The /3/ sound is spelled with <er>, <ir> or <eur>.
The /3/ sound is usually stressed, which means that removing it rarely leaves a free-standing word. The few cases identified are perhaps not truly minimal since they involve promoting an unstressed syllable so that it carries stress.
The density value is 0.6%. The set makes 17 semantic distinctions, giving a loading of 85%.
asperse asps concurring conquering curling cling curlew clue curlews clues ergo go erring ring furling fling irking king masseur mass milieu mealy poseur pose spurring spring stirring string tea-urn teen tea-urns teens urbane bane urchin chin urchins chins
John Higgins, Shaftesbury, December 2010.