MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · French (France)

French /u/ vs /ø//u/ / /ø/

Learn to hear the difference between u and ø in French words.

Practice these sounds
/u/

A back, rounded vowel

The tongue is high and farther back, with rounded lips.

As incou
/ø/

A close-mid, rounded vowel

A front vowel with rounded lips. This vowel is not schwa.

As inqueue

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Cou/queue, doux/deux and nous/nœud compare /u/ with /ø/. Both are rounded, but their tongue position and vowel quality differ.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

A common trap

A rounded mouth shape alone cannot tell these categories apart. Final written consonants in doux, deux and nœud are silent in the isolated forms used here.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
cou
/ku/neck
doux
/du/soft; gentle
nous
/nu/we; us
tout
/tu/all; everything
vous
/vu/you, formal or plural
roue
/ʁu/wheel
bout
/bu/end; tip
joue
/ʒu/cheek
queue
/kø/tail; queue
deux
/dø/two
nœud
/nø/knot
jeu
/ʒø/game
creux
/kʁø/hollow
feu
/fø/fire

14 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.

Now, let your ears decide.

Can you hear the difference? Listen to two examples, then decide which sound you hear in a new word. Get feedback after every answer.

Practice these sounds

Keep the sound. Change the word.

Compare the final vowel in X with the two references. Keep the category consistent when the opening sound changes from k to d or n.

Explore all French contrasts
🌐 English