Pronunciation Lab
Pronunciation · /æ/ /e/
/æ/ and /e/
Bad or bed? Man or men? Open your mouth wider for /æ/.
Why it's difficult
Many speakers use the same vowel for both, so man and men — or had and head — are confused. It matters for singular and plural.
How to make it
- 1For /æ/ (bad): drop your jaw — about two fingers between your teeth — and spread your lips a little.
- 2For /e/ (bed): half as open, lips relaxed.
- 3Look in a mirror and switch between them: your jaw should clearly move.
Check yourself: Put your hand under your chin and say "man, men, man, men" — your jaw should drop further on man.
Practise these words
happen
/hæpən/
cancel
/kænsəl/
letter
/letə/
question
/kwestʃən/
Minimal pairs — hear the difference
Only one sound changes. Play them one after the other, watch the mouth, then say them yourself.
bad
/bæd/
bed
/bed/
man
/mæn/
men
/men/
sat
/sæt/
set
/set/
had
/hæd/
head
/hed/
Say it in a sentence
“The man had a bad headache after the match.”
Record yourself and compare
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