/ɔː//ɒ/
portpot
In the selected non-rhotic British forms, compare /ɔː/ with /ɒ/ before final /t/. X uses a different first consonant while retaining one of these vowel categories.
CHOOSE A SOUND
Start with a difference you find hard to hear. Words stay hidden during practice until you choose to show them.
Browse the examples below, then listen to A and B and match their target sound in a different word, X.
portpot
In the selected non-rhotic British forms, compare /ɔː/ with /ɒ/ before final /t/. X uses a different first consonant while retaining one of these vowel categories.
shipsheep
A separately dictionary-checked British reference core. Category support comes from the RP/SSBE descriptive tradition; this particular pack is not a new L2 training study.
rightlight
Keep the rhotic approximant and lateral separate in word-initial position. British road/load retain the GOAT vowel /əʊ/. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
thinsin
Five linked pairs contrast dental and alveolar frication without changing another phoneme. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
thinfin
Separate dental and labiodental frication using ordinary initial-singleton words; the pool does not pretend that every example has a minimal partner. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
theyday
Contrast a voiced dental fricative with an alveolar stop in clear citation forms. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
fanvan
Keep the two labiodental fricatives distinct. Vat is the ordinary container noun, not the tax abbreviation. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
vinewine
Contrast labiodental frication with the rounded approximant using initial singleton onsets. Vet is the everyday animal-doctor noun. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
peabee
Train the initial stop contrast in stressed onsets, where aspiration is an important cue alongside other timing properties. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
tipdip
Keep initial alveolar stops separate without importing American intervocalic flapping into the exercise. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
coatgoat
Use British GOAT and non-rhotic NURSE vowels in otherwise matched velar-stop pairs. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
shacksack
Contrast postalveolar and alveolar frication across ordinary initial-singleton words. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
shopchop
Distinguish sustained frication from an affricate onset using five exact broad-phoneme pairs. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
sipzip
Separate the two alveolar fricatives. Sum is the arithmetic total, and seal is the animal noun. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
kinking
Five KIT-vowel pairs distinguish final alveolar and velar nasals without adding a final /ɡ/. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
putputt
Maintain the Southern English FOOT–STRUT distinction using stressed vowels before voiceless stops. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
fullfool
Compare the two vowel categories in a five-per-side pre-obstruent core. The familiar pre-/l/ pairs stay in a separate smaller context. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
batbet
Five matched pairs distinguish TRAP and DRESS while retaining British dictionary vowel labels. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
bitbet
Five matched closed-syllable pairs contrast KIT and DRESS without American accent substitutions. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
rutrot
Separate STRUT from the rounded British LOT category in five matched pairs. This is not the American STRUT–LOT transcription /ʌ–ɑ/. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
penpun
Five matched pairs separate DRESS and STRUT in strong, stressed forms. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
breathebreeze
Distinguish final dental and alveolar fricatives after a long vowel or diphthong. A Southern British reference bank, not a description of every UK accent. These are editorial word pools supported by pronunciation references, not recovered experimental stimulus lists.
A CLOSER LISTEN
Two words form a minimal pair when one sound difference changes the word. Keeping the surrounding sounds the same gives you a specific difference to listen for.
Some lessons focus on tone or word stress instead of a single consonant or vowel. We label those separately, so you know what each exercise is testing.
In the exercise, listen to A and B, then a different word X. Choose the reference that shares the target sound, tone, stress or consonant feature. Words and IPA stay hidden unless you enable text hints, including after answering; you can replay the audio whenever you need it.
Read about the learning approach