Vowels 8 and 19, /ʊ/ versus /eə/    8 pairs
[pudpaired.html]

The /ʊ/ vowel is spelled <oo>, <u>, and <oul> in should. The /eə/ diphthong is spelled <are> or <air>.

This is a contrast between a short vowel and a diphthong, widely separated in the mouth. It creates no problems.


bully barely 
could cared 
fully fairly 
hood hared 
pud paired 
should shared 
stood stared 
wood wared 

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