English spellings/Catalogs/A: Difference between revisions

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<center><big>
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
'''[[English_spellings|Main Page]]  [[English_spellings/A|A]]  [[English_spellings/B|B]]  [[English_spellings/C|C]]  [[English_spellings/D|D]]  [[English_spellings/E|E]]  [[English_spellings/F|F]]  [[English_spellings/G|G]]  [[English_spellings/H|H]]  [[English_spellings/I|I]]  [[English_spellings/J|J]]  [[English_spellings/K|K]]  [[English_spellings/L|L]]  [[English_spellings/M|M]]  [[English_spellings/N|N]]  [[English_spellings/O|O]]  [[English_spellings/P|P]]  [[English_spellings/Q|Q]]  [[English_spellings/R|R]]  [[English_spellings/S|S]]  [[English_spellings/T|T]]  [[English_spellings/U|U]]  [[English_spellings/V|V]]  [[English_spellings/W|W]]  [[English_spellings/X|X]]  [[English_spellings/Y|Y]]  [[English_spellings/Z|Z]]  [[English_spellings/Apostrophe|Apostrophe]]'''
</big></center>


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with A. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.
'''Â''' ''letter'' = '''èh?''' ''what?'' (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text: '''the létter Â''', '''ín B-flát mâjor''', etc.)


===[[A]]===
'''a''' ''article'' *ə: [[schwa]] = '''uh'''.  It can be a strong form '''â''', like the name of the letter '''Â''', but this is almost always unnecessary and pompous-sounding, and is typical of politicians and the like; it can however be used for emphasis, meaning 'one', as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: '''At lêast hê lêads ín ''â'' sét.''' (The British weak form of '''àre''' is also *ə.)
'''Â''' ''letter'' = '''èh?''' ''what?'' (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text)


'''a''' ''article'' *ə: [[schwa]].  It can be a strong form '''â''', like the name of the letter '''Â''', but habitual use, beloved of politicians and the like, sounds pompous; it can however be used for emphasis, meaning 'one', as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: '''At lêast hê lêads ín â sét.'''
'''Â-sîde


'''àaah''' ''sentiment'' ≈ '''àaargh''' ''disgust'' (more '''a''''s may be added) ≈ '''àh''' ''response''
'''àaah''' ''sentiment'' ≈ '''àaargh''' ''disgust'' (to both more '''a''''s may be added) ≈ '''àh''' ''response''


'''àardvark'''
'''àardvark'''


'''Ãaron''' - also '''Ãron''' or '''Áron''' and now some say '''Áaron''' = '''Árran''' ''Isle''  
'''Ãaron''' BrE; AmE '''Áaron''' = '''Árron''' = '''[[Isle of Arran|Árran]]''' ''Isle''; also '''Ãron'''/'''Áron'''  
 
'''[[Aaron Copland|Áaron'''/'''Ãaron Côpland]]'''  
 
'''ábacus
   
   
'''àh''' ''response'' ≈ '''àaah''' ''sentiment'' ≈ '''àaargh''' ''disgust'' (in the latter cases more '''a''''s may be added)
'''abándoned''': not -nned


'''abándoned''' - not -nned
'''[[ABBA|Ábba]]''', normal name case in English;<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4366574.stm Abba win 'Eurovision 50th' vote] ''BBC News,'' 23 October 2005.  Retrieved 1 August 2007.</ref> Abba themselves use all upper case, preferably with the first B reversed to make symmetrical sense as it's an acronym of their first names


'''Abbàs'''
'''Abbàs'''
'''ábbey''' = '''Ábbey''' = '''Ábby'''
'''Ábbottabad''' or '''Abbóttabad
'''ABC''' ''alphabet'' *Ây-Bêe-Cêe (not to mention *Dêe-Êe-éF-Gêe-âitcH-Î-Jây-Kây-éL-éM-éN-Ô-Pêe-Queûe-àR-éSs-Têe-yÛ-Vêe-dúblyeŴ-éX-wŶe-Zéd/Zêe)


'''ábdomen'''
'''ábdomen'''


'''abdóminal'''
'''abdóminal'''
'''Âbe''' ''Abraham'', '''Àbè''' ''Shinzo''


'''Aberdêen'''
'''Aberdêen'''


'''Aberýstwýth'''
'''Aberfán''' *Áber-ván, per [[Welsh language|Welsh]]
 
'''áberrant''' *ábberant, or '''abérrant''', cf. '''érrant


'''aberrâtion'''
'''aberrâtion'''
'''Aberýstwýth'''


'''abét'''
'''abét'''
Line 36: Line 49:
'''abhŏr'''
'''abhŏr'''


'''abhórrent'''
'''abhórrent''' ('''h''' may be silent)
 
'''ábject''' cf. '''óbject''', '''objéct'''


'''âble''' ''capable'' = '''Âbel''' ''person''  
'''âble''' ''capable'' = '''Âbel''' ''person''  


'''abòut''' *əbòut
'''abòut''' = '''a bòut''' ''boxing'' *əbòut


'''abòut-türn
'''abòut-türn


'''ábscess'''
'''abòve'''
 
'''abrǒad'''
 
'''ábscéss''' (-'''bsc'''-)


'''ábsèil''' cf. '''sâil
'''ábsèil''' cf. '''sâil


'''ábsence'''
'''ábsence'''
'''ábsent''', cf. '''in abséntia'''
'''absŏrb
'''absŏrption


'''abstâin'''
'''abstâin'''
Line 55: Line 80:


'''ábstinence'''
'''ábstinence'''
'''abstrûse''' -ss
'''abûse''' noun, -ss; verb, -z
'''abúzz


'''abýsmal''' -zməl
'''abýsmal''' -zməl
Line 61: Line 92:


'''ácadême'''
'''ácadême'''
'''acadêmia'''
'''académic'''


'''acádemy'''
'''acádemy'''


'''académic'''
'''accêde''' ''accession'' ≈ '''excêed''' ''more


'''accélerate''' ax-, cf. '''excél''', '''éxcellent
'''accélerate''' əx-, cf. '''excél''', '''éxcellent


'''áccent''' áx-
'''áccent''' áx-
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'''accéntuate''' -x-
'''accéntuate''' -x-


'''accépt''' ''receive'' -x-, cf. '''excépt''' ''exception''
'''accépt''' ''receive'' əx-, cf. '''excépt''' ''exception'' íx- ([[minimal pair]])
 
'''accéptable


'''áccess''' *áxéss, cf. '''áxis''', '''áxês
'''áccess''' ''noun'' *áxéss, cf. '''áxis''' centre ([[minimal pair]]), '''áxes''' ''axe'' *axiz
 
'''accéss''' ''verb'' *əxéss, cf. '''excéss''', *ixéss ([[minimal pair]])


'''áccident''' áx-
'''áccident''' áx-


'''accidéntally''' áx-
'''accidéntally''' áx-
'''acclâim''' = '''a clâim'''


'''áccolade'''
'''áccolade'''


'''accómmodate''' - two '''c''''s and two '''m''''s
'''accómmodate''': two '''c''''s and two '''m''''s
 
'''accòmpaniment'''


'''accòmpany'''
'''accòmpany'''
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'''accòmplísh''' ''achieve'' BrE; AmE  '''accómplísh'''
'''accòmplísh''' ''achieve'' BrE; AmE  '''accómplísh'''
'''accoûtrement


'''Accrà'''
'''Accrà'''
'''accrédited


'''accrûe''' cf. '''acróss'''
'''accrûe''' cf. '''acróss'''


'''acërbic'''
'''accürsed''' *accürsid
 
'''âce'''
 
'''acërbic''' cf. '''ascertâin


'''âche''' *âke
'''âche''' *âke


'''achìêve'''
'''achìêve'''
'''acknówledge''' *əc-nólij


'''ácmê'''
'''ácmê'''


'''acquiésce''' *aquìéss, cf. '''quiéscent''' *kwìéssent, '''quîet''' *kwîət
'''ácnê'''
 
'''ácolŷte
 
'''acquiésce''' *ákwì-éss, cf. '''quiéscent''' *kwì-éssent, '''quîet''' *kwîət


'''acquîre''' *aquîre
'''acquîre''' *aquîre
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'''âcreage''' *âkerage
'''âcreage''' *âkerage
'''ácrimony'''
'''ácronym
'''Acrópolis


'''acróss''' cf. '''accrûe
'''acróss''' cf. '''accrûe
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'''áctual''' *ákchəl
'''áctual''' *ákchəl


'''ácûmen''' cf. '''áccurate
'''ácûmen''' *ákyəmən, cf. '''áccurate''' *ákyərət


'''ácupuncture'''
'''ácupuncture'''
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'''adàgio''' -jô
'''adàgio''' -jô
'''adaptâtion''', cf. '''adóption


