Minimal Pair /ʤ/ and /z/
as in page and pays
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the sound /ʤ/ and the other having the sound /z/.
You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.
/ʤ/ is an explosive sound that is like a voiced version of /ʧ/ and therefore almost like a sneeze and so it is impossible to extend the sound for very long. /z/ is a smooth sound that is a voiced version of /s/ and so can be extended as long as you like.
Elementary
page pays
Pre-Intermediate
cage Ks
siege sees
stage stays
wage ways
wodge was
Intermediate
barge bars
change chains
charge chars
forge fours
fridge frizz
gip zip
Jew zoo
siege Cs
Upper-Intermediate
binge bins
marge Mars
rage raise
rage rays
siege seize
strange strains
tinge tins
Advanced
budge buzz
fudge fuzz
gauge gaze
gorge gauze
grange grains
gauge gays
gunge guns
jag zag
jest zest
jig zig
purge purrs
sarge SARS
singe sins
