う UAn important thing to remember is that う(u) is hardly pronounced when at the end of a word. An exmaple would be あります --arimasu. The "u" at the end is just dropped as you reach it, so it sounds more like "arimas".
The same goes for when う (u) is placed between an "s" and "k". A name most of us are familliar with, さすけ--Sasuke, is a great example. When I first began reading Naruto, and had little prior experience with Japanese, I said "Sasookie". WRONG.
My name is Sasuke!
Watashi-wa Sasuke desu!
わたしわ佐助です!
Again, the "u" saoudn is just barely audible, and more like "saskay".
As you get more advanced in speaking Japanese, you will learn to still make う (u) sound without entirely saying it.
Practice, practice, practice!