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Vowel Minimal Pair

How to Pronounce feet vs fit

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Fit’ (⁄fɪt⁄) features short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘feet’ (⁄fiːt⁄) features the long tense vowel ⁄iː⁄.

Contrast: Short ⁄ɪ⁄ vs long ⁄iː⁄

feet

⁄fiːt⁄

Syllables

FEET

Definition:

Fact; performance; feat.

fit

⁄fɪt⁄

Syllables

FIT

Definition:

Suitable; proper

“You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.”

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Frequently Asked Questions: feet vs fit

What is the difference in pronunciation between "feet" and "fit"?

‘Fit’ (⁄fɪt⁄) features short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘feet’ (⁄fiːt⁄) features the long tense vowel ⁄iː⁄.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "feet" vs "fit"?

"feet" has 1 syllable(s) (feet) with stress on "FEET". "fit" has 1 syllable(s) (fit) with stress on "FIT".

Why do English learners often confuse "feet" and "fit"?

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

What are example sentences for "feet" and "fit"?

Example for "feet": "feet at this point. Like big, fat, calloused feet that get wider. You ever see a farmer's hands? >> Yeah." Example for "fit": "You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit."