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Vowel Minimal Pair

How to Pronounce collar vs caller

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Collar’ has short ⁄ɑː⁄ (⁄ˈkɑːl.ɚ⁄); ‘caller’ has rounded back vowel ⁄ɔː⁄ (⁄ˈkɔː.lɚ⁄).

Contrast: ⁄ɑː⁄ vs ⁄ɔː⁄

Word 1Full word page➔

collar

⁄ˈkɒlər⁄

Syllables

COL·lar

Definition:

Clothes that encircle the neck.

“It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.”
Word 2Full word page➔

caller

⁄ˈkɔːlər⁄

Syllables

CAL·ler

Definition:

The person who makes a telephone call.

“―I’ve got someone on the line. ―Who’s the caller?”

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Frequently Asked Questions: collar vs caller

What is the difference in pronunciation between "collar" and "caller"?

‘Collar’ has short ⁄ɑː⁄ (⁄ˈkɑːl.ɚ⁄); ‘caller’ has rounded back vowel ⁄ɔː⁄ (⁄ˈkɔː.lɚ⁄).

Where does the syllable stress fall in "collar" vs "caller"?

"collar" has 2 syllable(s) (col · lar) with stress on "COL". "caller" has 2 syllable(s) (cal · ler) with stress on "CAL".

Why do English learners often confuse "collar" and "caller"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: ⁄ɑː⁄ vs ⁄ɔː⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "collar" and "caller"?

Example for "collar": "It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar." Example for "caller": "―I’ve got someone on the line. ―Who’s the caller?"