Minimal pairs are pairs of words or phrases in a particular language, spoken or signed, that differ in only one phonological element. word 1 word 2 IPA 1 IPA 2 note pin bin /pɪn/ /bɪn/ initial consonant rot lot /rɒt/ /lɒt/ thigh thy /θaɪ/ /ðaɪ/ seal zeal /siːl/ /ziːl/ bin bean /bɪn/ /biːn/ vowel pen pan /pɛn/ /pæn/ cook kook /kʊk/ /kuːk/ hat had /hæt/ /hæd/ final consonant mean meme /miːn/ /miːm/