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    /æ/ vs /ʌ/: cat vs cut

    The bright front /æ/ and the relaxed central /ʌ/ separate pairs like cap/cup, match/much and ankle/uncle. Merging them is one of the most common vowel errors worldwide.

    • High impact
    • 8 pairs
    • Three voices

    1 / 10

    Which word do you hear?

    See the difference

    /æ/ is at the front with a wide open mouth; /ʌ/ is a lazy central grunt. Say 'cat' with a grin, 'cut' with a completely slack face.

    æ

    as in cat

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

    ʌ

    as in cut

    Lips
    Relaxed
    Tongue
    Mid-low and to the centre
    Voice
    On
    Length
    Short
    Learn ʌ

    All 8 pairs

    In a sentence

    Hardest for speakers of

    Questions

    What is the difference between cat and cut?
    cat /kæt/ uses the /æ/ sound while cut /kʌt/ uses /ʌ/. /æ/ is at the front with a wide open mouth; /ʌ/ is a lazy central grunt. Say 'cat' with a grin, 'cut' with a completely slack face.
    Which learners find the /æ/ vs /ʌ/ contrast hardest?
    It is most challenging for Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Bengali, Indonesian, Farsi speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.