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American English minimal pairs

Minimal pairs: hot and hut

/ɑː/vs/ʌ/

Hard for speakers of almost every language, because American English has both an open “ah” and a short “uh” where most languages have one “a”.

The difference. /ɑː/ is open and long, with the jaw down; /ʌ/ is short and relaxed, with the jaw only a little open.

Practice all pairs

10 word pairs

Say both words in each pair. If Tono colors one of them amber or red, that is the sound to work on.

Contrast sentences

Both sounds in one sentence: the real test of whether you can switch between them.

  1. It was hot inside the hut. Practice
  2. Shut the door after the shot. Practice
  3. The duck sat on the dock. Practice
  4. Good luck with the lock. Practice

How to practice minimal pairs

  1. Listen to both words in Tono first, one after the other, until you can hear the difference.
  2. Say the pair slowly and exaggerate the difference. Check that both words come back green.
  3. Say the contrast sentences at normal speed. That is where the mix-up usually comes back.

More minimal pairs

Spanish minimal pairsFrench minimal pairsGerman minimal pairs