Minimal pair · Contemporary Standard Russian
Russian /a/ vs /o/Stressed а and о
Adds the central low versus mid-back stressed-vowel comparison with plain consonants on both sides.
Practice these sounds/a/
The a category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inбак
/o/
A close-mid, rounded vowel
A rounded vowel made toward the back of the mouth.
As inбок
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Adds the central low versus mid-back stressed-vowel comparison with plain consonants on both sides.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordбак
/bak/tank; containerсам
/sam/oneself; himselfтам
/tam/thereмак
/mak/poppyпар
/par/steamбок
/bok/side; flankсом
/som/catfishтом
/tom/volume of a bookсон
/son/sleep; a dreamкот
/kot/male cat10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.