Common mistake · Short o vs short u
Short O and U: hot or hut?
Why does it happen?
Both sounds get pulled towards the Arabic damma or fatha and merge: hot and hut, cot and cut.
How do we fix it?
o: the mouth is round and open. u: the mouth is relaxed and not rounded, a short sound from the middle of the mouth. The difference is the lip shape.
Minimal pairs
Hear the difference
Two words that differ by one sound only. Tap each word, listen, then repeat.
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
Today's drill (5 minutes)
Round the lips like the letter O itself for hot, then relax them for hut.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child get Short o vs short u wrong?
Both sounds get pulled towards the Arabic damma or fatha and merge: hot and hut, cot and cut.
How do I fix Short o vs short u?
o: the mouth is round and open. u: the mouth is relaxed and not rounded, a short sound from the middle of the mouth. The difference is the lip shape.
What is a good drill?
Round the lips like the letter O itself for hot, then relax them for hut.