Sound contrast · Contemporary Standard Russian
Russian /ɨ/ vs /i/Ы and и: stressed vowel sounds
A pedagogically important sound comparison omitted from the first pack. Non-native perception research directly examines this sound distinction.
Practice these sounds/ɨ/
The ɨ category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inмыл
/i/
A close, unrounded vowel
The tongue is high and toward the front. Listen to the vowel as one complete sound.
As inмил
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
A pedagogically important sound comparison omitted from the first pack. Non-native perception research directly examines this sound distinction.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordмыл
/mɨl/washed, masculine pastбыл
/bɨl/was, masculine pastсын
/sɨn/sonсыр
/sɨr/cheeseдым
/dɨm/smokeмил
/mʲil/dear; pleasing, masculine short adjectiveбил
/bʲil/hit; struck, masculine pastрис
/rʲis/riceмир
/mʲir/peaceлис
/lʲis/male fox10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.