/u:/

The /u:/ sound in English is a close-back rounded vowel, meaning it’s a sound made with the tongue positioned as close as possible to the roof of the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant. The vowel is produced with the lips rounded and the vocal cords vibrate. Here’s how you pronounce it:

• Position your mouth and tongue: For the /u:/ sound, your mouth should be relatively closed, and your tongue should be positioned high in the back of your mouth. Your lips should be rounded.
• Voicing: The /u:/ sound is a voiced vowel, meaning your vocal cords vibrate when you produce this sound. You should feel a vibration if you lightly touch the front of your throat while saying the sound.
• Release the sound: With your mouth relatively closed and your tongue positioned high at the back of your mouth, let your breath flow out over your tongue and through your mouth. The vocal cords vibrate to produce the /u:/ sound.