The sounds ou and eu in French

Read more about how to use The sounds ou and eu in French.
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The sounds ou and eu

The ou and eu sounds are very similar. Listen and repeat if you feel up to it.
Tous mes vœux ! Best wishes!

• The pronunciation of the letters OU (or the IPA pronunciation symbol [u]).

Examples
Pronunciation
OU
ouvrir la bouche to open the mouth
OÙ
où vas-tu ? where are you going?
OUX
doux gentle, soft, kind
OÛ
coûter to cost
AOÛ
août August

• The pronunciation of the letters EU (or the IPA pronunciation symbol [ø]).

Examples
Pronunciation
EU
un petit peu a little bit
EUX
deux two
ŒU
un nœud a knot

Notes: 
• The past participle of avoir (eu) is pronounced like the letter u (or [y] phonetically).

J'ai eu (I've had)

• For purists, there are two eu sounds, one of which is closed (for terms like pneu or deux) and an open eu sound which we hear in terms such as:

le meurtre the murder
un œuf an egg
avoir peur to be scared

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