The Hidden /Y/ in Computer
Say the word “computer” out loud. Do you hear a /Y/ (IPA: /j/) sound anywhere in this word? If you do not, you are likely mispronouncing this word. There is a /Y/ sound between the /P/ and /U/. English will sometimes, although not always, insert a /Y/ sound just before the /U/ vowel. This is called palatalization.
Let’s consider the word “computer”. See the transcription and recording below.
computer: /kuhm PYUU duhr/ (IPA:/kəmˈpjuɾɹ̩/)
I often hear this word mispronounced as /kuhm PUU duhr/ without the /Y/ transition. Here is some pronunciation advice. While your lips are in place for the /P/, go ahead and push your tongue up high against your palate, that smooth bony groove on the roof of your mouth. As your lips burst open to say the /P/ begin vibrating/buzzing your larynx and glide right into the /Y/. From here, pull your tongue back high in your mouth for the /U/.
The /Y/ insertion before /U/ can come after many consonants in English, including /K/ (often spelled as “c”), /G/, /B/, /M/, /N/, and others. See the non-exhaustive list bellow for examples of where /Y/ insertion can occur.
abuse /uh BYUUS/
acute /uh KYUUT/
accurate /AE kyuh ruht/
calculate /KAEL kyuh layt/
computer /kuhm PYUU duhr/
communal /kuh MYUU nuhl/
communicate /kuh MYUU nih kayt/ or /kuh MYUU nuh kayt/
confused /kun FYUUZD/
cure /KYUHR/
curation /kyuhr RAY shuhn/
cumulative /KYUU myuh luh tihv/ or /KYUU myuu luh tihv/
continue /kuhn TIH nyuu/
circulation /suhr kyuu LAY shun/
document /DAH kyuu mehnt/
electrocution /eh lehk truh KYUU shuhn/
execution /ehk suh KYUU shuhn/
February /FEH byuu weh ree/ or /FEH bruh weh ree/
figure /FIH gyuhr/
immune /ih MYUUN/
music /MYUU zihk/
occupy /AH kyuu pai/
prosecution /puhr seh KYUU shuhn/
pure /PYUHR/
vocabulary /voh KAE byuu leh ree/
There is no good way to predict where a /Y/ insertion (pre-/U/ palatalization) will take place in English, as there are just as many places where it is absent as where it occurs. I have compiled a (non-exhaustive) list below of the many places where the “u” is NOT preceded by a /Y/ insertion. In these examples, the “u” spelling can be pronounced as /UH/, /UU/, or /IH/ depending on the word.
Example words where there is a “u” spelling but no /Y/ insertion in pronunciation:
cup, but, put, shut, fun, bun, flute, spur, duration, turn, structural, occur, alumni, abduct, abrupt, absolute, nullify, frustration, multifunctional, pulmonary, constitution, production, surgery, qualified, illustrate, circumstance, opportunity, pronunciation, industrial, substantial, business, reduction, voluntary, surrender, purchase, discuss, cut
As with most sound-spelling relationships and special exceptions in English, you must memorize the pronunciation. Start by making a list of the common words you use, noting any difficulties or mispronunciations.
To master the pronunciation of difficult words or sounds, record yourself saying the words. Go back and listen to your recording, making corrections as needed.
Written by Sarah Sherer, PhD (3/4/23)