Vowels: Comparing short o and short u

Listen to the short o sound
Listen to the short u sound

The short o and short u are similar in that the tongue is kept in a low position in the mouth while forming them.

Compare the short o and short u sounds

The short o sound is pronounced by lowering the jaw while pressing the tongue into the bottom teeth. The lips are open and rounded, but not tense. To transition into the short u sound, the jaw closes (raises) slightly while the body of the tongue lifts slightly and relaxes. The lips are more relaxed for the short u sound than the short o sound.

Although the tongue is higher for the short u than the short o, it remains relatively low in the mouth.

short o		short u
not lock body		nut luck buddy

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