In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), there are several vowels that are classified as rounded. Rounded vowels are produced by rounding the lips, which means that the lips are protruded or brought closer together during the articulation of these sounds. The rounding of the lips adds a distinct quality to the vowel sounds.
Here are the rounded vowels in the IPA, along with their corresponding sounds:
1. [i]: This is a high front unrounded vowel, which means that the lips are not rounded. It is represented by the letter “i” in the IPA. An example of this vowel is the long “ee” sound in words like “see” or “sheep.”
2. [u]: This is a high back rounded vowel, where the lips are rounded. It is represented by the letter “u” in the IPA. An example of this vowel is the long “oo” sound in words like “goose” or “boot.”
3. [ʊ]: This is a high back lax rounded vowel, which means that it is a shorter and more relaxed version of the high back rounded vowel. It is represented by the letter “ʊ” in the IPA. An example of this vowel is the short “oo” sound in words like “book” or “pull.”
4. [o]: This is a mid back rounded vowel, where the lips are rounded. It is represented by the letter “o” in the IPA. An example of this vowel is the long “oh” sound in words like “boat” or “bone.”
5. [ɔ]: This is a low back rounded vowel, where the lips are rounded. It is represented by the letter “ɔ” in the IPA. An example of this vowel is the “aw” sound in words like “law” or “saw.”
These are the main rounded vowels in the IPA. It’s important to note that the exact pronunciation of these vowels may vary depending on the specific language or dialect. Additionally, there are other rounded vowels in certain languages, but these are the most common ones in the IPA.
I hope this explanation helps! If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.