Minimal Pair List Vowels 12 and 19, /ə/ versus / eə / 8 pairs
The schwa is spelled <er> or <or> in this list. The / eə / diphthong is spelled <air>, <are>, and <è> in the loan word première .
This is a contrast between a short vowel which is always unstressed and a diphthong. It is not in itself a problem for learners.
The density figure is 0.83%. The set makes 5 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 63%.
coarser corsair cos cares courser coursair coursers corsairs hector hectare hectors hectares premier première premiers premières
