Consonants /v/ versus /ʃ/, 50 pairs     [vieshy.html]

The /v/ sound is spelled with <v>, <ve> or <vv> in divvies. The /ʃ/ sound is spelled <sh>, <ch> in chalet or <sci> in fascia.

The contrast is between a voiced labio-dental fricative and a voiceless alveolar fricative. The contrast is not a problem for learners.

One mildly taboo pair is vat/shat.

Interesting pairs include:

harvest harshest
marvel marshal
valet chalet

The mean density value is 0.8%. The list makes 32 semantic distinctions, a loading of 64%.

 	
Ave ash
crave crèche 
divvies dishes 
divvy dishy 
favour fascia
  favours facias 
halve harsh
harvest harshest 
have hash 
  having hashing 
haven Haitian 
  havens Haitians 
lav lash 
leave leash 
love lush
lover lusher
marvel marshal 
  marvelled marshalled 
  marvelling marshalling 
  marvels marshals 
navvies gnashes 
Nov nosh
plover plusher
seven cession 
  sevens cessions 
V she
  V's she's
vac shack 
  vacs shacks 
vale shale 
valet chalet 
  valets chalets 
vase shahs 
vat shat 
veal she'll 
veer shear 
  veered sheared 
  veering shearing 
  veers shears 
Verey sherry
vie shy 
  vied shied 
  vies shies 
  vying shying 
vine shine 
  vines shines 
vinous shyness 
vole shoal 
  voles shoals 
vox shocks 

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, October 2010.