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Vowel Minimal Pair

How to Pronounce work vs walk

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Work’ (⁄wɝːk⁄) features the rhotic central vowel ⁄ɝː⁄; ‘walk’ (⁄wɔːk⁄) has the broad rounded vowel ⁄ɔː⁄ with silent 'l'.

Contrast: ⁄ɝː⁄ vs ⁄ɔː⁄ with silent 'l'

work

⁄wɜːrk⁄

Syllables

WORK

Definition:

Employment.

“My work involves a lot of travel.”

walk

⁄wɔːk⁄

Syllables

WALK

Definition:

To move on the feet by alternately setting each foot (or pair or group of feet, in the case of animals with four or more feet) forward, with at least one foot on the ground at all times. Compare run.

“To walk briskly for an hour every day is to keep fit.”

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Frequently Asked Questions: work vs walk

What is the difference in pronunciation between "work" and "walk"?

‘Work’ (⁄wɝːk⁄) features the rhotic central vowel ⁄ɝː⁄; ‘walk’ (⁄wɔːk⁄) has the broad rounded vowel ⁄ɔː⁄ with silent 'l'.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "work" vs "walk"?

"work" has 1 syllable(s) (work) with stress on "WORK". "walk" has 1 syllable(s) (walk) with stress on "WALK".

Why do English learners often confuse "work" and "walk"?

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

What are example sentences for "work" and "walk"?

Example for "work": "My work involves a lot of travel." Example for "walk": "To walk briskly for an hour every day is to keep fit."