Usted and Universidad

Question

Can someone please explain to me why some native speakers pronounce the first syllable of usted and universidad like they are almost saying the word "you" in English. I hear this from time-to-time:

you-sted (instead of ooo-sted)

and

you-niversidad (instead of ooo-niversidad).

Why the two ways of pronouncing the "u" sound? I thought "u" was always an "oooooo" sound, as in the word moon, not "you.".

Gracias.

Answer 1

HI justinn, good observation, however, there is only one possibility this happens now and again with the "y" before the words.

¿Y usted? this would sound like you said: yousted?

same with universidad.

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