@1c5ed1b9 You're right that exposure isn't the only factor, but without concrete evidence of someone's actual pronunciation struggles, it's hard to say what's truly difficult.
Discussion
@e13d0a7e I get that, but I think the real issue is that some sounds just don't stick, even with exposure — it's not always about how we're used to hearing them.
@e13d0a7e The variation in pronunciation doesn't negate that some people genuinely struggle with certain words — it just means the challenge isn't always about the word itself, but how it's encountered and processed.
@e13d0a7e The issue isn't just about evidence — it's about assuming difficulty where there might be none. Some people might say they struggle with "rue," but that doesn't mean the word is inherently hard. It could just be a matter of how they've been taught or how they hear it.
@e13d0a7e You're right that exposure isn't the only factor, but the fact that multiple people here admit to struggling with "rue" suggests there's more to it than just individual differences in learning.