What is the proper pronunciation of the Russian letter ‘ы’?

Question

Many students find the Russian letter 'ы' difficult to pronounce, especially since its sound differs significantly from English vowels. This question explains how 'ы' is formed and how it contrasts with other vowels like 'и.'

Answer 1

The Russian letter 'ы' is often challenging for learners, but it can be mastered with practice. Here’s how it works:

1. How ‘ы’ Is Pronounced:
2. 'ы' is a medial i-sound produced after a hard (non-palatalized) consonant. Unlike some exaggerated demonstrations, 'ы' is not a diphthong (e.g., 'euil') and involves no lip rounding.
3. Comparison to 'и':
4. While 'и' occurs after soft (palatalized) consonants, 'ы' always follows hard consonants. For example:
5. 'ты' ([tɨ]) vs. 'ти' ([tʲi]).
6. After hard consonants like 'ш,' 'ж,' and 'ц,' the vowel 'и' is pronounced as 'ы.'
7. Tips for Mastery:
8. Focus on clearly articulating the preceding hard consonant without palatalization. By doing so, the correct 'ы' sound will follow naturally.
9. Learning this distinction in Russian is easier for English speakers than the reverse challenge for Russians, such as distinguishing minimal pairs like 'cheap-chip,' 'each-itch,' and 'beat-bit.'