Phoneme
The smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning. Phonemes are abstract units that are realised by different physical sounds (allophones). English has approximately 44 phonemes.
Real World
When a child learning English says 'pin' instead of 'bin' to ask for a waste basket, the listener hears a completely different word — proving that /p/ and /b/ are separate phonemes carrying distinct meaning in English.
Exam Focus
Use IPA notation when identifying phonemes and always link sound changes to their effect on meaning.
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