step070.htm/21DEC2001

Step 70‑71: ou

The next letter‑groups to learn are based on the rule,

No English word ends in u.

Menu is French. YOU is the exception. As with i/y, we can put a and o in front of u/w. If u would be at the end, we change it to a w. OU can make at least five sounds, OW two, but AU/AW are totally consistent and make only one sound. It is surprising, therefore, that of all these sounds and spellings, it is au that usually takes longest to learn.

ou ou (Silent o)

8 x 2 = 16

cl __ d d __ ble

sh __ t n __ rish

gr __ nd c __ ntry

s __th c __ sin

c __ nt fam __ s

tr __ sers curi __ s

OUR sounds like or: pour, four.

OU can say oo: you youth group soup coupon route routine

OU also changes its sound in the OUGH words, see step 79 to 88.

OU says short u in ‑ous: famous, curious, precious, spacious, delicious, avaricious, etc.