Vowel Minimal Pair
How to Pronounce fill vs feel
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Fill’ (⁄fɪl⁄) contains short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘feel’ (⁄fiːl⁄) contains tense ⁄iː⁄.
Contrast: Short ⁄ɪ⁄ vs long ⁄iː⁄
“She filled a glass with milk.”
“You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.”
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Frequently Asked Questions: fill vs feel
What is the difference in pronunciation between "fill" and "feel"?
‘Fill’ (⁄fɪl⁄) contains short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘feel’ (⁄fiːl⁄) contains tense ⁄iː⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "fill" vs "feel"?
"fill" has 1 syllable(s) (fill) with stress on "FILL". "feel" has 1 syllable(s) (feel) with stress on "FEEL".
Why do English learners often confuse "fill" and "feel"?
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 "fill" and "feel"?
Example for "fill": "She filled a glass with milk." Example for "feel": "You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast."