The English "short u (book)" sound (IPA ʊ) — Pronunciation Guide
IPA Sound Drill
Home
›
Sounds
›
Vowel
›
ʊ
ʊ
short u (book)
Vowel
Listen
How to make this sound
Example
book /bʊk/
Mouth
Relaxed short "u"; lips lightly rounded
Common trap
Distinct from u — do not protrude too much
GA vs RP
GA and RP share this sound.
See 20 common English words with this sound →
Related sounds
i
long ee (see)
ɪ
short i (sit)
ɛ
eh (bed)
æ
a~eh (cat)
ə
schwa
ʌ
uh (cup)
Related phrases
look at
/ˈlʊkət/
would you
/ˈwʊdʒu/
could you
/ˈkʊdʒu/
would you mind
/ˈwʊdʒuˈmaɪnd/
good boy
/ˈɡʊbˈbɔɪ/