Minimal Pairs
A minimal pair is two words that vary by only a single sound, usually meaning sounds that may confuse English learners, like the /f/ and /v/ in fan and van, or the /e/ and /ɪ/ in desk and disk.
Vowel Sounds
Minimal Pair /ɪ/ and /i:/ sit seat
Minimal Pair /e/ and /ɪ/ desk disk
Minimal Pair /e/ and /eɪ/ wet wait
Minimal Pair /æ/ and /ʌ/ bat but
Minimal Pair /əʊ/ and /ɔ:/ so saw
Minimal Pair /ɒ/ and /əʊ/ not note
Minimal Pair /æ/ and /e/ bad bed
Minimal Pair /ɑ:/ and /ɜ:/ fast first
Minimal Pair /æ/ and /ɑ:/ had hard
Minimal Pair /ɒ/ and /ɔ:/ cot caught
Minimal Pair /əʊ/ and /aʊ/ know now
Consonant Sounds
Minimal Pair /b/ and /v/ berry very
Minimal Pair /b/ and /p/ buy pie
Minimal Pair /n/ and /ŋ/ thin thing
Minimal Pair /l/ and /r/ alive arrive
Minimal Pair /ʧ/ and /t/ catch cat
Minimal Pair /s/ and /ʃ/ sea she
Minimal Pair /f/ and /v/ fan van
Minimal Pair /f/ and /h/ fat hat
Minimal Pair /f/ and /θ/ free three
Minimal Pair /s/ and /θ/ sink think
Minimal Pair /ð/ and /z/ with whizz
Minimal Pair /ʤ/ and /z/ page pays
Minimal Pair /d/ and /ʤ/ bad badge
Minimal Pair /f/ and /p/ coffee copy
Minimal Pair /kw/ and /k/ quick kick
Minimal Pair /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ cheap jeep
Minimal Pair /tʃ/ and /ʃ/ chair share
Minimal Pair /d/ and /ð/ day they
Minimal Pair /t/ and /θ/ tree three
Initial Consonant Sounds
Minimal Pair initial /f/ and /p/ fast past
Minimal Pair initial /k/ and /g/ came game
Minimal Pair initial /t/ and /d/ two do
Minimal Pair initial /v/ and /w/ vow wow
Minimal Pair initial /g/ and /w/ gate weight
Minimal Pair initial /h/ and /r/ hat rat
Minimal Pair initial /r/ and /w/ rich which
Minimal Pair initial /ʤ/ and /j/ jaw your
Minimal Pair initial /w/ and no /w/ where air*
Minimal Pair initial /h/ and no /h/ hate eight*
Final Consonant Sounds
Minimal Pair final /k/ and /g/ back bag
Minimal Pair final /m/ and /n/ am an
Minimal Pair final /t/ and /d/ hat had
Minimal Pair final /s/ and /z/ bus buzz
Minimal Pair final /n/ and /ŋ/ thin thing
Minimal Pair final /ŋk/ and /ŋ/ think thing
Minimal Pair final /dʒ/ and /dʒi/ edge edgy*
Minimal Pair final /tʃ/ and /tʃi/ catch catchy*
*Note that this pair may not be considered a true minimal pair by the strictest definition.