Minimal pair · Contemporary Standard Russian
Russian /o/ vs /u/Stressed o and u
Learn to hear the difference between o and u in Russian words.
Practice these sounds/o/
A close-mid, rounded vowel
A rounded vowel made toward the back of the mouth.
As inстол
/u/
A back, rounded vowel
The tongue is high and farther back, with rounded lips.
As inстул
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between o and u in Russian words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordстол
/stol/tableток
/tok/current; flowсом
/som/catfishсон
/son/sleep; a dreamбок
/bok/side; flankстул
/stul/chairлук
/luk/onionсуп
/sup/soupмул
/mul/muleпух
/pux/down; fine soft feathers10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.