Vowels 8 and 20, /ʊ/ versus /ʊə/    3 pairs
[goodgourd.html]

The /ʊ/ vowel is spelled <oo> or <u>. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <oor> or <our>.

This is a contrast between a short vowel and a diphthong, with the same starting positions. There is potential for confusion but so few pairs that it does not constitute a problem.


good gourd
  goods gourds
pulley poorly 

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, December 2009
updated Chiang Mai, 2025