The letters "OO" in English can make two completely different sounds, and mixing them up is one of the most common pronunciation mistakes. Words like "food" and "book" look similar but sound different!
Understanding the difference between the long OO /uː/ and short OO /ʊ/ will dramatically improve your English pronunciation.
The Two OO Sounds
English has two OO sounds:
- Long OO /uː/ - A long, tense sound (like in "food," "moon," "blue")
- Short OO /ʊ/ - A short, relaxed sound (like in "book," "good," "put")
The spelling doesn't always tell you which sound to use, which is why this is so tricky!
How to Make the Long OO /uː/
- Round your lips tightly in a small circle (like blowing a kiss)
- Push your lips forward
- Keep your tongue high in the back of your mouth
- Hold the sound - it's a long vowel
Think of it like saying "ooooo" when you're impressed by something.
How to Make the Short OO /ʊ/
- Relax your lips - they're rounded but not tight
- Don't push your lips forward as much
- Your tongue is slightly lower than for long OO
- Keep it short - don't hold the sound
Think of it like the sound you make when something surprises you: "uh!" but with rounded lips.
Long OO /uː/ Words
Common Words with Long OO:
Short OO /ʊ/ Words
Common Words with Short OO:
Minimal Pairs: Hear the Difference
Practice these word pairs to train your ear:
Spelling Patterns
Unfortunately, the spelling doesn't always tell you which sound to use. But here are some general patterns:
Usually Long OO /uː/:
- oo + most consonants: moon, soon, food, roof, cool
- ew: new, few, knew, threw
- ue: blue, true, glue
- ui: fruit, juice, suit
- ou: group, soup, through
Usually Short OO /ʊ/:
- oo + k: book, look, cook, hook, took
- oo + d: good, wood, hood, stood
- u (sometimes): put, push, pull, full, bull
- ou + ld: would, could, should
Tricky Exceptions:
- food = /fuːd/ (long) but good = /gʊd/ (short)
- boot = /buːt/ (long) but foot = /fʊt/ (short)
- pool = /puːl/ (long) but wool = /wʊl/ (short)
Quick Reference Table
| Long OO /uː/ | Short OO /ʊ/ |
|---|---|
| food, mood, brood | good, wood, hood |
| boot, hoot, root | foot, soot |
| pool, cool, tool, fool | pull, bull, full, wool |
| moon, soon, spoon | - |
| room, broom, groom | - |
| two, too, do, who | - |
| blue, true, glue | - |
| new, few, threw | - |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using the Same Sound for All OO Words
- "food" and "good" are NOT the same sound
- "boot" and "book" are NOT the same sound
Mistake 2: Making Short OO Too Long
- "book" should be quick: /bʊk/
- Don't say "booook" with a long sound
Mistake 3: Not Rounding Lips Enough for Long OO
- For /uː/, your lips should be pushed forward in a tight circle
- Think "kissing face"
Mistake 4: Confusing with Spanish "U"
Spanish has only one "U" sound, which is closer to English long OO. But English has both, so pay attention!
Practice Sentences
Read these aloud, paying attention to which OO sound to use:
-
The food at school is pretty good. (/uː/ - /uː/ - /ʊ/)
-
Look at the moon in the pool. (/ʊ/ - /uː/ - /uː/)
-
She took a cool book to the room. (/ʊ/ - /uː/ - /ʊ/ - /uː/)
-
I would choose the wood floor if I could. (/ʊ/ - /uː/ - /ʊ/ - /ʊ/)
-
Put your boots on, we're leaving soon. (/ʊ/ - /uː/ - /uː/)
Tongue Twisters
-
"The cook took a good look at the food." (/ʊ/ - /ʊ/ - /ʊ/ - /ʊ/ - /uː/)
-
"Who knew two blue shoes would do?" (/uː/ - /uː/ - /uː/ - /uː/ - /ʊ/ - /uː/)
-
"Luke looks for good books in the school room." (/uː/ - /ʊ/ - /ʊ/ - /ʊ/ - /uː/ - /uː/)
How to Practice
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Feel the difference: Say "fool" then "full" - notice how your lips change.
-
Use a mirror: Watch your mouth. For long OO, lips push forward more.
-
Group words by sound: Practice all long OO words together, then all short OO words.
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Record yourself: Compare your "book" vs "boot" to native speakers.
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Learn common words first: Master the most frequent words (good, look, book, food, school, room) before moving to less common ones.
Why This Matters
These two sounds appear in extremely common English words:
- "Good" and "food" are both in the top 500 most used words
- "Look," "book," "school," and "room" are everyday vocabulary
Getting these sounds right will make your English much clearer and more natural-sounding!
Sources
-
Phonetics Reference
- Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 2.
- Ladefoged, P., & Johnson, K. (2014). A Course in Phonetics. Cengage Learning. Chapter 4.
-
ESL Teaching Resources
- Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D., & Goodwin, J. (2010). Teaching Pronunciation: A Course Book and Reference Guide. Cambridge University Press.