wood, would

wood - /wʊd/ 

would - /wʊd/ 

• If you had wood, would you build a birdhouse?
• She asked if he would carve the wood into a sculpture.
• The fireplace needs dry wood; would you bring some from the shed?
• I wonder if this old wood would burn well in the campfire.
• Would you believe that this table is made entirely of recycled wood?
• The carpenter promised he would use the best wood for the furniture.
• If it were my choice, I would avoid cutting down that wood.
• He said he would build a fence if the wood wasn’t so expensive.
• Would you know where to find cedar wood for the deck project?
• The wood seemed fragile, but he would trust the craftsman’s skill.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Wood: /wʊd/ — Refers to material from trees or a forest.

    • Would: /wʊd/ — A modal verb indicating a hypothetical or polite request.

warm, worm

warm - /wɔrm/

worm - /wɜrm/

• I found a worm in the garden while enjoying the warm sunlight.
• The early bird catches the worm on a warm summer morning.
• She felt a warm sensation on her hand as the little worm crawled over it.
• On the warm forest floor, a worm wriggled its way through the moist soil.
• The warm compost pile was the perfect home for a worm to thrive.
• He watched the worm burrow into the ground while sipping his warm coffee.
• During the warm spring rain, the worm emerged from the ground.
• The biology teacher explained how a worm prefers a damp environment, not necessarily warm temperatures.
• As the warm breeze blew, the worm was busy feeding on the fallen leaves.
• They debated whether the warm weather affected the activity of the worm in the garden.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Warm: /wɔrm/ — Refers to heat or a pleasant temperature.

    • Worm: /wɜrm/ — A soft-bodied, legless invertebrate, often found in soil. 

burrow - /ˈbʌrəʊ/ - норка, червоточина

tea, tie

tea - /tiː/

tie - /taɪ/

• He spilled his tea while trying to fix his crooked tie.
• Before the meeting, she sipped her tea and adjusted her tie in the mirror.
• The tea party ended early when his tie got caught in the door.
• He ordered green tea at the café while deciding which tie to wear for the wedding.
• The wind was so strong that it blew his tie into his cup of tea.
• She bought a patterned tie for her dad and a box of herbal tea for herself.
• During the picnic, they had iced tea, and he used his tie as a napkin.
• He loosened his tie and poured himself a cup of tea after a long day at work.
• The waiter complimented his stylish tie while serving the freshly brewed tea.
• She wrapped the gift box with a bow tie and included a selection of exotic teas inside.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Tea: /tiː/ — Refers to the beverage made by steeping leaves, or the plant itself.

    • Tie: /taɪ/ — Refers to a necktie or the act of fastening something.

riposte, repost

riposte - /rɪˈpoʊst/

repost - /riːˈpoʊst/

• Her sharp riposte to the criticism went viral, prompting her followers to repost it widely.
• When the politician faced tough questions, his riposte was so clever that journalists began to repost the exchange online.
• The comedian’s riposte to the heckler was so quick and witty that fans couldn’t resist a repost on their social media feeds.
• After crafting a perfect riposte to a rude comment, she decided to repost the thread for others to see.
• The writer’s clever riposte in the interview gained traction when a fan decided to repost the video clip.
• His riposte to the troll was so on-point that it instantly became a popular repost on discussion forums.
• The influencer’s sarcastic riposte to a follower’s comment was followed by a humorous repost of the conversation on her story.
• The journalist’s riposte to the accusation was quoted in numerous articles, with many choosing to repost the highlight.
• During the debate, her riposte silenced her opponent, and supporters were quick to repost the moment.
• The riposte in the meme was so relatable that it garnered millions of likes and reposts across platforms.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Riposte: /rɪˈpoʊst/ — A quick, sharp reply, often clever or witty.

    • Repost: /riːˈpoʊst/ — To post something again, often on digital platforms.

heckler -  /ˈhek(ə)lər/ - критикан

pour, poor

pour - /pɔr/

poor - /pɔr/

• The bartender began to pour the wine for the poor man who couldn’t afford a full meal.
• She decided to pour her heart out to help the poor children in the shelter.
• As the rain continued to pour outside, the poor stray dog found shelter under the porch.
• The wealthy host asked the waiter to pour a drink for his poor guest.
• It’s sad to see the poor villagers struggle while they watch the rich pour money into useless luxuries.
• He wanted to pour some water on the dry plants, but the poor watering can had a hole in it.
• The teacher told the students to pour their energy into helping the poor in their community.
• When she saw the poor state of the kitchen, she decided to pour all her effort into renovating it.
• The kind man stopped to pour a cup of soup for the poor woman on the street corner.
• The poor child cried as the rain began to pour heavily on their way home.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Pour: Pronounced /pɔr/ or /pɔːr/, meaning to flow or cause a liquid to flow in a stream.

