English Minimal Pairs definition and examples

What Are Minimal Pairs?

Minimal pairs are two words that are pronounced almost in the same way, but they have one sound that makes them different. The sound can be a vowel or a consonant.

These pairs have nothing to do with spelling or meaning. The words>sound similar but they do not mean the same thing. Their definitions have nothing to do with each other.

They might be spelled very differently, but the actual sounds will be quite similar. Or, the two words in a minimal pair might be spelled very similarly, with just one different letter.

Minimal pairs often confuse English learners. Many English learners will replace one word with another while speaking. This completely changes the meaning of the actual sentence.

However, if you learn minimal pairs, Practicing minimal pairs is a great way to become a better English listener.

/R/ vs /L/ Minimal Pairs Examples

Grammar / Glamour
Royal / Loyal
Arrive / Alive
Ramp / Lamp
Bowling / Boring
Belly / Berry
Rock / Lock
Light / Right
Grow / Glow
Collect / Correct
Climb / Crime
Rag / Lag
Link / Rink
Gloom / Groom
Lice / Rice
Root / Loot
Elect / Erect
Cloud / Crowd
Lack / Rack
Ram / Lamb

/S/ vs /TH/ Minimal Pairs List

Sick / Thick
Mouth / Mouse
Sigh / Thigh
Song / Thong
Pass / Path
Sink / Think
Force / Fourth
Math / Mass
Thumb / Sum
Saw / Thaw
Myth / Miss
Thing / Sing
That / Sat

/F/ vs /V/ Minimal Pairs List

Fast / Vast
Fender / Vendor
Fan / Van
Refuse / Reviews
Foul / Vowel
Fairy / Very
Phase / Vase
Vine / Fine
Save / Safe