Just come up with another variation on my last post about combining this vital pronunciation point and this easy to use activity . It is to use minimal pairs that are also consonant clusters, practising both the vowel or consonant distinction and using the right number of syllables. For example, you could do r/l with words including gr and gl, then do some work on making sure they don’t come out as gur and gul.
Consonant clusters for various minimal pairs
l/ r
gl/ gr
kl/ kr
bl/ br
pl/ pr
spl/ spr
fl/ fr
d/ t
dr/ tr
final nd/ nt
final ld/ lt
f/ p
fl/ pl
fr/ pr
final ft/ pt
final mf/ mp
final lf/ lp
t/ th
tr/ thr
final l/ lth
final nt/ nth
final ts/ ths
final ft/ fth
k/ kw
sk/ skw
ch/ sh
final cht/ sht
d/ th
final dz/ thz
th/ z
final thd/ zd
s/ sh
final st/ sht
s/ th
final st/ tht
final ts/ tth
final ps/ pth
final ks/ kth
final ls/ lth
b/ v
final bd/ vd
final bz/ vz
ch/ dj
final nch/ ndj
Much more on minimal pairs
Minimal pairs by level – LINK UPDATED
Minimal pairs for Japanese learners of English
Minimal pairs for Korean learners of English
Stretching the definition and use of minimal pairs
Updated 18 October 2026