    • Poor: Pronounced the same as pour in many American accents (/pɔr/ or /pʊr/), meaning lacking money or resources. However, in some accents, it may have a slightly more rounded vowel.

port, pot

port - /pɔːrt/

pot - /pɑːt/

• The sailors unloaded crates of tea at the port and brewed some in a large pot.
• At the seaside café near the port, she ordered a pot of clam chowder.
• The chef used spices imported from the port to season the stew in the pot.
• He carried a small pot of flowers as a gift while waiting at the ferry port.
• The old teapot displayed at the museum had once traveled through the city's main port.
• They brewed coffee in a camping pot while watching ships arrive at the port.
• During the storm, the ship had to dock at a nearby port while passengers huddled over a pot of hot soup.
• The merchant sold pottery and crafts from his stall near the bustling port.
• She accidentally dropped her pot of chili when the ship rocked while docking at the port.
• The teapot, shaped like a ship, reminded her of the harbor near the port.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Port: /pɔːrt/ - Refers to a harbor for ships or the left side of a ship.

    • Pot: /pɑːt/ — Refers to a container used for cooking or holding liquids.

crate - /kreɪt/ - ящик

clam - /klam/ - моллюск  

chowder - /ˈtʃaʊdə/ - похлебка 

stew - /stjuː/ - тушиться, тушенное

pet, pat

pet - /pɛt/

pat - /pæt/

• She gave her pet dog a gentle pat on the head.
• Don’t forget to pat your pet cat when you feed it.
• The vet advised us to pat our pet calmly to reduce its anxiety.
• After a long day, he sat down to pet the dog and pat its fluffy tail.
• If you want to calm the pet rabbit, give it a soft pat on the back.
• He rescued the stray kitten and decided to keep it as his pet after giving it a reassuring pat.
• The child was learning to gently pat his new pet turtle without scaring it.
• At the petting zoo, she wanted to pat every pet, from the goats to the sheep.
• The bird flapped its wings excitedly when she tried to pat her unusual pet.
• Her favorite routine was to pat her loyal pet horse before riding it into the fields.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Pet: /pɛt/ — Refers to a domesticated animal or the act of stroking affectionately.

    • Pat: /pæt/ — Refers to a gentle tap or stroke with the hand, often as a gesture of affection or reassurance.

peak, pick, peek

peak - /piːk/

peek - /piːk/

pick - /pɪk/

• At the peak of the mountain, she stopped to pick a flower and take a quick peek at the breathtaking view.
• You can reach the peak if you pick the right trail and sneak a peek at the map along the way.
• The hiker enjoyed the view at the peak, where he could pick berries and peek at the valley below.
• During the peak of the concert, the photographer tried to pick the best moment to take a peek backstage.
• She climbed to the peak, hoping to pick out landmarks and sneak a peek at the neighboring town.
• The teacher reached the peak of frustration when her students tried to pick answers by taking a peek at each other’s papers.
• At sunrise, the climbers reached the peak, each stopping to pick a spot to peek at the rising sun.
• The salesperson said that if you pick this binocular, you can take a better peek at the peak of the mountain.
• The bird rested on the peak of the roof, watching the child pick up seeds and sneak a peek at the garden.
• At the peak of the holiday season, shoppers often pick gifts while trying to sneak a peek at sale prices.

Pronunciation Note:

• Peak: /piːk/ - The highest point or top of something.
• Peek: /piːk/ - A quick or furtive glance.
• Pick: /pɪk/ - To choose or select.

    

laud, loud, load

laud - /lɔːd/

loud - /laʊd/

load - /loʊd/

• The audience began to loudly laud the singer for her performance as she helped the crew load the equipment.
• The teacher gave laud to the student who spoke loud enough to be heard while helping carry the heavy load of books.
• Despite the loud noise from the construction, the workers were lauded for managing to load the materials efficiently.
• She sang so loud that the neighbors came to laud her talent, though they had to help her load the truck for her next gig.
• The team earned loud cheers and laud from the crowd as they worked together to load the trophies onto the bus.
• The speaker was lauded for his powerful words, even though his loud voice made it hard to load the audio recording properly.
• After a loud round of applause, the actor was lauded for his role and helped load props backstage.
• The coach gave laud to his players for their loud enthusiasm and willingness to load the team van with gear.
• The priest’s sermon received laud from the congregation, even as loud singing filled the church while they prepared to load donations.
• The loud announcement was followed by laud for the volunteers, who stayed late to load the relief supplies into the truck.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Laud: /lɔːd/ — To praise or commend someone highly.

    • Loud: /laʊd/ — Producing a lot of sound; not quiet.

    • Load: /loʊd/ — A weight or quantity to be carried, or the act of carrying or packing items.

crush, crash

crush - /krʌʃ/

crash  - /kræʃ/

    

• The soda can got a crush after the car crash in the parking lot.
• He had a crush on her but feared his dreams would crash if he confessed.
• The rollercoaster gave her a thrill, but the sudden crash at the end felt like a heart crush.
• During the concert, the crowd’s crush near the stage caused a minor crash with the equipment.
• Don’t crush the box, or the fragile items might crash to the floor.
• The stock market crash left many investors feeling the emotional crush of financial loss.
• After the crash, the firefighters had to crush parts of the car to rescue the driver.
• She felt the crush of guilt after hearing about the crash she accidentally caused.
• The glass might crash to the ground if you crush the box it’s packed in.
• He tried to crush his nerves before the flight, but the thought of a crash kept him tense.

