1. The U and the OU sounds in French
How to produce the sounds
Look at some examples
Practise the U and the OU sounds
Bon Départ Unité 1 Section 1.1 pp.12-14

2. How to produce the OU sound
The OU sound in French is close to the OO sound in English, in zoo or oops
To get an idea of the position of the mouth, try saying zoo or oops in English
or try a scary noise ooooh
and notice the position of your lips

3. How to produce the OU sound
Position of the lips:
rounded, pushed forward
mouth almost closed
Say OU
le cou

4. Écoutez et répétez
bijou
caillou
chou
genou
hibou
joujou
pou

5. Now read the words first, then listen
bijou
caillou
chou
genou
hibou
joujou
pou

6. Position of the tongue for the OU sound
at the back of your mouth
and up (the middle part of your tongue is raised)
Position of the lips:
rounded, pushed forward
mouth almost closed

7. The OU and the U sounds
For both sounds the lips are rounded, pushed forward; mouth almost closed
OU: the tongue is towards the back and up
U: move your tongue forward, and place the tip behind your lower teeth
front part of the tongue is curved up
For U tongue in the same position as for ee/i

8. You can switch from the OU to the U sound just by moving your tongue
Say OU
Keep your lips in the same position (rounded, pushed forward; mouth almost closed)
Move your tongue behind your lower teeth, front part of the tongue is curved up
Say U

9. or you can switch from the ee position of the mouth to the U without moving your tongue
Say ee (tea, cheese). The i in French is slightly shorter île
Notice how you are smiling
Keep your tongue in the same position
Change the position of your lips: rounded, pushed forward; mouth almost closed

10. Écoutez et répétez
Salut tu une nature utile du vu bu tutu

11. Now read the words first, then listen
Salut tu une nature utile du vu bu tutu

12. Can you hear the difference? Listen and repeattu
tutu vu nu du bu
puce
eu Tu l’as eu?
tout
toutou
vous
nous
doux
bout
pouce où
Où es-tu?

13. Which words can you hear?tu
tutu du bu
puce eu
toutou
vous
bout
pouce où

14. Tu as tout?
Vous avez vu?
Tu as vu le loup?
Vous avez vu le loup?
Tu l’as eu où?
- Tu tousses toujours?
- Non, je ne tousse plus du tout.

15. Tu as vu le tutu de Lulu?
Tu as tout bu?
Tu vas tout au bout du tunnel.
Vous nous avez vus?

16. The U and the OU sounds in French Merci et au revoir
Bon Départ Unité 1 Section 1.1 pp.12-14
Merci et au revoir
Christine Buller
Acknowledgments:
All pictures from Clipart, Microsoft PowerPoint