Minimal pairs - INDEX
Vowel Sounds | Consonant Sounds----------
Click on "Compare" for word list to practise any pair of English phonemes listed below:
Vowel Sounds------------place & manner of articulation EXPLAINED!
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unrounded centralized half-close------ unrounded front close [long]
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unrounded centralized half-close------unrounded front betw. half-open & half-close
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unrounded front betw. half-open & half-close ------unrounded front betw. open & half-open
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unrounded front betw. half-open & half-close ------unrounded centre of tongue just above open
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unrounded front betw. half-open & half-close ------unrounded central [long]
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unrounded front betw. half-open & half-close ------Closing diphthong, starts front betw. half-open & half-close, moves upwards & slightly backwards
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unrounded front betw. open & half-open------unrounded centre of tongue just above open
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unrounded front betw. open & half-open------unrounded tongue betw. centre & back open [long]
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rounded back open -------------------rounded back betw. half-open & half-close [long]
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unrounded centre of tongue just above open---------------unrounded central [long]
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rounded centralized half-close-------------closely rounded back just below close [long]
------Practise
unrounded central betw. half-open & half-close------
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unrounded back open [long]------rounded back open
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unrounded tongue betw. centre & back open [long] ------rounded back betw. half-open & half-close [long]
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rounded back betw. half-open & half-close [long]------rounded central [long]
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rounded back betw. half-open & half-close [long]------Closing diphthong, starts betw. half-open & half-close, moves upwards & back
---------------------------DIPHTHONGS EXPLAINED and LISTS OF WORDS with common diphthongs for practice / reading aloud:
---------------------------/eɪ/ | /aɪ/ | /ɔɪ/ = Front Closing - the front of tongue moves upwards within (or towards in the case of /ɔɪ/) the front of the mouth.
--------------------------- /ɪə/ | /eə/ | /ʊə/ = Centring - the tongue starting from different positions in each case moves to the neutral position at the centre of the mouth.
---------------------------/əʊ/ | /aʊ/ = Back Closing - the back of the tongue moves upwards (a long way upwards in the case of /aʊ/) towards the "centre to back" of the mouth.
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Closing diphthong, starts front betw. half-open & half-close, moves upwards & slightly backwards------Closing diphthong, starts front betw. open & half-open, moves upwards towards /ɪ/
------Practise
Closing diphthong starts betw. open & half-open moves upwards & forwards
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Centring diphthong starts betw. half-close & close moves backwards & downwards-------------Centring diphthong, starts front betw. half-open & half-close, moves backwards
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Centring diphthong starts betw. half-close & close moves backwards & downwards-------------Centring diphthong, starts just above half-close betw. centre & back
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Centring diphthong, starts front betw. half-open & half-close, moves backwards-------------Centring diphthong, starts just above half-close betw. centre & back
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Closing diphthong, starts betw. half-open & half-close, moves upwards & back-------------rounded back open
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Closing diphthong, starts betw. half-open & half-close, moves upwards & back-------------Closing diphthong, starts open betw. front & centre, moves up & slightly back
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Closing diphthong, starts open betw. front & centre, moves up & slightly back-------------Triphthong, starts open betw. front & centre, moves up & slightly back, then slightly down to centralized vowel
Consonant Sounds---------------Practise consonant clusters
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voiceless bilabial plosive------ voiced bilabial plosive
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voiceless alveolar plosive------ voiced alveolar plosive
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voiceless velar plosive------ voiced velar plosive
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voiceless labio-dental fricative------ voiced labio-dental fricative
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voiceless dental fricative------ voiced dental fricative
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voiceless dental fricative------ voiceless alveolar plosive
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voiceless dental fricative------ voiced alveolar plosive
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voiceless dental fricative------ voiceless alveolar fricative
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voiced dental fricative------ voiceless alveolar fricative
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voiced dental fricative------ voiced alveolar fricative
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voiceless alveolar fricative------ voiced alveolar fricative
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voiced alveolar nasal------ voiced velar nasal
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voiced velar nasal------ (voiced) velar nasal followed by voiceless velar plosive
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voiced alveolar lateral continuant------ voiced post-alveolar frictionless continuant
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labio-velar semi-vowel------ voiced labio-dental fricative
------Compare------ SILENT "H"
voiceless glottal fricative
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voiceless palato-alveolar fricative------ voiceless palato-alveolar affricate
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voiceless palato-alveolar fricative------ voiced palato-alveolar affricate
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voiceless palato-alveolar affricate ------voiceless alveolar plosive
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voiceless palato-alveolar affricate ------voiced palato-alveolar affricate
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voiced palato-alveolar affricate ------palatal unrounded semi-vowel
Vowel Sounds | Consonant Sounds----------Top of Page