Pronunciation Note:

    • Crush: /krʌʃ/ — To press or squeeze something, or a romantic infatuation.

    • Crash: /kræʃ/ — To collide, fall, or fail with a loud noise.

crush - 1) раздавить, сломить, сокрушить, 2) увлечение, влюбленность (schoolgirl crush – девичья школьная влюбленность)

crash - крушение

where, were

where - /wɛr/

were - /wər/

• Where were you when the concert started?
• I’m trying to remember where we were last night.
• Where were the keys left after you used them?
• Do you know where they were planning to meet us?
• Where were those books placed on the shelf?
• She couldn’t recall where they were supposed to go.
• Where were you planning to park the car?
• The detectives asked where the suspects were at the time of the incident.
• Where were the children supposed to wait after school?
• We were wondering where everyone was gathering for the event.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Where (location, place): /wɛr/, with the "wh" or "w" sound followed by a short "e" sound, rhyming with "air" like in "hair".

    • Were (past tense of are): /wɜːr/ or /wər/, pronounced with a more neutral, unstressed "uh" sound.

In spoken English, where has a clearer "eh" vowel sound, while were typically has a softer, more neutral vowel sound. 

week, weak

week - /wiːk/

weak - /wiːk/

• She was feeling weak by the end of the week, after working so hard.
• He was too weak to carry his bag after a long week of traveling.
• The weak signal faded as the week went on, making it hard to communicate.
• By the end of the week, his weak excuses were no longer convincing.
• She tried to lift the heavy box, but her weak arms couldn't handle it after a tiring week.
• During the week, he felt weak from lack of sleep, but he recovered by the weekend.
• The weak performance of the team last week led to some important changes.
• After a week of illness, he was finally starting to feel less weak.
• The weak link in the team was evident throughout the week of training.
• He promised to get stronger, but he was still weak after his week-long illness.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Week: /wiːk/ – The "ee" sound is a long vowel sound, similar to the one in "see" or "meet".

    • Weak: /wiːk/ – The pronunciation is identical to "week," but the meaning is different. It refers to lacking strength or energy.

Key Points:

    • Week refers to a period of seven days (Monday through Sunday).

    • Weak describes someone or something that lacks strength, power, or energy.

Even though the pronunciation is the same, context is key in distinguishing the two words.

weather, whether

weather - /ˈwɛðər/

whether - /ˈwɛðər/

• The weather forecast will determine whether we go hiking or stay indoors.
• She couldn't decide whether to bring an umbrella, given the unpredictable weather.
• Whether it's sunny or rainy, she always enjoys the beauty of the weather.
• The team debated whether to reschedule the game because of the stormy weather.
• He wondered whether he should wear a coat, as the weather kept changing.
• Whether it's warm or cold, the weather in spring can be hard to predict.
• They weren't sure whether the weather would allow for a beach day or not.
• She checked the app to see whether the weather would improve later.
• The picnic depended on whether the weather would clear up by noon.
• The pilot announced he wasn’t certain whether the weather would delay the flight.

Key Differences:

    • Weather (the state of the atmosphere, e.g., rain, sun, snow): /ˈwɛðər/, with a soft "th" sound as in "feather".

    • Whether (used to express choices or possibilities): /ˈwɛðər/, pronounced the same as weather.

In these examples, (the) weather and whether are homophones (they sound the same), but context helps distinguish their meanings.

three, tree

 three - /θriː/

 tree - /triː/

• There are three apples hanging from that tree in the backyard.
• She planted one tree for each of her three children.
• He saw three birds perched on a single tree branch.
• The park had three benches, each shaded by a tall tree.
• After hiking for three hours, they finally reached a giant redwood tree.
• The children counted to three before climbing the big tree together.
• They spotted three squirrels running around the base of the old oak tree.
• Each family member carved their initials into the tree, creating three sets of letters.
• The yard had three different types of tree—oak, maple, and pine.
• They took three steps forward, stopping just under a large pine tree.

Key Differences:

    • Three (the number 3): /θriː/, pronounced with the "th" sound (voiceless dental fricative) as in "think" and a long "ee" sound as in "see".

    • Tree (a tall plant with a trunk and branches): /triː/, beginning with the "t" sound and also with the long "ee" sound.

perch - /pəːtʃ/ - 1 ) насест, перч, жердь, 2) взгромоздиться, садиться, усесться, 3) окунь

thaw, so, saw

thaw - /θɔː/

so - /soʊ/

saw - /sɔː/ 

• I saw the snow beginning to thaw, so I decided to go for a walk.
• The ice will thaw soon, so we can finally cross the river like I saw in the movie.
• I saw a huge block of ice, and I wondered how long it would take to thaw, so I decided to wait.
• She saw the snow melting and thought it would thaw quickly, so she grabbed her jacket.
• The snow began to thaw, so I saw people walking outside in lighter clothes.
• I saw the frozen pond and wondered how long it would take to thaw, so I kept an eye on it.
• We saw the temperature rise, so we knew the ice would thaw by the end of the day.
• I saw a snowman by the lake, and soon after, the sun began to thaw the snow, so it started to melt.
• As soon as I saw the ice on the lake, I knew it would thaw soon, so I stayed away from the water.
• I saw the sun come out, and it made the snow thaw quickly, so we went for a hike.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Thaw: /θɔː/ – The "th" sound is pronounced like the "th" in "think" or "thanks," and the "aw" sounds like the "aw" in "law".

