Vowels 4 and 20, /æ/ versus /ʊə/    9 pairs
[gadgourd.html]

The /æ/ vowel is spelled <a> followed by two consonants or by one consonant in a monosyllable. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <our> or <ure> in lured.

This contrast is between a short vowel and a diphthong well separated in the mouth, so it should cause no problems.


bass bourse
dally dourly
gad gourd
  gads gourds
harry houri
  harries houris
lad lured
mad moored
pally poorly

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, November 2009
updated Chiang Mai, 2025