Long Vowel U

The long “U” sound is unique because it can have two different pronunciations in English:

1. The /juː/ Sound (Yoo)
   This is the more traditional “long U” sound and sounds like “yoo” (as in unicorn). It begins with a “y” sound followed by the “oo” sound.
   Examples of /juː/ (Yoo):
   U_E Words: cube, mule, fuse
   Open Syllable Words: human, music, unit
   UE Words: value, rescue, argue
   EW Words: few, new, view
   

2. The /uː/ Sound (Oo)
   This version of the long “U” sound is a simple “oo” sound, as in flute. It doesn’t have the “y” sound at the beginning.
   Examples of /uː/ (Oo):
   U_E Words: flute, brute, rule
   UE Words: blue, true, glue
   EW Words: stew, grew, chew
   OO Words: moon, food, soon
   

The following diagram shows some examples of words that have the long u sound. Scroll down the page for more examples and songs to help you learn how to pronounce words beginning with the long u sound.

 

Long Vowel U Song
Long Vowel Sound for the Letter U

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Long U sound
How to make the “long u” sound?
Learn words that contain the long u vowel.

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Silent E
The silent e at the end of a word makes the vowel before it say the long vowel sound while the e remains silent.
Lyrics:
Silent e, silent e
Come on and learn with me
Silent e, silent e
Will help you write and read
Silent e
When letter e is at the end of some words
It’s called silent e when it can’t be heard
Silent e jumps one consonant back to the vowel
And tells it to say the long vowel sound

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Long U sound
Words with UE
Sue’s blue glue

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The Long U sound
Words with EW.

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Learning Short Vowels

Short Vowels
Short A	Short E	Short I
Short O	Short U	Short Vowels

Learning Long Vowels

Long Vowels
Long A	Long E	Long I
Long O	Long U	Y (vowel)
Long Vowels	Short & Long Vowels

Compare Short & Long Vowels

Short & Long Vowels
Short & Long A	Short & Long E	Short & Long I
Short & Long O	Short & Long U

Learning Consonants

Consonants
Letter B	Hard C	Soft C
Letter D	Letter F	Hard G
Soft G	Letter H	Letter J
Letter K	Letter L	Letter M
Letter N	Letter P	Letter Q
Letter R	Letter S	Letter T
Letter V	Letter W	Letter X
Letter Y	Letter Z

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