Eurospeak Language School

Minimal Pair

A minimal pair is a pair of words that vary by only a single sound, usually meaning sounds that may confuse English learner like the /f/ and /v/ in fan and van, or the /e/ and /ɪ/ in desk and disk.They can create difficulty when speaking and listening.

 Let´s see more examples:

Minimal Pairs/ɪ/ and/i:/ sit seat

Minimal Pairs/e/ and/ɪ/ desk disk

Minimal Pairs/æ/ and/ʌ/ bat but

Minimal Pairs /əʊ/ and/ɔ:/ so saw

Minimal Pairs/ɒ/ and/əʊ/ not note

Minimal Pairs /æ/ and/e/ bad bed

Minimal Pairs/b/ and/p/ buy pie

Minimal Pairs/n/ and/ŋ/ thin thing

Minimal Pairs/l/ and/r/ alive arrive

Minimal Pairs/s/ and/ʃ/ sea she

Minimal Pairs/f/ and/θ/ free three

Minimal Pairs/ð/ and/z/ with whizz

Minimal Pairs/ʤ/ and/z/ page pays

Minimal Pairs/d/ and/ʤ/ bad badge

Minimal Pairs initial/k/ and/g/ came game

Minimal Pairs final/k/ and/g/ back bag

Minimal Pairs final/t/ and/d/ hat had

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