minimal pairs

Talk a Lot
Clear Alphabet Dictionary
Minimal Pairs
A minimal pair is a pair of words that have the same sounds apart from one sound. This is a list of
minimal pairs from this dictionary. Notice that they are mostly one-syllable words. Can you think of any
more minimal pairs?
Same consonant sound(s),
one different vowel sound:

Same vowel sound(s), one
different consonant sound:

cheers Chiyz
cheese Cheez

cheap
cheek

course Kors
curse
Kers

close
Kleuz
clothes Kleuthz

Cheep
Cheek

Rein
Reiz

receipt r Seet
receive r Seev
refuse
refute

r Fyooz
r Fyoot

rice
right

Rais
Rait

shake
shape

Sheik
Sheip

fail
fall

Feil
Forl

gate
gave

far
fare

Far
Feir

hobby Ho bii
hockey Ho kii

hat
hate

Hat
Heit

large
laugh

Larj
Larf

side
sign

Said
Sain

heart
heat

Hart
Heet

light
like

Lait
Laik

slim
slip

Slim
Slip

her
here

Her
Hiy

made
make

Meid
Meik

some
son

Sum
Sun

nice
niece

Nais
Nees

might
mile

Mait
Mail

tail
take

Teil
Teik

nine
none

Nain
Nun

mouse
mouth

Maus
Mautt

teach
team

Teech
Teem

plain
plan

Plein
Plan

nail
name

Neil
Neim

verb
verse

Verb
Vers

smell
smile

Smel
Smail

nice
night

Nais
Nait

walk
warn

Work
Worn

spin
spine

Spin
Spain

north
Nortt
nought Nort

wash
watch

Wosh
Woch

start
state

Start
Steit

page
pain

Peij
Pein

yes
yet

Yes
Yet

place
plain

Pleis
Plein

My minimal pairs:

through Ttroo
throw
Ttreu

to
toe

Too
Teu

Geit
Geiv

rain
raise

rabbit
Ra bit
racquet Ra kit

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Talk a Lot Clear Alphabet Dictionary

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