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Diphthong
CURE Diphthong / Centering Diphthong
The centering diphthong vowel sound heard in words like "cure", "sure", "poor", and "tour". Often called the CURE vowel. It starts with a high back rounded vowel /ʊ/ (like in 'put') and glides towards the central vowel /ə/ (schwa). Note: This diphthong is becoming rare in many English dialects.
Phonetic
ʊəVoicing
VoicedPlace of Articulation
Back-to-CentralManner of Articulation
Vowel (Diphthong)Mouth Position
Start with the tongue high and back, lips rounded for the /ʊ/ sound, jaw relatively closed. Then, glide the tongue towards the center and lower it slightly while unrounding the lips and relaxing the jaw for the /ə/ sound.
How to Make This Sound
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Example Words
cureMain Example
kjʊəsure
ʃʊəpoor
pʊətour
tʊəpure
pjʊəmature
məˈtjʊəendure
ɪnˈdjʊəsecure
sɪˈkjʊəlure
ljʊəensure
ɪnˈʃʊəPronunciation Practice
11 words
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Minimal Pairs
Listen and compare similar sounds
ʊə
poor
pʊəCompare with
P
pour
pɔːʊə
sure
ʃʊəCompare with
S
shore
ʃɔːʊə
tour
tʊəCompare with
T
tore
tɔːTongue Twister
Practice: Diphthong
“Pure cure ensures poor tourists feel secure during their tour.”
Practice this tongue twister to improve your pronunciation