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French consonant minimal pairs: check the sounds, then try 8 questions

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn to check a French minimal pair with chou/joue, cage/cache and poisson/poison. Compare complete sound labels, then answer eight questions.

In short

A consonant minimal pair changes exactly one consonant sound: chou /ʃu/ and joue /ʒu/ keep the same vowel. Compare the complete pronunciations, including any glides and endings. The number of written letters can differ.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An attractive still life of a fresh green cabbage beside a small white bowl on a French kitchen table, no people or packaging.
Chou anchors the contrast with joue. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: line up the whole words
PairPronunciationsWhat changes?
chou / joue/ʃu/ → /ʒu/Only the first consonant
cage / cache/kaʒ/ → /kaʃ/Only the last consonant
poisson / poison/pwasɔ̃/ → /pwazɔ̃/Only the middle consonant
rouge / ruche/ʁuʒ/ → /ʁyʃ/The vowel and the last consonant

The symbols between slashes show sounds: /ʃ/ is the sound in chou, and /ʒ/ the sound in joue. For the second sound, your voice vibrates. A tilde in /ɔ̃/ marks a nasal vowel. Compare one symbol at a time; leave the unchanged sounds in place.

Put a meaning beside the sound

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Which pair changes only /ʃ/ to /ʒ/ at the beginning?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    chou / joue. Chou /ʃu/ and joue /ʒu/ share /u/. Only the initial consonant changes.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Why is rouge /ʁuʒ/ versus ruche /ʁyʃ/ unsuitable for isolating one consonant?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Both the vowel and the final consonant change.. The vowel changes from /u/ to /y/, and the final consonant changes from /ʒ/ to /ʃ/.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Where is the changing sound in cage /kaʒ/ and cache /kaʃ/?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    At the end. The shared beginning is /ka/. The final sounds /ʒ/ and /ʃ/ make the contrast.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    What stays the same in poisson /pwasɔ̃/ and poison /pwazɔ̃/?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Everything except /s/ versus /z/. Both labels begin /pwa/ and end /ɔ̃/. The middle consonant alone changes.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Does an extra written letter automatically rule out a minimal pair?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    No, compare the sounds represented.. Sound structure decides the answer. Poisson has an extra written s, but /s/ is one sound.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Compare raison /ʁɛzɔ̃/ and liaison /ljɛzɔ̃/. What needs checking?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The /j/ as well as /ʁ/ versus /l/. Liaison includes /j/. This comparison changes more than a single /ʁ–l/ consonant.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Which note describes beau /bo/ and veau /vo/ accurately?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Same /o/, initial /b–v/ contrast. The vowel remains /o/. Beau means beautiful and veau means calf.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    You have checked these printed labels. What have you practised so far?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Analysing the sound structure of words. You have compared sound labels. Next, use a recording to practise recognising the contrast by ear.

Before using your next pair

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

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