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American English Vowel Sounds: /ʊ/, UU as in WOOD

In this lesson you will learn everything you need to know about pronouncing the /ʊ/, UU as in WOOD vowel sound in American English.

Here’s what we will cover:

1) Exactly how to move the mouth to make this sound
2) Minimal pair listening practice to help you differentiate the /ʊ/, UU as in WOOD vowel from the /u/, U as in BLUE
3) Imitation of this sound in words and sentences

CLARITY KICKSTART STUDENTS: Minimal pairs begin at 2:50 and end at 6:12

Practice words and sentences used in this lesson:

Could

I wish I could.

This could work.

Book

I love this book.

Did you book it?

Full

The course is full.

It was a really full day.

Woman

She’s an amazing woman.

What a woman!

Took

That took too long.

He took it well.

Sugar

It has a lot of sugar.

I’m trying to eat less sugar.


Continue your practice with this list of

45 Super Common UU, /ʊ/ as in WOOD Words

would

could

look

good

should

put

book

foot

pull

full

push

bush

wolf

wood

took

stood

hook

cook

bull

hood

crook

wool

shook

brook

nook

bookcase

goodness

sugar

woman

football

cookbook

cushion

bullet

cookie

wooden

understood

bulletin

overlook

butcher

pudding

footage

fully

withstood

booklet

bully


Grab the PDF of this practice list here:

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