What Makes the UH [ʌ] Sound So Important?
The American [ʌ] sound — like in “butter,” “money,” or “enough” — does more than just carry meaning. It’s a core sound that shows if you’re using the correct placement for American English.
Most non-native speakers tend to produce this sound too tensely, too tightly, or in a way that feels small and disconnected from the body. But this vowel is relaxed, neutral, and connected to the body. It’s a placement checkpoint. If your UH is off, your whole accent will feel off.
Watch the video above to hear real examples of UH in action — and how small shifts in mouth shape and vocal energy can completely change how native your accent sounds.
Real-Life Examples of the UH [ʌ] Sound
Want to finally master the real American [ʌ] sound — the one native speakers use in “custom,” “enough,” and “come”?
These are some of the most common American English words that use the [ʌ] sound. Many also begin with a schwa [ə] — especially when the first syllable is unstressed. Click any word below to hear real native usage on YouGlish.
Practice Sentences
They found a gun among the luggage.
Someone in the company was among them.
Come succumb to the custom.
Want to Fix This Sound (and All the Others)?
The American Accent Fundamentals course teaches you the exact placement techniques behind [ʌ], [ə], [æ], and every other core vowel sound — with real-life rhythm, audio downloads, and full video breakdowns.
It’s the shortcut to sounding more natural, more native, and more confident — without guessing or memorizing weird tongue diagrams.
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