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LISTEN |
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/uw/.../uw/.../uw/.../uw/...
food...cute...soon...tutor |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /uw/ is a high, back, tense, round vowel.
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.
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This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:
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However, /uw/ can also be unstressed. In an unstressed syllable, /uw/ is pronounced quickly and softly.
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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.
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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."
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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."
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COMPARE |
Compare /uw/ and /ʊ/:
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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.
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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/:
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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.
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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.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words. (Words with invisible-/y/ are marked with *.)

words_with_-uw-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 714 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
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.
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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:
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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?
Prepare:
What activities do you do to improve your English?
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- 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

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