English pronunciation training

English Minimal Pairs

The vowel and consonant contrasts that English learners get wrong most often -- explained, drilled, and fixed with interactive ABX ear training.

Train in the full app

Guides available now

1
Hard
/ʊ/vs/uː/

English /ʊ/ vs /uː/

Look vs Luke, pull vs pool. The lax/tense vowel contrast that marks nearly every non-native English accent.

Example pairs

look vs Luke, pull vs pool, full vs fool

What is a minimal pair?

A minimal pair is two words that differ in exactly one sound -- and that one difference changes the meaning. "Look" and "Luke" are a minimal pair: same consonants /l/ and /k/, different vowel (/ʊ/ vs /uː/).

Minimal pairs are used in linguistics to prove that two sounds are distinct phonemes in a language. In pronunciation training, they are the most efficient tool for building perceptual contrast: you hear both sounds in isolation, then practice identifying which is which.

The ABX method -- hear A, hear B, identify X -- has strong research backing for ear training. It forces active discrimination rather than passive listening, which is what actually builds the perceptual boundary.

Ready to train your ear?

The full app covers all English contrasts with spaced repetition and personalized targeting.

Start full training

One-time payment. All languages. No subscription.