<p>There is a difference.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>唷 (Toneless <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet" rel="noreferrer">IPA</a>: <strong>/jɔ/</strong>) rhymes with 波. The rhyme is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel#Occurrence" rel="noreferrer">open-mid back rounded vowel</a>, and is the <strong><em>ough</em></strong> in American English <em>th<strong>ough</strong>t</em>.</p></li>
<li><p>優 (/<strong>joʊ̯</strong>/) rhymes with 秋. The rhyme is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong#English" rel="noreferrer">diphthong oʊ̯</a>, and almost the same as <strong><em>ow</em></strong> in American English <em>l<strong>ow</em></strong>.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T03:15:03.200Z
Thanks mate, that's a very good explanation.
Step Start
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T05:22:19.447Z
In some topolectical pinyin you will see "yo" written "yuo," (think: guo/luo/tuo, etc.) to mark the /o/ sound (注: ㄛ). Maybe that'll help wrap your mind around it.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T00:00:53.530Z
2020-01-30T02:44:46.413Z
2020-01-30T02:44:46.413Z
dROOOze
<p>唷 is an exclamation, commonly accompanied by !!!!. This means a rising, stretched out tone.</p>

<p>It's like "high"  and "Hi!!!"</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T02:55:21.310Z
Not the Dv'er, but I think you should rephrase this a bit. When you say `It's like "high" and "Hi!!!"`, you're implying that the difference between 唷 and 優 is like the difference between "high" and "hi!!!", which is not the case. "Hi!!!" sounds exactly the same as "High!!!", whereas no amount of mood flavouring or excitement can turn 優！！！ into 唷！！！ - they simply don't rhyme.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T01:48:52.780Z
2020-01-30T01:48:52.780Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>I have no idea, for example, of what the difference in pronunciation between 唷 when pronounced with the first tone and 优.
If there's no difference, why are they written differently in pinyin?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T00:06:59.380Z
kind of short vowel and long vowel
Shaw
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T00:59:04.117Z
you has a ew after the oh. "oh" vs "oh-ew"
小奥利奥
<pronunciation><pinyin>
What's the difference in pronunciation between "yo" and "you" in pinyin?
# What's the difference in pronunciation between "yo" and "you" in pinyin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-29)

I have no idea, for example, of what the difference in pronunciation between 唷 when pronounced with the first tone and 优.
If there's no difference, why are they written differently in pinyin?

**Tags:** pronunciation, pinyin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: kind of short vowel and long vowel  
> **username_2**: you has a ew after the oh. "oh" vs "oh-ew"  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-01-30. Score: 5

There is a difference.

* 唷 (Toneless [IPA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet): **/jɔ/**) rhymes with 波. The rhyme is the [open-mid back rounded vowel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel#Occurrence), and is the ***ough*** in American English *th**ough**t*.
* 優 (/**joʊ̯**/) rhymes with 秋. The rhyme is the [diphthong oʊ̯](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong#English), and almost the same as ***ow*** in American English *l**ow***.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks mate, that's a very good explanation.  
> **username_4**: In some topolectical pinyin you will see "yo" written "yuo," (think: guo/luo/tuo, etc.) to mark the /o/ sound (注: ㄛ). Maybe that'll help wrap your mind around it.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-01-30. Score: -1

唷 is an exclamation, commonly accompanied by !!!!. This means a rising, stretched out tone.

It's like "high" and "Hi!!!"

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Not the Dv'er, but I think you should rephrase this a bit. When you say `It's like "high" and "Hi!!!"`, you're implying that the difference between 唷 and 優 is like the difference between "high" and "hi!!!", which is not the case. "Hi!!!" sounds exactly the same as "High!!!", whereas no amount of mood flavouring or excitement can turn 優！！！ into 唷！！！ - they simply don't rhyme.  

---

