Medial Short OO Words for Speech Therapy

Medial Short OO Words are words that have the short OO sound in the middle, such as would, could, and sure. This list has 14 medial-position Short OO words for speech therapy practice, and most children master the short OO sound by age 3.

Short OO words in the middle: would, could, sure, should, woman, looking, took, looks, yours, looked — plus 4 more below. Medial position is where English vowels do most of their work: nearly every one-syllable word is a vowel with consonants around it, so this is usually the most useful list to practise from.

Words:14
Position:Medial

Medial Short OO Words — Full List (14 Words)

Every word below has the short OO sound in the middle. Work through five at a time rather than the whole list in one sitting.

wouldcouldsureshouldwomanlookingtooklooksyourslookedgoodbyesecurityduringbooks
Practice these words with games

How to Practice Medial Short OO Words at Home

Strategies for practicing the short OO sound in the middle of words.

1

Break each word into syllables and practice only the syllable holding the short OO sound, then put the word back together.

2

Clap out the syllables and give the syllable with the short OO sound the strongest clap, so it does not get swallowed by the ones around it.

3

Use a mirror. A vowel is made by how open the jaw is and how the lips and tongue sit, not by a contact your child can feel, so watching the mouth is the clearest feedback available.

4

Practice minimal pairs — two words that differ only in this vowel. Hearing the pair back to back shows a child exactly what has to change, which a single word never does.

5

Go by sound, not spelling. English writes the short OO sound several different ways, so read the words aloud together rather than teaching them as a spelling pattern.

6

Use the words in short, natural phrases ("I see a would") so the vowel keeps its shape in connected speech.

Medial Short OO Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of Short OO words in the medial position?
This page lists 14 Short OO words that have the short OO sound in the middle, including would, could, sure, should, woman, looking, took, looks, yours, looked.
What age should a child master the Short OO sound?
Most children master the short 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.
How do you make the Short OO sound?
Contrast full/fool, pull/pool and look/Luke. Short OO should feel quick and loose — if your child stretches it, it turns into the long OO of "moon".
What are common Short OO sound errors?
The most common short OO errors are: Substituting the long OO sound (Long OO as in moon) for the short OO sound.; Substituting the short U sound (Short U as in cup) for the short OO sound..
How do you practice medial Short OO words at home?
Break each word into syllables and practice only the syllable holding the short OO sound, then put the word back together. Clap out the syllables and give the syllable with the short OO sound the strongest clap, so it does not get swallowed by the ones around it.

More Short OO Word Lists & Resources

Practice the short OO sound in the other word positions, or use the full sound guide and word list.

Short OO Sound Guide

How to make it, common errors, FAQ

All Short OO Words

Complete 14-word list, all positions

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each sound should appear

Speech Therapy Games

Practice Short OO words with interactive activities

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