PRONUNCIATION
Now that your French “R” is getting a good workout, it is time to introduce our next contender: the French “U.”
This sound eludes many learners simply because it does not exist in the English language. The closest comparison would be the “OU” sound, as in you, but even that is not quite right. French has that “OU” sound, too, and the sound we are after is created closer to the front of the mouth. In order to fight against our natural inclination to associate the French “U” with the “OU” we are familiar with, we will be directing part of this lesson toward making the distinction in French.
The French “U” is a close front-rounded vowel, which means it is:
Now we can work toward pronouncing this sound:
Step 1
Open your mouth.
Step 2
Say “O”.
Step 3
Draw out the “O” until your lips are where they would be to make a “W” sound.
Step 4
Purse your lips as tightly as you can.
Step 5
Keeping your lips pursed, say “E”.
Step 6
Voilà! The French “U”
Another method for practicing uses the French “E,” a close front unrounded vowel, as a tool to get us to the close front-rounded “U.”
Step 1
Make the French “E” sound (as in fini). English has the same sound, so it should sound something like the “E” sound in me or glee.
Step 2
Once you have this sound, hold it out. Notice that your lips are pulled taut toward your cheeks as though you are smiling. This is the unrounded part of the vowel.
Step 3
While still making the “E” sound, slowly move your lips into a rounded “O.” Note the change in sound. It should now sound exactly like the French “U.”
Step 4
You did it! Keep practicing this, exaggerating both sound and facial movements.
Did you notice that the French “U” has a very different feel and sound from the “OU” we are familiar with? Even so, it is still much more difficult to notice this distinction when your mind is busy with the multi-tasking that comes along with conversing in a foreign language. Let us take a closer look at these differences.
Note: Remember that the French “OU” is very similar to the English “OU” sound, as in group.
Listen to Track 74:
la hutte (hut)
août (August)
nu (nude)
nous (we)
la bulle (bubble)
la boule (ball)
la rue (street)
la roue (wheel)
su (knew)
sous (under)
la mule (mule)
la moule (mussel)
lu (read)
le loup (wolf)
vu (saw)
vous (you, formal)
dessus (above)
dessous (below)
bu (drank)
la boue (mud)
tu (you, informal)
tout (all)
la puce (flea)
le pouce (thumb)
pur (pure)
pour (for)
sur (on)
sourd (deaf)
le jus (juice)
la joue (cheek)
rugi (roared)
rougi (blushed)