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100 Minimal Pairs in English Pronunciation

July 13, 2026

100 Minimal Pairs in English Pronunciation

No. Item Definition
1. alive / arrive l versus r middle
2. back / bag k versus g ending
3. back / buck a versus u sound
4. bad / bed a versus e sound
5. bad / bud a versus u sound
6. bag / bug a versus u sound
7. ban / bun a versus u sound
8. bat / bad t versus d ending
9. bat / bet a versus e sound
10. beg / big e versus i sound
11. berry / very b versus v beginning
12. bet / bed t versus d ending
13. bet / bit e versus i sound
14. bin / bean short i versus long ee
15. bit / beat short i versus long ee
16. boat / vote b versus v beginning
17. bus / buzz s versus z ending
18. came / game k versus g beginning
19. cap / cab p versus b ending
20. cap / cup a versus u sound
21. cap / gap k versus g beginning
22. cat / cut a versus u sound
23. chip / cheap short i versus long ee
24. coat / goat k versus g beginning
25. collar / caller ah versus aw sound
26. cot / caught ah versus aw sound
27. could / cooed short oo versus long oo
28. day / jay d versus j beginning
29. day / they d versus th beginning
30. deer / jeer d versus j beginning
31. dog / dock g versus k ending
32. don / dawn ah versus aw sound
33. doze / those d versus th beginning
34. face / phase s versus z middle
35. fan / pan f versus p beginning
36. fan / van f versus v beginning
37. fast / vast f versus v beginning
38. fat / pat f versus p beginning
39. fat / vat f versus v beginning
40. fill / feel short i versus long ee
41. fine / vine f versus v beginning
42. fit / feet short i versus long ee
43. fly / fry l versus r cluster
44. full / fool short oo versus long oo
45. gin / chin j versus ch beginning
46. glass / grass l versus r cluster
47. hat / hot a versus o sound
48. hat / hut a versus u sound
49. ice / eyes s versus z ending
50. jar / char j versus ch beginning
51. jeep / cheap j versus ch beginning
52. lack / luck a versus u sound
53. lane / rain l versus r beginning
54. leaf / leave f versus v ending
55. led / red l versus r beginning
56. lice / rice l versus r beginning
57. lick / leak short i versus long ee
58. light / right l versus r beginning
59. live / leave short i versus long ee
60. load / road l versus r beginning
61. lock / rock l versus r beginning
62. look / Luke short oo versus long oo
63. man / men a versus e sound
64. not / naught ah versus aw sound
65. pack / back p versus b beginning
66. pack / puck a versus u sound
67. pan / pen a versus e sound
68. pat / bat p versus b beginning
69. pear / bear p versus b beginning
70. peck / pick e versus i sound
71. pen / pin e versus i sound
72. pick / pig k versus g ending
73. pig / big p versus b beginning
74. pull / pool short oo versus long oo
75. ran / run a versus u sound
76. rice / rise s versus z ending
77. rip / rib p versus b ending
78. robe / rope b versus p ending
79. safe / save f versus v ending
80. seal / zeal s versus z beginning
81. sell / sill e versus i sound
82. set / sit e versus i sound
83. ship / sheep short i versus long ee
84. sin / thin s versus th beginning
85. sip / zip s versus z beginning
86. sit / seat short i versus long ee
87. slip / sleep short i versus long ee
88. stock / stalk ah versus aw sound
89. ten / den t versus d beginning
90. ten / tin e versus i sound
91. then / thin voiced versus voiceless th
92. thy / thigh voiced versus voiceless th
93. tie / die t versus d beginning
94. tin / thin t versus th beginning
95. tree / three t versus th cluster
96. veal / wheel v versus w beginning
97. vest / west v versus w beginning
98. vine / wine v versus w beginning
99. west / rest w versus r beginning
100. witch / rich w versus r beginning

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