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]

Originally Posted by Tdol

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]

Originally Posted by risby

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!