Confusing word pairs
These pairs are close enough in sound that speakers merge them, but the difference is real and usually sits in the stress or the first vowel. Desert stresses the first syllable, dessert the second. Play them side by side to fix the contrast.
Accent
15 words · intermediate · your accent and voice are remembered across the site. More options on the settings page.
The words
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Long vs short vowel pairs
Ship or sheep, full or fool, pull or pool. Hear the tense and lax vowel pairs side by side.
R vs L minimal pairs
Rice or lice, right or light. Hear the R and L contrast that trips up many learners, pair by pair.
V vs W minimal pairs
Vest or west, vine or wine. Practise the lip position that separates English V from W.
S vs Z sounds
Sip or zip, price or prize. The only difference is voicing, and it changes the word completely.
SH vs CH sounds
Ship or chip, share or chair. One flows, one starts with a tiny stop. Hear the pairs contrasted.
Hard consonant clusters
Strength, twelfths, sixths: dense consonant runs with no vowel to help. Hear them said cleanly.
Keep practising
Browse every practice list, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.