The /w/ sound is spelled with <w> or <wh>. The /ʤ/ sound is spelled with <j> or <g>.
This is a contrast between a bilabial semivowel and an alveolar affricate, both voiced. It only ocurs initially. It is a known problem for Swedish speakers, perhaps partly influenced by the spelling.
The mean density value is 2.9%. The lists make 63 semantic distinctions, a loading of 52%.
inward injured wade jade waded jaded wades jades wag jag wagged jagged wagging jagging wags jags wail gaol wailed gaoled wailing gaoling wails gaols wain Jane wake Jake wakes jakes Wales gaols Wally jolly wan John wangle jangle wangled jangled wangles jangles wangling jangling ward jawed warden Jordan war jaw warred jawed wars jaws watt jot watts jots wax jacks way J ways J's way jay ways jays Wayne Jane wayward wagered we G wee G wees G's Wear jeer weep jeep weeps jeeps wee-wee gee-gee wee-wees gee-gees weigh J weighs J's weigh jay weighs jays weir jeer weirs jeers weird jeered weld gelled well gel welling gelling wells gels welled gelled wen gen wens gens wend genned went gent west jest wet jet wets jets wetted jetted wetting jetting whack jack whacked jacked whacking jacking whacks jacks whale gaol whales gaols whaler gaoler whalers gaolers what jot wherries jerries wherry Gerry whet jet whets jets whetted jetted whetting jetting Whig jig Whigs jigs whiles Giles whim Jim whim gym whims gyms whip gyp whipped gypped whips gyps whist gist whoa Joe wig jig wigged jigged wigging jigging wigs jigs wiggle jiggle wiggled jiggled wiggles jiggles wiggling jiggling Will Gill wilt jilt wilted jilted wilting jilting wilts jilts winks jinks Witney jitney wive jive wived jived wives jives wiving jiving woe Joe woke joke woo Jew woos Jews work jerk worked jerked working jerking works jerks worm germ worms germs wove Jove
Credit: John Higgins