Pronouncing "u" and "ou" sounds in French

In French, it's important to clearly distinguish the sounds /u/ (like in "lune") and /ou/ (like in "loup"). Pronouncing them wrong can change a word's meaning. For example, if you say "dessous" instead of "dessus," the meaning is completely different.

Tongue Position

It's not the shape of your lips that makes the difference between these two sounds, but your tongue's position inside your mouth. Your tongue needs to move forward or back to make the correct sound.

For the /y/ sound (like in "tu")

To pronounce the sound /y/, your tongue should touch the inside of your lower teeth. Press your tongue against your lower teeth. You can also move your jaw slightly forward.

Imagine you are saying the sound /i/ (like in "lit"). Your tongue is already against your teeth. Keep your tongue in that position, but round your lips as if you were saying the sound /ou/. This is how you will get the /y/ sound.

For the /u/ sound (like in "nous")

To pronounce the sound /ou/, your tongue should be pulled back and not touch your teeth, or only slightly. You can also move your jaw slightly back.

Let's Practice

Practice moving your tongue to pronounce these word pairs correctly. Exaggerate your tongue movement to really feel the difference at first.

• U (letter) / Ou (conjunction: "or")
• Du (preposition) / Doux (adjective)
• Sur (preposition) / Sourd (adjective)
• Tue (verb "to kill") / Toux (noun: cough)
• Dessus (adverb) / Dessous (adverb)

The pair "dessus" and "dessous" is especially important. If you don't place your tongue correctly, the meaning changes completely.

By articulating clearly and paying attention to your tongue's position, you will be able to clearly distinguish the /u/ and /ou/ sounds in French.