One of the most important consonant contrasts in English pronunciation is between /tʃ/ and /dʒ/. These sounds look similar, and they are both made in the same part of your mouth, but they are not the same. Mixing them up can change the meaning of your words and confuse your listener. Let’s learn how to tell them apart and practice them.
How to Distinguish the /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ Sounds?
What are /ʃ/ and /tʃ/?
/tʃ/ is the voiceless postalveolar affricate, often spelled “ch,” like in:
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chip /tʃɪp/
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cheese /tʃiːz/
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catch /kætʃ/
/dʒ/ is the voiced postalveolar affricate, usually spelled “j,” “g,” or “dge,” as in:
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jam /dʒæm/
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judge /dʒʌdʒ/
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large /lɑːdʒ/
✅ Quick Difference:
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/tʃ/: voiceless (no vibration in your throat)
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/dʒ/: voiced (your throat vibrates)
How to Pronounce /ʃ/ and /tʃ/
✅ /tʃ/ Sound
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Tongue position: The tip of your tongue touches the area just behind your upper front teeth (the postalveolar ridge).
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Air pressure: Stop the air completely.
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Release: Let the air out with a burst and a hiss.
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Voicing: No vibration.
See the illustration and listen to the audio below for practice, for example /tʃ/ as in chat.
✅ /dʒ/ Sound
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Tongue position: Same place as /tʃ/.
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Air pressure: Stop the air completely.
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Release: Let the air out smoothly.
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Voicing: Your vocal cords vibrate.
See the illustration and listen to the audio below for practice, for example /dʒ/ as in judge.
Tip: Touch your throat:
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If it vibrates = /dʒ/
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If it doesn’t = /tʃ/
Minimal Pair /tʃ/ vs. /dʒ/ with Example Sentences
✅ batch / badge
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She received a new batch today.
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She received a new badge today.
✅ larch / large
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They planted a larch tree.
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They planted a large tree.
✅ cheer / jeer
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The fans began to cheer loudly.
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The fans began to jeer loudly.
Minimal Pair /tʃ/ vs. /dʒ/ List
| /tʃ/ Word (IPA) | /dʒ/ Word (IPA) |
|---|---|
| cheap /tʃiːp/ | jeep /dʒiːp/ |
| choke /tʃəʊk/ | joke /dʒəʊk/ |
| cheer /tʃɪə/ | jeer /dʒɪə/ |
| chin /tʃɪn/ | gin /dʒɪn/ |
| rich /rɪtʃ/ | ridge /rɪdʒ/ |
| batch /bætʃ/ | badge /bædʒ/ |
| larch /lɑːtʃ/ | large /lɑːdʒ/ |
| match /mætʃ/ | Madge /mædʒ/ |
| etch /etʃ/ | edge /edʒ/ |
| catch /kætʃ/ | cadge /kædʒ/ |
| cherish /ˈtʃerɪʃ/ | Jerry’s /ˈdʒeriz/ |
| chain /tʃeɪn/ | Jane /dʒeɪn/ |
| chew /tʃuː/ | Jew /dʒuː/ |
| hatch /hætʃ/ | hedge /hɛdʒ/ |
| search /sɜːtʃ/ | surge /sɜːdʒ/ |
| choose /tʃuːz/ | Jews /dʒuːz/ |
| chump /tʃʌmp/ | jump /dʒʌmp/ |
| char /tʃɑː/ | jar /dʒɑː/ |
| chest /tʃest/ | jest /dʒest/ |
| chunk /tʃʌŋk/ | junk /dʒʌŋk/ |
| perch /pɜːtʃ/ | purge /pɜːdʒ/ |