Sounds · American vowels
New sounds like “noo”
Not “nyoo”: there is no “y” sound. After S and L too: suit, blue.
T · D · N + U · EW → oo
new noo
Hear it in words
How each word is written, and how Americans say it.
- newsnooz
- knewnoo
- duedoo
- studentstoodent
- TuesdayToozday
- studiostoodio
- reduceredoos
- introduceintrodoos
In a sentence
- It's due on Tuesday. It's doo on Toozday.
- I'm a new student. I'm a noo stoodent.
- I knew it! I noo it!
Careful with these
- After other letters, the “y” stays: music, few, cute, view
- In a quick part after N, the “y” stays: menu, continue
- In a quick part after T or D, it becomes “ch” or “j”: actual, situation, education
How to say it
- Round your lips early, already on the N of new.
Listen for: A clean “oo” right after the T, D or N, with no “y” before it.
Where to look for it
U, UE or EW right after T, D or N: new, student, due. After other letters, the “y” stays: music, few, cute, view.
More about it
“Nyoo” is understood everywhere. In avenue, both are American. British English often keeps the “y” after T, D and N; American English goes straight to “oo”.
Teachers call this: Yod-dropping.
Listen for it today. When someone says “What’s new?” or “It’s due Tuesday”, listen for “oo” with no “y”.