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Learning to distinguish between similar sounds is a crucial step toward clear and confident English pronunciation. One of the most common challenges for English learners is telling the difference between the sounds /p/ and /b/. On this page, we’ll explore how /p/ (the voiceless bilabial plosive) and /b/ (the voiced bilabial plosive) are produced, why they can be confusing, and how you can practice them effectively.
How to Distinguish the /p/ vs. /b/ Sounds?
What Are /p/ and /b/?
| Feature | /p/ | /b/ |
|---|---|---|
| Voicing | Voiceless (vocal cords do not vibrate) | Voiced (vocal cords do vibrate) |
| Place of Articulation | Bilabial (both lips come together) | Bilabial (both lips come together) |
| Manner of Articulation | Plosive (a burst of air when released) | Plosive (a burst of air when released) |
| Aspiration (puff of air) | Often aspirated at the start of a word (e.g., pin has a strong puff of air) | Not aspirated (less or no puff of air) |
How to Pronounce /p/ and /b/
/p/
/p/ is a voiceless bilabial plosive
Close your lips tightly (both lips together).
Build up air pressure behind your lips.
Release the lips suddenly—you’ll feel a small explosion of air.
No vocal cord vibration.
Notice in the diagram how the teeth and lips meet for /p/.
Listen to the audio to hear how the /p/ sound gently starts “pat.”
/b/
/b/ is a voiced bilabial plosive
Close your lips tightly (same lip position as /p/).
Build up air pressure behind your lips.
Start vibrating your vocal cords.
Release the lips suddenly—this time, your throat will buzz.
Use this diagram to guide your mouth shape when pronouncing /b/.
Listen to the audio to hear how the /b/ sound clicks in “bat.”
Minimal Pairs /p/ vs. /b/ with Examples
Below is a table of common minimal pairs contrasting /p/ and /b/:
| /p/ Word | /b/ Word |
|---|---|
| pat | bat |
| pack | back |
| pear | bear |
| pair | bear |
| pig | big |
| pan | ban |
| pin | bin |
| pill | bill |
| park | bark |
| peak | beak |
| peer | beer |
| peas | bees |
| pie | buy |
| port | board |
| post | boast |
| pale | bale |
| pull | bull |
| punt | bunt |
| pun | bun |
| poke | bloke |
Practice Sentences:
I packed the bag. (Practice distinguishing pack and bag)
The pig chased the big dog.
Put the pan on the burner.
Please buy a pie.
Minimal Pairs /p/ and /b/ List
| /p/ Word | /b/ Word |
| pat /pæt/ | bat /bæt/ |
| pack /pæk/ | back /bæk/ |
| pan /pæn/ | ban /bæn/ |
| pal /pæl/ | ball /bɔːl/ |
| pale /peɪl/ | bail /beɪl/ |
| pay /peɪ/ | bay /beɪ/ |
| pear /peə(r)/ | bear /beə(r)/ |
| peas /piːz/ | bees /biːz/ |
| peek /piːk/ | beak /biːk/ |
| pill /pɪl/ | bill /bɪl/ |
| pick /pɪk/ | big /bɪɡ/ |
| pine /paɪn/ | bine /baɪn/ |
| pit /pɪt/ | bit /bɪt/ |
| poke /poʊk/ | bloke /bloʊk/ |
| port /pɔːrt/ | board /bɔːrd/ |
| pour /pɔːr/ | bore /bɔːr/ |
| park /pɑːrk/ | bark /bɑːrk/ |
| pawn /pɔːn/ | born /bɔːrn/ |
| patter /ˈpætər/ | batter /ˈbætər/ |
| pace /peɪs/ | base /beɪs/ |
| packer /ˈpækər/ | backer /ˈbækər/ |
| pass /pæs/ | bass /bæs/ |
| pea /piː/ | bee /biː/ |
| peace /piːs/ | beast /biːst/ |
| peel /piːl/ | bill /bɪl/ |
| peck /pek/ | beck /bek/ |
| pet /pet/ | bet /bet/ |
| peg /peɡ/ | beg /beɡ/ |
| pole /poʊl/ | bowl /boʊl/ |
| pile /paɪl/ | bile /baɪl/ |
| poke /poʊk/ | bloke /bloʊk/ |
| pout /paʊt/ | bout /baʊt/ |
| puff /pʌf/ | buff /bʌf/ |
| punt /pʌnt/ | bunt /bʌnt/ |
| pun /pʌn/ | bun /bʌn/ |
| pane /peɪn/ | bane /beɪn/ |
| perk /pɜːrk/ | berk /bɜːrk/ |
| pine /paɪn/ | bine /baɪn/ |
| pace /peɪs/ | base /beɪs/ |
| pie /paɪ/ | buy /baɪ/ |
| pail /peɪl/ | bail /beɪl/ |
| pare /peə(r)/ | bear /beə(r)/ |
| par /pɑːr/ | bar /bɑːr/ |
| part /pɑːrt/ | bart /bɑːrt/ |
| pole /poʊl/ | bowl /boʊl/ |
| patty /ˈpæti/ | batty /ˈbæti/ |
| pair /peə(r)/ | bear /beə(r)/ |
| pale /peɪl/ | bale /beɪl/ |
| pace /peɪs/ | base /beɪs/ |
| pack /pæk/ | back /bæk/ |
| pass /pæs/ | bass /bæs/ |
| pain /peɪn/ | bane /beɪn/ |
| pass /pæs/ | bass /bæs/ |
| peer /pɪər/ | beer /bɪər/ |
| peep /piːp/ | beep /biːp/ |
| pitch /pɪtʃ/ | b*tch /bɪtʃ/ |
| poke /poʊk/ | bloke /bloʊk/ |
| puff /pʌf/ | buff /bʌf/ |
| pout /paʊt/ | bout /baʊt/ |
| pip /pɪp/ | bib /bɪb/ |
| pet /pet/ | bet /bet/ |
| pill /pɪl/ | bill /bɪl/ |
| pin /pɪn/ | bin /bɪn/ |
| pick /pɪk/ | big /bɪɡ/ |
| put /pʊt/ | but /bʌt/ |
| pace /peɪs/ | base /beɪs/ |
| peek /piːk/ | beak /biːk/ |
| pat /pæt/ | bat /bæt/ |
| pass /pæs/ | bass /bæs/ |
| pay /peɪ/ | bay /beɪ/ |
| pit /pɪt/ | bit /bɪt/ |
| pen /pen/ | ben /ben/ |
| pour /pɔːr/ | bore /bɔːr/ |
| pop /pɒp/ | bob /bɒb/ |
| pale /peɪl/ | bale /beɪl/ |
| pair /peə(r)/ | bear /beə(r)/ |
| pain /peɪn/ | bane /beɪn/ |
| palm /pɑːm/ | balm /bɑːm/ |
| poll /poʊl/ | bowl /boʊl/ |
| pint /paɪnt/ | bint /bɪnt/ |
| poach /poʊtʃ/ | broach /broʊtʃ/ |
| pip /pɪp/ | bib /bɪb/ |
| pack /pæk/ | back /bæk/ |
| peg /peɡ/ | beg /beɡ/ |
| pad /pæd/ | bad /bæd/ |
| pat /pæt/ | bat /bæt/ |
| pit /pɪt/ | bit /bɪt/ |
| pie /paɪ/ | buy /baɪ/ |
| pull /pʊl/ | bull /bʊl/ |
| pace /peɪs/ | base /beɪs/ |
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