MinimalPairs
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Minimal pair · General American

English /ʊ/ vs /u/Full or fool?

Distinguish the vowels in full and fool. Listen to vowel quality; making a sound longer by itself does not establish the other category. Broader vowel-training evidence motivates coverage; this binary pool remains an editorial extrapolation.

Practice these sounds
/ʊ/

A near-close, rounded vowel

Listen to the vowel quality in these complete words. Spelling or duration alone will not identify it.

As infull
/u/

A back, rounded vowel

The tongue is high and farther back, with rounded lips.

As infool

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Distinguish the vowels in full and fool. Listen to vowel quality; making a sound longer by itself does not establish the other category. Broader vowel-training evidence motivates coverage; this binary pool remains an editorial extrapolation.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
full
/fʊl/filled to capacity
pull
/pʊl/draw something toward you
cook
/kʊk/prepare food using heat
look
/lʊk/direct your eyes toward something
book
/bʊk/a written work with pages
fool
/ful/trick someone
pool
/pul/a place for swimming
room
/ɹum/an interior space
loom
/lum/a machine for weaving
choose
/tʃuz/to select

10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.

Now, let your ears decide.

Can you hear the difference? Listen to two examples, then decide which sound you hear in a new word. Get feedback after every answer.

Practice these sounds

Keep the sound. Change the word.

Distinguish the vowels in full and fool. Listen to vowel quality; making a sound longer by itself does not establish the other category. Broader vowel-training evidence motivates coverage; this binary pool remains an editorial extrapolation.

Explore all English contrasts
🌐 English