Minimal pair · General American
English /v/ vs /w/Vine or wine?
Focus on the first consonant in vine and wine, then compare it across other words.
Practice these sounds/v/
Voiced lip-and-teeth friction
A continuous, voiced consonant. Compare it with the other beginning in the pair.
As invine
/w/
The w category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inwine
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Focus on the first consonant in vine and wine, then compare it across other words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordvine
/vaɪn/a plant with a climbing stemvest
/vɛst/a sleeveless upper-body garmentvet
/vɛt/a veterinarian (informal)very
/ˈvɛɹi/to a great extentvote
/voʊt/a choice expressed in a group decisionwine
/waɪn/an alcoholic drink made from grapeswest
/wɛst/the direction opposite eastwet
/wɛt/covered with waterwin
/wɪn/succeed in a contestwing
/wɪŋ/a limb used for flight10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.