The near-close central rounded vowel is a type of vowel sound, used in some spoken languages. The International Phonetic Alphabet can represent this sound as < ʊ̈ > (centralized ʊ) or < ʉ̞ > (lowered ʉ). Recently the OED has adopted an unofficial extension of the IPA, ʊ̵, that is a conflation of ʊ and ʉ, for this sound or for free variation between [ʊ] and [ə].

Features

• Its vowel height is near-close, which means the tongue is positioned similarly to a close vowel, but slightly less constricted.
• Its vowel backness is central, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.
• Its vowel roundedness is rounded, which means that the lips are rounded.

Occurrence

Language Word IPA Meaning Notes
English euphoria [jʊ̈ˈfɔəɹiə] 'euphoria' See English phonology. Reduced form of the vowel /uː/.
Russian[1] ютиться [jʉ̞ˈtʲit͡sə] 'to huddle' Occurs only between palatalized consonants and in unstressed syllables. See Russian phonology

References

Bibliography

• Jones, Daniel; Dennis, Ward (1969), The Phonetics of Russian, Cambridge University Press