Spelling:
- "u" - cup, dumb
- "o" - onion, month
- "ou" - rough, country
- "oo" - blood, flood
- "oe" (not common) - does
COMPARE
Compare /ʌ/ with /ɑ/:
| compare_uh-ah_1.mp3 |
/ʌ/.../ɑ/.../ʌ/.../ɑ/.../ʌ/.../ɑ/...
These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is a mid vowel, and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ʌ/, your tongue should be in the middle of your mouth and your mouth should not be opened widely.
These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is a mid vowel, and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ʌ/, your tongue should be in the middle of your mouth and your mouth should not be opened widely.
You can hear the difference between /ʌ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
| compare_uh-a_words.mp3 |
1. A. luck, B. lock
2. A. sub, B. sob
3. A. sung, B. song
4. A. fund, B. fond
5. A. buses, B. bosses
6. A. color, B. collar
2. A. sub, B. sob
3. A. sung, B. song
4. A. fund, B. fond
5. A. buses, B. bosses
6. A. color, B. collar
Now, compare /ʌ/ with /ɜr/:
| compare_uh-er_1.mp3 |
/ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/...
These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is pronounced with a central tongue, while /ɜr/ is pronounced with a slightly higher tongue. Your lips should be slightly rounded when you pronounce /ɜr/, but not when you pronounce /ʌ/.
These are both central vowels. However, /ʌ/ is pronounced with a central tongue, while /ɜr/ is pronounced with a slightly higher tongue. Your lips should be slightly rounded when you pronounce /ɜr/, but not when you pronounce /ʌ/.
You can hear the difference between /ʌ/ and /ɜr/ in these words.
| compare_uh-er_words.mp3 |
1. A. such, B. search
2. A. hut, B. hurt
3. A. fuzz, B. furs
4. A. ton, B. turn
5. A. huddle, B. hurdle
6. A. suffer, B. surfer
2. A. hut, B. hurt
3. A. fuzz, B. furs
4. A. ton, B. turn
5. A. huddle, B. hurdle
6. A. suffer, B. surfer
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-uh-.mp3 |
|
1. up
2. luck 3. cut 4. mud 5. rough 6. must 7. rush 8. come 9. lump 10. drunk |
11. butter
12. another 13. above 14. color 15. conduct 16. summer 17. among 18. government 19. wonderful 20. uncomfortable |
Now, practice /ʌ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentence.
| sentences_with_-uh-.mp3 |
1. what - cut - butter
What can I use to cut the butter?
2. does - want – country - customs
Does he want to learn our country’s customs?
3. mother - coming - Sunday
My mother is coming on Sunday.
4. bus - another - one
If we miss the bus, we will wait for another one
5. colors – sunset – wonderful
The colors of the sunset are wonderful.
6. government – budget – summer
The government will set a budget by this summer.
What can I use to cut the butter?
2. does - want – country - customs
Does he want to learn our country’s customs?
3. mother - coming - Sunday
My mother is coming on Sunday.
4. bus - another - one
If we miss the bus, we will wait for another one
5. colors – sunset – wonderful
The colors of the sunset are wonderful.
6. government – budget – summer
The government will set a budget by this summer.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
