Sound Pairs

Hear one word and pick it from two that sound alike (think or sink?): 23 word pairs, 20 questions, score and streak.

Sound Pairs is a free English game from English for Fun. Hear one word and pick it from two that sound alike (think or sink?): 23 word pairs, 20 questions, score and streak. No account and no ads, and it works offline after the first visit.

Free to play
Works offline after the first visit
No microphone needed.
Skill: Listening
Level: Older children and adults

Play free

Free to play, no code needed

How to play

Pick a sound group (TH or S, voiced TH or D, SH or S, short or long vowel, L or N) or all of them.
Listen to one word and pick it from the two buttons.
After each answer, hear both words side by side.
20 questions: your score, longest streak and best score are shown at the end, with the pairs you missed.

Word pairs in this game

TH or S / T

think / sink, thin / tin, three / tree, thank / tank, mouth / mouse, path / pass

Voiced TH or D / Z

they / day, then / den, breathe / breeze

SH or S

ship / sip, she / see, shoe / sue, sheet / seat, shell / sell

Short or long vowel

ship / sheep, sit / seat, bit / beat, full / fool, pull / pool

L or N

light / night, lot / not, low / no, line / nine

What you practice

Hearing sounds Vietnamese speakers often mix up: TH, SH, L/N, long and short vowels

For teachers

A quick listening warm-up for teenagers and adult classes.
Students compare scores with "Share my score".

At home or with a helper

Play one group a day until you score 18 or more, then move on.
Then practice saying the pairs with the Vietnamese articles on each sound.

Questions

Who is it for?

Older children, teenagers and adults, especially Vietnamese speakers: these are sounds Vietnamese speakers often mix up.

Does it check my pronunciation?

No. It trains listening. Hearing the difference is the first step to saying it.

What are minimal pairs?

Minimal pairs are two words that differ by one sound, such as think and sink, or ship and sheep. Practicing them trains your ear to hear the difference.

Which sounds does it cover?

TH or S/T, voiced TH or D/Z, SH or S, short and long vowels, and L or N. There are 23 word pairs in all.

How is the score worked out?

Each game has 20 questions. At the end you see your score, your longest streak, your best score and the pairs you missed. Aim for 18 or more.

Do I need an account?

No. There is nothing to sign up for. Progress is saved on the device you play on.

Does it work without internet?

Supported games can be played offline after a successful first visit. Speech recognition may still need internet; manual continuation is available.

Do I need help to start?

No. If someone is learning with you, try the first session together so you can see how it works. After that you can play alone.