    • So: /soʊ/ – The "o" sounds like the long "o" in "go".

    • Saw: /sɔː/ (in American English, it can be pronounced /sɑː/ in some regions) – The "aw" is pronounced like the "aw" in "law".

thaw - таять

melt - плавиться

sweet, sweat

sweet  - /swiːt/

sweat - /swɛt/

• After a long workout, she rewarded herself with a sweet treat to make up for all the sweat.
• He could taste the sweet victory after hours of hard work and sweat.
• The bakery smelled sweet, but after a day of baking, the chef was covered in sweat.
• She felt the sweat on her brow but smiled, knowing the sweet reward of success was near.
• The hot day left him drenched in sweat, so he grabbed a cold, sweet lemonade.
• Baking all day is hard work, but the sweet scent of cookies made the sweat worth it.
• As she ran the last mile, she imagined the sweet relief waiting after all the sweat and effort.
• He wiped the sweat from his face and took a bite of the sweet fruit he’d been craving.
• The gym was filled with the smell of sweat, but her protein shake had a sweet taste.
• After cleaning up in the hot sun, a sweet, cold drink was the perfect way to beat the sweat.

Key Differences:

    • Sweet (having a sugary taste or a pleasing quality): /swiːt/, pronounced with a long "ee" sound as in "see".

    • Sweat (perspiration, or the act of perspiring): /swɛt/, with the short "e" sound as in "set".

make up - компенсировать; составить

steel, steal, still

steel - /stiːl/

steal - /stiːl/

still - /stɪl/

• The thief tried to steal the steel bar, but it was still too heavy.
• Steel companies still guard against people who might try to steal their designs.
• Even though it’s made of steel, he tried to steal it while the night was still.
• She left the steel door unlocked, worried someone might steal the contents while it was still open.
• It’s still amazing to think someone would steal steel from a factory!
• They found a way to steal a small piece of steel, but still couldn’t finish the project.
• The steel was still cold to the touch, making it harder to steal unnoticed.
• Still, it surprised everyone that someone managed to steal the huge steel beam.
• Even though it was made of steel, they tried to steal it while the room was still and quiet.
• Both the steel pipes and the copper wires are still at risk if anyone tries to steal them.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Steel (metal): /stiːl/, pronounced with a long "ee" sound as in "feel".

    • Steal (to take something): /stiːl/, pronounced exactly the same as "steel," making it a homophone.

    • Still (continuing or motionless): /stɪl/, with a short "i" sound as in "sit".

While steel and steal are pronounced the same, still is distinguished by its short "i" sound. 

beam - /biːm/ - балка; луч

son, sum

son - /sʌn/

sum - /sʌm/

• The son of the millionaire inherited a large sum of money.
• I asked my son to calculate the sum of the numbers.
• He told his son that the sum of the parts should equal the whole.
• The sum of the equation was too high for my son to solve.
• My son bought a gift with the sum of money he saved over the summer.
• The sum of their efforts was greater than expected, just like a son surpassing his father's achievements.
• She was proud of her son, who had just won the sum of the competition's prize.
• I saw my son playing with the sum of his new toys.
• The teacher asked the students to find the sum, but my son was distracted.
• In the math class, the sum of the numbers was easy for my son to solve.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Son: /sʌn/ - The "o" in son is pronounced with the short "u" sound, as in "fun".

    • Sum: /sʌm/ - Similarly, the "u" in sum also uses the short "u" sound, though contextually, these words are distinguished by their meanings, not by a significant difference in pronunciation. However, you will often hear a subtle distinction in stress and intonation when the words appear in context. The pronunciation of "sum" often carries a more neutral stress compared to "son" when emphasizing the family connection.

shirt, short, sheet

shirt - /ʃɜrt/

short - /ʃɔrt/

sheet - /ʃiːt/

• He wore a short-sleeve shirt and lay down on the white sheet.
• Please don’t use the bed sheet to clean your shirt, even if it’s a little short on fabric.
• I spilled coffee on my shirt, and now it’s stained on the sleeve, but luckily, the sheet was just out of reach.
• She packed a short-sleeved shirt and a fresh bed sheet for the trip.
• After cutting his shirt short, he used a sheet of fabric to make it longer.
• They gave him a short checklist on a sheet of paper while he fixed his wrinkled shirt.
• A short gust of wind blew the shirt and sheet off the clothesline.
• He realized he needed a short break to iron his shirt and fold the clean sheet.
• A short time after washing his shirt, he spread out the sheet to dry.
• She lost a button on her shirt, grabbed a short sewing needle, and used a sheet of instructions to fix it.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Shirt: /ʃɜrt/, with the "ɜr" sound as in "her".

