/æ/ vs /ɑ/ minimal pairs
/æ/ is a low front vowel; /ɑ/ is a low back vowel. Phoneme has 8 word pairs to practice this contrast, each with native-speaker audio.
| /æ/ | /ɑ/ |
|---|---|
| cat | caught |
| hat | hot |
| bag | bog |
| tap | top |
| cap | cop |
| pat | pot |
| map | mop |
| lack | lock |
How to teach this contrast
- Listen and point. Play each word and have learners point to or repeat the symbol they hear.
- Say and check. Learners say one word from a pair; a partner (or you) identifies which one.
- Drill it. Use Phoneme's Train mode minimal-pair drill for randomized, self-checking practice.