Short U

Mastering the "short u" sound will make your English sound much more natural and help you avoid misunderstandings.

How to make it

/ʌ/
open-mid back unrounded
Lips: neutral
Tongue: mid-central
Voicing: voiced
💡 Short neutral vowel, tongue mid-central.

1. Drop the back of your tongue to widen your throat.
2. Lower your jaw at the same time, keeping your lips relaxed.
3. Ensure your throat and jaw drop together to the same extent.

Watch out for

• Jaw drops more than throat — This can make your sound too much like the "short o" sound. Focus on widening your throat by dropping the back of your tongue.
• Throat drops more than jaw — This might lead to a sound closer to the "lax short u" (as in "put"). Keep the jaw and throat movement balanced.

Words to try

• run
• cup
• love
• sun
• money
• truck
• flood
• dust

💡 Feeling your larynx drop with your jaw can help you get the right balance for this sound!