    • Short: /ʃɔrt/, with the "ɔr" sound as in "or".

    • Sheet: /ʃiːt/, with a long "ee" sound as in "meet".

sad, said

sad - /sæd/

said - /sɛd/

• She looked sad when she said goodbye to her friends.
• I can't believe you said that! It's really sad.
• He was sad when he said he wouldn't be able to attend the party.
• After she said the news, everyone felt sad and quiet.
• He said he was sad about missing the concert.
• I was sad when my friend said she was moving away.
• She said it was a sad day when they canceled the event.
• He said he didn't want to go, but I could tell he was sad about it.
• The movie made me feel sad, especially when they said goodbye.
• She said it was a sad situation, but we had to accept it.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Sad: /sæd/ – The "a" is pronounced as a short "a," like in "cat" or "hat".

    • Said: /sɛd/ – The "a" is pronounced as a short "e," like in "bed" or "red".

Key Points:

    • Sad refers to a feeling of unhappiness or sorrow.

    • Said is the past tense of the verb "say," meaning something was spoken or expressed.

red, read (past tense of read)

red - /rɛd/

read (past tense of read) - /rɛd/

• I saw a red car as I read the newspaper this morning.
• The red apple was the first one I read about in the book.
• She wore a red dress when she read the letter from her friend.
• I read that the red roses are in bloom this season.
• The red light was on when I read the message on my phone.
• He read the red warning signs before entering the building.
• I read an interesting article about the red sky last night.
• When I looked at the red painting, I remembered what I read about it in the gallery guide.
• I had already read the news about the red alert in the city.
• She read the red book while sitting under the red umbrella on the beach.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Red: /rɛd/ – The "e" in red is pronounced with the short "e" sound, as in "bed".

    • Read (past tense): /rɛd/ – In its past tense form, read is pronounced the same way as red, using the same "short e" sound.

Key Point:

Although red and read (past tense) are spelled the same, the pronunciation is the same for both in American English when read is in the past tense. The distinction occurs when read is in the present tense (/riːd/), which has a long "ee" sound. The present tense "read" and the past tense "read" are distinguished by vowel length and context.

rag, rug

rag - /ræɡ/

rug - /rʌɡ/

• She used a rag to clean the spill on the rug.
• I found an old rag under the rug in the living room.
• The rag was dirty, but it still worked better than the rug for cleaning.
• He tripped over the rug while wiping his hands with the rag.
• The cat scratched the rug while I was using a rag to dust the table.
• She spilled her drink on the rag and then spread it over the rug to dry.
• The rag was too small to cover the whole rug, so I had to use something bigger.
• After I mopped the floor with a rag, I rolled up the rug to avoid getting it wet.
• He was surprised to find a rag tangled under the rug by the door.
• The rug was so old that it looked like a worn-out rag.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Rag: /ræɡ/ – The "a" in rag is pronounced with a short "a" sound, like in "cat".

    • Rug: /rʌɡ/ – The "u" in rug is pronounced with a short "u" sound, like in "cup".

Key Points:

    • The main difference between rag and rug lies in the vowel sounds: rag has the short "a" (/æ/), while rug has the short "u" (/ʌ/).

rag - тряпка

rug - коврик

off, of

off - /ɔf/

of - /ʌv/

• She took the book off the shelf and handed it to me.
• The lid is off the jar, and I can't find it anywhere.
• He is a man of great courage, but he took the day off to rest.
• I need to take the sticker off the bottle before recycling it.
• The coat is made of wool, so the thief made off with it after the show.
• They went off to the market after finishing the meeting of the board.
• I couldn’t believe how the cake turned out; it was a perfect off-white color.
• Please take your shoes off before entering the house of my parents.
• She asked if the money was off the table or if we still had time to talk of it.
• What is an example of "off the table"?
• He turned off the lights when he left, but he forgot the cup of tea on the counter.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Off: /ɔf/ or /ɑf/ – The "o" sound is typically a short, rounded vowel like in "soft" or "coffee".

    • Of: /ʌv/ – The "o" in of is pronounced like the short "u" sound as in "cup," and it sounds like "uhv" in casual speech.

Key Points:

    • Off is a preposition or adverb used to indicate separation or removal, and it has a stronger, more distinct vowel sound.

    • Of is a preposition used to indicate possession or origin, and in most cases, it is pronounced with a softer, more neutral vowel sound.

make off - сбегать, улизнуть, скрыться

know, gnaw

know - /noʊ/

gnaw - /nɔː/

• I know you want to gnaw on that bone, but it's not yours.
• She knows it’s time to gnaw the food, but she’s still trying to decide.
• They know the dog will gnaw on anything left out overnight.
• He didn’t know what to do when the dog started to gnaw on his shoes.
• I know how much you want to gnaw on that stick, but it's getting late.
• The dog can gnaw for hours, but you know it never seems to get enough.
• I didn’t know the squirrel would gnaw through the wire, but it did.
• You know gnawing on your nails is a bad habit, right?
• They know the wood will eventually gnaw away after years of wear.
• I know you’re hungry, but gnawing on that rock won’t help.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Know: /noʊ/ – The "k" is silent, and the "o" is pronounced with a long "o" sound, like in "go" or "show".

