Minimal pair · Standard Southern British
British English /ɛ/ vs /ʌ/DRESS /ɛ/ and STRUT /ʌ/
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.
Explore listening lessonsAn open-mid, unrounded vowel
The tongue is toward the front, with a more open vowel position than /e/.
The STRUT vowel
This is the stressed vowel category in the second set of General American examples.
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
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.
Sound examples
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This guide is free to read. Recordings for these examples are not available yet.