LOOK AFTER means "to take care of" — an essential phrasal verb for talking about responsibility and caregiving.
Basic Pronunciation
Stress Pattern
Stress typically falls on AFter:
- look = stressed
- AFter = stressed on first syllable
Say: "LOOK AFter" with stress on both "look" and the first syllable of "after."
Connected Speech
The /k/ at the end of "look" links to the /æ/ vowel in "after":
- Written: look after
- Sounds like: "loo-KAF-ter" /lʊˈkæftɚ/
Practice Examples
The Dark L in "Look"
The L in "look" before a consonant is a "dark L" — it has a deeper, more resonant quality.
How to make dark L:
- Tongue tip touches the ridge behind upper teeth
- Back of tongue raises toward soft palate
- Creates a deeper, more "swallowed" sound
The /ʊ/ Vowel
"Look" has the short /ʊ/ vowel (like "book" and "put"):
- Lips slightly rounded
- Tongue high and back, but relaxed
- Short duration
Inseparable Verb
LOOK AFTER is inseparable — the object must come AFTER "after":
- ✅ "Look after the children."
- ❌ "Look the children after."
Different Uses
1. Care for people
2. Care for things
3. Be responsible for
LOOK AFTER vs. Similar Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look after | take care of | Look after the baby |
| take care of | same meaning | Take care of the baby |
| look for | search for | Look for the keys |
| look at | direct eyes toward | Look at this picture |
Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers
1. The /ʊ/ vowel
Don't say "luke" with a long /uː/. Use the short, relaxed /ʊ/.
2. The /æ/ in "after"
This is the "cat" vowel — mouth wide open, tongue low. Not the Spanish "a."
3. The dark L
The L in "look" has a darker quality before consonants. The back of your tongue should rise.
Practice Sentences
- "Look AFTER your health." → /lʊk ˈæftɚ jɔːr helθ/
- "Can you look AFTER my dog?" → /kən jə lʊk ˈæftɚ maɪ dɔːɡ/
- "She looks AFTER her parents." → /ʃi lʊks ˈæftɚ hɝː ˈperənts/
- "Look AFTER yourself!" → /lʊk ˈæftɚ jɔːrˈself/
Common Expressions
Quick Summary
- Stress on both LOOK and AFter
- Link /k/ to /æ/: "loo-KAF-ter"
- Use short /ʊ/ in "look" (not /uː/)
- Inseparable: "look after someone"
- Same meaning as "take care of"
Next: How to pronounce RUN OUT.