Sound Gym

lattice · lettuce

Same ending /t.ɪs/ — only the first vowel differs: /æ/ (cat) vs /ɛ/ (bed).

⠿ reorder

A wooden lattice fence and a crystal lattice structure diagram

noun — (1) a criss-cross framework of strips — 'lattice fence' · 'lattice window'; (2) a regular repeating structure in physics/chemistry — 'crystal lattice'

mouth shape

short /æ/ first syllable — mouth wide open, jaw drops — like 'cat', 'hat', 'bat' — LAT-tis

lattice

/ˈlæt.ɪs/

vowel length

short /æ/

⠿ reorder

noun — a leafy green vegetable used in salads — 'iceberg lettuce' · 'romaine lettuce' · 'lettuce leaf' · 'a crisp lettuce'

mouth shape

short /ɛ/ first syllable — mouth less open than lattice — like 'bed', 'set', 'ten' — LET-tis — do NOT say 'le-TUCE'

lettuce

/ˈlɛt.ɪs/

vowel length

short /ɛ/

Stressed vowel spotlight — same ending, first vowel differs

lattice

/ˈlæt.ɪs/

short /æ/ — jaw drops wide

like: cat · hat · bat · that

≠

lettuce

/ˈlɛt.ɪs/

short /ɛ/ — less open

like: bed · set · ten · pen

Key difference

Both words end in /-t.ɪs/ — a perfect rhyme at the end. The only difference is the first vowel: lattice has /æ/(like “cat” — jaw drops further),lettuce has /ɛ/(like “bed” — jaw stays higher, more central). The mouth position is the key.

Example sentences

lattice:“The garden had a white lattice fence covered in roses.”

lattice:“The atoms form a regular lattice structure in a crystal.”

lettuce:“Add some lettuce leaves and tomatoes to the salad.”

lettuce:“She ordered a lettuce wrap instead of a sandwich.”

Hear it in a sentence

“The garden wall was covered with a wooden lattice threaded with climbing roses.”

“She added a handful of shredded lettuce to the wrap before folding it.”

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.

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