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Minimal Pairs Listening and Pronunciation Practice

This minimal pairs listening comprehension can help you improve recognition and pronunciation of similar English sounds. First listen to the pairs of words pronounced one after the other. Next, do the quiz that follows testing the differences between the minimal pairs.

Target pair: u as in 'boot' uh as in 'cut'

Click on the audio symbol and listen to the following pairs of words. When you have listened, try repeating the words yourself.

  • boot butt
  • chute shut
  • do's does
  • goon gun
  • mood mud
  • noon none
  • soon son
  • spoon spun
  • super supper
  • whom hum

Click on the audio symbol and listen to the sentences. Choose which of the target words has been used in sentence. Click on the arrow next to "Text" to see the text read.

boot butt
Text:

chute shut
Text:

do's does
Text:

goon gun
Text:

mood mud
Text:

noon none
Text:

soon son
Text:

spoon spun
Text:

super supper
Text:

whom hum
Text:

More pronunciation practice with minimal pairs

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