'''ádd''' ''more'' = '''ád''' ''advertisement''  
'''ádd''' ''more'' = '''ád''' ''advertisement''  
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'''addréss''' BrE = '''a dréss'''; AmE '''áddress
'''addréss''' BrE = '''a dréss'''; AmE '''áddress
'''Adéle
'''Âden''' ''Yemen'' = '''Âidan''' ''person''


'''adhêre''' ('''d''' and '''h''' pronounced separately)
'''adhêre''' ('''d''' and '''h''' pronounced separately)
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'''adhêsive''' ('''d''' and '''h''' pronounced separately)
'''adhêsive''' ('''d''' and '''h''' pronounced separately)


'''ád hóc'''
'''ád hóc''', two words
 
'''ád infinîtum''', cf. '''ínfinite''', '''infínitive


'''ádjective''' cf. '''ejécted'''
'''ádjective''' cf. '''ejécted'''
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'''adjúst''' *ajúst
'''adjúst''' *ajúst


'''ád nåusêám'''
'''admínistrate'''
 
'''administrâtion'''
 
'''admínistrative'''; some AmE '''administrâtive'''
 
'''admîre'''
 
'''ádmirable''' *ádmrbl
 
'''ád nåusêám''' (-ziám) or pronounced, but not spelt *ád nåusêum (-ziəm)


'''adôbê'''
'''adôbê'''
'''Ádolf''' = '''Ádolph'''; some AmE: '''Âdolf'''
'''adóption


'''adrénalín''', '''adrénaline
'''adrénalín''', '''adrénaline
<nowiki>*</nowiki>adréss '''addréss
'''ádult''' BrE; AmE '''adúlt
'''adúltery


'''advānce'''
'''advānce'''
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'''ádvërt'''
'''ádvërt'''


'''ádvertise''' never -îze
'''ádvertise''' pronounced, but never spelt -îze
 
'''ádvertîsement''' AmE *ádvertîzemənt, like the verb, above


'''advërtísement''' BrE;  AmE '''ádvertîsement
'''advërtísement''' BrE *ədvërtíssmənt


'''advîce''' ''noun'' -ss
'''advîce''' ''noun'' -ss
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'''advîser''' = '''advîsor''' (alternatives)
'''advîser''' = '''advîsor''' (alternatives)
'''ádze''', '''ádz''' ''tool'' = '''áds''' ''adverts''


'''Aêgêan''' *Êjêən
'''Aêgêan''' *Êjêən
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'''aêsthétics''' AmE '''ê'''-
'''aêsthétics''' AmE '''ê'''-


'''afféct''' ''alter'' cf. '''efféct''' ''result'' í-
'''afféct''' ''alter'' cf. '''efféct''' ''result'' í- or = '''afféct'''


'''áffect''' ''emotion''
'''áffect''' ''emotion''
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'''áffidâvit'''
'''áffidâvit'''
'''áffluent


'''affrònt''' cf. '''effròntery
'''affrònt''' cf. '''effròntery


'''Afghánistān''' - internationally, Afgán- (though locally, Afhán-)
'''Afghánistān''' Áf-gán- (-wán-, -hán- -wàn-, etc. are local pronunciations)
 
'''Áfghán''' cf. '''Áfrican''' -ən


'''aficionàdo'''
'''aficionàdo''' -físh- or -físsy-


'''afrâid'''
'''afrâid'''
'''afrésh''' ''anew'' (adverb) = '''a frésh'''


'''África'''
'''África'''
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'''āfter'''
'''āfter'''


'''āfterthŏught''' -åwt - one word
'''āfterthŏught''' -åwt, one word
 
'''āfterward''' AmE, BrE '''āfterwards'''


'''āfterwards'''
'''āfterwörd''' ''preface''


'''again''', '''against''' both have é, but for some speakers there is a regular [[spelling pronunciation]]: '''agâin''', '''agâinst
'''again''', '''against''': both have -én, but for some speakers there is a regular [[spelling pronunciation]]: '''agâin''', '''agâinst


'''agâpe''' ''gaping''
'''agâpe''' ''gaping''


'''ágapê''' ''eros''
'''ágapê''' ''eros''
'''ággravate
'''aggréssion
'''aggriêved


'''âge''' cf. '''édge''': Francophones beware
'''âge''' cf. '''édge''': Francophones beware


'''âgeing''' *âging, *âjing
'''âged''': as in '''âged 20''', pronounced *âyjd; when meaning ''old'' before a noun ('''an âged mán'''), *âyjíd
 
'''âgeing''' (BrE), '''âging''' (AmE), *âjing
 
'''âgeist''' *âjist
 
'''âge-ôld''' hyphenated


'''âgeist'''
'''ágîle'''


'''agô'''
'''agô'''
'''ágora'''


'''ágriculture'''
'''ágriculture'''
'''àh''' ''response'' ≈ '''àaah''' ''sentiment'' ≈ '''àaargh''' ''disgust'' (in the latter cases more '''a''''s may be added)
'''ahà'''
'''ahem''': [[schwa]]s
'''Àhmad Jamál


'''âid'''  ''help'' = '''âide''' ''assistant''; '''Âids''' or '''ÂIDS''' ''disease'' = '''âids''', '''âides''' ''plurals''
'''âid'''  ''help'' = '''âide''' ''assistant''; '''Âids''' or '''ÂIDS''' ''disease'' = '''âids''', '''âides''' ''plurals''
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'''Âids''' or '''ÂIDS'''  ''disease'' = '''âids''', '''âides''' ''plurals''
'''Âids''' or '''ÂIDS'''  ''disease'' = '''âids''', '''âides''' ''plurals''


'''ãir'''  ''breathe'' = '''Ãyr''' ''Scotland'' = '''ére''' ''before'' = '''é’er''' ''ever'' = '''héir''' ''estate''; AmE '''ãir''' = AmE '''érr''', cf. BrE '''ërr''' *üh
'''ãir'''  ''breathe'' = '''Ãyr''' ''Scotland'' = '''ére''' ''before'' = '''é’er''' ''ever'' = '''héir''' ''estate'' = [[Jane Eyre|'''Éyre''' ''Jane'']] = '''Ãire''' ''river''; AmE '''ãir''' = AmE '''érr''', cf. BrE '''ërr''' *üh


'''ãiry'''  ''light'' = all four spellings of '''éyrie''' = '''éyry''' = '''ãerie''' = '''ãery''' ''bird'', cf. '''êerie''' ''strange''
'''ãiry'''  ''light'' = all four spellings of '''éyrie''' = '''éyry''' = '''ãerie''' = '''ãery''' ''bird'', cf. '''êerie''' ''strange''
'''aîsle''' ''walking space'' = '''îsle''' ''island''


'''Âix'''  ''France'' = '''âches''' ''ache''
'''Âix'''  ''France'' = '''âches''' ''ache''


'''alîgn''' = '''a lîne''', cf. '''állŷ''' ''friend'', '''állêy''' ''way''
aj-: most words that sound as if they start like this actually have '''adj'''-
 
'''Ajáccio''' *Azháxio
 
'''Àjáx''' ''Amsterdam'' *Àyáx


'''aîsle''' ''walking space'' = '''îsle''' ''island''
'''Âjáx''' ''person''  


'''Ajáccio''' *Azháxio
'''áka''' or '''ákà''' (can be capitals), acronym of '''ålso knôwn as'''


'''Àjax''' ''Amsterdam'' *Àyáx
'''Ál''' ''Alan, etc.'' cf. '''åll''' ''total


'''Âjax''' ''person''  
'''Ál''' ''Arabic'' may be hyphenated to following capital-letter word in Arabic name; may also be '''ál'''


'''Ál''' ''person'' cf. '''åll''' ''total
'''à là''' ('''''à la''''')


'''Alabáma''' ('''Á''') - one '''m''', cf. '''Montána''', '''Louisiána
'''Alabáma''' ('''Á'''): one '''m''', cf. '''Montána''', '''Louisiána


'''Aláddin'''
'''Aláddin'''


'''Álan''' = '''Állen''' = '''Állan
'''Álan''' (usually a given name) = '''Állen''' (usually a surname) = '''Állan''' (least common)


'''alás'''
'''alás'''
'''Álawite'''


'''Albânia'''  ('''Á''')
'''Albânia'''  ('''Á''')


'''Ålbany'''  
'''Ålbany'''  
'''albêdo
'''albêit''' *åll bê ít, cf. '''sô bê ít


'''Álbert'''
'''Álbert'''


'''Albuquërquê''' *Albəkïrky
'''albìno
 
'''Álbion'''
 
'''Albuquërquê''' *Álbə-kïrky
 
'''Aldébaran'''


'''Åldwých'''
'''Åldwých''' *åll dwítch


'''âle'''  ''beer'' = '''âil''' ''ailing''
'''âle'''  ''beer'' = '''âil''' ''ailing''
'''Álfa Romèo''', cf. '''álpha''', '''Rômêo


'''Álfred'''
'''Álfred'''


