Minimal Pairs – All Vowels (Short & Long) | Pronunciation Practice

Minimal Pairs – All Vowels (Short & Long)

Click the word you hear. Each item contrasts a vowel with a close “partner” vowel.

Group 1: /iː/ vs /ɪ/

1. Choose /iː/

Sheep Ship

2. Choose /ɪ/

Leave Live

3. Choose /iː/

Beat Bit

Group 2: /e/ vs /æ/

4. Choose /e/

Pen Pan

5. Choose /æ/

Bed Bad

6. Choose /e/

Men Man

Group 3: /ɑː/ vs /ʌ/

7. Choose /ɑː/

Cart Cut

8. Choose /ʌ/

Calm Come

9. Choose /ɑː/

Park Puck

Group 4: /ɜː/ vs /ə/ (schwa)

10. Choose /ɜː/

Her Huh

11. Choose /ə/

Sofa Surfer

12. Choose /ɜː/

Bird Above

Group 5: /ɔː/ vs /ɒ/

13. Choose /ɔː/

Caught Cot

14. Choose /ɒ/

Port Pot

15. Choose /ɔː/

Law Lot

Group 6: /uː/ vs /ʊ/

16. Choose /uː/

Pool Pull

17. Choose /ʊ/

Food Foot

18. Choose /uː/

Fool Full

Group 7: /eɪ/ vs /e/ (diphthong vs short)

19. Choose /eɪ/

Met Mate

20. Choose /e/

Ten Tain

Group 8: /aɪ/ vs /ɑː/

21. Choose /aɪ/

Price Pass

22. Choose /ɑː/

Start Sight

Group 9: /aʊ/ vs /əʊ/

23. Choose /aʊ/

Now No

24. Choose /əʊ/

Go Gow

Group 10: /ɔɪ/ vs /ɔː/

25. Choose /ɔɪ/

Law Boy