Vowel Minimal Pair
How to Pronounce head vs had
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Head’ (⁄hɛd⁄) has ⁄ɛ⁄; ‘had’ (⁄hæd⁄) has ⁄æ⁄.
Contrast: ⁄ɛ⁄ vs ⁄æ⁄
Word 1Full word page➔
head
⁄hɛd⁄
Syllables
HEAD
Definition:
The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth, and main sense organs.
“Be careful when you pet that dog on the head; it may bite.”
“This morning I had an egg for breakfast.”
Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training
80 total video examplesListen separately:
Frequently Asked Questions: head vs had
What is the difference in pronunciation between "head" and "had"?
‘Head’ (⁄hɛd⁄) has ⁄ɛ⁄; ‘had’ (⁄hæd⁄) has ⁄æ⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "head" vs "had"?
"head" has 1 syllable(s) (head) with stress on "HEAD". "had" has 1 syllable(s) (had) with stress on "HAD".
Why do English learners often confuse "head" and "had"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: ⁄ɛ⁄ vs ⁄æ⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "head" and "had"?
Example for "head": "Be careful when you pet that dog on the head; it may bite." Example for "had": "This morning I had an egg for breakfast."