Lips
Start rounded, as for "uu". As you glide, the rounding relaxes to neutral. The diagram shows the rounded start.
Diphthongs · British English
/ʊə/as in cure
The British "cure" vowel: glide from a rounded "uu" down to a weak "uh". No r sound at the end.
Example words: cure, tour, pure, sure, tourist
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /ʊə/ sound?
Tongue
Start high-back. Let it relax down and forward to the central "uh" position. The tip stays down: no curling.
Length
Medium. The rounded "uu" start is the stronger part; the "uh" ending fades away gently.
Video lesson
Try it
- Round your lips and start a short "uu".
- While the voice continues, relax lips and tongue toward a weak "uh".
- Let the sound die away with no r at all.
- Try it in words: cure, tour, pure.
Check
Say "pure" in a mirror. Your lips should start round and finish loose and neutral, and the ending should carry no r colour. If you hear an r, you have switched to the American version.
Common trap
Adding an r at the end (that is the American version), or splitting it into two beats instead of one smooth glide.
Practice: /ʊə/
Words
curekjˈʊə
tourtˈʊə
purepjˈʊə
sureʃˈʊə
touristtˈʊəɹɪst
Sentences
Are you sure the tour starts at nine?ˌɑː juː ʃˈʊə ðə tˈʊə stˈɑːts at nˈaɪn?
The tourist was sure about the plan.ðə tˈʊəɹɪst wɒz ʃˈʊə əbˈaʊt ðə plˈan.
Doctors are sure this cure works well.dˈɒktəz ɑː ʃˈʊə ðɪs kjˈʊə wˈɜːks wˈɛl.
The curious tourist enjoyed the tour.ðə kjˈʊəɹɪəs tˈʊəɹɪst ɪndʒˈɔɪd ðə tˈʊə.
I'm sure this juice is pure.ˌaɪm ʃˈʊə ðɪs dʒˈuːs ɪz pjˈʊə.
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Sounds in the same group
Is /ʊə/ one of yours?
Accenty listens to you speak and shows the sounds you miss, in British English.
