MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · French (France)

French /y/ vs /œ//y/ / /œ/

Learn to hear the difference between y and œ in French words.

Practice these sounds
/y/

A front, rounded vowel

The tongue is high and farther forward, with rounded lips. It is one vowel, not a separate y sound plus a vowel.

As inpur
/œ/

An open-mid, rounded vowel

A front vowel with rounded lips. Listen to its quality immediately before the final French r.

As inpeur

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Learn to hear the difference between y and œ in French words.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
pur
/pyʁ/pure
sur
/syʁ/on; upon
bulle
/byl/bubble
bûche
/byʃ/a log for a fire
jute
/ʒyt/jute fibre used in sacks and rope
mur
/myʁ/wall
peur
/pœʁ/fear
sœur
/sœʁ/sister
beurre
/bœʁ/butter
jeune
/ʒœn/young
neuf
/nœf/nine in isolation

11 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.

Learn to hear the difference between y and œ in French words.

Explore all French contrasts
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