Minimal Pair List

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The list below shows some minimal or near minimal pairs.

Minimal Pairs

Consonant and vowel minimal pairs are given here to justify contrasts that one might find worthy of scrutiny.

Contrast Item 1 Gloss Item 2 Gloss
i : ii liƥ fish liiƥ to measure
e : ee ref to be reef to follow
o : oo dor to fold door to start
u : uu xuf to startle xuuf to cut short
a : aa kaf joke kaaf millet plants
i : e wil hair wel to be sharp
ii : ee xiiñ to squint xeeñ heart, lung
e : a sex to carve off sax insult
ee : aa meeɓ to pick up maaɓ to lie on
a : o sax insult sox to hull millet by pounding
aa : oo aqaal boat sp. aqool standing dead tree trunk
o : u sox to dehusk millet sux to plug a hole
oo : uu ɓooɓ family name ɓuuɓ to be cold
Contrast Item 1 Gloss Item 2 Gloss
p : b
t : d
c : j
k : g
b : mb
d : nd
j : nj
g : ng
q : nq
p : ƥ
t : ƭ
c : ƈ oxiic jujube oxiiƈ bone
b : ɓ
d : ɗ
j : ʄ
ƥ : ɓ ƥaak baobab tree ɓaak baobab fruit
ƭ : ɗ ƭaaf daaf tree ɗaaf daaf
ƈ : ʄ
t : c
c : k
k : q
d : j
j : g
nd : nj
nj : ng
ng : nq
ɗ : ʄ
ƭ : ƈ

Consonants

word gloss
tadik - three
ndiit - bird
word gloss
ngol - finger
onqool - moon
word gloss
ƥaak - baobab tree
ɓaak - baobab fruit
word gloss
jimb - to transplant
cimb - seedlings
akim - song
word gloss
oqol - field
okol - glue (Fr.)
word gloss
mbind - house (sg)
pind - house (pl)
word gloss
suk - boat
sug - pound millet
word gloss
fiɗel - fire (sg)
piɗel - fire (pl)
word gloss
gin - egg
giñ - (be) full
word gloss
ateƥ - rain
ateɓ - small
word gloss
ɗat - pick fruit
aƭat - road
word gloss
tok - on, on top of
ɓok - (be) pigeon-toed

Vowels

word gloss
daɓ - belly button
deɓ - rain
word gloss
faɗ - to slap
fiɓ - to sift
word gloss
naf - to hit
nof - ear
word gloss
sak - to hold something
suk - boat
word gloss
gen - to live
gin - egg
gon - name
gum - to have a mouth full of water
word gloss
liƥ - fish
luƥ - a borrowing
word gloss
log - to have a mouth full of food
lug - abscess
word gloss
xas - to scold
xaas - to fart
word gloss
ten - he/she/it
teen - breast
word gloss
gin - egg
giiñ - to swear an oath
word gloss
liƥ - fish
liiɓ - to measure
word gloss
χooχ - to cultivate
χoχ - head
word gloss
luƥ - a borrowing
aluuƥ - a flute
word gloss
poj - tomb
paj - sarong