Minimal Pair List Consonants /ʒ/ versus /m/, 10 pairs


   Minimal pair: Consonants /ʒ/ versus /m/, 10 pairs

The /ʒ/ sound is spelled with <ge> in words of French origin or <su> in measure and treasure . The /m/ sound is spelled with <m>.

This is a contrast between a voiceless fricative and a voiced affricate, widely separated in the mouth. It is not a problem.

Since there is a huge discrepancy between the common /m/ sound and the rare /ʒ/, the mean density value is very low at 0.1%. The lists make 6 semantic distinctions, a loading of 60%.

Bruges broom
luge loom 
measurable memorable
  measurably memorably
rouge rheum   
rouge room
  rouged roomed 
  rouging rooming 
treasure tremor
  treasures tremors

.