/ʊ/ and /u:/ (29/11)

7./ʊ/

Approximate Castilian production

• The Spanish sound is produced at the back and it is tenser.
• A similar sound can be heard when it is nect to “r” and “l”: hurto, pulso.

Articulation: 

• The tongue and jaw are raised as the back of the tongue is used to articulate this vowel. Hence it is a back, close (high) vowel. The lips are rounded.

Most important spellings that represent /ʊ/:

• U: full, put.
• Oo: book, look.
• Ou: could, should.
• O: woman.

8. /u:/

• This vowel is towards the back and is a close sound. The lips are only moderately rounded.

Approximate Castilian production

• It is more closed and tenser than the Spanish “u” (apart from being longer).

Most important spellings that represent /u:/:

• Oo: spoon, shoot, troop, boom.
• Ou: soup, route.
• O: do.
• U: June, flu.
• Ew, ue, ui, oe: jew, blue, suit, shoe.

Minimal pairs

/u:/	/ʊ/
Fool Luke Cooed Shoed Pool	Full Look Could Should Pull

Here I post a video where they explain the differences between /ʊ/and /u:/: