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    /e/ vs /æ/: bed vs bad

    The mid /e/ and the open /æ/ distinguish everyday pairs like pen/pan, men/man and said/sad, one of the highest-functional-load contrasts in English.

    • High impact
    • 7 pairs
    • Three voices

    1 / 10

    Which word do you hear?

    See the difference

    Drop your jaw noticeably further for /æ/. If your 'bad' feels the same as your 'bed' in the mirror, the jaw is not opening enough.

    e

    as in bed

    Lips
    Relaxed
    Tongue
    Mid-low and to the front
    Voice
    On
    Length
    Short
    Learn e

    æ

    as in bad

    Lips
    Relaxed
    Tongue
    Low and to the front
    Voice
    On
    Length
    Short
    Learn æ

    All 7 pairs

    In a sentence

    Hardest for speakers of

    Questions

    What is the difference between bed and bad?
    bed /bed/ uses the /e/ sound while bad /bæd/ uses /æ/. Drop your jaw noticeably further for /æ/. If your 'bad' feels the same as your 'bed' in the mirror, the jaw is not opening enough.
    Which learners find the /e/ vs /æ/ contrast hardest?
    It is most challenging for Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, French speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.