The Semi-consonant /ɥ/
The features of /ɥ/
are: very high, front, rounded and non-syllabic. It must precede a vowel and is never found at the end of a word. Examples of words containing /ɥ/ are lui [lɥi]
, suis [sɥi]
, nuage [nɥaʒ]
.
Distribution of /ɥ/
French avoids the sequence of "high vowel + vowel". That's where semi-consonants come in. Rather than "high vowel + vowel", French prefers the sequence "semi-consonant + vowel. Consider the word nuage. The letters "ua" suggest that the transcription would be [nyaʒ]. However, the correct pronunciation is actually [nɥaʒ]. This, of course, has implications for the number of syllables. There is only one in the word nuage.
Articulation of /ɥ/
Like other semi-consonants /ɥ/ is short and tense. To articulate correctly, we suggest you start with /y/
and raise the tongue higher, almost to the point of causing friction. If you try to squeeze /y/ into the same syllable as the following vowel, it should help. For example, to correctly pronounce lui [lɥi], start with [ly-i], in two syllables, then reduce it to only one beat. Another possibility would be to start with /j/ and avance/round the lips.
English interference
The semi-consonant /ɥ/ is not found in English, so there's a temptation to replace it with the English glide /w/. Don't succumb to this temptation! There's a very clear difference between the following:
Word pair |
English |
French |
sweet/suite |
[swit] |
[sɥit] |
wheel/huile |
[wil] |
[ɥil] |
wheat/huit |
[wit] |
[ɥit] |
Spelling of /ɥ/
The main spelling representation of /ɥ/ is the letter "u", followed by a vowel, e.g.: tuer = [tɥe]
.
There is one notable exception, however. It involves cases where the "u" + vowel" sequence is preceded by a consonant followed by /l/ or /ʁ/. In the latter case, the pronunciation is /y/ + vowel, e.g.: cruel [kʁyɛl]
.
Note, however, that this is not the case when the next vowel is "i". Here, the semi-consonant is used, regardless of what precedes, e.g.: fruit [fʁɥi]
, pluie [plɥi]
.
Words with "QUI" and "GUI"
The idea that the spelling "UI" = [ɥi] doesn't always hold. In some cases, the role of the "U" is simply to indicate that the consonant is a stop rather than a fricative (i.e.: it doesn't represent a vowel or semi-consonant), e.g.:
tranquille [tʁãkil], quille [kij]
guimauve [gimov]
, Guillaume [gijom], guillotine [gijɔtin]
That said, there are some "GUI" sequences where the pronunciation is indeed [gɥi], e.g.: linguiste [lɛ̃gɥist]
(and derived forms), aiguille [egɥij]
. The word anguille is transcribed [ãgij].
We don't make the rules; we just try to explain them!😉
Minimal Pairs
There are a number of French words distinguished only by the alteration between /ɥ/ and /w/ (i.e.: minimal pairs):
Louis [lwi] versus lui [lɥi]
mouette [mwɛt] versus muette [mɥɛt]
joint [ʒwɛ̃] versus juin [ʒɥɛ̃]
Make sure you are able to distinguish these pairs.
• "U" + vowel usually indicates /ɥ/ + vowel
• don't replace /ɥ/ with /w/