'''álgaê''' *áljê or *álgy
'''álgaê''' *áljê or *álgy
'''Algàrve


'''álgorithm'''  rhymes with '''rhýthm
'''álgorithm'''  rhymes with '''rhýthm


'''Áli''' ''person'' = '''álley''' ''walk'' - except '''Muhámmad Àlì''' ''boxer''
'''Áli''' = '''Álly''' = '''Álley''' = '''álley''' ''walk'', although '''Muhámmad Alì''' ''boxer'' is often pronounced *Àh-lêe; cf. '''állŷ''' *állîe ''friend''


'''âlias''' *âlius
'''âlias''' *âlius, cf. '''Alîas''' ''Don''


'''Álíce'''
'''álibî'''


'''alîgn''' = '''a lîne''', cf. '''állŷ
'''Álíce''' = '''Álliss


'''Álistair''' = '''Álastair
'''âlien'''


'''âlias'''
'''alienâtion'''


'''álibî'''
'''alîgn''' = '''a lîne''', cf. '''állŷ''' ''friend'', '''állêy''' ''way''


'''âlien'''
'''alîgned''' *allîned, cf. '''állied'''


'''alienâtion'''
'''Álison''' = '''Állison''', probably the former more common as given name, the latter as family name


'''alîgned''' *allîned, cf. '''állied'''
'''Álistair''' = '''Álastair


'''alîve'''
'''alîve'''


'''åll'''  ''every'' = '''åwl''' ''tool'', cf. '''Ál''' ''a name''
'''åll'''  ''every'' = '''åwl''' ''tool'', cf. '''Ál''' ''name''


'''allegâtions''' *allogations
'''allegâtions''' *allogations
Line 305: Line 452:


'''allégedly''' *aléjidly
'''allégedly''' *aléjidly
'''allêle


'''allelûia''' or '''allelûja''' or '''allelûya'''
'''allelûia''' or '''allelûja''' or '''allelûya'''


'''állêy''' ''path'' = '''Áli''' ''person'', cf. '''állŷ  
'''állêy''' ''path'' = '''Áli''' ''person'', cf. '''állŷ  
'''allîance


'''álligâtor'''
'''álligâtor'''


'''allót''' ''assign'' = '''a lót''' ''much''
'''allót''' ''assign'' = '''a lót''' ''much''; cf. '''Állott


'''åll-òut''' ''total'' before noun needs hyphen
'''åll-òut''' ''total'' before noun needs hyphen
Line 320: Line 471:
'''álloy'''
'''álloy'''


'''állŷ''' ''friend'' cf. '''állêy''', '''alîgn'''
'''åll-stàr''' is an adjective, so needs hyphen
 
'''allûde''' əl-, cf. '''elûde''', əl- or íl-


'''allŷ''' ''verb'', cf. '''Álì''' ''person''
'''allûsion''', əl-, cf. '''illûsion''', '''íl'''-
 
'''állŷ''' ''friend'', cf. '''Álly''' = '''Álì'''  = '''állêy'''
 
'''allŷ''' ''verb'' = '''a lîe''', cf. '''alîgn''' = '''a lîne'''


'''ålmanac'''
'''ålmanac'''
'''àlmond''' *àhmənd


'''ålmost'''
'''ålmost'''
Line 330: Line 489:
'''àlms''' ''gift'' = BrE '''àrms''' ''body, weapons''
'''àlms''' ''gift'' = BrE '''àrms''' ''body, weapons''


'''alóngside''' (one word)
'''álôe
 
'''alône
 
'''alóngsîde''' one word
 
'''a lót''' ''many'' = '''allót''' ''assign'' (*alót)
 
'''a lót of''' ''many'' (*əlótəv)


'''alòud''' ''audible'' = '''allòwed''' ''permitted''
'''alòud''' ''audible'' = '''allòwed''' ''permitted''


'''al-Qàéda''' - rarely nowadays on the airwaves does one hear an anglophone attempt to pronounce the glottal stop between the '''a''' and '''e''' that is present in the [[Arabic]] pronunciation of this word: the usual English is *Al-Kŷda
'''Aloýsius''' *Aləwíshəss
 
'''ál-Qàêda''' (or '''Ál-'''; also minus hyphen) *ál-Kŷda (rarely does one hear an anglophone sound or suggest the glottal stop that is present in the [[Arabic]]: *álkà-êda)


'''alréady''' ''before'' = '''åll réady''' ''ready''
'''alréady''' ''before'' = '''åll réady''' ''ready''


'''alrîght''' = '''åll rîght''' - same meaning, probably by analogy with '''alréady
'''alrîght''' = '''åll rîght''': the single-word form presumably arose by analogy with '''alréady''' and '''ålways''', but it is widely regarded as unacceptable: does it mean ''all correct'', or ''satisfactory''? "Their answers were alright" would appear to be an incorrect rendering of "their answers were all right/all correct", but it may merely mean "their answers were acceptable", and it is this needless ambiguity that gains the one-word version its detractors


'''Alsâtian'''
'''Alsâtian'''


'''ålso'''
'''ålso'''
'''ålt-'''


'''ålter''' ''change'' = '''åltar''' ''church''  
'''ålter''' ''change'' = '''åltar''' ''church''  
Line 348: Line 519:
'''álter êgo'''
'''álter êgo'''


'''altërnate''' ''adjective''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>altêrior '''ultêrior
 
'''altërnate''' BrE; AmE '''ålternate''' ''adjective''


'''ålternâte''' ''verb''
'''ålternâte''' ''verb''


'''altërnative'''
'''altërnatíve'''


'''althôugh''' *åldhô
'''althôugh''' *åll-dhô
 
'''álto'''
 
'''áltruism


'''alumínium''' BrE; AmE '''alûminum'''
'''alumínium''' BrE; AmE '''alûminum'''


'''áltruism
'''alúmnus'''


'''alvêolar'''
'''alvêolar'''


'''ålways '''
'''ålways ''' ''ever'' cf. '''áll wâys''' ''methods, styles
 
'''Álzheîmer's''' is probably the most common British pronunciation, '''Å'''- ditto in AmE; also, '''À'''-


'''ám''' ''be''
'''ám''' ''be''


'''âm''' ''ante meridian'' *â-ém
'''âm''' ''morning (ante meridian)'' *â-ém = '''a.m.''' (lower case)
 
'''amanuénsis''', cf. '''Emmánuel'''


'''ámateur''' *ámətər; AmE can be '''amateûr'''
'''ámateur''' *ámətər; AmE can be '''amateûr'''
'''amâze
'''Ámazon


'''ambássador''' cf. '''émbassy
'''ambássador''' cf. '''émbassy


'''ámbergrìs''' BrE; AmE '''ámbergrís''' - '''s''' pronounced
'''ámbergrìs''' BrE, AmE '''ámbergrís'''; '''s''' may be silent
 
'''ámbiance'''
 
'''ámbient'''


'''ambíguous
'''ambíguous
Line 380: Line 569:
'''ambítious''' *ámbíshəss
'''ambítious''' *ámbíshəss


'''amén''' BrE à, AmE â
'''amén''' BrE '''à''', AmE '''â
 
'''amênable


'''aménd''' cf. '''comménd
'''aménd''' cf. '''comménd
Line 386: Line 577:
'''aménds''' ''make'' = '''eménds''' ''alters''
'''aménds''' ''make'' = '''eménds''' ''alters''


'''amênity
'''amênity''', AmE also '''aménity


'''âmìable''' cf. '''âim
'''âmìable''' cf. '''âim


'''ámícable'''
'''ámícable'''
'''amíss''' ''awry'', cf. '''Âmíss''', '''Âmís''' ''names''
'''Ammàn
'''ammunítion''' *ámyù-níshən
'''amnêsia'''
'''ámnesty
'''amók''' cf. '''amúck''', same meaning


'''amòng'''
'''amòng'''
Line 402: Line 605:
'''ânal
'''ânal


'''ánalŷse'''
'''ánalŷse''' ''verb'' *ánnəlîze


'''análysês''' ''plural'' *ənáləssêez
'''ánalŷses''' ''verb'' and '''análysês''' ''noun'' *ənáləssêez are [[homophone|homographs]]; the first is the third person singular present tense of the verb (above), the second the plural of the noun (below)


'''análysis''' ''singular'' *ənáləssís
'''análysis''' ''noun'' *ənáləssís


'''ánalýst'''
'''ánalýst'''


'''ánarchy''' *ánəkỳ
'''anàrchic''' -kik
 
'''ánarchist''' -kist
 
'''ánarchy''' *ánə(r)kỳ
 
'''anáthema


'''áncestor'''
'''áncestor'''
Line 420: Line 629:
'''âncient'''
'''âncient'''


'''and''' *ənd, sometimes '''ánd''' for emphasis = '''&
'''áncillãry''' AmE, BrE '''ancíllary
 
'''and''' *ənd, sometimes '''ánd''' for emphasis = '''&''' (the [[ampersand]], always unstressed and used in proprietory names, show business acts, etc.)
 
