Two OO sounds
The letters OO spell two distinct vowels: the long tense sound in food and the short lax one in book. There is no rule that predicts which, so each word has to be learned. Listen for length and lip tension: the long one is held longer with tighter rounding.
Accent
15 words · intermediate · your accent and voice are remembered across the site. More options on the settings page.
The words
More lists like this
Magic E words
A silent final E that changes the vowel before it: hat to hate, kit to kite. Hear the difference.
Long A sound words
The /eɪ/ sound in day, rain and eight, spelled six different ways. Train your ear to all of them.
Long E sound words
The long ee sound in see, meat and field. Hear the tense vowel across all its spellings.
Short I sound words
The relaxed short i in sit, big and busy. The single hardest vowel for most learners to place.
Schwa sound words
The most common sound in English, hiding in every unstressed syllable. Learn to hear the schwa.
Long vs short vowel pairs
Ship or sheep, full or fool, pull or pool. Hear the tense and lax vowel pairs side by side.
Keep practising
Browse every practice list, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.