← The Sounds of English · Lesson 2 of 3
Minimal pairs
Two words that differ by just one sound are called a minimal pair: ship and sheep, bat and pat, thin and tin. They prove that the sound matters, because swapping it changes the word.
Some pairs are hard for speakers of other languages, whose languages do not separate those sounds. That is a difference between sound systems, not a mistake.
Which is a minimal pair?
A lesson is kept once you've answered the question and written at least 8 words. Nobody grades it; it stays on this device.