Unit 13: Spelling the sound /oo/: oo

The letters oo are used to spell two slightly different sounds. Say these words aloud and listen to the vowel sound:

 

boot books

    In the word boot, the /oo/ sound is long.

    In the word book, the /oo/ sound is short.

Some more examples:

Learning English spelling of words with oo sound Learning English spelling of words with oo sound
The long / / sound as in boot The short // sound as in book
food
mood
roof
proof
cool
tool
boom
gloom		 spoon
soon
droop
scoop
hoot
scoot
moor
poor
good
wood
cook
look
soot (coal dust)
foot
wool

Footnote:
Standard English pronunciation has been used for these examples. In some parts of England the -ook words may have a longer sound.
next part of the spelling course Go to next page: Some practice in the /oo/ words
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