“Short” vowels

FOOT

A high and back (but not fully peripheral) [ʊ] realization of this vowel is the default variant in most varieties all around the globe. The tensed and fully high and back [u] is a regional variant in some dialects of northern Britain, America, the Caribbean, the Pacific contact varieties, and in all parts of Africa and Asia. Some dialects of British, American and Caribbean Englishes may also have more centralized variants. Fronting of the FOOT vowel primarily characterizes southwestern EngE, SAmE, and NZE.