look · lock
look and lock share the same l_k frame — only the vowel changes: soft short /ʊ/ vs wider, more open /ɒ/.
look /lʊk/ and lock /lɒk/ share the same l_k frame — only the vowel changes: a soft, short /ʊ/ vs a wider, more open /ɒ/.
verb/noun — to direct your eyes at something — 'look at this' · 'take a look' · 'look out!' (warning)
mouth shape
short /ʊ/ — lips slightly rounded, tongue high and back — like 'book', 'put', 'good' — a soft, short sound
look
/lʊk/
vowel length
noun/verb — a device that secures a door; OR to secure something — 'lock the door' · 'under lock and key' (idiom)
mouth shape
short /ɒ/ — mouth opens wide, jaw drops, lips slightly rounded — like 'hot', 'pot', 'stop' — noticeably more open than look
lock
/lɒk/
vowel length
Key difference
Feel your jaw: it stays high and barely moves for look /ʊ/ — lips just slightly rounded. For lock /ɒ/ the jaw drops noticeably further and the mouth opens wider.
Example sentences
look:“Look at that beautiful sunset.”
lock:“Don’t forget to lock the front door.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
look
Hear native speakers say “look” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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lock
Hear native speakers say “lock” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
Opens YouTube-sourced clips in a new tab.
How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
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