Minimal Pairs: Vowels

In the area of pronunciation, minimal pairs can be problematic. Minimal pairs are words which are ALMOST pronounced the same. To the unfamiliar ears, these words sound exactly the same; in other words, they are homophones. This is especially true when English is spoken quickly or not carefully. Wylcomenetwork.com has available istudycards on minimal pairs (vowels). (contains 6 sets of istudycards)
The audio for Minimal Pairs: Vowels can be accessed at studyguides.com. Minimal pairs (consonants), English vowels and English consonants would be good buys to help you better understand minimal pairs (vowels).

Also, videos on more general discussions on pronunciation, metaphoric English, idiomatic expressions, grammar, collegiate vocabulary, prefixes, roots, suffixes and more, go to carralaficklin.com. At Carralaficklin.com you can also find video on Spanish, Spanish expressions, Spanish grammar, Spanish relationship with English and English relationship with Spanish and the other Latin-based languages. There even a discussion on verbs and the subjunctive mood in English versus Spanish.

Minimal pairs are words which are ALMOST pronounced the same. To the unfamiliar ears, these words sound exactly the same; in other words, they are homophones. This is especially true when English is spoken quickly or not carefully. At times, minimal pairs are

are pronounced the same on purpose. One way that English-speakers play with language is to say the minimum pair of a vulgar word. For example: sheet/ shit and beach/bitch. There was once a very successful advertising campaign which started and ended with the expression, Life is a beach. The expression, Life is a beach, means nothing; however, most English-speakers knew that what was actually being said was the very common, and vulgar, expression, Life is a bitch. English-speakers are quite use to using minimal pairs to avoid cursing. It is not unusual to hear someone say shoot instead of shit or witch instead of bitch. The very popular and funny 2004 movie with Ben Stiller had the title which most people, especially in the mass media, PURPOSELY mispronounced, Meet the Fockers. In 2011, Stiller has another movie coming out which most people will again PURPOSELY mispronounce, The Little Fockers.

Some letters are minimal pairs, i.e. b vs. p, because they are pronounced in the same area of the mouth. Especially when referring to consonants, the difference is whether the letter is voiced (aspirated) or voiceless (not aspirated). The following is a list of minimum pairs which are consonants:

Vowels

1) short a vs. short e (for example: band / bend)

2) short o vs. long a (for example: mop / map)

3) short i vs. short e (for example: bid/ bed)

4) long e vs. short e (for example: beast/ best)

5) short i vs. short a (for example: hid/ had)

6) long e vs. long a (for example: beat/ bait)

7) short a vs. long a (for example: can/ cane)

8) short o vs. long i (for example: box/ bikes)

9) short i vs. long i (for example: lick/ like)

10) short a vs. short u (for example: ankle/ uncle)

11) short e vs. long a (for example: f e ll/ fail)

12) short i vs. long e (for example: bid/ bead)

13) o(a) vs. oo (for example: tall/ tool)

14) a vs. u (for example: harsh/ hush)

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Minimal Pairs: Vowels