    • Gnaw: /nɔː/ (in American English, /nɑː/) – The "g" is silent, and the "aw" is pronounced like the "aw" in "law" or "saw".

Key Points:

    • Know means to have knowledge or be aware of something.

    • Gnaw means to bite or chew on something, especially repeatedly or with difficulty.

Even though both words are spelled similarly, the key difference is the pronunciation:

    • Know has a long "o" sound, while

    • Gnaw has a "aw" sound, which is a different vowel sound altogether.

gnaw - грызть

here, hear

here - /hɪər/

hear - /hɪər/

• Can you come over here so I can hear you better?
• I didn’t hear what you said; could you repeat it here?
• Here, by the beach, you can hear the sound of the waves clearly.
• I love it here because I can hear the birds singing in the morning.
• Stand right here, and you’ll hear the music from the concert.
• Here’s the place where we could hear the waterfall most loudly.
• If you listen closely here, you can hear the crickets chirping at night.
• Come here by the fireplace, and you’ll hear the crackling of the wood.
• I always hear great stories here at this café.
• Here’s the recording; you can hear everything clearly this time.

Key Differences:

    • Here (indicating a place or location): /hɪər/, pronounced with the initial "h" sound, followed by a long "ee" sound as in "ear."

    • Hear (to perceive sound): /hɪər/, pronounced the same as here but used in contexts involving listening or sound.

In these examples, here and hear are homophones (they sound the same), so understanding their meaning relies on context.

eyes, ice

eyes - /aɪz/

ice - /aɪs/

• Her eyes sparkled like ice in the sunlight.
• I can't believe your eyes are blue, while mine are like ice.
• She had tears in her eyes, and the ice was cold under her feet.
• He looked at me with cold eyes as if he had seen ice for the first time.
• The ice on the lake glistened as I stared into her eyes.
• After running in the snow, my eyes were teary, and my hands were frozen with ice.
• She rubbed her eyes, wishing the ice storm would end soon.
• My eyes are so sensitive to the bright light, like the glare off the ice.
• The ice cubes in my drink clinked while I stared into his eyes.
• His eyes widened in shock as he saw the ice begin to melt.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Eyes: /aɪz/ – The "ey" sounds like the long "i" vowel, similar to "my" or "sky".

    • Ice: /aɪs/ – The "i" also has the long "i" sound, but "ice" is pronounced with a soft "s" at the end, similar to "nice".

Key Points:

    • Eyes refers to the organs of sight.

    • Ice refers to frozen water, typically used to cool drinks or in cold environments.

While both words contain the "i" vowel sound, the key difference lies in the final consonants: eyes ends with a "z" sound, while ice ends with an "s" sound.

dew, due (to)

dew - /djuː/

due (to) - /djuː/

• The dew on the grass was still fresh, despite the fact that the payment was due to the bank today.
• I had to wipe the dew off the car windshield because the rent was due to be paid by noon.
• The due date for the project was approaching, but the dew in the garden still sparkled in the morning light.
• The dew on the flowers made the morning look beautiful, while the delay was due to traffic.
• The team was late to the meeting because the report was due to be submitted by 9 AM, and the dew was still on the windows when they left.
• It was a chilly morning, with dew covering the grass, and the assignment was due to be turned in that afternoon.
• The dew on the leaves glistened in the early morning sun, but the event was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
• I love the smell of the dew on the grass, but the delay was due to the heavy rain last night.
• The plants looked vibrant with the dew on their petals, but the bill was due to be paid before the weekend.
• The dew evaporated quickly as the sun rose, but the meeting was due to start in five minutes.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Dew: /djuː/ – The "ew" is pronounced as a long uː sound, like in blue or you.

    • Due: /djuː/ – The "ue" is pronounced the same as dew, with a long uː sound (like in blue or you). The key difference is the context in which it is used: due refers to something expected or required (e.g., due date, due to).

    • Due to: This phrase is often used to explain a cause or reason (e.g., "due to rain," "due to circumstances").

Key Points:

    • Dew refers to the small drops of water that form on cool surfaces overnight.

    • Due refers to something that is expected, scheduled, or required at a particular time.

    • Due to is used to indicate the cause or reason for something.

data, date

data - /ˈdeɪtə/

date - /deɪt/

• The data from yesterday's experiment will be reviewed on the date of the meeting.
• I need to update the data by the date on the report.
• Can you confirm the date for the meeting and the data we need to present?
• The data shows that the project was delayed past the expected date.
• I found the data analysis, but I forgot to note the date of the study.
• The date for submitting the data has been moved to next week.
• The scientist collected the data on the same date as the last test.
• We will need to compare the data from each date to see the trend.
• The date of birth on your form doesn't match the data we have on file.
• She entered the data from the last meeting, but the date was incorrectly recorded.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Data: /ˈdeɪtə/ – The first vowel is pronounced as a long "a" (/eɪ/), like in "day".  The second syllable has a soft "uh" sound (/ə/).

