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Vowels 9 and 20, /u/ versus /ʊə/    19 pairs       

The /u/ vowel is spelled <oo>, <ue> and <o> in two. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <our> or <ure>.

This is a contrast between a long vowel and a diphthong with similar starting positions. It is a known problem for Farsi and Swahili learners and probably for others, even some native speakers. Luckily there are few minimal pairs and so it does not matter very much.

The density figure is 1.8%. The set makes 10 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 52.6%.

allude allured
boon bourn
  boons bourns
boo boor
  boos boors 
cue cure
  cues cures
endue endure
  endued endured
  endues endures
moo moor
  mood moored
  moos moors 
queue cure
  queued cured 
  queues cures
too tour
two tour
  twos tours 

Credit: John Higgins