'''Andalucìa''' (some say -thìa in imitation of the European Spanish pronunciation)


'''andántè'''
'''andántè'''
Line 428: Line 641:
'''Andêan'''
'''Andêan'''


'''Ándhra Pradésh
'''ánd ŏr''' ('and/or') is nowadays spoken and can be sometimes seen without the stroke inbetween
'''Andórra''' BrE, AmE -'''ŏrr'''-, cf. '''Pandŏra'''
'''Andórra''' BrE, AmE -'''ŏrr'''-, cf. '''Pandŏra'''
'''Ándrêa''' (first of three syllables stressed) is an English girl's name; '''Andrèa''' (second of three) is a German boy's name; both end in [[schwa]]: -ə


'''Andrómeda
'''Andrómeda
Line 434: Line 653:
'''Ándreŵ'''
'''Ándreŵ'''


'''anémonê''' cf. '''an énemy'''
'''anémonê''' *an-émeny, cf. '''an énemy'''
 
'''Ánerley'''
 
'''aneŵ''' ''afresh'' (adverb) = '''a neŵ'''  


'''ângel''' *ânjəl, cf. '''ángle
'''ângel''' *ânjəl, cf. '''ángle
'''Ángela'''
'''Ángelô''' = '''Ángelôu''' ''Maya'', though '''Ángeloû''' is very common


'''ánger''' BrE *áng-gə
'''ánger''' BrE *áng-gə
'''angîna''' *án-jînə
'''ángle''' hard '''g''', cf. '''ângel''' *âynjl
'''Ánglia
'''ánglophone
'''Ánglo-Sáxon
'''Angôla'''


'''ángry''' *áng-gry
'''ángry''' *áng-gry
Line 447: Line 686:
'''Anguíllan''' -gwí-
'''Anguíllan''' -gwí-
'''ánimè


'''ánimus''' cf. '''ûnánimous'''
'''ánimus''' cf. '''ûnánimous'''


'''áníse''' cf. '''Álíce''' ([[minimal pair]])
'''áníse''' cf. '''Álíce''' ([[minimal pair]])
'''Anìta Ànand'''


'''Ánkara'''
'''Ánkara'''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>ánker is a misspelling of '''ánchor'''
'''ánkle'''


'''ánnals''' cf. '''ánalyst'''
'''ánnals''' cf. '''ánalyst'''
'''[[Kofi Annan|Ánnan]]''': second '''a''' as [[schwa]], rhymes with '''cánnon''', making a [[minimal pair]] with '''Árran''' (but widely mispronounced with the stress on the second syllable, perhaps by analogy with '''[[Amman|Ammàn]]''')<ref name="Crossette">{{Cite news|last=Crossette |first=Barbara |title=New U.N. Chief Promises Reforms but Says He Won't Cut Jobs |work=New York Times |date=10 January 1997 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE1D81638F933A25752C0A961958260 |accessdate=25 February 2008}}</ref>


'''annéx'''  ''verb''
'''annéx'''  ''verb''
Line 460: Line 709:
'''ánnex''' or '''ánnexe'''  ''noun''
'''ánnex''' or '''ánnexe'''  ''noun''


'''annîhilate''' *annîyílâte
'''annîhilate''' *annîəlâte
 
'''annúl''' cf. '''ánnal
 
'''anŏint''' cf. '''annòunce


'''anómaly'''
'''anómaly'''
'''anón''' ''soon'' = '''anón.''' ''anonymous''


'''ánonýmity'''
'''ánonýmity'''


'''anónymous'''   
'''anónymous'''
 
'''anoréxia  


'''anòther''' one word
'''anòther''' one word


'''ānswer''' - '''w''' is silent: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr
'''[[Anschluss|ánschlùss]]


'''Antàrctica''' - first '''c''' can be silent
'''ānswer''', silent '''w''': BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr
 
'''antágonîse''', -'''ísm''', -'''íst
 
'''Antananarìvo''' *Antána-narìvo
 
'''Antàrctica''': first '''c''' can be silent


'''ántê'''- ''before'' = BrE '''ántì''' ''against
'''ántê'''- ''before'' = BrE '''ántì''' ''against


'''Ánthony''' (usual) = '''Ántony''' ''Mark'', -tə-
'''anténna
 
'''anténnaê''' BrE = AmE '''anténnê''', though some BrE speakers, perhaps recalling school Latin, say -nàê (-nî)
 
'''Ánthony''' ''usual'' = '''Ántony''' ''Mark'', -tə-


'''ántì''' BrE, AmE '''ántî''' ''against'' = '''ántê'''- ''before''
'''ántì''' BrE (AmE '''ántî''') ''against'' = '''ántê'''- ''before''; '''prô''' and '''ánti''' are always hyphenated to a following word they modify: '''prô-wår''' and '''ánti-wår'''
 
'''antibiótic'''
 
'''ántícs'''  


'''ántidote'''
'''ántidote'''


'''Antìgua''' -gə
'''antimacássar'''
 
'''Antìgua''' *Án-têegə
 
'''antípodês'''
 
'''antìque''' *án-têek


'''antirrhînum''' *antirŷnum
'''antirrhînum''' *antirŷnum


'''antisémitism'''
'''antisemític''', '''anti-Semític''' ''anti-Jewish'' ([[Antisemitism|euphemism?]] "[[Semitic languages|Semitic]]" refers to a language group that includes [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Amharic language|Amharic]] as well as [[Israel]]'s [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]])
 
'''antisémitism''' (or '''anti-Sémitism''', but what, then, is 'Semitism'?)
 
'''Ántón''', cf. '''Ánthony''', '''Ántony


'''anxîety''' *angzîety
'''anxîety''' *angzîəty


'''ánxious''' *ánkshəss
'''ánxious''' *ángkshəss or *ángshəss


'''any'''  ''thing'' é-, cf. '''Ánnie''' - ''person''
'''any'''  ''some'' *énny makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''Ánnie''' ''person''


'''anybody''' *énnybódy one word
'''anybody''' *énnybódy one word


'''any mŏre''' ''two words''
'''any mŏre''', '''anymŏre''' *énny-mŏre: the one-word form, restricted to the meaning ''no longer'', is [[American English]]: '''ít dòesn't mátter anymŏre'''
 
'''anyone''' ''anybody'' *énnywún, one word; otherwise two: '''any òne îtem''', where '''òne''' is a numeral: cf. '''any thrêe óptions


'''anyone''' *énnywún, one word
'''anyway''' ''despite'' one word, cf. where '''wây''' is a noun: '''any wây yoû loòk at ít''', '''dôn't chânge ít ín any wây'''


'''anyway''' ''despite, one word'', cf. where '''wây''' is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít
'''ãorist'''


'''apâce'''  ''fast'' = '''a pâce'''  ''step''
'''apâce'''  ''fast'' = '''a pâce'''  ''step''


'''apàrtheîd''' (-tîte)
'''apàrt''' ''separate'' = '''a pàrt''' ''section'', hence '''apàrt from''' and ''' a pàrt of'''


'''apéritìf''' ''either stressed''
'''apàrtheîd''' -tîte or '''apàrthèid''' -tâte


'''aphêlion''' *áfêlian
'''apéritìf''' either stressed


'''apìêce'''  ''each'' one word = '''a pìêce''' - ''part''
'''aphêlion''' *əfêliən, *əp-hêliən
 
'''âphid
 
'''apìêce'''  ''each'' one word = '''a pìêce''' ''part''


'''aplénty
'''aplénty
'''aplómb''' *əplóm


'''apócalypse'''
'''apócalypse'''
'''apócryphal''', cf. '''êpoch''' -óc, '''crýpt
'''ápogêe''' -jì


'''apólogîse'''  ''verb''
'''apólogîse'''  ''verb''


'''apólogíes'''  ''plural noun''
'''apólogíes'''  ''plural noun''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>apón '''upón


'''apóstasy'''
'''apóstasy'''
'''apóstate
'''apóstle


'''apóstrophê'''
'''apóstrophê'''


'''appål''' - AmE can be '''appåll'''
'''ápp''', abbreviation of '''applicátion'''; there is also a surname '''Ápps
 
'''appål'''; AmE can be '''appåll'''


'''Appalâchia''' -sh- or -'''ch'''- or '''Appaláchia''' -'''ch'''- (though [[Frederick Delius|Delius]] pronounced it, and his musical work, [[Appalachia|Appalàkia]])
'''[[Appalachia|Appalâchia]]''' -sh- or -'''ch'''-; or '''Appaláchia''' -'''ch'''- (though [[Frederick Delius|Delius]] pronounced it, and his musical work, [[Appalachia (Delius)|*Appalàkia]])


'''appålling'''
'''appålling'''
Line 532: Line 833:
'''apparátchik'''
'''apparátchik'''


'''ápparâtus''' BrE  either stressed (to children '''apparatus''' can sound plural, ‘apperators’); AmE '''apparátus
'''ápparâtus''' BrE  either stressed (to children it can sound plural, ‘apperators’, like '''óperators'''); AmE '''apparátus


'''appárel'''
'''appárel'''
Line 545: Line 846:


'''applåuse
'''applåuse
<nowiki>*</nowiki>appôse '''oppôse
'''ápposíte'''
'''apprôpriate''' ''adjective'', '''apprôpriâte''' ''verb''


'''approval'''  -prû-
'''approval'''  -prû-
Line 560: Line 867:
'''Aquãrius
'''Aquãrius


'''Árab''' ''adjective, person''
'''aquátic
 
'''áqueduct'''
 
'''áqueous
 
'''Áquila
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>aquîre '''acquîre
 
'''A&R''' *ayənàr
 
'''ár'''- BrE is '''ãr'''- for some AmE speakers: '''ãrrogant''', etc.
 
