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".

Vowel Sounds

• Minimal Pairs /ɪ/ and /i:/ (sit and seat)
• Minimal Pairs /e/ and /eɪ/ (wet and wait)
• Minimal Pairs /æ/ and /ʌ/ (bat and but)
• Minimal Pairs /əʊ/ and /ɔ:/ (so and saw)
• Minimal Pairs /æ/ and /e/ (bad and bed)
• Minimal Pairs /ɑ:/ and /ɜ:/ (fast and first)

Consonant Sounds

• Minimal Pairs /b/ and /v/ (berry and very)
• Minimal Pairs /b/ and /p/ (buy and pie)
• Minimal Pairs /n/ and /ŋ/ (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 /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)

Initial Consonant Sounds

• Minimal Pairs initial /f/ and /p/ (fast and past)

Final Consonant Sounds

• Minimal Pairs final /m/ and /n/ (am and an)
• Minimal Pairs final /t/ and /d/ (hat and had)