Minimal Pair final /n/ and /ŋ/
as in thin and thing
Below is a list of words that vary only by one ending with the sound /n/ and the other ending with the sound /ŋ/.
You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.
Both /n/ and /ŋ/ are pronounced with air coming through your nose, with the front of your tongue blocking the air in your mouth when pronouncing /n/ and the back of your tongue blocking the air in your mouth for /ŋ/. Although some native speakers also say it that way, it’s not usual to actually pronounce the /g/ in words ending in “-ng”.
Elementary / Pre-Intermediate
fan fang
gone gong
sin sing
sun sung
thin thing
win wing
Intermediate
done dung
kin king
pin ping
ran rang
ton tongue
Upper Intermediate
ban bang
hun hung
pan pang
tan tang
tin ting
Advanced/ Proficiency
bun bung
chin ching
clan clang
din ding
don dong
dun dung
stun stung