Minimal Pairs are words that sound the same apart from one sound. The only difference between yet /’jԑt/ and jet /’ʤԑt/ is the initial consonant sound.
Comparison Words (minimal pairs in the order /j/ - /ʤ/) 1 yet – jet
3 yam – jam 2 yell – gel 4 use1 – Jews
5 yacht – jot 6 year – jeer
7 yolk – joke 8 yard - jarred
Phrases (minimal pairs – not necessarily in the order /j/ - /ʤ/) 3 Juice is useful1
1 your jaw 2 Jess said yes 4 Are you Jewish?
5 yeti on the jetty 6 Jack yakked on
7 the yob got a job 8 you’ll take the jewel
Sentences (no minimal pairs – just words with either /j/ or /ʤ/)
1 Haven’t you met the manager yet, Jess? 2 Jen celebrated joining the union yesterday with a unique gin. 3 The young judge from New York yawned at the lawyer’s jokes. 4 Generally, Eugene2 just uses the gym in January, June and July. 5 Usually George and John only enjoy yoga when they stretch energetically beyond their limits. 6 Gerry completed a year-long journey across Germany, the UK, Jamaica, the USA, Japan, and Jordan.
Notes: 1use (noun) /juːs/ and juice /ʤuːs/, but use (verb) /juːz/ and Jews /ʤuːz/ 2 Eugene /’juːʤiːn/
