The close back rounded vowel is a type of vowel sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is u.

There is also a close back compressed vowel which contrasts with both the rounded and unrounded close back vowels.

Features

• Its vowel height is close, which means the tongue is positioned as close as possible to the roof of the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.
• Its vowel backness is back, which means the tongue is positioned as far back as possible in the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.
• Its vowel roundedness is rounded, which means that the lips are rounded and protrude, and the inner surfaces are exposed.

Occurs in

• Dutch: voet , 'foot'
• English: (RP and GA) boot . The realization of this vowel in English is typically more front than the cardinal vowel ; in some dialects it can be further forward than the close central rounded vowel .
• Faroese: ur , '(wrist-)watch'
• French: fou , 'crazy'
• German: Fuß , 'foot'
• Polish: lud , 'people, folk'; lód , 'ice';
• Portuguese: urso , 'bear'
• Romanian: unu , 'one'
• Spanish: cura , 'priest' or 'cure'
• Scottish Gaelic: gu 'to'
• Vietnamese: tu , 'to mediate'

Vowels

Uzavřená zadní zaokrouhlená samohláska | Gerundeter geschlossener Hinterzungenvokal | Vocal cerrada posterior redondeada | Voyelle haute postérieure arrondie | 円唇後舌狭母音 | 후설 원순 고모음 | Vocală închisă posterioară rotunjită