Long and Short O and U Sounds in English
In English, the letters O and U each spell a short sound and a long sound, and the spelling does not always tell you which one to use. This guide shows you the short and long O and U sounds with their phonetic symbols, the spelling patterns that signal each one, example words, and minimal pairs to train your ear.
This is for learners at any level who want clearer, more confident pronunciation. The reference is British English (RP), with a note where American English differs. There are three exercises on this page so you can practice straight away.
A quick video summary
Long and short vowels: what the words mean
A short vowel is a single, quick sound. A long vowel is held a little longer, and in English the "long" O and U are often gliding sounds that move from one position to another. It is more useful to learn each sound by its phonetic symbol and example words than to rely on the spelling, because the same letter can sound different from word to word.
One common idea, that long vowels are always diphthongs and short vowels are always single sounds, is only half true. The long O is a diphthong, but the long U can be a single long sound. Use the symbols below as your guide.
The short O sound /ɒ/
The short O is the vowel in dog. In British English it is /ɒ/; in American English it is closer to /ɑː/ (as in "father"). It usually appears when a single O is followed by a consonant.
| Spelling pattern | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| o + consonant | /ɒ/ | dog, pot, top, mop, odd, fog, crop |
| o pronounced like short u | /ʌ/ | son, done, come, love, month |
Watch out for the second row: the letter O sometimes makes the short U sound /ʌ/, especially before v, n, m or th, as in love, some, month, brother.
The long O sound /əʊ/
The long O is the vowel in go. It is a diphthong, /əʊ/ in British English and /oʊ/ in American English. It is spelled several ways.
| Spelling pattern | Where it appears | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| o (alone) | end of a word, or a stressed open syllable | go, total, tomato |
| oa | start or middle of a word | oat, boat, toast |
| ow | usually at the end of a word | snow, tow, window |
| o + consonant + e | middle of a word | note, home, rose |
Pronunciation is the one skill you cannot learn silently. You need to say the sounds and get feedback. Book a free trial lesson and practice these vowels with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.
Book my free trialThe short U sound /ʌ/
The short U is the "uh" vowel in cup, written /ʌ/. It is one of the most common vowels in English.
| Spelling pattern | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| u + consonant | /ʌ/ | cup, sun, jump, bus, duck, mud, gum |
| o (before v, n, m, th) | /ʌ/ | love, glove, some, month, brother |
The long U sound /juː/ or /uː/
The long U has two close versions: /juː/ (a "you" sound, as in cute) and /uː/ (an "oo" sound, as in rule). Which one you use depends on the word.
| Spelling pattern | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| u at the end of an open syllable | /juː/ or /uː/ | pupil, tulip, student, music |
| u + consonant + e | /juː/ or /uː/ | cute, rule, fume, June, tube |
Quick reference
| Sound | Symbol | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short O | /ɒ/ (US /ɑː/) | dog, pot |
| Long O | /əʊ/ (US /oʊ/) | go, boat |
| Short U | /ʌ/ | cup, sun |
| Long U | /juː/ or /uː/ | cute, rule |
Minimal pairs: hear the difference
Minimal pairs are two words that differ in only one sound. Practising them trains your ear and your mouth to keep the sounds apart.
| Short | Long |
|---|---|
| not /ɒ/ | note /əʊ/ |
| cot /ɒ/ | coat /əʊ/ |
| cut /ʌ/ | cute /juː/ |
| us /ʌ/ | use /juː/ |
| luck /ʌ/ | Luke /uː/ |
Practice exercises on long and short O and U
Exercise 1. Decide whether the O sound in each word is long or short.
Exercise 2. Decide whether the U sound in each word is long or short.
Exercise 3. Put the words in the correct order.
Quick self-check
Choose the answer, then reveal the solutions.
1. Which word has the long O sound: cot or coat?
2. Which word has the short U sound: cup or cute?
3. Does love have a short O or a short U sound?
Show answers
1. coat /əʊ/. 2. cup /ʌ/. 3. short U /ʌ/ (even though it is spelled with an o).
How did that feel? Telling sounds apart in an exercise is one thing. Producing them clearly when you speak is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will listen and help you fix the vowels that are holding you back.
Try a free trial lessonFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a long and a short vowel?
How do you pronounce the short O sound?
How do you pronounce the long O sound?
What is the difference between the two long U sounds?
Why does "love" have a short U sound when it is spelled with an O?
Key takeaways
- Each of O and U spells a short sound and a long sound, and spelling is not a reliable guide.
- Short O is the vowel in dog; long O is the diphthong in go.
- Short U is the "uh" in cup; long U is the "you" in cute or the "oo" in rule.
- The letter o often makes the short U sound, as in love, some and month.
- Practice with minimal pairs (not/note, cut/cute) to keep the sounds apart.
Keep learning
- Long and short A and I sounds
- More English pronunciation guides
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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.