Long "u" vowel sound: /ju:/

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Long "u" vowel sound: /ju:/

The long u is a 2-sound vowel similar to a /j/ sound followed by an /u:/ sound for the combined pronunciation of /ju:/.

Part 1: The long u begins with the jaw mostly closed and tip of the tongue very close to the tooth ridge (similar to a /j/ sound).

Part 2: The sound transitions into an /u:/ sound by closing the lips into a small circle while lowering the front of the tongue. At the same time as the front of the tongue lowers, the back of the tongue raises.

This happens when the vowel "u" is:

1- Word initial
2- Syllable initial after alveolar consonant "l", "n", "t", "d". The combination with "t" is /tʃ/, and with /d/ is /ʤ/.
3- After velar consonants "c" (when "c" has the /k/ sound) and "g", and labio-dental consonants "f" and "v".
4- After "h" and labial consonants "m". "p". and "b"

/ju:/
Group 1: u (word initial)  use, usual, university
Group 2: l/n/t/d+u (syllable initial)   value, manual, actual, gradual
Group 3: c/g/f/v+u (when c sounds /k/)  cute, regular, refuse, revue
Group 4: h/m/p/b+ u   huge, amuse, reputation, vocabulary
Group 5: ue   fuel, hue, rescue
Group 6: ew   few, pew, skew
Group 7: eau   beautiful, beaut (except eau de cologne and beau are pronounced /oʊ/, and bureaucracy is pronounced /ɑ:/)

When "ue" or "ew" follow a digraph such as "cl" and "ch" are pronounced /u:/.
Group 1: ue   clue
Group 2: ew   chew

The "ue" spelling is usually silent when it occurs at the end of a word and follows the letters "g", "ng", or "q".
Group 1: ue   fatigue, tongue, unique
Exception: argue (ends in a long u sound)

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