ is pronounced quickly and softly. 
  • curfew
  • virtue
  • unique

Spelling:
  • "u" - mute, humid 
  • "ui" – juice, fruit
  • "oo" - spoon, food
  • “ou” – group, you
  • “ue” – blue, true
  • "ew" - few, pewter
  • “o” – who, move
  • "eu" - neutral, feud
  • "oe" (not common) - shoe, canoe​

Note: In English, some words have a /y/ sound before /uw/. This sound is “invisible” – it’s not shown in spelling. 
uw_invis-y.mp3
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​If the /uw/ is spelled “u,” “eu,” "eau," or “ew,” there is usually an invisible /y/, unless the syllable begins with “j”, “r”, or "ch."
  • Words with invisible /y/: 
    • confuse
    • menu
    • music,
    • unity​
uw_no-invis-y.mp3
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  • Words without invisible /y/: 
    • ​juice,
    • rude,
    • chew,
    • soo​n
For other words, there may be variation in whether speakers pronounce an invisible /y/ before /uw/. For example, invisible /y/ is usually pronounced after the "n" in "menu" but may or may not be pronounced after the /n/ in "newspaper" or "nutrition."  This variation occurs when /uw/ is spelled "u," "eu," "eau," or "ew" and comes after "t," "d," "s," "x," "l," or "n."

COMPARE
Compare /uw/ and /ʊ/:
compare_uw-oo_1.mp3
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/uw/…/ʊ/…/uw/…/ʊ/…/uw/…/ʊ/…

These are both high, back vowels. However, /uw/ is a tense vowel and /ʊ/ is a lax vowel. To pronounce /uw/, your tongue must be tense (tight).

You can hear the difference between /uw/ and /ʊ/ in these words.
compare_uw-oo_words2.mp3
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1. A. stewed, B. stood
2. A. duel, B. dull
3. A. nuke, B. nook
4. A. suit, B. soot
5. A. pooling, B. pulling
6. A. wooed, B. would

Practice recognizing words with /uw/ and /ʊ/ by taking the quiz below.

Now, compare /uw/ and /ow/:
compare_uw-ow_1.mp3
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/uw/…/ow/…/uw/…/ow/…/uw/…/ow/…

These are both back, tense vowels. However, /uw/ is a high vowel and /ow/ is a mid vowel.

You can hear the difference between /uw/ and /ow/ in these words.
compare_uw-ow_words.mp3
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1. A. sue, B. so
2. A. hoop, B. hope
3. A. pool, B. pole
4. A. lose, B. lows
5. A. tune, B. tone
6. A. ruler, B. roller

Practice recognizing words with /uw/ and /ow/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words. (Words with invisible-/y/ are marked with *.)
words_with_-uw-.mp3
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1. move
2. fruit
3. *few
4. room
5. soon
6. juice
7. cool
8. duty
9. *music
10. *humid
11. *confuse
12. assume
13. *beautiful
14. *newspaper
15. *unique
16. *reduce
17. *computer
18. *interview
19. *communicate
20. *accumulation

 
Now, practice /uw/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-uw-.mp3
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1. interview – new – Tuesday
I have an interview for a new job on Tuesday.
2. blueberries – fruit – juice
We need blueberries for the fruit juice.
3. beautiful  - truly -  unique
Your art is beautiful and truly unique.
4. confused – rules – amusement
I’m confused by the rules at the amusement park.
5. blue – shoes – cute
Those blue shoes are really cute.
6. June – too – humid
​The weather in June is too humid.​

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 activities do you do to improve your English?
  • Attending a full-time language school
  • Studying grammar rules
  • Using English everywhere you go
  • Attending events in an English-speaking community
  • Keeping a notebook of new words that you learn​
  • Studying on the computer
  • Listening to English music
  • Reviewing vocabulary every day
  • Tutoring someone else in English
  • Reading the news in English
  • Communicating with an English-speaking friend
  • Attending a full-time language school
  • Studying grammar rules
  • Using English everywhere you go
  • Attending events in an English-speaking community
  • Keeping a notebook of new words that you learn​​
  • Studying on the computer
  • Listening to English music
  • Reviewing vocabulary every day
  • Tutoring someone else in English
  • Reading the news in English
  • Communicating with an English-speaking friend

Record:
​Imagine you are speaking to a group of new English students. In your recording, recommend three activities that students can do to improve their English. Explain why each activity will help them improve.

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate