/ʊ/ vs /uː/: full vs fool

The short relaxed /ʊ/ and the long tense /uː/ separate pull/pool, look/Luke and full/fool. Fewer word pairs than /ɪ vs iː/, but the same length-plus-tension mechanic.

Medium impact
5 pairs
Three voices

1 / 10

Which word do you hear?

See the difference

/ʊ/ is short with loose lips; /uː/ is long with tightly rounded, pushed-forward lips. Whistle-shape your lips for 'fool'; relax everything for 'full'.

as in full

Lips: Rounded
Tongue: Fairly high, near the back
Voice: On
Length: Short

Learn ʊ

uː

as in fool

Lips: Rounded
Tongue: High and to the back
Voice: On
Length: Long: hold it

Learn uː

All 5 pairs

In a sentence

Hardest for speakers of

Questions

What is the difference between full and fool?

full /fʊl/ uses the /ʊ/ sound while fool /fuːl/ uses /uː/. /ʊ/ is short with loose lips; /uː/ is long with tightly rounded, pushed-forward lips. Whistle-shape your lips for 'fool'; relax everything for 'full'.

Which learners find the /ʊ/ vs /uː/ contrast hardest?

It is most challenging for Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Turkish, Farsi speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.