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

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

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