Minimal Pairs
From Karnataka Open Educational Resources
Minimal Pairs
Minimal pairs are pairs of words which differ in a single sound.They serve as a drill for practising sounds.
Minimal pairs involving consonant sounds:
pin-bin
|
pear-bear
|
pan-ban
|
pail-bail
|
nip-bib
|
tap-tab
|
mop-mob
|
lap-lab
|
tin-din
|
tear-dare
|
tall-doll
|
ten-den
|
bat-bad
|
seat-seed
|
let-led
|
tight-tide
|
key-ghee
|
cot-got
|
come-gum
|
kill-gill
|
luck-lug
|
lock-log
|
dock-dog
|
wick-wig
|
fan-van
|
fail-veil
|
fast-vast
|
file-vile
|
leaf-leave
|
life-live
|
safe-save
|
shelf-shelve
|
VOW-WOW
|
vet-wet
|
vile-while
|
viper-wiper
|
sip-zip
|
sue-zoo
|
sink-zinc
|
seal-zeal
|
bus-buzz
|
price-prize
|
lace-laze
|
dose-doze
|
sip-ship
|
so-show
|
same-shame
|
sin-shin
|
puss-push
|
sass-lash
|
mess-mesh
|
lease-leash
|
char-jar
|
choose-jews
|
choke-joke
|
etch-edge
|
batch-badge
|
Lunch-lunge
|
|
zip-ship
|
zoo-shoe
|
was-wash
|
whiz-wish
|
|
Minimal pairs involving vowel sounds:
sit-seat
|
bit-beat
|
lick-leak
|
fill-fel
|
met-mat
|
led-lad
|
men-man
|
shell-shall
|
full-fool
|
pull-pool
|
soot-suit
|
|
cot-caught
|
not-nought
|
tot-taught
|
pat-part
|
mat-mart
|
cat-cart
|
pin-pen
|
bid-bed
|
bill-bell
|
chick-check
|
Fan - fern
|
hat-heard
|
bad-bird
|
jam-germ
|
fail-file
|
main-mine
|
lake-like
|
late-light
|
bail-boil
|
grain-groin
|
paint-point
|
ail-oil
|
whole-howl
|
Rose-rouse
|
thought-thou
|
load-loud
|
poor-pier
|
Tour-tier
|
sure-sheer
|
moor-mere
|