Minimal Pairs

 Minimal Pairs:

A minimal pair is two words that vary by only a single sound, usually sounds that may confuse English learners, like the /f/ and /v/ in fan and van, or the /e/ and /I/ in desk and disk.

Minimal pairs are

often used to show how two sounds contrast in a language.

Eg: Hit and hid, chip and cheap.

Sip - Ship

Face - Phase

So - Show 

Race - raise

Sake - Shake 

sip - zip

Sell - Shell 

page - Pays

Said - Shed 

rage - Raise

Same - Shame

region - Reason

Seat - Sheet 

major - Measure

Self - Shelf 

ledger - Leisure

Minimal Pairs related to vowels sounds:

• Minimal pairs /I/ and /i:/ ( sit and seat)

• Minimal pairs /e/ and /I/ (desk and disk)

• Minimal pairs /e/ and /el/ (wet and wait)

• Minimal pairs /æ/ and /Λ/ (bat and but)

• Minimal pairs /∂√/ and /):/ (so and saw)

• Minimal pairs /∂/ and /∂u/ (not and note)

• Minimal pairs /æ/ and /e/ (bad and bed)

• Minimal pairs /a:/ and /3:/ (fast and first)

Minimal Pairs related to consonant sounds

• Minimal pairs /b/ and /V/ (berry and very)

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

• Minimal pairs /n/ and /η/ (thin and thing)

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

• Minimal pairs /t∫/ and /t/ (catch and cat)

• Minimal pairs /s/ and /∫/ (sea and she)

• Minimal pairs /t/ and /v/ (fan and van)

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

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

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

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

• Minimal pairs /∂3/ and /z/ (page and pays)

• Minimal pairs /∂/ and /∂3/ (bad and badge)