Sound Contrast: /l/ vs. /r/

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Listen to the difference between the consonant sounds (/l/ vs. /r/) in the following pairs of words.

  • alive alive | arrive arrive
  • bloom bloom | broom broom
  • clock clock | crock crock
  • fly fly | fry fry
  • glue glue | grew grew
  • lamb lamb | ram ram
  • lane lane | rain rain
  • led led | red red
  • lice lice | rice rice
  • light light | right right
  • liver liver | river river
  • lock lock | rock rock

Depending on your native language distinguishing the difference can be very easy or very difficult.

Test your ability to hear the difference between /l/ and /r/.

Instructions: listen to the word and then pick the best match.

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