Just like the -OMB pattern (comb, bomb, tomb), the -OVE ending in English produces three different vowel sounds depending on the word. Love, move, and prove all end in -OVE, but none of them rhyme.
The Three Pronunciations
love = /lʌv/ (rhymes with "dove"), move = /muːv/ (rhymes with "groove"), prove = /pruːv/ (rhymes with "groove" too). The silent E does not make the O "say its name."
The Groups
Group 1: /ʌv/ (the "love" group)
O sounds like the U in "but." These are Old English words where the O spelling was used because scribes found it easier to read next to letters like V, M, N (the "minim" letters):
- love /lʌv/
- dove /dʌv/ (the bird)
- glove /ɡlʌv/
- above /əˈbʌv/
- shove /ʃʌv/
Group 2: /uːv/ (the "move" group)
O sounds like the OO in "food":
- move /muːv/
- prove /pruːv/
- improve /ɪmˈpruːv/
- approve /əˈpruːv/
- groove /ɡruːv/
- remove /rɪˈmuːv/
Group 3: /oʊv/ (the "stove" group)
O says its name (long O), following the Magic E rule:
- stove /stoʊv/
- drove /droʊv/
- wove /woʊv/
- cove /koʊv/
- clove /kloʊv/
- rove /roʊv/
Which Group Is "Normal"?
Group 3 (stove, drove, cove) follows the regular Magic E rule: the E at the end makes the O say its name. Groups 1 (love) and 2 (move) are exceptions. Group 2 words mostly come from French, which is why they use the /uːv/ sound.
How to Remember
- Love group (/ʌv/): Think of emotions and physical actions: love, shove, above, dove, glove. Memorize this small group.
- Move group (/uːv/): Think of motion and change: move, prove, improve, approve, remove, groove. These come from French.
- Stove group (/oʊv/): This is the "normal" group following Magic E. If in doubt, try this one first: stove, drove, wove, cove.
Practice
- I love /lʌv/ how they improve /ɪmˈpruːv/ the stove /stoʊv/.
- The dove /dʌv/ moved /muːvd/ above /əˈbʌv/ the cove /koʊv/.
- Remove /rɪˈmuːv/ the glove /ɡlʌv/ from the stove /stoʊv/.