Minimal Pairs /ʧ/ and /t/catch and catBelow are lists of words that vary only by one having the sound /ʧ/ and the other the sound /t/. You can use this to practise the sounds or as a list of words to be careful to pronounce properly. This page uses the symbols of the Phonemic Chart. You can listen to the symbols here.
/t/ is pronounced by putting the tip of your tongue against the top of your mouth just behind your top teeth and pulling it down, making the "tut tut" sound you make when you disapprove of something. The tongue and mouth positions are the same as when you pronounce /d/, but with /t/ the voice is not used and you release more air. /ʧ/ is pronounced without your tongue moving and with more air released than with /t/. It is similar to the sound of a sneeze, and the air released should be able to move a piece of paper or be felt on your hand five centimetres in front of your mouth. It is most similar to the sound /ʤ/, but again without the voice and with more air released. Elementary Pre-Intermediate Intermediate Upper-Intermediate Advanced/Proficiency |
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