One syllable: few.
/ˈfjuː/
Say it backFew is a small number or a small amount, often used to indicate a quantity that is not many. It signals a scarcity or a limited number of items or people. In everyday speech, it can function as a determiner or pronoun, and sometimes appears in phrases like 'a few' (more than one) or 'few and far between' (scarce).
"I only have a few minutes before the meeting."
"A few students stayed after class to ask questions."
"There are a few apples left in the basket."
In standard American/UK/Australian English, 'few' is pronounced with a consonant cluster /f/ followed by the long vowel /juː/ (as in 'you'), resulting in /fjuː/. Lead with a bilabial /f/ then glide from /j/ into /uː/. The mouth starts with a light /f/ friction, then rounds for the /uː/ vowel. The stress is on the word evenly; keep the /j/ as a short transition between consonant and vowel. IPA: US/UK/AU /fjuː/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Slurring the /j/ and turning /fjuː/ into /fuː/ or /fjuː?/, losing the /j/ glide; (2) Misplacing the /uː/ as a short vowel like /uː/ or /uə/ or lumping into /fju/ without length. Correct by articulating /f/ with a small upper-lip contact, then quickly articulating /j/ as a palatal glide before the long /uː/. Practice pairing /f/ with a clear /j/ then sustained /uː/ to keep the sequence distinct.
In US/UK/AU, the core sequence /fjuː/ remains, but vowel length and rhoticity can affect timbre. In rhotic US, /ɹ/ is not present after /juː/; the /juː/ is a sustained vowel approximated as /fjuː/ without additional rhotic coloring. In many UK accents, /juː/ can sound closer to /ʊ/ + /ə/? depending on speaker, often perceived as /fjuː/, while Australian tends to be similar to UK but with a taller, fronted /uː/ quality. Overall, the glide remains, but vowel quality varies.
The difficulty lies in smoothly merging a consonant onset /f/ with a fast, precise palatal approximant /j/ and a long high back vowel /uː/. Coordinating lip rounding for /uː/, tongue position for /j/, and ensuring the /f/ friction remains audible without overshooting into /fjŁ/ or /fɪu/ requires practiced control. Also, the brief transition between sounds can reduce in casual speech. Focusing on the /f/ + /j/ transition before the long /uː/ helps stabilize the sequence.
Few is a monosyllable with stable stress (primary stress on the single syllable). The tricky part is ensuring the /w/ or /juː/ glide is not broken; you should keep the vowel long (/uː/) and avoid a quick, clipped /fju/. Emphasize the long /uː/ ending by allowing the vowel to resonate. Stress remains constant because there’s only one syllable; ensure the glide is clean and not swallowed by the preceding /f/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "few"!
The word few comes from Old English fea, fēa, which represented a small, indefinite number. Its Proto-Germanic root *faiwaz or *faiwōs may be linked to the notion of scarcity. Over time, the spelling settled as few and broadened to encompass fragments of quantity, contrastively opposing words like many. In Middle English, the form fêwe appeared in some texts, but the modern spelling and pronunciation stabilized by Early Modern English periods. The semantic shift toward denoting a small but nonzero count persisted, and the word remains a common determiner and pronoun in contemporary usage. First known uses appear in Old English and early Germanic texts, reinforcing its long-standing role in quantifying and contrasting quantities within discourse.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "few" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "few" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "few" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "few"
-lue sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
