ran · run The difference in meaning and sound
What they mean
Ran is the simple past: "I ran to the station." Run is the present tense and also the past participle: "I run every day," "I have run three marathons."
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Hear both words in 10 voices
Each row is one speaker saying both words. Play one, then the other, and switch to slow when the difference hides.
- American woman, younger
- American woman, older
- American man, younger
- American man, older
- British woman, younger
- British woman, older
- British man, younger
- British man, older
- Australian woman
- Australian man
What's different
The r at the start darkens and rounds the first moment of both vowels. Then ran opens into a bright æ, which many American voices stretch into a glide before the n, while run stays short and dull.
In a sentence, ran and run are often said quickly and without stress, which shortens both. Learn the difference with the slow recordings first, then switch to normal speed.
Studies: Lambacher et al. 2002 · Lambacher et al. 2005 · Nishi & Kewley-Port 2007
æ (hat) is wide and bright. ʌ (hut) is short and relaxed.
More word pairs with these sounds
Hearing hat and hut apart: all 18 pairs →This collection is free in the app
In the TellApart app, all 18 pairs in this collection are free to practice, with no purchase.
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