Vowel Minimal Pair
How to Pronounce luke vs look
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Look’ (⁄lʊk⁄) uses the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘Luke’ (⁄luːk⁄) uses the long tense ⁄uː⁄.
Contrast: Lax ⁄ʊ⁄ vs tense ⁄uː⁄
“Let me have nine penn'orth o' brandy and water luke, and the inkstand, will you, miss?”
Word 2Full word page➔
look
⁄lʊk⁄
Syllables
LOOK
Definition:
To try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes.
“They kept looking at me.”
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Frequently Asked Questions: luke vs look
What is the difference in pronunciation between "luke" and "look"?
‘Look’ (⁄lʊk⁄) uses the lax vowel ⁄ʊ⁄; ‘Luke’ (⁄luːk⁄) uses the long tense ⁄uː⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "luke" vs "look"?
"luke" has 1 syllable(s) (luke) with stress on "LUKE". "look" has 1 syllable(s) (look) with stress on "LOOK".
Why do English learners often confuse "luke" and "look"?
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 "luke" and "look"?
Example for "luke": "Let me have nine penn'orth o' brandy and water luke, and the inkstand, will you, miss?" Example for "look": "They kept looking at me."