Vowel /ɛ/ (red tent) and vowel schwa /ʌ/ (such fun) have a similar amount of opening. Vowel /ɛ/ is a front vowel, which means the back of the tongue will be lifted, while vowel /ʌ/ is a central vowel, which means the tongue will be relatively flat. Use the recording below to practice these vowel contrasts, as well as phrases with both sounds, to feel the similarities and differences between the vowels.
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