    • Date: /deɪt/ – The vowel sound is the same long "a" (/eɪ/) as in data, but date has only one syllable.

Key Points:

    • While data and date share a similar vowel sound (/eɪ/), data typically has two syllables, while date is monosyllabic.

    • In American English, data is usually pronounced with a "soft" second syllable ("uh"), and date is one solid syllable.

data  - данные

date - дата (календаря)

cushion, cashier, caution

cushion - /ˈkʊʃən/ 

cashier - /kæˈʃɪr/

caution - /ˈkɔːʃən/ 

• The cashier warned me with caution as I dropped the cushion in front of the register.
• I gave the cashier a tip, but he seemed to have caution about sitting on the cushion.
• After the cashier’s caution, I carefully placed the cushion on the chair.
• Please be cautious when lifting the cushion, as the cashier might need it for the display.
• The cushion is soft, but the cashier gave me caution about its durability.
• With caution, the cashier placed the cushion on the floor, trying not to damage the fabric.
• I asked the cashier if the cushion was on sale, but she answered with caution, saying it's a limited offer.
• She sat down on the cushion, only to hear the cashier shout a caution about the store policy.
• The cashier handed me a cushion with caution, explaining that it was delicate.
• After the cashier offered caution, I finally decided to buy the cushion for my couch.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Cushion: /ˈkʊʃən/ – The "oo" sound as in "book" followed by a soft "sh" sound.

    • Cashier: /kæˈʃɪr/ – The "a" sound as in "cat," and the "ier" sounds like "ear".

    • Caution: /ˈkɔːʃən/ – The "au" has the "aw" sound as in "law," and the "sh" is pronounced softly.

cushion  - подушка

cashier - касса, кассир

caution - осторожность

code, cod, caught

code - /koʊd/

cod - /kɑːd/

caught - /kɔːt/

• The fisherman caught a cod while I was trying to crack the code for the puzzle.
• She caught the cod with ease, but couldn't figure out the code to open the lock.
• I caught the cod in the net, but the code to the safe was still a mystery.
• The hacker tried to break the code, but was distracted when he caught a cod on his fishing trip.
• He was caught off guard when the code failed, and the cod slipped out of his hands.
• When we caught the cod, we also discovered the hidden code on its tag.
• I caught the cod, but the code I needed for the encryption was still missing.
• The detective caught the thief, but the code to the vault remained a challenge.
• I caught a cod for dinner, and later solved the code that had been bothering me all week.
• As I was reading the code, I caught a glimpse of a cod swimming by in the water.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Code: /koʊd/ - The "o" sounds like the long "o" as in "go".

    • Cod: /kɒd/ (in American English, this is typically pronounced /kɑːd/) - The "o" sounds like the short "o" in "hot" or "pot".

    • Caught: /kɔːt/ - The "au" has the "aw" sound as in "law".

Cod - треска

collar, color

collar - /ˈkɑːlər/

color - /ˈkʌlər/

• I bought a red collar for my dog, but I’m not sure about the color of the leash yet.
• She wore a blue dress with a matching collar, but the color of her shoes didn’t match.
• The collar on my shirt was too tight, and I didn’t like the color of the fabric either.
• I’m thinking about changing the color of my car, but I also need a new collar for my pet.
• The collar on his jacket was made of leather, but he preferred a different color.
• He adjusted his collar before heading out, but couldn’t decide on the color of his tie.
• The color of the flowers in the garden matched the collar on her dress perfectly.
• I have a black collar for my shirt, but the color of the pants is still undecided.
• Her cat’s collar was bright red, but the color of the bed was a soft blue.
• I was looking for a collar to match my outfit, but I couldn’t find the right color.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Collar: /ˈkɑːlər/ (in American English) – The "o" is pronounced like the "a" in "father" (a more open sound).

    • Color: /ˈkʌlər/ – The "o" is pronounced like the "u" in "cup" (a more closed, short sound).

Key Points:

    • Collar refers to the part of a shirt, jacket, or piece of clothing that fits around the neck, or a piece of material worn around an animal's neck.

    • Color refers to the hue or shade of something (like red, blue, or green).

can, cane

can - /kæn/

cane - /keɪn/

• I can bring my cane if we plan to walk a lot.
• She uses a cane now, but she can still walk quite fast.
• Can you hand me that cane over there by the chair?
• He said he can manage without the cane, but it helps him feel stable.
• You can borrow my cane if you need extra support.
• If I can, I’ll bring my cane in case the trail is rough.
• She’s confident she can walk without the cane after her recovery.
• Can you believe he decorated his cane with bright colors?
• I can’t find my cane; it must be somewhere around here.
• He can take short walks without the cane, but only for a little while.

