Unit 7.1
Minimal pairs
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Introduction
A minimal pair is a pair of words that differ in a single phoneme.
Form
Minimal pairs show two words together that only change in one phoneme which is in the same position in both words. They normally confuse non-native speakers due to their similarity.
The phoneme that changes can either be a consonant or a vowel sound.
Some typical minimal pairs are:
| Sounds | Words |
| /p/ – /b/ | pin – bin |
| /s/ – /z/ | bus – buzz |
| /f/ – /θ/ | free – three |
| /dʒ/ – /j/ | jaw – your |
| /æ/ – /e/ | bad – bed |
| /ɒ/ – /ɔ:/ | cot – caught |
- As it can be seen, the words are almost equal in sound, not in their written form
Example
- sit –seat;
- bat – but;
- so – saw;
- pin – bin.
Use
Minimal pairs are often used to show that two sounds contrast in a language.
Exercises
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