146 Go to /f/ Worksheet Go to /θ/ Worksheet /f/ “first” vs /θ/ “thirst” Comparison
Minimal pairs are words that sound the same apart from one sound. The only difference between first /fəːst/ and thirst /θəːst/ is the initial consonant sound.
Comparison Words (minimal pairs in the order /f/ - /θ/) 1 first – thirst 3 fort - thought 5 deaf – death 2 fawn – thorn 4 ford – thawed 6 half - hearth 7 infused - enthused 9 8 fro - throw freeze - threes 10 fresh – thresh
Words with /f/ and /θ/ theft, thankful, fourth, footpath, frothed, filthy, afterthought,mouthful, truthful, youthful, faithful, fifteenth, fifth1
1 Many native speakers will omit the second /f/ in fifth /fɪθ/ and the /f/ in twelfth /twԑlθ/
Sentences (minimal pairs – not necessarily in the order /f/ - /θ/)
1 Ruth fretted about the threat to her roof. 2 I thought the oaf took an oath before he fought. 3 Fred gave three free pieces of thread to every customer. 4 The thin man from Finland was thrilled with the no-frills meal. 5 To thawthe four frozen bags of peas he throws them out of the freezer. 6 I’m not enthused to eat the tea-infused fruit loaf – in fact I’mloath to do so.
