Which symbol corresponds to the close back rounded vowel?

Which symbol corresponds to the close back rounded vowel?

• A. /u:/
• B. /v/
• C. /ɑ:/
• D. /f/

Answer: (A)

A high-level idea to focus on is identifying a vowel created with the tongue high and back in the mouth, and with the lips rounded. That combination describes a close back rounded vowel. In IPA, the standard symbol for that sound is /uː/ (often written as /u:/ to indicate a long vowel). Among the options, this is the only symbol that represents a vowel with both the high tongue height and the back tongue place, plus rounding.

The other symbols are not vowels of that type: /v/ and /f/ are consonants (voiced and voiceless labiodental fricatives, respectively), and /ɑː/ (often written /ɑ:/) is a low back vowel and typically unrounded in many accents. So the symbol that corresponds to the close back rounded vowel is /uː/ (written /u:/ in some notations).