Pronunciation · Minimal pairs · medium functional load
/æ/ vs /ɑː/: cat vs cart
In short
The short front /æ/ and the long back /ɑː/ separate hat/heart, pack/park and match/march in British English, where the written r is silent and only the vowel changes. This contrast carries a MEDIUM functional load, the contrast separates a fair number of word pairs, so it is worth systematic practice once the high-load contrasts are stable.
How to hear (and make) the difference
/æ/ is short, bright and at the front; /ɑː/ is long, dark and from the back of the mouth with a dropped jaw. Feel the sound physically move backwards between 'cat' and 'cart'.
Most challenging for French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean speakers.
7 minimal pairs with audio
- catkætcartkɑːt
- hathæthearthɑːt
- packpækparkpɑːk
- matchmætʃmarchmɑːtʃ
- banbænbarnbɑːn
- patpætpartpɑːt
- badbædbardbɑːd
Test your ear
Listening drill
/æ/ vs /ɑː/: cat vs cart
/æ/ is short, bright and at the front; /ɑː/ is long, dark and from the back of the mouth with a dropped jaw. Feel the sound physically move backwards between 'cat' and 'cart'.
The contrast in sentences
Put it in the pack.
Put it in the park.
The match starts at nine.
The march starts at nine.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cat and cart?
cat /kæt/ uses the /æ/ sound while cart /kɑːt/ uses /ɑː/. /æ/ is short, bright and at the front; /ɑː/ is long, dark and from the back of the mouth with a dropped jaw. Feel the sound physically move backwards between 'cat' and 'cart'.
Which learners find the /æ/ vs /ɑː/ contrast hardest?
It is most challenging for French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.