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For printable and classroom-focused pronunciation activities see our sister site ESLgames.com.
Vowel Sounds
These minimal pair activities focus on vowel sounds that are often confusing for English learners, such as /æ/ vs /e/ or /ɘʊ/ vs /aʊ/. Listening and speaking exercises help build both recognition and pronunciation skills.
- æ and e (man / men) listening speaking
- /æ/ and /ʌ/ (hat/hut) listening speaking
- /æ/ and /α:(hat/heart) listening speaking
- /α:/ and /α/ (heart/hot) listening speaking
- /α:/ and /α/ (heart/hut) listening speaking
- /α:/ and /α/ (heart/hurt) listening speaking
- /e/ and /eα/ (wait/wet) listening speaking
- /eα/ and /aα/ (hey/hi) listening speaking
- /eα/ and /eα/ (hair/hey) listening speaking
- /eα/ and /αα/ (hair/here) listening speaking
- /I/ and /i:/ (heat/hit) listening speaking
- /e/ and /α/ (head/heard) listening speaking
- /e/ and /α/ (bet/but) listening speaking
- /e/ and /i/ listening speaking
- /α/ and /α/ (work/walk) listening speaking
- /α/ and /α/ (hurt/hut) listening speaking
- /α/ and /α/ (pot/port) listening speaking
- /α/ and /α/ (boat/bought) listening speaking
- /α/ and /α/ (hope/hop) listening speaking
- /α/ and /aα/ (hole/howl) listening speaking
Consonant Sounds
These minimal pair activities focus on consonant sounds that English learners often find difficult to distinguish, such as /b/ vs /v/ or /s/ vs /ʃ/. Through targeted listening and speaking exercises, learners can improve their ability to hear and produce subtle differences in English consonants.
- b and v listening speaking
- b and p listening speaking
- ch and j listening speaking
- ch and sh listening speaking
- ch and t listening speaking
- d and j listening speaking
- d and t listening speaking
- d and th (day they) listening speaking
- d and th (dawn thorn) listening speaking
- f and p listening speaking
- f and v listening speaking
- g and k listening speaking
- h and vowel listening speaking
- j and y listening
- l and n listening
- l and r listening
- m and n listening
- m and ng listening
- nk and ng listening
- r and w listening
- s and sh listening
- s and th listening
- s and z listening
- t and th (tanks/thanks) listening
- th and z (then/zen) listening
- v and w listening