Minimal pair · General American
English /k/ vs /ɡ/Coat or goat?
Focus on the first consonant, /k/ or /ɡ/, across three different word endings.
Practice these sounds/k/
An unvoiced back closure
A brief stop made toward the back of the mouth.
As incoat
/ɡ/
A voiced back closure
Compare this stop with /k/ across the different following vowels.
As ingoat
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Focus on the first consonant, /k/ or /ɡ/, across three different word endings.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordcoat
/koʊt/an outer garmentcurl
/kɝl/twist into a coilcame
/keɪm/past tense of comecat
/kæt/a small feline animalcap
/kæp/a hat; a covergoat
/ɡoʊt/a horned hoofed animalgirl
/ɡɝl/a female childgame
/ɡeɪm/an activity played for amusementgas
/ɡæs/a substance like airguess
/ɡɛs/estimate without certainty10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.