sh+long oo

Rule Core

sh + long oo is pronounced /ʃuː/. The fricative /ʃ/ flows directly into a long, tense /uː/. This pattern often appears in roots like shoe-.

Articulation Guide

Start with the tongue near the postalveolar ridge for /ʃ/, then retract the tongue, round and project the lips, sustaining the airflow for /uː/.

Word Analysis

shoemaker = shoe + maker. The shoe part keeps a clear, lengthened /uː/ without diphthongization.

Pitfalls

Do not confuse oo=/uː/ with oo=/ʊ/ as in book, or misread shoe as /ʃoʊ/.