Mastering /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/ Vowel Sounds with Minimal Pairs

Learning to pronounce English vowels correctly is essential for clear communication. The minimal pair /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/ highlights the difference between the long “ah” sound (as in car) and the diphthong “oy” (as in boy). This guide will help you understand, practice, and master these sounds to improve your English pronunciation and fluency.

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How to Distinguish the /ɑː/ and /ɔɪ/ Sounds?

What are /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/?

How to pronounce /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/

/ɑː/

• Long, steady sound
• Mouth wide open
• Tongue low and back
• No movement
• Example: car, park, start

Check this diagram to understand how your mouth should be positioned for /ɑː/.

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Listen to this audio clip to hear how /ɑː/ sounds on its own and in the word “father.”

/ɔɪ/

• Two-part glide
• Starts with lips rounded
• Tongue moves from mid-back to near-front
• Ends higher in the mouth
• Example: boy, coin, join

Take a look at this illustration to see the correct mouth shape when producing the /ɔɪ/ sound.

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Let’s listen to a recording of the /ɔɪ/ sound and hear it used in “boy.”

Minimal Pairs /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/ with Example Sentences

Read aloud to hear the vowel difference:

✅ car / coy

• I parked the car outside.

• She gave me a coy smile.

✅ bar / boy

• Let’s meet at the bar.

• The boy was laughing.

✅ par / poi

• His score was under par.

• They served poi at dinner.

Minimal Pairs /ɑː/ vs. /ɔɪ/ List