Sound Contrast: /ɛ/ vs. /ə/

Listen to the difference between the vowel sounds (/ɛ/ vs. /ə/) in the following pairs of words.

• bed
  | bud
• beg
  | bug
• bet
  | but
• check
  | chuck
• deck
  | duck
• dredge
  | drudge
• fend
  | fund
• flesh
  | flush
• hem
  | hum
• pen
  | pun
• rent
  | runt
• rest
  | rust

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

Test your ability to hear the difference between /ɛ/ vs. /ə/.