All words ›Xu
SurnameHow to pronounce “Xu”
徐xú
Literally: slow, unhurried.
❌ What English speakers usually say
“ex-you”, “zoo” or “shoe”
✅ What to say instead
shü — the smiling hiss plus the ü vowel: say “ee”, then round your lips without moving the tongue
The shape of the word
Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Tone | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 徐 xú | Second tone — rising | xu — open drill → |
Worth knowing
After x the letter u always means ü. There is no plain “oo” sound in this name at all.
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Xu?
Xu is 徐, xú — shü — the smiling hiss plus the ü vowel: say “ee”, then round your lips without moving the tongue. Literally it means slow, unhurried.
What is the most common mistake with Xu?
“ex-you”, “zoo” or “shoe”
Is there anything else worth knowing about Xu?
After x the letter u always means ü. There is no plain “oo” sound in this name at all.
More words people mispronounce
Can you actually say it?
Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.