Template:Near-close central rounded vowel

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The near-close central rounded vowel is a type of vowel sound, used in some spoken languages. The International Phonetic Alphabet can represent this sound as < ʊ̈ > (centralized ʊ) or < ʉ̞ > (lowered ʉ). Recently the OED has adopted an unofficial extension of the IPA, ʊ̵, that is a conflation of ʊ and ʉ, for this sound or for free variation between [ʊ] and [ə].

[edit] Features

• Its vowel height is near-close, which means the tongue is positioned similarly to a close vowel, but slightly less constricted.
• Its vowel backness is central, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.
• Its vowel roundedness is rounded, which means that the lips are rounded.

[edit] Occurrence

Language		Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
English		euphoria	[jʊ̈ˈfɔəɹiə]	'euphoria'	See English phonology. Reduced form of the vowel /uː/.
Russian[1]		ютиться	[jʉ̞ˈtʲit͡sə]	'to huddle'	Only occurs between palatalized consonants and in unstressed syllables. See Russian phonology