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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

"U" sound?

Hi. Please help. I believe the "u" in the word "university is not a vowel sound. But how about what sounds like "u" in the word "cute"? Is that a vowel sound?
  

Top answer

If you look at the IPA transcription, you will see that the single letter "u" is written as a consonant sound (j) followed by a vowel sound (u). ti kjut

— AlpheccaStars

  • If you look at the IPA transcription, you will see that the single letter "u" is written as a consonant sound (j) followed by a vowel sound (u).
  • ti kjut
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9 Answers
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If you look at the IPA transcription, you will see that the single letter "u" is written as a consonant sound (j) followed by a vowel sound (u).

?jun?'v?rs?ti

kjut
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Thank you for a quick reply. How about what sounds like the "u" sound in the word "tulip"? Is the "u" in "cute" different from what sounds like the "u" sound in "tulip"? On the sheet I'm looking at, it looks like both "cute" and "tulip" are noted as words having a long vowel sound. Is that correct? Thank you in advance for your help.
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Tulip has this transcription: 'tul?p
The long U has two different sounds, /u/ and /oo/
Here is a video explaining these sounds with examples:
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AnonymousHow about what sounds like the "u" sound in the word "tulip"? Is the "u" in "cute" different from what sounds like the "u" sound in "tulip"?
They are different in North American (American and Canadian) kinds of English. Tulip is pronounced as "too-lip".

They are not different in the English of England. Tulip is pronounced with the same u soun
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AnonymousTulip is pronounced with the same u sound as the word cute. That is "tyoo-lip".
What about "brute," Anon?
Do you pronounce it br-yoo-t or br-oo-t?
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AlpheccaStarsWhat about "brute," Anon?Do you pronounce it br-yoo-t or br-oo-t?
That's a different word. It only has the br-oo-t pronunciation.
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AnonymousThat's a different word. It only has the br-oo-t pronunciation.
So the long U has two different sounds, in British as well as American English.
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AlpheccaStarsSo the long U has two different sounds, in British as well as American English.
Just not in all the same words, in both kinds of English.

In British English, the pronunciation of tulip often becomes "chew-lip", when pronounced quickly.
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AnonymousIn British English, the pronunciation of tulip often becomes "chew-lip", when pronounced quickly.
That's because BrE allows initial glide absorption. AmE only has it medially: eventually; situation.

CJ
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