In (American) English, "pour" and "poor" are pronounced the same (with the "r" sound).

Words are not pronounced exactly the same all over the U. S. It's a big place. You will notice small variations, especially in the pronunciation of vowels, from region to region. There is no dictionary that can give you pronunciation rules that will work everywhere.

The difference in pronunciation of "pour" is a common confusion. Here's a breakdown: Dictionary Pronunciation (BrE): In British English, "pour" is often transcribed as /pɔː/, which sounds like "pore" or "paw" in American English. The vowel sound is a long "aw" as in "law." Common Pronunciation (AmE): In American English, many people pronounce "pour" the same as "poor," which is /pʊr/ or /pɔːr/. The "oo" sound is a bit more rounded, similar to the vowel in "door" or "sure." Why the Difference? Accent Variation: The pronunciation can vary depending on the region and the speaker's accent. British English tends to keep the "aw" sound, while American English often shifts to a sound closer to "oo" in "poor." Language Evolution: Over time, pronunciations can evolve and merge, leading to variations even within the same language.

The pronunciation of "pour" can vary depending on the accent or regional dialect. In many American and British accents, "pour" is indeed pronounced similarly to "poor," with both sounding like "pohr" or "pawr." However, in some other accents, "pour" might have a slightly longer vowel sound, which could be why the dictionary notes it as "po:." The key is that in everyday speech, "pour" and "poor" are often pronounced the same, which is why you might be hearing them as identical.

Some dictionaries have pronunciation guides that use minimal letters, but with special accent symbols above the vowels. Does your "po" have an accent symbol above the o? If so, it's probably sufficient to define the complete pronunciation, and it should not be read as simply "po" without special conditions.