check · chick
check /tʃɛk/ vs chick /tʃɪk/ — same /tʃ/ start, same /k/ end, only the vowel changes. Short /ɛ/ (mouth open) vs short /ɪ/ (tongue higher).
two meanings: (1) a mark of approval ✓ — 'check the box' · (2) a bank document — 'write a check' · also: to verify — 'check the answer'
mouth shape
short /ɛ/ — mouth slightly open, tongue mid-low — like 'bed', 'red', 'neck'
check
/tʃɛk/
vowel length
noun — a baby bird, especially a newly hatched chicken — 'a fluffy yellow chick' · informal: a young woman (casual/dated)
mouth shape
short /ɪ/ — tongue high and forward, mouth almost closed — like 'bit', 'sit', 'kick'
chick
/tʃɪk/
vowel length
Minimal pair — only the vowel changes
check
/tʃɛk/
short /ɛ/ — open mouth
chick
/tʃɪk/
short /ɪ/ — tongue higher
Same /tʃ/ start, same /k/ end — only the vowel height differs.
Key difference
For check, your mouth opens more — tongue stays mid-low for /ɛ/. For chick, close your mouth slightly more — tongue rises higher for /ɪ/. Think: check rhymes with neck, deck; chick rhymes with kick, tick.
Example sentences
check:“Please check your answers before submitting.”
check:“She wrote a check for the rent.”
chick:“The hen hatched three yellow chicks.”
chick:“The chick chirped all morning.”
Hear it in a sentence
“He ran a final check on the engine before the long drive.”
“A small fluffy chick hatched from the last egg on Wednesday morning.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
check
Hear native speakers say “check” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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chick
Hear native speakers say “chick” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
Word families
check family ▸
chick family ▸
Related pairs
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