The Vowel /u/
The French vowel /u/
has the following features: high, back, rounded and oral. Examples of words containing /u/ are: loup [lu]
, roue [ʁu]
, couvrir [kuvʁiʁ]
, pouvoir [puvwaʁ]
.
Articulation
Like all French vowels, the vowel /u/ is short and tense. When articulating, avoid adding a /w/ at the end. While English does have a similar vowel, they are not the same. This is obvious in the following pairs:
Word pair |
French |
English |
"doux/do" |
[du] |
[duw] |
"nous/new" |
[nu] |
[nuw] |
"sous/Sue" |
[su] |
[suw] |
Speakers of English tend to draw out the vowel in stressed open syllables. In closed syllables, be careful not to use a lax vowel. For example, the vowel in the English word pool
is lax (i.e.: slightly lower and central), while that of the French word poule
should be tense.
Note also that since /u/ is a rounded vowel, the lips must be advanced as well as rounded (as if you were going to whistle a low note).
Spelling
The vowel /u/ is represented by the combination "ou" in certain contexts. Namely:
a) at the end of a word, e.g.: mou [mu]
b) before a consonant, e.g.: prouver [pʁuve]
Note that when "ou" is followed by a pronounced vowel, it represents the semi-consonant /w/ and NOT /u/, e.g.: louer = [lwe]
and NOT [lue]
.
- Be sure to pronounce a short tense vowel and to avoid a diphthong (doux = [du]
and NOT [duw]
)
- Make sure you use the high French vowel, not the lax English one. In others words, don't pronounce poule the same as pool.