English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 82
Category:
Spelling to sound
Author: JAM
<eu>, <ew>
The most common pronunciation of the sequences <eu> and <ew> is /ju:/, as in few feud hew mew pew. When preceded by /r/, the sequences are pronounced /u:/, as in brew drew rheumatism shrew. Many speakers have /u:/ rather than /ju:/ when the preceding sound is /s/ or /l/, as in sewer lewd.
Exceptional words:
- sew shew have /@U/
- lieutenant is /lef"ten@nt/ in British English, but /lu:"ten@nt/ in American English
- German-derived words have /OI/ as in the name Freud
- Borrowings from French have /3:/ as in chanteuse masseur
When <r> follows in the spelling the pronunciation is /jU@/ or /j3:/ or /jO:/ as in Europe.