'''Árab''' ''adjective, person'', some AmE '''Ãrab''' 


'''Arâbian'''  ''adjective''
'''Arâbian'''  ''adjective''


'''Árabic'''  ''language''
'''Árabic'''  ''language'', some AmE '''Ãrabic''' 
 
'''árable'''
 
'''àrbíter
 
'''àrbítrary
 
'''àrc''' ''circle'' = '''Àrk''' ''Noah'' = '''Àrc''' ''Joan
 
'''àrced''' ''arc'' *àrkt


'''àrc''' ''circle'' = '''Àrk''' - ''Noah''
'''àrch''', '''ch''' sound, *àrtsh, unlike most of the following (the exceptions being the versions with '''bíshop''' and '''dêacon''')


'''archâíc''' *àrkâyíc
'''archâíc''' *àrkâyíc


'''archeólogy'''  ''àrk-
'''archângel''' àrk-
 
'''archbíshop''' àrtch-
 
'''archdêacon''' àrtch-
 
'''archeólogy'''  àrk-
 
'''Archimêdês''' Àrk-
 
'''archipélago''' àrk-


'''archipélago''' ''àrk-''
'''àrchitect''' àrk-


'''àrchive''' *àrkîve
'''àrchive''' *àrkîve


'''Àrctic''' - first '''c''' may be silent
'''àrchivist''' *àrkîvist, *àrkəvist
 
'''arcmínute''', '''arcsécond''' both one word
 
'''Àrctic'''  
 
'''àre''' BrE = '''àh'''; BrE weak form = '''a''' weak form *ə; AmE weak form *r
 
'''ãrêa'''  ''space'' *ãrêə makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''ària''' ''song
 
'''arêna'''


'''ãrêa'''  ''space'' *ãrêə, cf. '''ària''', '''êra
'''Àrês''' ''Mars'', or = '''Ãríes'''/'''Ãriês''' ''Ram'', both -z


'''Argentìna''' - ''Àrj-
'''Argentìna''', '''Àrgentîne''', '''Argentínian''' = '''Argentínean''' Àrj-


'''àrgil'''  ''clay'' - soft '''g
'''àrgil'''  ''clay'', soft '''g


'''Argŷll''' ''Scotland'' = '''Argŷle''' ''Plymouth'' - hard '''g
'''argot''' ''slang'' = '''Àrgo''' ''ship''


'''àrgue
'''àrgue
Line 590: Line 941:
'''àrgument
'''àrgument


'''ària'''  ''opera'' cf. '''ãrea'''
'''Argŷll'''  ''Scotland'' = '''Argŷle''' ''elsewhere'', hard '''g
 
'''ària'''  ''opera'' cf. '''ãrea''' ''space
 
'''Ãrian''' ''Arius'', ''Aries'' = '''Ãryan''' ''race''
 
'''Ariàna'''
 
'''Àriàna Grànde''' AmE; BrE '''Áriàna Grándè'''
 
'''Ariáne'''


'''árid
'''árid


'''Ãries'''  ''-ríz
'''Ãríes'''  -ríz


'''árístocrat''' BrE '''á''' stressed, AmE '''í''' stressed
'''áristocrát''' BrE; AmE '''arístocrát'''


'''aristocrátic
'''aristocrátic


'''Àrkansas''' BrE ''-såw'', AmE ''-sà
'''Aristóphanês'''
 
'''Áristótle'''
 
'''Àrk''' ''Noah'' = '''àrc''' ''circle'' = '''Àrc''' ''Joan
 
'''Àrkansas''' BrE -såw, AmE -sà
 
'''aròund''' = '''a ròund
 
'''arrâign''' = '''a râin
 
'''arrêars


'''arrést
'''arrést


'''arrhythmic
'''arrhýthmic


'''àrsenal''' *àrssnəl
'''àrsenal''' *àrssnəl
'''àrsenic''' *àrssníc


'''àrson
'''àrson


'''arrhýthmic
'''àrt''' ''artist'' = '''Àrt''' ''Arthur''
 
'''àrt déco''' or '''Àrt Déco''' (may retain French accent on '''é''')


'''àrtefact
'''àrtefact''' BrE; AmE '''àrtifact


'''artêsian'''  ''well'' *àrtêzhən
'''artêsian'''  ''well'' *àrtêzhən
Line 624: Line 1,001:
'''artìste'''  ''stage''
'''artìste'''  ''stage''


'''ascént''' ''climb'' = '''assént''' - ''agree''
'''Ãryan''' ''race'' = '''Ãrian''' ''heresy'', ''Aries
 
'''asbéstós
 
'''ascénd''': derived words can be spelt with either '''a''' or '''e''':
 
'''ascéndance''' or '''ascéndence


'''ascertâin
'''ascéndancy''' or '''ascéndency


'''ÁSEAN''' or '''Ásean''' - ''association'' *ássián, cf. '''Âsian Asia''', *Âzhan
'''ascéndant''' or '''ascéndent
 
'''ascént'''  ''climb'' = '''assént'''  ''agree''
 
'''ascertâin''' cf. '''acërbic
 
'''Áscot
 
'''ÁSEAN''' or '''Ásean''' ''association'' *Ássián, cf. '''Âsian''' ''Asia'', *Âyzhən
 
'''Áshlêy''' = '''Áshlêigh


'''Âsia''' *Âsha or *Âzha
'''Âsia''' *Âsha or *Âzha
'''ásinine''' áss-


'''askānce
'''askānce


'''áspartâme''' or '''aspàrtâme
'''áspartâme''' or '''aspàrtâme
'''Ásperger's
<nowiki>*</nowiki>áspéstóss '''asbéstos


'''ásphalt
'''ásphalt
'''asphýxiate


'''áspirin'''  ''medicine'' -spr-, cf. '''aspîring''' ''aspire
'''áspirin'''  ''medicine'' -spr-, cf. '''aspîring''' ''aspire
'''Ássád''', first syllable stressed, making a minimal pair with '''ácid'''
'''Assànge''' ''Julian'' -ànzh


'''assássin'''  has four '''s'''’s
'''assássin'''  has four '''s'''’s


'''assént''' ''agree'' = '''ascént'''  ''climb
'''assént''' ''agree'' = '''ascént'''  ''climb
'''asséss


'''ássét
'''ássét


'''assîgn''' *assîne
'''assîgn''' *əssîne = '''a sîgn
 
'''assignâtion''' *ássíg-nâtion
 
'''assîgnment''' *əssînemənt


'''assignâtion''' - '''g''' sounded
'''assuâge''' *əsswâge


'''assûme''' -syûme
'''assûme''' *əssyûme


'''assûre''' AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre
'''assûre''' AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre


'''ásterisk
'''ásterisk
'''ásterism


'''Ásterix
'''Ásterix
Line 670: Line 1,083:
'''âthêíst''' cf. '''aesthétic
'''âthêíst''' cf. '''aesthétic


'''átóll
'''at lêast''' two words
 
'''átmosphêre'''
 
'''atmosphéric'''
 
'''átóll''', some AmE '''âtóll'''
 
'''atône
 
'''âtrium


'''atrôcious''' -shəss
'''atrôcious''' -shəss
Line 678: Line 1,101:
'''áttaboy'''  one word  
'''áttaboy'''  one word  


'''attáchè''' -áshè
'''attáchè''' -áshây
 
'''attácks''' = '''a táx
 
'''atténtion''' *əténshən makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''ténsion'''
 
'''Attíla''' *Atílla
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>attône: '''atône


'''attörney
'''attörney
'''attríbutable
'''áttribute''' ''noun
'''Auchinleck''' *Ókhinleck, *Áffleck


'''Åuckland
'''Åuckland


'''auctionêer''' åuk-
'''auctionêer''' åukshə-
 
'''åudio
 
'''auditǒrium
 
'''augmént
 
'''åugur''' = '''Åuger'''
 
'''åugury'''


'''augúst''' ''revered''
'''augúst''' ''revered''


