Consonant Articulation
English Consonant Minimal Pairs
Consonant minimal pairs help you calibrate voicing (vocal cord vibration) and tongue placement to speak clearly and naturally.
Hear Minimal Pairs in Natural Video Sentences
Watch native speakers use contrasting consonants in real dialogue:
• Compare think on SayItVid vs sink on SayItVid
• Compare berry on SayItVid vs very on SayItVid
/θ/ vs /s/ (Dental vs Sibilant)
Tongue between teeth vs tongue behind teeth
- Think /θɪŋk/ — Sink /sɪŋk/
- Thick /θɪk/ — Sick /sɪk/
- Thumb /θʌm/ — Some /sʌm/
- Thing /θɪŋ/ — Sing /sɪŋ/
/b/ vs /v/ (Bilabial vs Labiodental)
Both lips together vs top teeth on lower lip
- Berry /ˈber.i/ — Very /ˈver.i/
- Boat /boʊt/ — Vote /voʊt/
- Best /best/ — Vest /vest/
- Bail /beɪl/ — Veil /veɪl/