Vowels 15 and 20, /ɔɪ/ versus /ʊə/    11 pairs    [boyboor.html]

The /ɔɪ/ diphthong is spelled <oi> and <oy>. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <ure>, <oor> or <our>.

This is a contrast between two diphthongs with different starting positions and direction of movement. It is not a problem for learners.

The pair alloy/allure and its derivatrives is not completely minimal since the /ʊə/ element is usually palatalised.

The density figure is 1.4%. The set makes 6 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 54%.

alloy allure
  alloyed allured
  alloys allures
boy boor  
  boys boors 
buoy boor
  buoys boors  
doily dourly
toy tour
  toyed toured 
  toys tours 

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, December 2009
updated Chiang Mai, 2024