'''Åugust''' ''month''
'''Åugust''' ''month''
'''[[Auld Lang Syne|Åuld Láng Sŷne]]''' (from [[Robert Burns]], [[Scots language|Scots]], "Old Long Since") or ...*Zŷne
'''[[Aung San Suu Kyi| Àùng Sán Sûu Kyìi]]''' *Òwng Sán Sûe Chêe


'''āunt''' ''uncle'' AmE = '''ánt''' ''insect''
'''āunt''' ''uncle'' AmE = '''ánt''' ''insect''
Line 698: Line 1,149:
'''au pãir''', '''ôp-
'''au pãir''', '''ôp-


'''åural''' ''ear'' = '''ŏral''' ''mouth''
'''åural''' ''ear'' = '''ŏral''' ''mouth'', by a coincidence of Latin, though the first may be pronounced '''àùral''' (*òwral) to distinguish it


'''Aus''' ''Australia'' = '''Óz''' ''Wizard
'''Aus''' ''Australia'' = '''Óz''' ''Wizard


'''Àùschwitz''' *Òwshvíts
'''Àùschwitz''' *Òushvíts


'''åuspices
'''åuspices


'''Aussie''' ''Australasian'' = '''Óssy''' = '''Óssie''' ''persons''
'''Aussie''' ''Australasian'' -z- = '''Óssy''' = '''Óssie''' ''persons''  


'''Austen''' ''Jane'' = '''Austin''' ''car, Texas'' Ó-
'''Austen''' ''Jane'' = '''Austin''' ''car, Texas'' Ó-
Line 719: Line 1,170:


'''authórity
'''authórity
'''åutism'''


'''àùtobàhn
'''àùtobàhn
Line 726: Line 1,179:
'''åutumn''' silent '''n'''
'''åutumn''' silent '''n'''


'''autúmnal''' - '''n''' sounded
'''autúmnal''', '''n''' sounded
 
'''avâil''' = '''a vèil


'''ávalānche
'''ávalānche


'''ávant gàrde''' ('''gàrde''' = '''guàrd''') two words
'''ávant-gàrde''' ('''gàrde''' = '''guàrd''') hyphenated
 
'''avénge'''
 
'''avërt'''
 
'''Áviemore


'''avocàdo
'''avocàdo
'''avŏid'''


'''avoirdupŏis''' *ávədə-pŏiz
'''avoirdupŏis''' *ávədə-pŏiz


'''åwe
'''aẁash''' ''with'' = '''a ẁash
 
'''awây''' ''gone, going'' = '''a wây''' ''method, route'' = '''awêigh''' ''anchors
 
'''åwe''' ''amaze'' = BrE '''ŏr''', etc.


'''awêigh''' ''anchors'' = '''awây''' ''go''
'''awêigh''' ''anchors'' = '''awây''' ''go''
'''åwesome
'''åwestruck


'''åwful
'''åwful
'''awhîle''' ''adverb'' = '''a whîle''' ''noun''; the one-word form is often used incorrectly, as it can only be used after a verb, not after a preposition ('''ín''', '''āfter''', '''fŏr''' etc.); compare: '''línger awhîle''', '''stây awhîle''' with '''stây for a whîle''', '''hê'll bè hêre ín a whîle''', '''for a shŏrt whîle''', '''ít háppened a whîle báck''', '''ít's bêen a whîle


'''åwkward''' *åwquəd
'''åwkward''' *åwquəd
Line 746: Line 1,219:
'''åwl''' ''tool'' = '''åll''' ''total''
'''åwl''' ''tool'' = '''åll''' ''total''


'''ÂWOL
'''âwol''', '''ÂWOL
 
'''awrŷ''' *ərî


'''awrŷ
'''áxe''' ''chop'' BrE;  AmE '''áx''' = '''ácts''' ''act'' (the plurals of '''áxe'''/'''áx''' and '''áxis''' have the same spelling, but different pronunciations, as follows)


'''áxe''' ''chop'' BrE;  AmE '''áx
'''áxes''' ''axe'' -íz


'''áxes''' ''plural'' -íz
'''áxês''' ''axis'' -êz, cf. '''áccess


'''áxis''' ''spin'' -íss
'''áxis''' ''spin'' -íss
'''áxês''' ''plural'' -êz, cf. '''áccess


'''áxle''' ''car'' = '''Áxel''' ''person''
'''áxle''' ''car'' = '''Áxel''' ''person''
Line 763: Line 1,236:


'''aŷe''' ''yes'' = '''eŷe''' ''see'' = '''Î''' ''me''
'''aŷe''' ''yes'' = '''eŷe''' ''see'' = '''Î''' ''me''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Âyman '''Eâmonn''', cf. '''Hâyman'''


'''[[Ayn Rand|Aŷn Ránd]]
'''[[Ayn Rand|Aŷn Ránd]]
Line 775: Line 1,250:


'''ázure''' -zh-
'''ázure''' -zh-
==References==
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 20:48, 24 May 2017

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with A. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]

 letter = èh? what? (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text: the létter Â, ín B-flát mâjor, etc.)

a article *ə: schwa = uh. It can be a strong form â, like the name of the letter Â, but this is almost always unnecessary and pompous-sounding, and is typical of politicians and the like; it can however be used for emphasis, meaning 'one', as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: At lêast hê lêads ín â sét. (The British weak form of àre is also *ə.)

Â-sîde

àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust (to both more a's may be added) ≈ àh response

àardvark

Ãaron BrE; AmE Áaron = Árron = Árran Isle; also Ãron/Áron

Áaron/Ãaron Côpland

ábacus

abándoned: not -nned

Ábba, normal name case in English;[1] Abba themselves use all upper case, preferably with the first B reversed to make symmetrical sense as it's an acronym of their first names

Abbàs

ábbey = Ábbey = Ábby

Ábbottabad or Abbóttabad

ABC alphabet *Ây-Bêe-Cêe (not to mention *Dêe-Êe-éF-Gêe-âitcH-Î-Jây-Kây-éL-éM-éN-Ô-Pêe-Queûe-àR-éSs-Têe-yÛ-Vêe-dúblyeŴ-éX-wŶe-Zéd/Zêe)

ábdomen

abdóminal

Âbe Abraham, Àbè Shinzo

Aberdêen

Aberfán *Áber-ván, per Welsh

áberrant *ábberant, or abérrant, cf. érrant

aberrâtion

Aberýstwýth

abét

abhŏr

abhórrent (h may be silent)

ábject cf. óbject, objéct

âble capable = Âbel person

abòut = a bòut boxing *əbòut

abòut-türn

abòve

abrǒad

ábscéss (-bsc-)

ábsèil cf. sâil

ábsence

ábsent, cf. in abséntia

absŏrb

absŏrption

abstâin

absténtion

ábstinence

abstrûse -ss

abûse noun, -ss; verb, -z

abúzz

abýsmal -zməl

abýss

ácadême

acadêmia

académic

acádemy

accêde accession ≈ excêed more

accélerate əx-, cf. excél, éxcellent

áccent áx-

accéntuate -x-

accépt receive əx-, cf. excépt exception íx- (minimal pair)

accéptable

áccess noun *áxéss, cf. áxis centre (minimal pair), áxes axe *axiz

accéss verb *əxéss, cf. excéss, *ixéss (minimal pair)

áccident áx-

accidéntally áx-

acclâim = a clâim

áccolade

accómmodate: two c's and two m's

accòmpaniment

accòmpany

accòmplíce person BrE; AmE accómplíce

accòmplísh achieve BrE; AmE accómplísh

accoûtrement

Accrà

accrédited

accrûe cf. acróss

accürsed *accürsid

âce

acërbic cf. ascertâin

âche *âke

achìêve

acknówledge *əc-nólij

ácmê

ácnê

ácolŷte

acquiésce *ákwì-éss, cf. quiéscent *kwì-éssent, quîet *kwîət

acquîre *aquîre

acquít

âcreage *âkerage

ácrimony

ácronym

Acrópolis

acróss cf. accrûe

áctual *ákchəl

ácûmen *ákyəmən, cf. áccurate *ákyərət

ácupuncture

ádage

adàgio -jô

adaptâtion, cf. adóption

ádd more = ád advertisement

Áddis Ábaba

ádditive

addíctive

addréss BrE = a dréss; AmE áddress

Adéle

Âden Yemen = Âidan person

adhêre (d and h pronounced separately)

adhêsive (d and h pronounced separately)

ád hóc, two words

ád infinîtum, cf. ínfinite, infínitive

ádjective cf. ejécted

adjöurn

adjúst *ajúst

admínistrate

administrâtion

admínistrative; some AmE administrâtive

admîre

ádmirable *ádmrbl

ád nåusêám (-ziám) or pronounced, but not spelt *ád nåusêum (-ziəm)

adôbê

Ádolf = Ádolph; some AmE: Âdolf

adóption

adrénalín, adrénaline

*adréss addréss

ádult BrE; AmE adúlt

adúltery

advānce

ádvent

advénture

ádversary -vəsrỳ or advërsary

ádvërt

ádvertise pronounced, but never spelt -îze

ádvertîsement AmE *ádvertîzemənt, like the verb, above

advërtísement BrE *ədvërtíssmənt

advîce noun -ss

advîse verb pronounced but never spelt -îze

advîser = advîsor (alternatives)

