Sounds of letter U

How do we pronounce U and combinations starting with U in stressed syllables? Let's study cases and examples.

1) /juː/

This long sound will often occur when

the word begins with u
there is a pattern U_сonsonant_E
in the combination ue, even if the syllable is not stressed
in some other words, we should learn those words together with their pronunciation

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/1.mp3{/mp3}Ukraine, unicorn, uniform, unique, united, university, usually

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/2.mp3{/mp3}abuse, amuse, refuse, cube, dispute, excuse, huge, duke

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/3.mp3{/mp3}argue, continue, hue, rescue, value

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/4.mp3{/mp3}accumulate, community, computer, Cuba, fuel, future, human, humour, music

2) /ʊ/

If you have a closed syllable, i.e. when u is between two consonants, it might also be read /ʊ/ in some words.

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/5.mp3{/mp3}bullet, bully, bush, butcher, cushion, full, pudding, pull, push, put, sugar

3) /ɜː/

The combination ur almost always produces the long sound /ɜː/.

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/6.mp3{/mp3}burn, burden, curse, fur, hurt, murder, surface, Thursday, turn

4) /jʊə/ or /ʊə/

Don't confuse ur with ure, this combination is generally pronounced /jʊə/ or /ʊə/.

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/7.mp3{/mp3}cure, endure, pure, secure

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/8.mp3{/mp3}sure

5) /ʌ/

If u is between two consonants in a stressed syllable, it will be pronounced /ʌ/ in most words.

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/9.mp3{/mp3}bun, bus, butter, cut, fun, lunch, run, summer, Sunday, tunnel, under, up

6) /ɪ/

There are two words where u and ui become short /ɪ/. You have to remember them.

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/10.mp3{/mp3}busy — business, businessman, businesslike

{mp3}/files/mp3/u-vowel/11.mp3{/mp3}build — building, built-in