Chop Vs. Shop

If you're going shopping, don't confuse people by pronouncing it as chopping. Your husband or wife might come home expecting the dinner to be ready and not a pile of shopping bags! 

Let's begin with the differences in meaning first.
Chop is to cut something into smaller pieces. Chopping is the act of a person who chops.

Shop is most commonly known as either a noun (a store) or a verb (go to a store to buy things).Shopping is the act of a person who shops.

Can you hear the difference between the two sounds?

SH and CH sounds are so easily confused because in both sounds, the shape of the mouth is the same. Here are some differences between the two sounds that might help you distinguish between the two. 

SH(ʃ):

• Think of saying, "Shhh! Please be quiet!!"
• We don't use the vocal chords (touch your throat, there should be no vibration. 
• Soft sound
• Mouth is more closed
• Long sound

CH (tʃ)

• Think of when you sneeze, "Achooo!!" or the sound of a train, "Choo Choo!"
• We use the vocal chords touch your throat, you should be able to feel some vibration)
• Hard sound
• Mouth is open a little
• Short sound