The recent developments in acoustical methods make it possible to obtain, in the laboratory, quick and simple measures of the speed of propagation of the compression (Vp) and shear (Vs) waves in cohesive saturated or nonsaturated soils. The ultrasonic celerometer has allowed the observation of a significant correlation between the speed of the shear waves and the shear strength measured with the Swedish cone in clayey soils with or without additives. This nondestructive test could be currently used in geotechnical practice. Key words: ustrasonic celerometer, dynamic-elastic constants, nondestructive test, laboratory test, acoustic method, Swedish cone shear strength, cohesive soils, shear wave speed, compression wave speed. [Journal translation]