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Vowel Minimal Pair

How to Pronounce food vs foot

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Foot’ (⁄fʊt⁄) has the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘food’ (⁄fuːd⁄) has the tense vowel ⁄uː⁄ and a voiced /d/.

Contrast: Lax ⁄ʊ⁄ + /t/ vs tense ⁄uː⁄ + /d/

food

⁄fuːd⁄

Syllables

FOOD

Definition:

Any solid substance that can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.

“The innkeeper brought them food and drink.”

foot

⁄fʊt⁄

Syllables

FOOT

Definition:

A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg.

“A spider has eight feet.”

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Frequently Asked Questions: food vs foot

What is the difference in pronunciation between "food" and "foot"?

‘Foot’ (⁄fʊt⁄) has the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘food’ (⁄fuːd⁄) has the tense vowel ⁄uː⁄ and a voiced /d/.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "food" vs "foot"?

"food" has 1 syllable(s) (food) with stress on "FOOD". "foot" has 1 syllable(s) (foot) with stress on "FOOT".

Why do English learners often confuse "food" and "foot"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Lax ⁄ʊ⁄ + /t/ vs tense ⁄uː⁄ + /d/. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "food" and "foot"?

Example for "food": "The innkeeper brought them food and drink." Example for "foot": "A spider has eight feet."