BLACK CAT is a non-moving vowel sound.

  • Your jaw is open for this sound – watch yourself in a mirror
  • The corners of the lips can pull back slightly
  • Make sure you are not holding tension in the back of your tongue or pulling your tongue back
  • Exaggerate this sound to find it – give me more BLACK! 😊

RED PEPPER is also a non-moving vowel sound.

  • The mouth is mid-way open. Your tongue is relaxed, laying like a rug on the floor of the mouth.

 

BLACK CAT

  • Not a sound in many languages so typically replaced with a sound closer to RED PEPPER
  • The open mouth position for BLACK CAT may feel “weird” because you are not used to moving your mouth this way. That’s why it can be helpful to watch yourself in a mirror and exaggerate the BLACK CAT. 

BLACK CAT:

  • a: ask, happy, bad, answer

RED PEPPER

  • e: bed, depth, rest, general
  • ea: head, measure, ready

BLACK CAT & RED PEPPER Training

The following exercises combine listening, shadowing, and gradually increasing complexity to help you internalize new sounds and rhythm patterns in your spoken English.

Level 1 is available to all visitors. CEA members unlock the complete training.

Goal: Hear and produce each vowel sound clearly in single words.

  • Listen to the minimal pair words. Can you hear the contrast?
  • Say the words with me, keeping each sound clear and distinct.
  • Record yourself saying the pairs. Then listen back—do your BLACK CAT and RED PPPER vowels sound different?

Mini Challenge: “Flood” the words in each column (say all of one column in a row). Can you keep the vowel sound consistent from top to bottom?

RED PEPPER & BLACK CAT Minimal Pairs

  • RED PEPPER

  • BLACK CAT

  • Play Icon

    said

  • Play Icon

    sad

  • Play Icon

    guess

  • Play Icon

    gas

  • Play Icon

    letter

  • Play Icon

    ladder

  • Play Icon

    beg

  • Play Icon

    bag

  • Play Icon

    pest

  • Play Icon

    past

The BLACK CAT and RED PEPPER vowel sounds appear in many common English words. Refining these sounds will make your speech clearer and easier to understand. Below you’ll find a list of 100 BLACK CAT and 100 RED PEPPER words, organized for easy practice.

(Clear English Academy members will also find audio recordings for these words plus guided practice at the phrase, sentence, and conversation level.)

100 Super Common BLACK CAT Words

and actually happy candidate casual
have plan exactly challenge Saturday
that class answer bag transfer
at perhaps staff pattern pack
as pass standard gas cash
can value analysis cancer plastic
than international glass reality gallon
man action financial task alcohol
back tax act capital appetite
bad matter strategy travel fabulous
after half example access vocabulary
last practice democratic track basket
ask land rather attitude sample
family catch laugh examine advantage
happen chance manager camp gratitude
national plant establish battle fancy
fact past dance African scandal
black natural imagine fan habit
stand animal manage status fantastic
add factor camera disaster reaction

 

100 Super Common RED PEPPER Words

many end death rest central
well ever effect bed protect
tell member suggest record ready
any set yeah event pressure
when president else everyone accept
get best sell center identify
them several development test whatever
then whether themselves step success
never together better attention recognize
let anything effort red herself
help already less century television
every level develop energy election
against spend federal defense everybody
again health director anyone general
question himself especially myself message
next remember special represent benefit
head second evidence enter sex
yes everything letter dead present
friend send medical decade section
yet expect west seven professor

Your next step: Become a CEA member and get...

Train your pronunciation with carefully designed phrases, sentences, and full paragraphs that help you integrate new sounds and rhythm into real-life speech.

Get inspired to speak! Each lesson includes structured prompts to help you describe, explain, and express yourself using the skills you're developing.

Access sound-specific word lists, visual guides, and other printable tools to support your learning and keep you on track.

Have a question about what you’re learning? Wondering if you’re practicing correctly? Use the Questions for the Coach feature to get direct answers and guidance right inside each lesson.

Join live monthly sessions where I answer student questions, give pronunciation tips, and offer insight to help you keep growing.

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Frequently Asked Questions.

Clear English Academy is designed for intermediate to advanced English speakers who want to improve their pronunciation, speech rhythm, and speaking confidence.

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