Due to the cot-caught merger, words that used to be pronounced with /ɔ/ are now pronounced with /ɑ/. Consequently, there are no minimal pairs for /ɔ/ and /ɑ/. So we examine minimal pairs with their r-colored vowels.
/ɑr, /ɔr/ minimal pairs
far, four
tart, tort
part, port
farm, form
barn, born
hard, hoard
barred bored
cart court
mart, mort
mar, more
impart, import
depart, deport
car, core
/ar/, /ər/ minimal pairs
far, fur
shark, shirk
star, stir
hard, heard
barn, burn
heart, hurt
cart, Kurt
dart, dirt
farm, firm
park, perk
/ɔr/, /ər/ minimal pairs
for, fur
store, stir
born, burn
short, shirt
form, firm
warm, worm
war, were
torn, turn
bored, bird
court, Kurt
dork, Dirk
pork, perk
course, curse
hoard, heard
hoard, herd
former, firmer
accord, occurred
conform, confirm
course, curse
warrier (he who fights), worrier (he who worries)
/ɔr/ vs /ər/ vs /ar/ comparison sentences
Now that we learned /ɔr/, /ər/ and /ar/, we can pronounce the following tricky words confidently: ‘warm’ and ‘worm’. The key is to know that ‘warm’ has /ɔ/ sound, and ‘worm’ has /ə/ sound.
warm - worm
Today is pretty warm.
Birds eat worms.
course - curse
Of course, you can go.
He cursed loudly when he hurt his foot.
These are comparison sentences with the r-colored vowels, /ɔr/, /ər/ and /ar/.
form - firm - farm
Please fill out the form.
My decision is firm.
Old McDonald had a farm.
born - burn - barn
It was born in a burnt barn.
hoard - herd - hard
She hoards old newspapers.
In an elephant herd, the elders walk in front.
It’s hard.
These are some more r-colored vowel comparison sentences.
Our former boss was a bit firmer when it came to discipline.
It never occurred to me that the U.S. would sign the trade accord.
You have to conform to the rules. If you don't, that will confirm our doubts about you.
A language course should not teach students how to curse.
World wars shouldn’t not happen.
Worriers worry about another World War.
We need warriors, not worriers.
Worms thrive in warm weather.
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