Language
French
Unit
Consonnes
IPA
/ɥ/
Practice words
5

Sample pronunciation audio — Open the full phoneme overview

Start with one sample audio file for semi-voyelles - /ɥ/.

Quick tip

Semivowels are produced like vowels but function as consonants.

Letters and IPA

Letters

ɥ

/ɥ/

Practice words

  • huit

  • nuit

  • lui

  • pluie

  • juillet

Minimal pairs

How to produce this sound

Round your lips as for French /y/, then glide quickly into the next vowel without making a full vowel.

Common mix-ups

Closest comparison

Ce son est nouveau en anglais ; le plus proche est /w/ comme dans "we", mais avec les lèvres plus arrondies et la langue plus en avant.

Hear "huit" pronounced by French natives

Listen to native speakers and see real-world usage on these reference sites. Each link opens in a new tab.

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