The last of the UR notes

 

 

/ʃʊə/ and /ʊə/ Notes

1. insure
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is /ʃɔ;/.
2. reassure
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is /ʃɔ;/, matching the transcription and audio for "assure".
3. sure and surely
   See also under /ɔ:/. Both pronunciations are common, and Macmillan English Dictionary has audio samples of both.
4. sure-fire
   Macmillan English Dictionary provides only an audio sample of this (not / ɔ:/ , but there is no transcription (although there is a transcription for "sure-footed", giving only the /ɔ:/ pronunciation). Either is common and acceptable.
5. chiaroscuro
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample has no trace of /ə/ after the /ʊ/.
6. Lurex
   Macmillan English Dictionary has two transcriptions marked as "British", one with a glide (/jʊə/). But the two transcriptions both link to the same audio (which has no glide).
7. Urdu
   Macmillan English Dictionary also has the pronunciation /ɜ:/.

ʤʊə/ and /ʧʊə/ Notes

1. injurious
   This escapes the usual exclusion of derivatives of words ending "-ure" because the /ʤə/ of "injure" becomes so radically different when stressed.
2. futurity
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has the transcription /tj/ - but the audio sample is a clear /ʧ/. Both pronunciations are acceptable.
3. maturity
   Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, although "immaturity" is transcribed /tjʊə/. As usual, both pronunciations are acceptable.
   

/ʤʊ/ and /ʧʊ/ Notes

1. /djʊ/
   This cluster of phonemes can often, colloquially, be realized as /ʤʊ/, but Macmillan English Dictionary‘s audio samples for "obdurate" and its derivatives uses this sound (appropriately, as it is an esssentially formal word).

/ʌ/ Notes

1. alternating current
   Usually abbreviated to AC.
2. burra
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is /ʊ/ (reflecting the Indian application of the word).
3. direct current
   Usually abbreviated to DC.

/ᴐ:/ Notes

1. assurance
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is /ʊ/ (regarded by some as preferable, though /ɔ:/ is not uncommon).
2. assured
   In this case, the Macmillan English Dictionary audio sample matches the transcription, although - as in for assurance" -  /ʊ/ is acceptable (often followed by /ə/)
3. assuredly
   Students of ESOL should note that this word has four syllables (whereas "assured" has only two), and even in non-rhotic speech the /r/ is sounded. As in that case, /ʊ/ may sometimes be used (and is preferred by some speakers).
4. Qur'an
   The  Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is /ə/. Speakers who use this pronunciation tend to use the "Koran" spelling. (Whereas people who use the "Qur‘an" spelling often use the vowel /ʊ/ or something more authentic).
5. sure and surely
   See also under /ʊə/. Both pronunciations are common.
6. sure-footed
   Macmillan English Dictionary gives only this pronunciation, whereas for "sure-fire" (although with no transcription) it gives an audio sample of the /ʊə/ pronunciation. Either is common and acceptable.

/u/ Notes

1. urea
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription but other similar words (such as "urethra") use /jʊ/.
2. urinal
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription but other similar words (such as "urinate") use /jʊə/.
3. urology
   The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription but other similar words (such as "urogenital") use /jʊə/.