Minimal Pairs
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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:
| /p/ /b/
|
| pin-bin | pear-bear | pan-ban |
| pail-bail | nip-bib | tap-tab |
| mop-mob | lap-lab |
| /t/ /d/ |
| tin-din | tear-dare | tall-doll |
| ten-den | bat-bad | seat-seed |
| let-led | tight-tide |
| /k/ /g/ |
| key-ghee | cot-got | come-gum |
| kill-gill | luck-lug | lock-log |
| dock-dog | wick-wig |
| /f/ /v/ |
| fan-van | fail-veil | fast-vast |
| file-vile | leaf-leave | life-live |
| safe-save | shelf-shelve |
| //v/ /w// |
| VOW-WOW | vet-wet | vile-while |
| viper-wiper |
| /θ/ /ð/ |
| /s/ /z/ |
| sip-zip | sue-zoo | sink-zinc |
| seal-zeal | bus-buzz | price-prize |
| lace-laze | dose-doze |
| /s//ʃ/ |
| sip-ship | so-show | same-shame |
| sin-shin | puss-push | sass-lash |
| mess-mesh | lease-leash |
| /ʧ//d3/ |
| char-jar | choose-jews | choke-joke | |
| etch-edge | batch-badge | Lunch-lunge |
| /z/ /ʃ/ |
| zip-ship | zoo-shoe | was-wash |
| whiz-wish |
Minimal pairs involving vowel sounds:
| /I/ /i:/ |
| sit-seat | bit-beat | lick-leak |
| fill-fel |
| /e/ /æ/ |
| met-mat | led-lad | men-man |
| shell-shall |
| /ʊ//u:/ |
| full-fool | pull-pool | soot-suit |
| /ɔ/ /ɔ:/ |
| cot-caught | not-nought | tot-taught |
| /æ/ /a:/ |
| pat-part | mat-mart | cat-cart |
| //ɪ//e/ |
| pin-pen | bid-bed | bill-bell |
| chick-check |
| /æ/ /ɜ:/ |
| Fan - fern | hat-heard | bad-bird |
| jam-germ |
| /eɪ/ /aɪ/ |
| fail-file | main-mine | lake-like |
| late-light |
| /eɪ/ /ɔɪ/ |
| bail-boil | grain-groin | paint-point |
| ail-oil |
| /əʊ/ /aʊ/ |
| whole-howl | Rose-rouse | thought-thou |
| load-loud |
| /ʊə/ /ɪə/ |
| poor-pier | Tour-tier | sure-sheer |
| moor-mere |