MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · General American

English /æ/ vs /ɛ/Bat or bet?

A primary training study directly targeted /ɛ–æ/ in Malaysian multilinguals. These reversed-order /æ–ɛ/ word pools are editorial; grouping follows phonetic context rather than the original experimental task.

Practice these sounds
/æ/

The TRAP vowel

This is the stressed vowel category in the first set of General American examples.

As inbat
/ɛ/

An open-mid, unrounded vowel

The tongue is toward the front, with a more open vowel position than /e/.

As inbet

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

A primary training study directly targeted /ɛ–æ/ in Malaysian multilinguals. These reversed-order /æ–ɛ/ word pools are editorial; grouping follows phonetic context rather than the original experimental task.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
bat
/bæt/a flying mammal
mat
/mæt/a small floor covering
bad
/bæd/poor in quality
pan
/pæn/a cooking container
man
/mæn/an adult male person
pack
/pæk/put into a container
pat
/pæt/touch lightly
gas
/ɡæs/a substance like air
bet
/bɛt/a wager
met
/mɛt/past tense of meet
bed
/bɛd/furniture used for sleeping
pen
/pɛn/a writing tool
men
/mɛn/plural of man
peck
/pɛk/strike with a beak
pet
/pɛt/a companion animal
guess
/ɡɛs/estimate without certainty

16 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.

Now, let your ears decide.

Can you hear the difference? Listen to two examples, then decide which sound you hear in a new word. Get feedback after every answer.

Practice these sounds

Keep the sound. Change the word.

A primary training study directly targeted /ɛ–æ/ in Malaysian multilinguals. These reversed-order /æ–ɛ/ word pools are editorial; grouping follows phonetic context rather than the original experimental task.

Explore all English contrasts
🌐 English