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Minimal pairs.

 

 

Minimal pairs are words that vary by only a single sound, usually meaning sounds that students often get confused by, like the "th" and "t" in "thin" and "tin". A minimal pair is a pair of words with one phonemic difference only.

 

Here are some examples: 

 

Consonant Sounds:

 

  • Minimal Pairs /b/ and /v/ (berry and very)

  • Minimal Pairs /b/ and /p/ (buy and pie)

  • Minimal Pairs /n/ and /Å‹/ (thin and thing)

  • Minimal Pairs /l/ and /r/ (alive and arrive)

  • Minimal Pairs /ʧ/ and /t/ (catch and cat)

  • Minimal Pairs /s/ and /ʃ/ (sea and she)

  • Minimal Pairs /f/ and /v/ (fan and van)

  • Minimal Pairs /f/ and /h/ (fat and hat)

  • Minimal Pairs /f/ and /θ/ (free and three)

  • Minimal Pairs /s/ and /θ/ (sing and thing)

  • Minimal Pairs /ð/ and /z/ (with and whizz)

  • Minimal Pairs /ʤ/ and /z/ (page and pays)

  • Minimal Pairs /d/ and /ʤ/ (bad and badge).

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