pen · pin · bin

pen /pɛn/ vs pin /pɪn/ — vowel height trap. pin vs bin — same vowel /ɪ/, but voiceless /p/ vs voiced /b/.

Three short vowel words that trip up learners. The key challenge: pen has short /ɛ/ (like bed), while pin and bin share short /ɪ/ (like sit).pin vs bin differ only in whether your lips vibrate.

⠿ reorder

noun — a writing instrument — 'ballpoint pen' · 'pen and paper'

mouth shape

short /ɛ/ — mouth half-open, tongue mid-low — like 'bed', 'set', 'help'

pen

/pɛn/

vowel length

short /ɛ/

⠿ reorder

noun — a thin metal fastener — 'safety pin' · 'PIN code' · 'hat pin'

mouth shape

short /ɪ/ — tongue rises higher than for /ɛ/, jaw closes slightly — like 'sit', 'bit', 'him'

/pɪn/

vowel length

short /ɪ/

⠿ reorder

noun — a container for rubbish — 'rubbish bin' · 'recycling bin' · 'put it in the bin'

mouth shape

same short /ɪ/ as pin — but starts with voiced /b/ instead of /p/ — lips pop with vibration

bin

/bɪn/

vowel length

short /ɪ/

Key difference

pen /ɛ/: tongue is lower — like bed. pin / bin /ɪ/: tongue is higher — like sit. pin vs bin: same vowel, but /p/ is voiceless (no throat buzz), /b/ is voiced (feel the vibration).

Example sentences

pen:“Can I borrow your pen? Mine ran out of ink.”

pin:“She used a pin to attach the badge to her shirt.”

pin:“Enter your four-digit PIN to unlock the phone.”

bin:“Throw the rubbish in the bin, please.”

Hear it in a sentence

“She uncapped her favourite pen and began writing the letter.”

“He used a safety pin to hold the hem in place temporarily.”

“Please put the empty bottle in the recycling bin by the door.”

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.

YouGlish↗