Minimal Pair List Consonants /n/ versus /ʤ/, 173 pairs
The /n/ sound is spelled with <n>, <kn> as in knee or <gn> in gnaw . The /ʤ/ sound is spelled with <j>, <g> or <dge>.
This is a contrast between a nasal continuant and an affricate, both in the alveolar region and both voiced. In spite of the proximity it is not a problem.
The only taboo word pair is nigger/jigger .
Interesting pairs include:
Colin college
litany liturgy
The mean density value is 1.1%. The lists make 93 semantic distinctions, a loading of 54%.
any edgy ban badge banner badger banners badgers barn barge bun budge bunnies budges bunny budgie bunnies budgies cabin cabbage can cadge canned cadged canning cadging cane cage caned caged caning caging canna cadger cannas cadgers Cannes cadge Colin college don dodge dodging donning donned dodged earn urge earned urged earning urging earnings urgings end edged faun forge fawn forge fawned forged fawning forging fun fudge gain gage gained gaged gaining gaging gannet gadget gannets gadgets gnaw jaw gnawed jawed gnawing jawing gnaws jaws gnu Jew gnus Jews gown gouge gowned gouged gowning gouging hen hedge hewn huge knack jack knacks jacks knee G knees G's knitters jitters knives jives knob job knobs jobs knot jot knots jots knotted jotted knotting jotting know Jo known Joan Larne large lean liege Len ledge litany liturgy litanies liturgies man Madge minute midget minutes midgets N edge nab jab nabbed jabbed nabbing jabbing nabs jabs nag jag nagged jagged nagging jagging nags jags nail gaol nailed gaoled nailing gaoling nails gaols names James nape jape napes japes narrow Jarrow nay J nay jay neap jeep neaps jeeps near jeer neared jeered nearing jeering nears jeers née J née jay neigh J neighs J's neigh jay neighs jays neighed jade Nell gel Nelly jelly ness Jess nest jest nests jests nested jested nesting jesting Nestor jester net jet nets jets netted jetted netting jetting Neuss Joyce nib jib nibs jibs niffy jiffy niggard jiggered nigger jigger niggers jiggers niggle jiggle niggled jiggled niggles jiggles niggling jiggling nip gyp nipped gypped nipping gypping nips gyps noise joys none nudge noon June noose juice nooses juices nor jaw not jot nudge judge nudged judged nudges judges nudging judging nun nudge nut jut nuts juts nutted jutted pain page pained paged paining paging rain rage rained raged raining raging rein rage reined raged reining raging reign rage reigned raged reigning raging Rennes Reg sane sage sanely sagely stain stage stained staged staining staging urn urge wain wage wane wage waned waged waning waging Wayne wage wen wedge wend wedged wren Reg
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