Minimal Pairs

Create word pairs that differ by a single sound to build phoneme discrimination skills.

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Select phoneme contrasts *

Consonants — Voicing

/p/ vs /b/

pat / bat

/t/ vs /d/

tin / din

/k/ vs /g/

cap / gap

/f/ vs /v/

fan / van

/s/ vs /z/

sip / zip

/ʃ/ vs /ʒ/

ship / measure

Consonants — Place / Manner

/ʃ/ vs /tʃ/

ship / chip

/tʃ/ vs /dʒ/

chin / gin

/l/ vs /r/

light / right

/n/ vs /ŋ/

sin / sing

/m/ vs /n/

sum / sun

/w/ vs /v/

west / vest

/j/ vs /dʒ/

yet / jet

TH Sounds

/θ/ vs /s/

think / sink

/θ/ vs /t/

three / tree

/θ/ vs /f/

thin / fin

/ð/ vs /d/

then / den

/ð/ vs /z/

breathe / breeze

/ð/ vs /v/

thy / vie

V/B Confusion

/v/ vs /b/

very / berry

/v/ vs /f/

vine / fine

Short vs Long Vowels

/ɪ/ vs /iː/

sit / seat

/ʊ/ vs /uː/

pull / pool

/ɛ/ vs /iː/

bed / bead

/æ/ vs /eɪ/

man / main

/ɒ/ vs /oʊ/

hop / hope

Vowel Confusion

/æ/ vs /ɑː/

cat / cot

/ɛ/ vs /æ/

bed / bad

/æ/ vs /ʌ/

cat / cut

/ʌ/ vs /ɒ/

cup / cop

/e/ vs /eɪ/

bed / bade

/ɔː/ vs /oʊ/

caught / coat

Pairs per contrast

Show phonics position

Label each pair as initial, medial, or final position