{"id":118119,"date":"2016-03-14T13:52:14","date_gmt":"2016-03-14T17:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/how-to-pronounce-u-in-french\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T05:34:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T10:34:20","slug":"how-to-pronounce-u-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/how-to-pronounce-u-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Pronounce “Ou” and “U” Properly in French"},"content":{"rendered":"

The distinction between the sound of\u00a0ou<\/em>, like in c<\/em>ou<\/em> (neck) and\u00a0u<\/em>, like in t<\/em>u<\/em> (you) is tricky for many French learners.<\/p>\n

To clear up this confusion, this post will go over how to make each sound, how to hear the differences between them and how to practice them so you can train your ear to hear the difference.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pronouncing the Two U<\/em>\u00a0Sounds in French<\/h2>\n

Pronouncing Ou<\/em><\/h3>\n

We’ll start with the easier sound: ou<\/i>.<\/p>\n

This is basically the same vowel sound that you already know how to make when you say the English words “boot,” “food” and “soup.”<\/p>\n

Try saying these words out loud right now; notice how your tongue is pushed up towards the back of your mouth on the vowel.<\/p>\n

Ideally, when you say the French vowel, your lips are just a bit more rounded and pouty.<\/p>\n

Here are some words that have this sound:<\/p>\n