When the English tongue we speak,
Why is sew not rhymed with few?
Will you tell me why it's true
Cow is cow, but low is low
And shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose and nose, and of lose
And goose and yet of choose.
Think of comb and tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll, and home and some.
Since pay rhymes with say,
Why not paid with said, I pray?
We have blood and food and good;
But mould is not pronounced like could.
We say done and gone but lone.
Is there any reason known?
Thus, in short, it seems to me
English sounds and letters disagree.
Reference:
Tongue Twisters for English Teachers and Students by C.S. Canonigo
Why is sew not rhymed with few?
Will you tell me why it's true
Cow is cow, but low is low
And shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose and nose, and of lose
And goose and yet of choose.
Think of comb and tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll, and home and some.
Since pay rhymes with say,
Why not paid with said, I pray?
We have blood and food and good;
But mould is not pronounced like could.
We say done and gone but lone.
Is there any reason known?
Thus, in short, it seems to me
English sounds and letters disagree.
Reference:
Tongue Twisters for English Teachers and Students by C.S. Canonigo