Unit 2: Vowels /uː/ & /ʊ/
Master the rounded vowels /uː/ and /ʊ/ — long versus short.
레슨
Unit 2 Guide: /uː/ & /ʊ/
Welcome to the rounded-lip vowel pair! These two sounds are some of the most commonly confused vowels in English, and getting them right is a huge step toward a clearer, more natural accent.
Why this pair matters
The difference between /uː/ and /ʊ/ can completely change a word's meaning. Compare:
- pool vs pull
- fool vs full
- Luke vs look
The two key features
- Lip rounding — /uː/ has tight, strongly rounded lips (like whistling). /ʊ/ has loose, only slightly rounded lips.
- Length — /uː/ is long and held; /ʊ/ is short and clipped.
How to study this unit
- Start with Lesson 1 to lock in the long /uː/.
- Move to Lesson 2 for the short, relaxed /ʊ/.
- Finish with Lesson 3 to drill minimal pairs side by side.
Record yourself, listen back, and exaggerate the lip movement at first. Precision now leads to natural speech later!