Vowel Minimal Pair
How to Pronounce look vs luke
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Look’ (⁄lʊk⁄) uses the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘Luke’ (⁄luːk⁄) uses the long tense ⁄uː⁄.
Contrast: Lax ⁄ʊ⁄ vs tense ⁄uː⁄
Word 1Full word page➔
look
⁄lʊk⁄
Syllables
LOOK
Definition:
To try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes.
“They kept looking at me.”
“Let me have nine penn'orth o' brandy and water luke, and the inkstand, will you, miss?”
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Frequently Asked Questions: look vs luke
What is the difference in pronunciation between "look" and "luke"?
‘Look’ (⁄lʊk⁄) uses the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘Luke’ (⁄luːk⁄) uses the long tense ⁄uː⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "look" vs "luke"?
"look" has 1 syllable(s) (look) with stress on "LOOK". "luke" has 1 syllable(s) (luke) with stress on "LUKE".
Why do English learners often confuse "look" and "luke"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Lax ⁄ʊ⁄ vs tense ⁄uː⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "look" and "luke"?
Example for "look": "They kept looking at me." Example for "luke": "Let me have nine penn'orth o' brandy and water luke, and the inkstand, will you, miss?"