Pull vs pool: how to say the American /ʊ/ and /u/ vowels

Published November 3, 2026

It’s tempting to think of “pull” as a short version of “pool”. But the two vowels also differ in how tense your mouth is and how rounded your lips are. Making “pool” longer or “pull” shorter won’t be enough on its own. You need to change the shape of the sound.

The /ʊ/ in “pull”

This is the vowel in pull, book, and good. Your lips are only lightly rounded and your mouth stays relaxed, with your tongue slightly lower than for /u/. Keep the sound short.

The /u/ in “pool”

This is the vowel in pool, food, and blue. Round your lips more tightly and hold more tension in your mouth, with your tongue higher. The sound is usually longer.

Word pairs to practice

Watch out for spelling

The spelling “oo” can represent either sound, so it won’t tell you which one to use: compare book and good (/ʊ/) with food and moon (/u/). The words could, should, and would all use /ʊ/, and the “l” in them is silent.

How to practice

1. Say “pull, pool, pull, pool” in front of a mirror. Your lips should round more for “pool”.
2. Record yourself, then compare your recording with a native speaker’s audio.
3. Try the pairs in a sentence: “The bucket is full” and “He’s such a fool.”
4. Practice a little every day. Short, regular sessions help your ear adjust.