Listening to Similar Sounding Words
CEFR Level A2Lesson Goals
In this lesson, you will practice hearing the small but important difference between minimal pairs – words that sound almost the same but have different meanings.
Sound Pair 1: Short 'i' /ɪ/ vs. Long 'ee' /iː/
This is a common point of confusion. The trick is in the length of the sound and your mouth shape.
- For the long 'ee' /iː/ sound: Hold the sound longer and spread your lips wide like you are smiling to say "cheese!"
- For the short 'i' /ɪ/ sound: The sound is very short and quick. Your mouth and jaw should be relaxed.
ship /ɪ/
"I see a big ship on the water."
sheep /iː/
"The sheep is white and fluffy."
live /ɪ/
"I live in a small house in Siem Reap."
leave /iː/
"What time does the bus leave?"
Sound Pair 2: 'e' /ɛ/ vs. 'a' /æ/
For these sounds, think about how much you open your mouth.
- For the 'e' /ɛ/ sound: Your mouth is relaxed and only a little open, like the sound in "egg".
- For the 'a' /æ/ sound: Your jaw drops down and your mouth opens wider, like the sound in "apple".
pen /ɛ/
"Can I please borrow your pen?"
pan /æ/
"I will use a pan to cook the eggs."
men /ɛ/
"There are three men waiting for the tuk-tuk."
man /æ/
"There is one man waiting for the tuk-tuk."
Key Tip: Use a Mirror!
A mirror is a fantastic tool for practicing pronunciation. Stand in front of a mirror and say the word pairs.
- When you say "sheep," you should see your mouth make a wide smile.
- When you say "ship," you will see that your mouth is much more relaxed.
Watching your own mouth helps you connect the sound you hear to the shape you need to make.
Activity: Which Word Did You Hear?
Listen to the audio. For each sentence, choose the word you heard.
- Sentence 1: Did you hear (a) ship or (b) sheep?
- Sentence 2: Did you hear (a) pen or (b) pan?
- Sentence 3: Did you hear (a) live or (b) leave?
Show Answers
Answers: 1-b (sheep), 2-b (pan), 3-b (leave)
Vocabulary
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Minimal Pair (noun phrase) [គូពាក្យអប្បបរមា]
Two words that are different by only one single sound (e.g., ship/sheep).
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Vowel Sound (noun) [សំឡេងស្រៈ]
An open sound made in the middle of a word, like a, e, i, o, u.
-
Pen (noun) [ប៊ិច]
A tool used for writing with ink.
-
Pan (noun) [ខ្ទះ]
A round metal container with a handle, used for cooking food.
Your Mission
It's time to train your ears and your mouth! Complete this task before the next lesson.
- Record and Listen: Use your phone to record yourself saying the example sentences from today's lesson. Listen back to your recording. Can you clearly hear the difference in your own voice? Try it a few times to improve!