Long OO Sound: Speech Therapy Guide, Words & Games
The long OO sound is written /uː/ in the phonetic alphabet, and most children master it by age 3. This guide covers how to make the long OO sound, 28 practice words split across medial and final position, and the errors children make most often.
Example Long OO words: doing, move, excuse, used (middle); you, to, do, who (end).
The long "oo" vowel in moon, blue, food and shoe. The tongue is high and back and the lips round tightly. Along with long E it is one of the earliest, most stable vowels.
How to Make the Long OO Sound
Ask for "kissing lips" — strong lip rounding is the main cue. Children who round too little produce something closer to the short OO in "book".
IPA Symbol: /uː/
Most children master the long OO sound by age 3. Vowels come in earlier than most consonants: children generally have their full vowel system before the late-developing consonants such as /R/, /S/ and /TH/. Vowel errors are far less common than consonant errors, so one that is still there in a school-age child is worth raising with a speech-language pathologist.
Common Long OO Sound Errors
- Substituting the short OO sound (Short OO as in book) for the long OO sound.
- Substituting the long O sound (Long O as in boat) for the long OO sound.
Long OO Word Lists by Position
Practice these words organized by where the long OO sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest, or open the complete Long OO word list.
Medial Long OO Words
long OO in the middle of words
Final Long OO Words
long OO at the end of words
More Long OO Word Lists & Resources
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