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Vowel

Long OO / Blue Vowel

The high back rounded tense vowel sound heard in words like "blue", "food", "two", and "rule". Often called the BLUE vowel.

Phonetic
o͞o
Voicing
Voiced
Place of Articulation
Back (High)
Manner of Articulation
Vowel (Close)
Mouth Position

Lips are tightly rounded and pushed forward slightly. Tongue is high and pulled far back in the mouth. Jaw is relatively closed. Muscles around the lips are tense.

How to Make This Sound

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Example Words

blueMain Example
blu
food
fud
two
tu
rule
rul
you
ju
do
du
shoe
ʃu
new
nu
through
θru
move
muv

Pronunciation Practice

11 words

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Quick Practice

3-5 essential words

Full Practice

All 11 words

Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

o͞o
pool
pul
Compare with
P
pull
pʊl
o͞o
Luke
luk
Compare with
L
look
lʊk
o͞o
fool
ful
Compare with
F
full
fʊl
o͞o
food
fud
Compare with
F
foot
fʊt

Tongue Twister

Practice: Vowel
“Sue chooses blue shoes on Tuesday.”
Practice this tongue twister to improve your pronunciation