long u

Rule Core

The long U sound is commonly pronounced /juː/, similar to “you.” It appears in patterns such as u_e, ue, ew, or after certain consonants where a brief /j/ glide precedes /uː/. The phonetic logic is glide plus length, not a pure vowel.

Articulation Guide

Place the tongue high‑mid and relaxed. Lips start neutral, then round forward. Airflow is continuous and voiced. The critical feature is a quick /j/ transition followed by a sustained /uː/.

Word Analysis

• mule: Classic u_e pattern; silent e signals the long vowel.
• cumulative: After c, the u forms /kjuː/, a clear consonant‑long‑u blend.
• annual: Contains /nju/ across syllables, illustrating how long U interacts with consonant clusters rather than standing alone.

Pitfall Alerts

Do not confuse long U /juː/ with short U /ʌ/. Not every written u is long: full and push are short. In American English, the /j/ glide may be reduced after t, d, or n, so always verify with phonetic transcription.