[ryanf]

I'm not sure I agree, since there's words like "bookkeeper" that work fine—people just add a stop in front of the k sound and don't really think about it.

[animal_spirits]

I never hear people say "bookkeeper" in everyday language. It's usually shortened to "bookie"

[Izkata]

(US) A bookkeeper keeps formal records of finances. A bookie manages bets in gambling.

[graemep]

bookie (maybe this is UK) is usually short for book maker, not bookkeeper.

[animal_spirits]

Ah yeah you are right, TIL they are different

[AussieWog93]

Same in Australia!

[euroderf]

roommate. school loan.

[saulpw]

Those do not have hard stops in the middle.

[euroderf]

True. But in both cases, you can pronounce the first vowel open or you can close it.

[pugworthy]

Roommate does, people just don’t use it.

[jhardy54]

Then it doesn’t.