A minimal pair is a pair of words that differ by only one sound. In this article, we will tell the difference between /k/ and /g/ minimal pair, how to pronounce each sound correctly, along with common minimal words you can practice. Stay tuned!
How to Distinguish /k/ vs. /g/ Sounds?
What Are /k/ and /g/ Sounds?
| Sound | Description |
|---|---|
| /k/ | Voiceless velar stop. No vibration in your throat. Example: cat. |
| /g/ | Voiced velar stop. Your vocal cords vibrate. Example: go. |
How to Pronounce /k/ and /g/?
✅ /k/
- Put the back of your tongue against the soft palate.
- Release air quickly.
- No vibration in your throat.
Check this illustration to see the correct mouth shape for pronouncing /k/.
Pay attention to the audio and hear how the /k/ sound is pronounced in “cat”.
✅ /g/
- Same tongue position.
- This time, turn on your voice.
- Your throat will vibrate.
Check this illustration to see the correct mouth shape for pronouncing /g/.
Listen closely to notice how the /g/ sound vibrates in “get.”
Tip: Put your hand on your throat:
- No vibration = /k/
- Vibration = /g/
Minimal Pairs /t/ vs. /d/ with Example Sentences
✅ cap / gap
- There was a cap on the shelf.
- There was a gap on the shelf.
✅ cold / gold
- The statue looked cold in the light.
- The statue looked gold in the light.
✅ coat / goat
- He painted a coat on the wall.
- He painted a goat on the wall.
Minimal Pairs /t/ vs. /d/ List
| /k/ Word | /g/ Word |
|---|---|
| coat /kəʊt/ | goat /ɡəʊt/ |
| cap /kæp/ | gap /ɡæp/ |
| came /keɪm/ | game /ɡeɪm/ |
| curl /kɜːl/ | girl /ɡɜːl/ |
| car /kɑːr/ | guard /ɡɑːrd/ |
| cold /kəʊld/ | gold /ɡəʊld/ |
| corn /kɔːn/ | gone /ɡɔːn/ |
| pick /pɪk/ | pig /pɪɡ/ |
| clue /kluː/ | glue /ɡluː/ |
| back /bæk/ | bag /bæɡ/ |
| lock /lɒk/ | log /lɒɡ/ |
| lake /leɪk/ | leg /leɡ/ |
| peck /pek/ | peg /peɡ/ |
| core /kɔːr/ | gore /ɡɔːr/ |
| call /kɔːl/ | gall /ɡɔːl/ |
| king /kɪŋ/ | gong /ɡɒŋ/ |
| cart /kɑːrt/ | guard /ɡɑːrd/ |
| coast /koʊst/ | ghost /ɡoʊst/ |
| clean /kliːn/ | glean /ɡliːn/ |
| cot /kɒt/ | got /ɡɒt/ |
| crate /kreɪt/ | great /ɡreɪt/ |
| crease /kriːs/ | Greece /ɡriːs/ |
| cash /kæʃ/ | gash /ɡæʃ/ |
| crow /krəʊ/ | grow /ɡrəʊ/ |
| curly /ˈkɜːli/ | girly /ˈɡɜːli/ |
| cane /keɪn/ | gain /ɡeɪn/ |
| cape /keɪp/ | gape /ɡeɪp/ |
| clam /klæm/ | glam /ɡlæm/ |
| crumble /ˈkrʌmbl/ | grumble /ˈɡrʌmbl/ |
Mastering /k/ vs. /g/ Consonant Sounds with Minimal Pairs — Practice Quiz
Q1
Question 1: Which sentence uses the /k/ word correctly instead of the /g/ word?
Q2
Question 2: Both /k/ and /g/ are produced with the back of the tongue against the soft palate, but /k/ causes vocal cord vibration while /g/ does not.
Q3
Question 3: The statue looked ___ in the light. (meaning it had a yellow, shiny colour)
Q4
Question 4: Match each /k/ word on the left with its /g/ minimal pair on the right.
Q5