Speaking · Pronunciation

Minimal pairs

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Sound pairs

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/ɪ/ – /iː/

/ɪ/ is short and relaxed; /iː/ is long with spread lips.
·

/ʊ/ – /uː/

/ʊ/ is short; /uː/ is long with rounder lips.
·

/æ/ – /e/

/æ/ opens the mouth wider, with the jaw lower.
·

/ʌ/ – /ɑː/

/ɑː/ is longer and deeper (British accent).
·

/θ/ – /s/

/θ/: put the tip of your tongue between your teeth.
·

/l/ – /r/

/r/: the tongue does not touch the roof of the mouth.
·

/v/ – /b/

/v/: top teeth touch the lower lip.
·

/s/ – /z/

/z/ is voiced; the vowel before /z/ is longer.