Minimal Pair /n/ and /ŋ/

as in thin and thing

Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the sound /n/ and the other having the sound /ŋ/.

You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.

Both /n/ and /ŋ/ are pronounced with air coming through your nose, with you blocking the air in your mouth with the front of your tongue for /n/ and the back of your tongue for /ŋ/.

Elementary

thin thing

Pre-Intermediate

band banged

hand hanged

sin sing

sun sung

win wing

wind winged

Intermediate

done dung

fan fang

gone gong

kin king

ran rang

ton tongue

Upper-Intermediate

ban bang

banned banged

pan pang

pin ping

tin ting

Advanced

bonze bongs

bun bung

chin ching

clan clang

din ding

don dong

dun dung

hun hung

pond ponged

stun stung

tan tang

Written for EnglishClub by Alex Case

Voiced by Jonathan Taylor