11.2: High Vowels (Closed Vowels)
- Page ID
- 288316
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this section, you will learn about the pronunciation of high vowels (closed vowels).
Let's get started!
High Vowels ([i], [u], [y])
High vowels — or "closed vowels" — are sounds produced with the tongue close to the roof of the mouth and the passage of air through your mouth is more closed. French has three high vowels: [i], [u], and [y]
[i] is high (closed), front, unrounded and oral
dix, stylo, minitel, horrible
[u] is high (closed), back and oral
douce, nous, fou, bonjour, cours
[y] is high (closed), front, rounded and oral
sucre, tu bûcher, mur
High semi-vowels ([w], [ɥ], [j])
[w] is very high, back, rounded and non-syllabic. It must precede a vowel and is never found at the end of a word:
ouest [wɛst], oiseau [wazo], oui [wi] jouer [ʒwe]
[ɥ] is very high, front, rounded and non-syllabic. It must precede a vowel and is never found at the end of a word:
suis [sɥi], nuit [nɥi], nuage [nɥaʒ], fruit [frnɥi].
[j] is very high, front, unrounded and non-syllabic. It must appear beside a vowel and cannot form the centre of a syllable:
taille [taj] , yeux [jø] , dieu [djø] .
Here is a summary of high, mid and low vowels:
|
Vowel type |
Low Vowels |
Mid-vowels |
Mid-vowels |
High Vowels |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oral vowels |
[ɑ] |
[a] |
[ɔ] |
[ə] |
[œ] |
[ɛ] |
[o] |
[ø] |
[e] |
[u] |
[y] |
[i] |
|
Nasal vowels |
[ɑ̃] |
[ɔ̃] |
[œ̃] |
[ɛ̃] |
||||||||
|
Semi-vowels |
[w] |
[ɥ] |
[j] |
|||||||||
Whether or not a vowel is pronounced more or less openly also depends on context.
Let's practice !
Activity A
Ou vs. u. Listen and repeat.
- tu / nous / rue / loup / mur / muse / poule / bus / tour / rhume / sûre
- début / voyou / toutou / voiture / virgule / autour / futur / sucre
- culture / Toulouse / troubadour
Activity B
U vs. i. Listen and repeat.
- lu / lit / vie / bus / skis / qui / sur / fiche / ville
- prune / lire / ligne / luxe / pipe / rhume / type
- habits / salut! / facile / satire / lunettes / finir / citrons / pyrex / inerte