Elementary 🎯 Pronunciation & Mistakes · #70 of 111

Sound: Short and Long U

full vs fool.

Examples

  • pull / pool
  • look / Luke

Key rules

  • The short u /ʊ/ in full and the long oo /uː/ in fool are different sounds
  • Confusing them changes words such as pull and pool
  • Short u is relaxed and lip-rounded less

Common mistakes

  • pull pronounced /puːl/ → Say /pʊl/ with a short vowel
  • pool pronounced /pʊl/ → Say /puːl/ with a long vowel

Use cases

  • Speaking clearly
  • Pronouncing names and words
  • Listening tests
💡 Tip: Say the pair aloud, using a short sound for pull and a long sound for pool.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
← Mistake: Missing -s on Third PersonSound: S and Z →

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/s/, /z/, /iz/.

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Stress one syllable in each word.

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Stress content words.

Mistake: Make vs Do

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