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The Relaxed U sound is difficult for many people. This is partly because some people never learn it at all and pronounce all words with a long U sound even though the relaxed U is used in many very common words like “good” and “book.”

It’s also hard because it’s subtle. It’s made inside the mouth, so we cannot see what to do. Its not a long U at all meaning we do not use our lips or even shape the inside of the mouth in a tight O. Rather, it’s the opposite. The mouth is quite relaxed, the jaw is loose and we speak a rather low-pitched sound that is like groaning when you’re sick. It’s closer to a schwa sound than a long U. The words “buck” and “book” are similar. Buck is made neutrally, a schwa sound; it’s simple and bright. Book is the relaxed U, a little lower with a dull quality.

It’s hard to see the relaxed U by spelling. It’s spelled OO, U or OU (in could, would and should). It’s best to memorized Relaxed U words. The rest will be Short or Long U.

Practice with the video here.

bully	book
should	cook
hook sales	push
pull	bush
woman	sugar
woolen	crooked
crook	foot
rookie	wooden
football	footage
childhood	wolf
hoodie	neighborhood
	bullet point

Words with stress on both syllables: goodwill

Practice New Words with more videos and lessons or see all English Practice options.

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