Minimal pair · Contemporary Standard Russian
Russian /ɨ/ vs /u/Stressed ы and у
Adds unrounded versus rounded high-vowel comparison while retaining plain onsets and codas.
Practice these sounds/ɨ/
The ɨ category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inмыл
/u/
A back, rounded vowel
The tongue is high and farther back, with rounded lips.
As inмул
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Adds unrounded versus rounded high-vowel comparison while retaining plain onsets and codas.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordмыл
/mɨl/washed, masculine pastбык
/bɨk/bullсын
/sɨn/sonсыр
/sɨr/cheeseдым
/dɨm/smokeмул
/mul/muleбук
/buk/beech treeсуп
/sup/soupлук
/luk/onionпух
/pux/down; fine soft feathers10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.