/ɪ/ vs /i:/ | Learn English Pronunciation | Minimal Pairs Practice

Hello people.

This is Fanny.

Welcome to this English pronunciation video.

Now learning pronunciation is very important if you want to improve your English skills.

So this is a very important video to watch.

In this video we will focus on two English vowel sounds:

/I/ and /i:/

Now I know they sound very similar, but they are different.

And they are two very important vowel sounds in English.

So let's start with our two example words:

sit

Now listen to how I pronounce this word.

sit

Can you hear the /I/ sound?

sit

Now listen to another word:

seat

Can you hear the pronunciation?

seat

/i:/

sound.

seat

sit

seat

I know it can be difficult at first.

But with a little bit of practice, I'm sure you will hear them differently.

Although they are similar, they are two different vowel sounds.

So keep watching and I promise you by the end of this video you'll have improved your

hearing and pronunciation of these two vowel sounds.

Get ready students.

I'm gonna help you make these vowel sounds /I/ and /i:/.

I really want you to be able to hear the difference and to pronounce them correctly.

It is very important for you to know the IPA spelling.

Watch how I move my mouth.

And always repeat after me in this video.

I know that you can master these vowel sounds.

Let's get started.

First, let's try to make the sound /I/.

So when you pronounce, it your tongue is a little higher in your mouth, closer to the front.

/I/

Stretch out your lips a little.

And it's a short sound.

/I/ Repeat after me.

/I/ /I/

/I/

Let’s now practice with the word, sit.

Repeat after me.

sit sit sit

Good guys.

Let's now practice the second sound, /i:/.

So the tongue has the same position.

It's a little bit higher, closer to the front.

But, when you say /i:/, you stretch out your lips a little more.

And it's a long sound.

/i:/

Your lips should feel a little tighter, too.

/i:/

Repeat after me.

/i:/

/i:/

/i:/

Let's practice with the word, seat.

Repeat after me.

seat seat

seat

Good guys.

So we're going to use minimal pairs.

They’re words with very similar sounds, but the actual vowel sounds are different.

And they're a very good way to practice these vowel sounds.

So let's now practice together.

First, just the sounds.

Watch my mouth.

And repeat after me.

/I/ /I/

/I/ /i:/

/i:/

/i:/

/I/ /i:/

/I/ /i:/

/I/ /i:/

Can you see my mouth?

Okay let's now practice with the words.

sit sit sit

seat seat seat

sit seat sit seat sit seat

Good job guys.

Okay guys let's now move on to minimal pairs.

I have a few for you.

I'm gonna read them to you.

I want you to be very careful.

Look at my mouth - how it moves.

And repeat after me.

Let's get started.

bid bead

bin been

bit beat

bitch beach

biz bees

blip bleep

chick cheek

chip cheap

chit cheat

did deed

dip deep

fill feel

fist feast

fit feet

fizz fees

gin gene

grid greed

grin green

hid heed

hill he’ll

hip heap

his he’s

hit heat

ill eel

is ease

it eat

itch each

kid keyed

kip keep

knit neat

lick leak

lip leap

mill meal

mitt meet

pick peek

pill peel

pip peep

piss peace

pit peat

pitch peach

risen reason

slick sleek

slip sleep

slit sleet

shin sheen

sick seek

sill seal

sim seem

sin seen

sip seep

skid skied

skim scheme

skit skeet

still steel

till teal

tin teen

wit wheat

Let's practice further.

I'm now going to show you some words and I want you to read them with the proper

English vowel sound.

/I/ or /i:/

Let's get started.

Let's start with the first word.

Now what's the pronunciation of this word?

Is it sit or is it seat?

Of course it is sit.

Next word.

Is it chick or is it cheek?

It's chick.

Next word.

fill or feel?

fill Next word.

his or he's?

Of course his.

chin or cheat?

Its cheat.

Is it pip or is it peep?

Of course people it’s pip.

Next word.

bitch or beach?

It's beach.

Then we have sit or seat.

Which one is it?

It's seat.

his oh he's?

It's he's.

And finally, is it hill or heel?

It's heel.

Great guys.

Let's continue on.

Okay guys, let's now move on to sentences.

I have a few sentences for you with different /I/ and /i:/ sounds.

So pay attention and repeat after me.

The first sentence is: Pick a seat and sit without making a peep.

The second sentence: Don't peel a peach or eat its pit.

And finally.

I feel sick and ill after eating the big meal.

Excellent guys.

Let's move on.

Great job guys.

I know you now have a better understanding of the difference between the English vowel

sounds /I/ and /i:/.

It's difficult.

It takes time and practice to master, but you can do it.

So keep practicing and make sure to watch my other pronunciation videos

very important if you want to improve your English skills.

See you next time.

Thank you so much guys for watching my video.

If you’ve liked it and if you want to see other videos please show me your support.

Click like.

Subscribe to the channel.

Put your comments below and share the video.

Bye