ádze, ádz tool = áds adverts

Aêgêan *Êjêən

ãerial air = Ãriel person

ãerie bird = ãiry light and = variant spellings of bird: ãerie = éyrie = éyry

ãeroplane BrE; AmE ãirplane

Aêschylus BrE; AmE Êschylus *Êeskiləss

aêsthétics AmE ê-

afféct alter cf. efféct result í- or = afféct

áffect emotion

afféctive emotional cf. efféctive resultant

áffidâvit

áffluent

affrònt cf. effròntery

Afghánistān Áf-gán- (-wán-, -hán- -wàn-, etc. are local pronunciations)

Áfghán cf. Áfrican -ən

aficionàdo -físh- or -físsy-

afrâid

afrésh anew (adverb) = a frésh

África

Afrikàans -ànce

Afrikàner

āfter

āfterthŏught -åwt, one word

āfterward AmE, BrE āfterwards

āfterwörd preface

again, against: both have -én, but for some speakers there is a regular spelling pronunciation: agâin, agâinst

agâpe gaping

ágapê eros

ággravate

aggréssion

aggriêved

âge cf. édge: Francophones beware

âged: as in âged 20, pronounced *âyjd; when meaning old before a noun (an âged mán), *âyjíd

âgeing (BrE), âging (AmE), *âjing

âgeist *âjist

âge-ôld hyphenated

ágîle

agô

ágora

ágriculture

àh response ≈ àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust (in the latter cases more a's may be added)

ahà

ahem: schwas

Àhmad Jamál

âid help = âide assistant; Âids or ÂIDS disease = âids, âides plurals

Âids or ÂIDS disease = âids, âides plurals

ãir breathe = Ãyr Scotland = ére before = é’er ever = héir estate = Éyre Jane = Ãire river; AmE ãir = AmE érr, cf. BrE ërr *üh

ãiry light = all four spellings of éyrie = éyry = ãerie = ãery bird, cf. êerie strange

aîsle walking space = îsle island

Âix France = âches ache

aj-: most words that sound as if they start like this actually have adj-

Ajáccio *Azháxio

Àjáx Amsterdam *Àyáx

Âjáx person

áka or ákà (can be capitals), acronym of ålso knôwn as

Ál Alan, etc. cf. åll total

Ál Arabic may be hyphenated to following capital-letter word in Arabic name; may also be ál

à là (à la)

Alabáma (Á): one m, cf. Montána, Louisiána

Aláddin

Álan (usually a given name) = Állen (usually a surname) = Állan (least common)

alás

Álawite

Albânia (Á)

Ålbany

albêdo

albêit *åll bê ít, cf. sô bê ít

Álbert

albìno

Álbion

Albuquërquê *Álbə-kïrky

Aldébaran

Åldwých *åll dwítch

âle beer = âil ailing

Álfa Romèo, cf. álpha, Rômêo

Álfred

álgaê *áljê or *álgy

Algàrve

álgorithm rhymes with rhýthm

Áli = Álly = Álley = álley walk, although Muhámmad Alì boxer is often pronounced *Àh-lêe; cf. állŷ *állîe friend

âlias *âlius, cf. Alîas Don

álibî

Álíce = Álliss

âlien

alienâtion

alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ friend, állêy way

alîgned *allîned, cf. állied

Álison = Állison, probably the former more common as given name, the latter as family name

Álistair = Álastair

alîve

åll every = åwl tool, cf. Ál name

allegâtions *allogations

allége cf. lédge, etc.

alléged *aléjd

allégedly *aléjidly

allêle

allelûia or allelûja or allelûya

állêy path = Áli person, cf. állŷ

allîance

álligâtor

allót assign = a lót much; cf. Állott

åll-òut total before noun needs hyphen

allòwed permitted = alòud heard

álloy

åll-stàr is an adjective, so needs hyphen

allûde əl-, cf. elûde, əl- or íl-

allûsion, əl-, cf. illûsion, íl-

állŷ friend, cf. Álly = Álì = állêy

allŷ verb = a lîe, cf. alîgn = a lîne

ålmanac

àlmond *àhmənd

ålmost

àlms gift = BrE àrms body, weapons

álôe

alône

alóngsîde one word

a lót many = allót assign (*alót)

a lót of many (*əlótəv)

alòud audible = allòwed permitted

Aloýsius *Aləwíshəss

ál-Qàêda (or Ál-; also minus hyphen) *ál-Kŷda (rarely does one hear an anglophone sound or suggest the glottal stop that is present in the Arabic: *álkà-êda)

alréady before = åll réady ready

alrîght = åll rîght: the single-word form presumably arose by analogy with alréady and ålways, but it is widely regarded as unacceptable: does it mean all correct, or satisfactory? "Their answers were alright" would appear to be an incorrect rendering of "their answers were all right/all correct", but it may merely mean "their answers were acceptable", and it is this needless ambiguity that gains the one-word version its detractors

Alsâtian

ålso

ålt-

ålter change = åltar church

álter êgo

*altêrior ultêrior

altërnate BrE; AmE ålternate adjective

ålternâte verb

altërnatíve

althôugh *åll-dhô

álto

áltruism

alumínium BrE; AmE alûminum

alúmnus

alvêolar

ålways ever cf. áll wâys methods, styles

Álzheîmer's is probably the most common British pronunciation, Å- ditto in AmE; also, À-

ám be

âm morning (ante meridian) *â-ém = a.m. (lower case)

amanuénsis, cf. Emmánuel

ámateur *ámətər; AmE can be amateûr

amâze

Ámazon

ambássador cf. émbassy

ámbergrìs BrE, AmE ámbergrís; s may be silent

ámbiance

ámbient

ambíguous

ambigûity

ambítious *ámbíshəss

amén BrE à, AmE â

amênable

aménd cf. comménd

aménds make = eménds alters

amênity, AmE also aménity

âmìable cf. âim

ámícable

amíss awry, cf. Âmíss, Âmís names

Ammàn

ammunítion *ámyù-níshən

amnêsia

ámnesty

amók cf. amúck, same meaning

amòng

amòunt

an *ən: version of a before a consonant

anáchronism -nákr-

ânal

ánalŷse verb *ánnəlîze

ánalŷses verb and análysês noun *ənáləssêez are homographs; the first is the third person singular present tense of the verb (above), the second the plural of the noun (below)

análysis noun *ənáləssís

ánalýst

anàrchic -kik

ánarchist -kist

ánarchy *ánə(r)kỳ

anáthema

áncestor

ánchor -nk-

ánchovy -ntsh-

âncient

áncillãry AmE, BrE ancíllary

and *ənd, sometimes ánd for emphasis = & (the ampersand, always unstressed and used in proprietory names, show business acts, etc.)

Andalucìa (some say -thìa in imitation of the European Spanish pronunciation)

andántè

Ándês

Andêan

Ándhra Pradésh

ánd ŏr ('and/or') is nowadays spoken and can be sometimes seen without the stroke inbetween

Andórra BrE, AmE -ŏrr-, cf. Pandŏra

Ándrêa (first of three syllables stressed) is an English girl's name; Andrèa (second of three) is a German boy's name; both end in schwa: -ə

Andrómeda

Ándreŵ

anémonê *an-émeny, cf. an énemy

Ánerley

aneŵ afresh (adverb) = a neŵ

ângel *ânjəl, cf. ángle

Ángela

Ángelô = Ángelôu Maya, though Ángeloû is very common

ánger BrE *áng-gə

angîna *án-jînə

ángle hard g, cf. ângel *âynjl

Ánglia

ánglophone

Ánglo-Sáxon

Angôla

ángry *áng-gry

ángst

Anguílla -gwí-

Anguíllan -gwí-

ánimè

ánimus cf. ûnánimous

áníse cf. Álíce (minimal pair)

Anìta Ànand

Ánkara

*ánker is a misspelling of ánchor

ánkle

ánnals cf. ánalyst

Ánnan: second a as schwa, rhymes with cánnon, making a minimal pair with Árran (but widely mispronounced with the stress on the second syllable, perhaps by analogy with Ammàn)[2]

annéx verb

ánnex or ánnexe noun

annîhilate *annîəlâte

annúl cf. ánnal

anŏint cf. annòunce

anómaly

anón soon = anón. anonymous

ánonýmity

anónymous

anoréxia

anòther one word

ánschlùss

ānswer, silent w: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr

antágonîse, -ísm, -íst

Antananarìvo *Antána-narìvo

Antàrctica: first c can be silent

ántê- before = BrE ántì against

anténna

anténnaê BrE = AmE anténnê, though some BrE speakers, perhaps recalling school Latin, say -nàê (-nî)

Ánthony usual = Ántony Mark, -tə-

ántì BrE (AmE ántî) against = ántê- before; prô and ánti are always hyphenated to a following word they modify: prô-wår and ánti-wår

antibiótic

ántícs

ántidote

antimacássar

Antìgua *Án-têegə

antípodês

antìque *án-têek

antirrhînum *antirŷnum

antisemític, anti-Semític anti-Jewish (euphemism? "Semitic" refers to a language group that includes Arabic and Amharic as well as Israel's Hebrew)

antisémitism (or anti-Sémitism, but what, then, is 'Semitism'?)

