lose - loose

[risby]

Is it perhaps obeying a perverse rule in English that the single 'o' in lose is pronounced with a long ooo sound: lüz, whereas the double 'o' in loose is pronounced with a short sound: lüs?

This happens with consonants as well because the double 's' in loss is a shorter sibilant than the single 's' in close (at least in 'close the book' but not in 'close to the edge').

[Tdol]

Is there that much difference in the length of the vowel?

[risby]

Is there that much difference in the length of the vowel?

Size doesn't matter so much as direction in this case. What puzzles me is that more letters indicate a shorter sound and fewer letters a longer sound.

[Tdol]

I think it's the final sound that is different.

[dane4uk]

What puzzles me is that more letters indicate a shorter sound and fewer letters a longer sound.

Lol! I was going to post the same!