long u_e
Rule Core
The u_e long-vowel rule states that when u is followed by a consonant and a silent e, the e signals a long u sound, typically /juː/ (BrE) or /uː/ (common AmE). The final e is silent but controls the vowel quality.
Articulation Guide
For /juː/, start with a light palatal glide /j/, raise the tongue, then round the lips for a sustained /uː/. For /uː/, keep the tongue high and back with firm lip rounding and steady airflow.
Word Analysis
abuse shows internal u_e producing /bjuːz/; abusive keeps the vowel quality despite the lost final e; accumulation lacks u_e—its /juː/ comes from morphology and stress, not the rule.
Pitfalls
Do not overgeneralize: blue is not u_e, and busy has a short vowel.
Phonics Breakdown
Glide /j/ then sustain rounded /uː/, or go straight to high-back /uː/ with steady airflow.
Sound Reference
- Check the u-consonant-e frame before deciding the vowel length
- Trace derived forms back to the base word
Common Mistakes
Treating all long u sounds as u_e
Ignoring u_e across syllables
Example Words
All Words (252)
abuse abusive accumulation acupuncture affluence affluent allusion altitude aluminum amuse amusing aptitude attitude attribute brutal brutality capsule clue communicate communication communicative community commuter computation compute computer computerize conclusion conclusive conducive confucian confucianism confuse confusion constitute constitution constitutional consume consumer continue continuity contribute contribution contributor crucial cruel cruelty cube cucumber cute danube debut deduce deducible delusion diffusion dilute dilution disputable dispute distribute distribution dual dubious duel duke duly duplicate duplication duty emulation ensue evolution evolutionary exclusive execute execution flu fluency fluently fuel fume funeral fusion futility future gratitude huge human humane humanism humanist humanitarian humanity humid humidity humiliate humiliation humor humorous humour illuminate illumination illusion illusory immunity immunize include including inclusion inclusive inducement influence influential influenza ingenuity innumerable institution institutional interviewee introduce intruder intrusion intuition intuitive judicial july junior juvenile latitude longitude longitudinal lubricate lubrication lucrative luminous lunar magnitude manoeuvre multitude municipality muse museum mutual neutralize nuclear nucleus nude nudity numerical numerous nutrient nutrition opportunity peculiarity perfume persecute persecution peru peruvian pollutant polluted pollution preclude presumably presume produce producer prosecute prosecution prudent pupil reduce refuge refuse refute repute resolute resolution reunite revenue revolution revolutionary ruby rude ruin ruinous rule ruler ruling rumor ruthless schedule scrutinise scrutinize seduce solution statute student studio stupid stupidity substitute substitution sue super superb superficial superfluous superintendent superior superiority supermarket supersonic superstar superstition superstitious supervise supervision supervisor supremacy susan sushi telecommunications therapeutic transfuse transfusion tribute true truly truth tube tuition tumor tumour tutor tutorial unification uniform union unit unity universe unusual usage use used user usually valuable volume voluminous