This invention concerns phosphosulfonates having the general formula wherein (1) Y is phenyl; naphthyl; benzyl; (C5-C8)cycloalkyl; a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring having from one to four heteroatoms each being independently N, O or S, provided that no more than one is O or S; a 6-membered heteroaromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a fused 5,6- or 6,6-membered heteroaromatic ring having from one to four heteroatoms each being independently N, O or S, provided that no more than one is O or S; wherein Y optionally has up to three substituents, each being independently halogen, cyano, nitro, (C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, phenyl, (C1-C4)alkylcarbonyloxy, di(C1-C4)alkylcarbamoyl or (C1-C4)alkoxycarbonyl, provided that (a) no more than one of said substituents is present when Y is a thiadiazolyl ring or a tetrazolyl ring, and (b) no more than two of said substituents is present when Y is a triazolyl ring, a thiazolyl ring, or an isothiazolyl ring, except that when Y is phenyl, naphthyl or benzyl, it may have up to five substituents each being independently halogen, acetoxy, methyl, methoxy or halomethoxy, but no more than two of which are acetoxy, methyl, methoxy, or halomethoxy; (2) X is oxygen or sulfur; and (3) R<1> and R<2> are each independently chloro, or (C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C2-C4)alkoxy, (C1-C4)alkylthio, (C3-C4)alkenyloxy, (C3-C4)alkynyloxy, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkoxy, (C4-C8)cycloalkyloxy, (C3-C6)cycloalkyl(C1-C3)alkoxy, cyano(C1-C4)alkoxy, (C2-C4)alkylideneiminooxy or amino each optionally substituted with one or two of (C1-C4)alkyl, (C2-C4)alkenyl or phenyl; provided that there is not more than one phenyl group on the amino group; also provided that R<1> may additionally be phenyl or phenoxy; and also provided that R<1> and R<2> may both be alkoxy so as to form together with the phosphorus atom a 6-membered oxygen-containing ring; except that when R<1> and R<2> are both alkoxy, Y is not phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-bromophenyl or 3-nitrophenyl; compositions containing these compounds and their use as herbicides. n