Pronunciation Differences

    • Can (ability, permission, or container): /kæn/, with a short "a" sound as in "cat".

    • Cane (walking aid or type of plant): /keɪn/, with a long "a" sound, rhyming with "lane".

canal, kennel

canal - /kəˈnæl/

kennel - /ˈkɛnəl/

• The dog’s kennel is near the canal, where we like to walk.
• We took a boat ride through the canal and passed by a small kennel on the shore.
• He built a new kennel for his dog, right next to the canal.
• The canal is a peaceful spot for a walk, but the kennel is a noisy place for the dogs.
• I visited the animal shelter by the canal, where the dogs stayed in their kennel.
• There’s a canal running through the town, and we passed a kennel on our way there.
• The canal is a popular tourist attraction, but the kennel nearby is for local pets.
• They cleaned the kennel and then took the dogs for a walk along the canal.
• The family lives near a canal, and they have a kennel for their three dogs.
• We heard the barking from the kennel as we walked along the canal’s edge.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Canal: /kəˈnæl/ - The "a" is pronounced as a short æ (like in cat).

    • Kennel: /ˈkɛnəl/ - The "e" is pronounced as a short ɛ (like in bed).

Key Points:

    • Canal refers to a long, narrow waterway, often man-made, used for transportation or irrigation.

    • Kennel refers to a small building or shelter where dogs or other animals are kept.

The difference in pronunciation comes from the vowel sounds: canal uses the æ sound, while kennel uses the ɛ sound, despite the words looking similar.

bus, both, bath

bus - /bʌs/

both - /boʊθ/

bath - /bæθ/

• Both the bus and the bath need a good cleaning today.
• After a long bus ride, both kids were ready for a warm bath.
• She missed the bus because both of them were taking a bath.
• Both the bus schedule and the bath supplies are posted on the board.
• After taking the bus, both of them needed a quick bath.
• They decided to take the bus because both of them didn’t have time for a bath.
• Both the bus driver and the passengers talked about the new bath products in the store.
• After the bus dropped them off, both went straight to the bath to wash up.
• She waited for the bus, thinking about how both a nap and a bath sounded perfect.
• Both the bus station and the bathhouse are closed for cleaning today.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Bus (vehicle): /bʌs/, with a short "u" sound as in "but".

    • Both (referring to two things): /boʊθ/, with a long "o" sound followed by a "th" sound, rhyming with "growth".

    • Bath (washing or tub): /bæθ/, with a short "a" sound as in "cat" and ending in the "th" sound.

bread, breed, broad

bread - /brɛd/

breed -  /briːd/

broad - /brɔːd/

1. The baker was proud of the fresh bread he made from a new breed of wheat, which grew in broad fields.
2. He tried a new breed of dog that liked to play with bread, but it had a broad nose.
3. She spread the bread on the broad table while discussing the breed of horse she wanted to buy.
4. The bread in the basket was from a new breed of grain, and the fields were so broad and open.
5. We had a broad selection of breads from various breeds of wheat at the farmer’s market.
6. The broad path led to the bakery, where they made bread from a special breed of flour.
7. In the broad field, the farmer grew a breed of wheat used to bake delicious bread.
8. He brought a bread basket to the broad table and explained the different breed of cows used to make butter.
9. The broad view from the hill included fields where different breeds of sheep grazed near the bakery.
10. They were amazed by the broad variety of bread available, each made with a specific breed of flour.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Bread: /brɛd/ – The "e" is pronounced as a short ɛ sound (like in bed).

    • Breed: /briːd/ – The "ee" is pronounced as a long iː sound (like in see).

    • Broad: /brɔːd/ – The "oa" is pronounced as a broad ɔː sound (like in law).

Key Points:

    • Bread refers to the baked food made from flour, water, and usually yeast.

    • Breed refers to a particular type of animal or plant with specific characteristics.

    • Broad refers to something wide, extensive, or large in scope.

graze - /ɡreɪz/ - пасти, пастись

beer, bear

beer - /bɪr/

bear - /bɛr/

• They spotted a bear in the forest, and afterward, enjoyed a cold beer to calm their nerves.
• He joked about sharing his beer with a bear, though it wouldn’t be a safe idea.
• After hiking and seeing a bear track, they relaxed by the campfire with a bottle of beer.
• The brewery's logo featured a bear holding a pint of beer.
• She sipped her beer while telling a story about a bear encounter in the woods.
• In the gift shop, he bought a stuffed bear and a craft beer to take home.
• They toasted with beer, celebrating their successful bear sighting from a safe distance.
• He carried a can of bear spray and a bottle of beer while camping.
• The nature guide warned them about bear sightings, but they focused on finishing their beer.
• She laughed at the idea of a bear walking into a bar and ordering a beer.

Key Differences:

    • Beer (an alcoholic beverage): /bɪr/, pronounced with the "ee" sound as in "ear".

    • Bear (a large mammal or to tolerate): /bɛr/, with the short "e" sound, as in "air".