The U and the OU sounds in French

• How to produce the sounds• Look at some examples• Practise the U and the OU sounds

Bon Départ Unité 1 Section 1.1 pp.12-14

How to produce the OU sound

• The OU sound in French is close to the OO sound in English, in zoo or oops

• To get an idea of the position of the mouth, try saying zoo or oops in English

• or try a scary noise ooooh

• and notice the position of your lips

How to produce the OU sound

• Position of the lips: rounded, pushed forward mouth almost closed

• Say OU le cou

Écoutez et répétez

bijou caillou chou genou hibou joujou pou

Now read the words first, then listen

bijou caillou chou genou hibou joujou pou

Position of the tongue for the OU sound• at the back of your mouth • and up (the middle part of your tongue is

raised)

Position of the lips:• rounded, pushed forward • mouth almost closed

The OU and the U sounds

• For both sounds the lips are rounded, pushed forward; mouth almost closed

• OU: the tongue is towards the back and up• U: move your tongue forward, and place the

tip behind your lower teeth• front part of the tongue is curved up• For U tongue in the same position as for ee/i

You can switch from the OU to the U sound just by moving your tongue• Say OU• Keep your lips in the same position (rounded,

pushed forward; mouth almost closed)• Move your tongue behind your lower teeth,

front part of the tongue is curved up• Say U

or you can switch from the ee position of the mouth to the U without moving your tongue• Say ee (tea, cheese). The i in French is slightly

shorter île• Notice how you are smiling

• Keep your tongue in the same position

• Change the position of your lips: rounded, pushed forward; mouth almost closed

Écoutez et répétez

Salut tu une nature utile du vu bu tutu

Now read the words first, then listen

Salut tu une nature utile du vu bu tutu

Can you hear the difference? Listen and repeat

• tu• tutu• vu• nu• du• bu• puce • eu

Tu l’as eu?

• tout• toutou• vous• nous• doux• bout• pouce• oùOù es-tu?

Which words can you hear?

• tu• tutu• du• bu• puce • eu

• toutou• vous• bout• pouce• où

• Tu as tout?

• Vous avez vu?

• Tu as vu le loup? • Vous avez vu le loup?

• Tu l’as eu où?

• - Tu tousses toujours? - Non, je ne tousse plus du tout.

Tu as vu le tutu de Lulu?

Tu as tout bu?

Tu vas tout au bout du tunnel.

Vous nous avez vus?

Bon Départ Unité 1 Section 1.1 pp.12-14

Merci et au revoir

Christine Buller

Acknowledgments: All pictures from Clipart, Microsoft PowerPoint

The U and the OU sounds in French