Minimal pair · Contemporary Standard Russian
Russian /i/ vs /e/Stressed и and е after a soft consonant
Separates two front vowels while keeping preceding consonants palatalized in both categories.
Practice these sounds/i/
A close, unrounded vowel
The tongue is high and toward the front. Listen to the vowel as one complete sound.
As inмил
/e/
A close-mid, unrounded vowel
A front vowel without rounded lips. Compare it with the other complete vowel.
As inмел
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Separates two front vowels while keeping preceding consonants palatalized in both categories.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordмил
/mʲil/dear; pleasing, masculine short adjectiveлис
/lʲis/male foxрис
/rʲis/riceмир
/mʲir/peaceмел
/mʲel/chalkлес
/lʲes/forestмех
/mʲex/furбег
/bʲek/running8 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.