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Core minimal pairs

Core minimal pairs for /oʊ/

/oʊ/ starts mid-back rounded and glides up to /ʊ/. Don't flatten it to a pure /o/ — keep the glide.

Practice these minimal pairs carefully. If the pair sounds the same in your recording, you're not making the contrast.

Your goal

  1. Say each pair slowly first — exaggerate the difference.
  2. Then say each pair at natural speed with the contrast preserved.
  3. Record and self-check.
//GOAT diphthongArticulator diagram · regional variants · drill ↗

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Core minimal pairs — Master the /oʊ/ vowel — GOAT