What is the difference in pronunciation between [桃]{もも} and [腿]{もも}?


I am currently studying 日本語 and I am trying to understand the pronunciation
difference between **桃** (peach) and **腿** (thigh). Both can be written as
**もも** in kana and sound practically the same to me when my tutor pronounces
them to me, but she tells me that there is a difference in terms of the
pronunciation, though I can't figure out what it is and thus how to say them
properly.

So what is the difference in pronunciation? Is it stress? Accent? And how do I
pronounce them so that a 日本人 can tell which one of them it is that I mean?




The difference is in the pitch accent.

桃 (peach)：「もも{LH}」 (Low-High)

腿 (thigh)：「もも{HL}」 (High-Low)

That is a **_huge_** difference to us native speakers because it changes the
meanings of the words **_completely_**.

If there is a musical instrument around you, try doing the following.

Hit 'do-mi' as you say 「桃」 and hit 'mi-do' as you try to say 「腿」.

Other examples from simple everyday words:

**Low-High** 「〇〇{LH}」: 「飴{あめ}」= hard candy,「橋{はし}」= bridge,「居間{いま}」= living
room

**High-Low** 「〇〇{HL}」:「雨{あめ}」= rain,「箸{はし}」= chopsticks,「今{いま}」= now

(Finally, even at the risk of confusing some, I might mention for the advanced
learners that the (feminine) given name 「桃/もも/モモ」 is pronounced the **_same_**
way as 「腿」 --- 「もも{HL}」, that is. This is an exception but it is a fact, so I
had to say it.

Same thing with 「雪{ゆき}」. To mean "snow", it is pronounced 「ゆき{LH}」, but for a
personal name, it is 「ゆき{HL}」.)

Note: All pronunciations above are naturally based on Standard Japanese.




The difference is in the pitch accent.

桃 (peach)：「もも{LH}」 (Low-High)

腿 (thigh)：「もも{HL}」 (High-Low)

That is a **_huge_** difference to us native speakers because it changes the
meanings of the words **_completely_**.

If there is a musical instrument around you, try doing the following.

Hit 'do-mi' as you say 「桃」 and hit 'mi-do' as you try to say 「腿」.

Other examples from simple everyday words:

**Low-High** 「〇〇{LH}」: 「飴{あめ}」= hard candy,「橋{はし}」= bridge,「居間{いま}」= living
room

**High-Low** 「〇〇{HL}」:「雨{あめ}」= rain,「箸{はし}」= chopsticks,「今{いま}」= now

(Finally, even at the risk of confusing some, I might mention for the advanced
learners that the (feminine) given name 「桃/もも/モモ」 is pronounced the **_same_**
way as 「腿」 --- 「もも{HL}」, that is. This is an exception but it is a fact, so I
had to say it.

Same thing with 「雪{ゆき}」. To mean "snow", it is pronounced 「ゆき{LH}」, but for a
personal name, it is 「ゆき{HL}」.)

Note: All pronunciations above are naturally based on Standard Japanese.

