Minimal pair · Standard Italian
Italian /e/ vs /ɛ/Closed and open e
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ in Italian words.
Practice these sounds/e/
A close-mid, unrounded vowel
A front vowel without rounded lips. Compare it with the other complete vowel.
As inpesca
/ɛ/
An open-mid, unrounded vowel
The tongue is toward the front, with a more open vowel position than /e/.
As inpesca
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ in Italian words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordpesca
/ˈpeska/fishingventi
/ˈventi/twentymente
/ˈmente/mindverde
/ˈverde/greenfermo
/ˈfermo/still; stationarypesca
/ˈpɛska/peachventi
/ˈvɛnti/windsfesta
/ˈfɛsta/partyperla
/ˈpɛrla/pearlerba
/ˈɛrba/grass10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.