MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · French (France)

French /ɡ/ vs /k//ɡ/ / /k/

Learn to hear the difference between ɡ and k in French words.

Practice these sounds
/ɡ/

A voiced back closure

Compare this stop with /k/ across the different following vowels.

As ingoût
/k/

An unvoiced back closure

A brief stop made toward the back of the mouth.

As incou

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Goût/cou, gant/camp and gomme/comme change only the first phoneme in the broad teaching transcription. Both categories are stops made toward the back of the mouth.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

A common trap

The written g in these examples represents /ɡ/. It is different from the /ʒ/ used in words such as geai; spelling alone is not the listening task.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
goût
/ɡu/taste
gant
/ɡɑ̃/glove
gomme
/ɡɔm/eraser; gum
gare
/ɡaʁ/train station
guerre
/ɡɛʁ/war
cou
/ku/neck
camp
/kɑ̃/camp
comme
/kɔm/like; as
coussin
/kusɛ̃/cushion
cousin
/kuzɛ̃/male cousin
côte
/kot/coast; rib
cote
/kɔt/rating; assessed value
cru
/kʁy/raw

13 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.

Match the opening consonant across rounded and nasal vowel frames. The final m in gomme/comme belongs to both words and is not the target.

Explore all French contrasts
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