afrikaans.us: Rounded/Unrounded Vowels

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You are here: Afrikaans / Pronunciation / Specific Focus ► / -E- Vowels ► / Rounded/Unrounded Vowels

Rounded & Unrounded Vowels

Group 1 active tongue	Group 2 inactive tongue
OE	Y/EI vs UI EE vs EU IE vs UU I vs U
In English 'OE' is OO, like in shoe, book, took. With group 1 (OE) the tongue lifts up to a mid-air position. Group 1 has no unrounded alternative. Because the sound is in English, it is easy to make. Please become aware of your tongue, as it is suspended when you make the sound. Being tongue-aware helps in doing the Group 2 rounded vowels.	All Group 2 rounded vowels also have unrounded compliments. Step 1: Make the sound of the unrounded vowel. You will notice the tongue is not active, it lies at the bottom of your mouth. Step 2: Try rounding these sounds, by only rounding your lips and the appropriate sound will form. Pay close attention NOT TO LIFT YOUR TONGUE! For English speakers the temptation will be very strong to lift the tongue, only to produce an "OE" sound -- oops! Pay special attention to these rounded/unrounded versions of the same vowels.

Oefen - Practice

Note: Word examples below mix real and fake words. Please focus on the pronunciation and not the meaning.

Y/EI > UI inactive tongue	unround > round	With other sounds (prefixes are in bold)
say > urn + east	lei/ly > lui krei/kry > krui mei/my > mui blei/bly > blui pei/py > pui	belei verklein onteien beskeie bilyne	luie kluin uien skuipe luine	verkuit ontbuik bebuile geduik hersuil	ontgyl beguil hersuip besypel ontsuiker

EE > EU inactive tongue	unround > round	With other sounds (prefixes are in bold)
see > neuro-surgeon	lee > leu kreet > kreut krete > kreute bleek > bleuk bleke > bleuke	kleer verkleur teen teun been	meur meer teun teen leun	verkeut ontkeet bebeule gebele herseul	ontgeel begeul herseep beseupel ontseke

IE > UU inactive tongue	unround > round	With other sounds (prefixes are in bold)
see > see at lower tone	lies > luus krite > krute kriet > kruut blike > bluke piek > puuk	verliek verkline ontdien geskiet billiene	luuks kluun tuul skuut muur	verkuut ontbuuk bebule gebuke hersuur	ontgiel beguul hersiep besupel onsiker

I > U (semi-rounding - short) inactive tongue	hi > low	With other sounds (prefixes are in bold)
sit > earth	lis > lus krit > krut kis > kus blik > bluk pik > puk	verlik verkluk ontdis geskut bitsig	lusse klug tuks sip mus	verkug ontbind bebus gebind hersukker	ontgil begulle hersip besup onsikker

OE active tongue	rounded (only)	With other sounds (prefixes are in bold)
e.g. book	boek skoen moen	geboel ontsoen gedoen	bedoeke hersoeke moenie	oefen oester oekie	toelie koelie poelie

Synopsis