Ántón, cf. Ánthony, Ántony

anxîety *angzîəty

ánxious *ángkshəss or *ángshəss

any some *énny makes a minimal pair with Ánnie person

anybody *énnybódy one word

any mŏre, anymŏre *énny-mŏre: the one-word form, restricted to the meaning no longer, is American English: ít dòesn't mátter anymŏre

anyone anybody *énnywún, one word; otherwise two: any òne îtem, where òne is a numeral: cf. any thrêe óptions

anyway despite one word, cf. where wây is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít, dôn't chânge ít ín any wây

ãorist

apâce fast = a pâce step

apàrt separate = a pàrt section, hence apàrt from and a pàrt of

apàrtheîd -tîte or apàrthèid -tâte

apéritìf either stressed

aphêlion *əfêliən, *əp-hêliən

âphid

apìêce each one word = a pìêce part

aplénty

aplómb *əplóm

apócalypse

apócryphal, cf. êpoch -óc, crýpt

ápogêe -jì

apólogîse verb

apólogíes plural noun

*apón upón

apóstasy

apóstate

apóstle

apóstrophê

ápp, abbreviation of applicátion; there is also a surname Ápps

appål; AmE can be appåll

Appalâchia -sh- or -ch-; or Appaláchia -ch- (though Delius pronounced it, and his musical work, *Appalàkia)

appålling

apparátchik

ápparâtus BrE either stressed (to children it can sound plural, ‘apperators’, like óperators); AmE apparátus

appárel

appárent

appêar

appêasement

appêaser

applåuse

*appôse oppôse

ápposíte

apprôpriate adjective, apprôpriâte verb

approval -prû-

approve -prû-

âpricot

à priŏrî two words

àpriŏrísm one word

apropôs *ápropô

Aquãrius

aquátic

áqueduct

áqueous

Áquila

*aquîre acquîre

A&R *ayənàr

ár- BrE is ãr- for some AmE speakers: ãrrogant, etc.

Árab adjective, person, some AmE Ãrab

Arâbian adjective

Árabic language, some AmE Ãrabic

árable

àrbíter

àrbítrary

àrc circle = Àrk Noah = Àrc Joan

àrced arc *àrkt

àrch, ch sound, *àrtsh, unlike most of the following (the exceptions being the versions with bíshop and dêacon)

archâíc *àrkâyíc

archângel àrk-

archbíshop àrtch-

archdêacon àrtch-

archeólogy àrk-

Archimêdês Àrk-

archipélago àrk-

àrchitect àrk-

àrchive *àrkîve

àrchivist *àrkîvist, *àrkəvist

arcmínute, arcsécond both one word

Àrctic

àre BrE = àh; BrE weak form = a weak form *ə; AmE weak form *r

ãrêa space *ãrêə makes a minimal pair with ària song

arêna

Àrês Mars, or = Ãríes/Ãriês Ram, both -z

Argentìna, Àrgentîne, Argentínian = Argentínean Àrj-

àrgil clay, soft g

argot slang = Àrgo ship

àrgue

àrgument

Argŷll Scotland = Argŷle elsewhere, hard g

ària opera cf. ãrea space

Ãrian Arius, Aries = Ãryan race

Ariàna

Àriàna Grànde AmE; BrE Áriàna Grándè

Ariáne

árid

Ãríes -ríz

áristocrát BrE; AmE arístocrát

aristocrátic

Aristóphanês

Áristótle

Àrk Noah = àrc circle = Àrc Joan

Àrkansas BrE -såw, AmE -sà

aròund = a ròund

arrâign = a râin

arrêars

arrést

arrhýthmic

àrsenal *àrssnəl

àrsenic *àrssníc

àrson

àrt artist = Àrt Arthur

àrt déco or Àrt Déco (may retain French accent on é)

àrtefact BrE; AmE àrtifact

artêsian well *àrtêzhən

artifícial -shəl

artisán art *àrtizán

àrtist art

artìste stage

Ãryan race = Ãrian heresy, Aries

asbéstós

ascénd: derived words can be spelt with either a or e:

ascéndance or ascéndence

ascéndancy or ascéndency

ascéndant or ascéndent

ascént climb = assént agree

ascertâin cf. acërbic

Áscot

ÁSEAN or Ásean association *Ássián, cf. Âsian Asia, *Âyzhən

Áshlêy = Áshlêigh

Âsia *Âsha or *Âzha

ásinine áss-

askānce

áspartâme or aspàrtâme

Ásperger's

*áspéstóss asbéstos

ásphalt

asphýxiate

áspirin medicine -spr-, cf. aspîring aspire

Ássád, first syllable stressed, making a minimal pair with ácid

Assànge Julian -ànzh

assássin has four s’s

assént agree = ascént climb

asséss

ássét

assîgn *əssîne = a sîgn

assignâtion *ássíg-nâtion

assîgnment *əssînemənt

assuâge *əsswâge

assûme *əssyûme

assûre AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre

ásterisk

ásterism

Ásterix

ásthma *ássma

asúnder

as wéll two words

asŷlum

âte AmE; BrE *ét

âthêíst cf. aesthétic

at lêast two words

átmosphêre

atmosphéric

átóll, some AmE âtóll

atône

âtrium

atrôcious -shəss

atrócity

áttaboy one word

attáchè -áshây

attácks = a táx

atténtion *əténshən makes a minimal pair with ténsion

Attíla *Atílla

*attône: atône

attörney

attríbutable

áttribute noun

Auchinleck *Ókhinleck, *Áffleck

Åuckland

auctionêer åukshə-

åudio

auditǒrium

augmént

åugur = Åuger

åugury

augúst revered

Åugust month

Åuld Láng Sŷne (from Robert Burns, Scots, "Old Long Since") or ...*Zŷne

Àùng Sán Sûu Kyìi *Òwng Sán Sûe Chêe

āunt uncle AmE = ánt insect

au fâit *ô-fây

au fónd *ô-fón, French nasal -ón

au pãir, ôp-

åural ear = ŏral mouth, by a coincidence of Latin, though the first may be pronounced àùral (*òwral) to distinguish it

Aus Australia = Óz Wizard

Àùschwitz *Òushvíts

åuspices

Aussie Australasian -z- = Óssy = Óssie persons

Austen Jane = Austin car, Texas Ó-

Austrâlia Ó-

Austria Ó-

åutarchy sovereignty = åutarky self-sufficiency

authóritative BrE; AmE authŏritâtive

authórity

åutism

àùtobàhn

åutomobìle

åutumn silent n

autúmnal, n sounded

avâil = a vèil

ávalānche

ávant-gàrde (gàrde = guàrd) hyphenated

avénge

avërt

Áviemore

avocàdo

avŏid

avoirdupŏis *ávədə-pŏiz

aẁash with = a ẁash

awây gone, going = a wây method, route = awêigh anchors

åwe amaze = BrE ŏr, etc.

awêigh anchors = awây go

åwesome

åwestruck

åwful

awhîle adverb = a whîle noun; the one-word form is often used incorrectly, as it can only be used after a verb, not after a preposition (ín, āfter, fŏr etc.); compare: línger awhîle, stây awhîle with stây for a whîle, hê'll bè hêre ín a whîle, for a shŏrt whîle, ít háppened a whîle báck, ít's bêen a whîle

åwkward *åwquəd

åwl tool = åll total

âwol, ÂWOL

awrŷ *ərî

áxe chop BrE; AmE áx = ácts act (the plurals of áxe/áx and áxis have the same spelling, but different pronunciations, as follows)

áxes axe -íz

áxês axis -êz, cf. áccess

áxis spin -íss

áxle car = Áxel person

Áxminster

aŷe yes = eŷe see = Î me

*Âyman Eâmonn, cf. Hâyman

Aŷn Ránd

Ãyr Scotland = ãir breathe

Ãyrshire

Azerbaijàn Ázerbaî-jàn

Azéri

ázure -zh-

References

  1. ↑ Abba win 'Eurovision 50th' vote BBC News, 23 October 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  2. ↑ Crossette, Barbara. New U.N. Chief Promises Reforms but Says He Won't Cut Jobs, New York Times, 10 January 1997. Retrieved on 25 February 2008.
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