English spellings: Difference between revisions

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{{subpages}}{{:English spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}{{TOC|right}}
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'''[[English language|English]]''' is famous, even notorious, for its varied '''[[spelling]]s'''. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of [[proper name]]s—for example, simply adding  an 'h' to '[[Maria]]' to make it [[rhyme]] with '[[pariah]]', or calling oneself '[[Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh]]', pronounced 'Chumley Fanshaw'. On a more prosaic level, however, there are dangers. An example of a common [[misspelling]] is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of '[[disaster]]'.  And conversely, words may not turn out to have the '''pronunciation''' they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' you might expect to rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while '[[seismic]]', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic' or even 'sayizmic' is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a cluster of articles devoted to these things.  
'''[[English language|English]]''' is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular '''[[spelling]]s'''. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of [[English noun#Types of nouns|proper noun]]s—for example, simply adding  an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common [[misspelling]] is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'.  Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a '''[[A (letter)|cluster of articles]]''' devoted to these things.  


A few notes on how to read them: [[linguist]]s conventionally signal an incorrect spelling by putting an [[asterisk]] before it, like *thiss, and here we also include [[accent (pronunciation)|accent]] marks to show [[stress (linguistics)|stress]] and pronunciation, '''thús'''. A table of these (which are not part of the language<ref>Different accents, mostly from French, are sometimes used, however; see [[French words in English]]. Also, some [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] words have accents.</ref>) can be found at the end of this article; there is also an [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] key at [[English phonemes]]. Where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed, and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''', retaining the '''E''' of '''disāster'''. Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings, of course: if *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''' is a common mistake, we can also say that it may be pronounced *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character &ndash; the only one used &ndash; for [[schwa]]); or we can contrast [[British English]] *dizàstrus with [[American English|American]] *dizástrus.
To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added [[Accent (pronunciation)|accent]] marks, instead of relying on the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like '''thís''' *thíss.  The accent marks show pronunciation, '''thús'''. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language<ref>A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see [[French words in English]].</ref>) can be found below; there is also an [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] key at [[English phonemes]]. Where there is more than one accent, the first is [[stress (linguistics)|stressed]], and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling of '''Tchaikóvsky''', *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: '''Tchaî'''|'''kóvsky'''.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''', retaining the '''E''' of '''disāster'''." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]], where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''' is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character &ndash; the only one used &ndash; for [[schwa]]); or we can contrast [[British English]] *dizàstrus with [[American English|American]] *dizástrus.


Particular attention is given to [[homophones]], words with the same pronunciation but different meanings.  English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, '''cán''' ''able, tin'' (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations. Examples of all these are grouped together here.  
Particular attention is given to [[homophones]], words with the same pronunciation but different meanings.  English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, '''cán''' ''able, tin'' (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations.


Also of special note are words that many writers incorrectly divide.  '''ôver''' and '''dûe''', for example, combine to form '''overdûe''', without a space in the middle.  Such examples are included with ‘one word’ alongside them: '''alongsîde''' one word.   
Also of special note are words that many writers incorrectly divide.  '''ôver''' and '''dûe''', for example, combine to form '''overdûe''', without a space in the middle.  Such examples are included with ‘one word’ alongside them: '''alongsîde''' one word.   


An equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar-looking words are included after 'cf.' (from Latin ''conferre'', 'compare').  
An equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar-looking words are included after 'cf.' (Latin ''conferre'', 'compare').  


Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, such spellings are shown using bold italics: '''touchè''' may be written with a French accent: '''''touché''''' *tooshây (note the different accents).
Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, such spellings are shown using bold italics: '''touchè''' may be written with a French accent: '''''touché''''' *tooshây.


The [[apostrophe]] is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet.   
The [[apostrophe]] is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet.   
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Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: '''Ukrâine''' has -'''âine''', not -âne.  
Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: '''Ukrâine''' has -'''âine''', not -âne.  


Words in ''italics'' are used to suggest meanings, in the case of similar words.  Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following, or the word ''person'' (or ''persons'' after more than one): these are names of people, either personal or family; and of course they can also have other uses, such as commercial or  place names.  Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: for example a bank clerk might be named '''Clàrk''' or '''Clàrke''', but most probably not 'Clerk' (which is pronounced identically in [[British English|BrE]]). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: '''Cloúgh''' = '''Clúff'''. The spellings of personal names are, of course, decided by individuals; the fact that one is more likely to meet a man called '''Maurice Mórris''' than one called '''Mórris Maurice''', both words and hence both names being pronounced the same in BrE (though '''Maurìce''' in [[American English|AmE]]), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.
Words in ''italics'' are used to suggest meanings (e.g. '''sêa''' ''water'' = '''sêe''' ''vision'', where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation).  Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or  place names.  Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: a bank clerk might be named '''Clàrk''' or '''Clàrke''', but probably not 'Clerk' (though  [[British English|BrE]] '''clerk''' = '''Clàrk'''/'''Clàrke'''). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: '''Cloúgh''' = '''Clúff'''. An American called '''Maurìce Mŏrris''' could just as well be called '''Mórris Maurice''' ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where '''Maurice''' = '''Mórris''' (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name).


{{TOC|right}}
==Links to letter articles and lists==
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the [[CZ:Article structure|cluster]]) the cells in each row link as follows:


==Word lists==
*Top row: '''''articles''''' on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on [[GH]], the [[apostrophe]] and the [[hyphen]].
Two main varieties are distinguished: [[British English]] (BrE), that of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and much of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] (see also [[Commonwealth English]]), and [[American English]] (AmE), that of the [[United States of America|USA]] and [[Canada]] (without the [[caught-cot merger|'''cåught''' = '''cót''']] merger that has occured in some parts of North America).  
 
Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of the page) the cells in each row link as follows:


*Top row: '''''alphabetical''''' lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe|here]]). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd '''disbánd''' means that the word is 'disband'. (The ''third row'' is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
*Second row: '''''alphabetical''''' lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe|here]]). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd '''disbánd''' means that the word is 'disband'. (The ''bottom row'' is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
   
   
*Second row: '''''retroalphabetical''''' lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it:   
*Third row: '''''retroalphabetical''''' lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it:   
::In the retroalphabetical lists the headword is on the right. In this way, suffixes and other word endings can be seen grouped together, just as prefixes can be seen in normal alphabetical order.  So, instead of '''ádd båll coúsin''', we have '''réplicA fláB plástiC'''; and so for '''mûsiC''', see under -'''C''', for '''mûsicaL''', see under -'''L''', for '''pàrticlE''', see under -'''E''', and so on.
::In the retroalphabetical lists the headword is on the right. In this way, suffixes and other word endings can be seen grouped together, just as prefixes can be seen in normal alphabetical order.  So, instead of '''ádd båll coúsin''', we have '''réplicA fláB plástiC'''; and so for '''mûsiC''', see under -'''C''', for '''mûsicaL''', see under -'''L''', for '''pàrticlE''', see under -'''E''', and so on.


::Some  suffixes are included separately; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words.
::Some  suffixes are included separately; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -'''ãrian'''" means there is no other pronunciation of -'''ãrian''').


::Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after '''Z'''.  (Words ending in an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe#Final and medial|also here]].)
::Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after '''Z'''.  (Words ending in an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe#Final and medial|also here]].)
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:::''woman'' '''mâid''' = ''make'' '''mâde'''
:::''woman'' '''mâid''' = ''make'' '''mâde'''


::Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list: '''wêasel''' *wêasal
::Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
:::'''wêasel''' *wêasal
 
*Bottom row: '''''common misspellings''''' including '''''typos''''' (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.


*Third row: '''''common misspellings''''' including typos (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.
Two main varieties are distinguished: [[British English]] (BrE), that of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and much of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] (see also [[Commonwealth English]]), and [[American English]] (AmE), that of the [[United States of America|USA]] and [[Canada]] (without the [[caught-cot merger|'''cåught''' = '''cót''']] merger that has occurred in some parts of North America).  


*Bottom row: '''''articles''''' on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on [[GH]], the [[apostrophe]] and the [[hyphen]].
Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.


==Table of accents==
==Table of accents==
These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on '''i''' and '''y''' show the same sound; similarly with '''u''', '''oo''' and '''w'''.  Accented vowels are stressed ('''ỳ''' is normally unstressed, as in '''háppy''').  '''ā''', not in the table, means that the sound is '''à''' in British English and '''á''' in American.
These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on '''i''' and '''y''' show the same sound; similarly with '''u''', '''oo''' and '''w'''.  Accented vowels are stressed ('''ỳ''' is normally unstressed, as in '''háppy''').  '''ā''', not in the table, means that the sound is '''à''' in standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but '''á''' in American and other British and Commonwealth speech.
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
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!w<ref>When not accented, '''w''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''wê''' and '''wíll'''.</ref>
!w<ref>When not accented, '''w''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''wê''' and '''wíll'''.</ref>
|-
|-
|width=36%|The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word
|width=36%|The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent)
|width=8%|'''pét
|width=8%|'''pét
|width=8%|'''pít
|width=8%|'''pít
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|width=8%|
|width=8%|
|-
|-
|The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U
|The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent)
|'''sêe
|'''sêe
|'''nîce
|'''nîce
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|'''neŵ
|'''neŵ
|-
|-
|The 'third' sound ('''ẁ'''- and '''qù'''- indicate the [[British English|BrE]] ó sound of the following '''a''', '''ẁad''' rhyming with '''qùad'''; '''òu''' and '''òw''' are diphthongs sounding like '''àù''' in '''àùtobahn''': '''nòw''' has this '''sòund''')
|Sounds shown with the grave accent ('''ẁ'''- and '''qù'''- indicate the [[British English|BrE]] '''ó''' sound of the following '''a''', '''ẁad''' rhyming with '''qùad'''; '''òu''' and '''òw''' are diphthongs sounding like '''àù''' in '''àùtobahn''': '''nòw''' has this '''sòund''')
|'''èight''' (= â)
|'''èight''' (= â)
|'''machìne''' (= ê)
|'''machìne''' (= ê)
|'''quaỳ''' ''water'' = '''kêỳ''' ''lock'' <br>(= ê)
|'''quaỳ''' ''water'' = '''kêỳ''' ''lock'' <br>(= ê)
|'''àre
|'''àre
|'''òther''' <br>(= ú)
|'''òther''', '''blòod''' <br>(= ú)
|'''fùll''' (= oò), '''qùantity''' (= w)
|'''fùll''' (= oò), '''qùantity''' (= w)
|'''foòt
|'''foòt''' (= ù)
|'''ẁant'''<ref>Grave accents on '''w''' and on a '''u''' following a '''q''' indicate the sound of the following '''a''': '''à''' in American English, but in British the extra sound '''ó''' as in the British pronunciation of '''hót'''.</ref>
|'''ẁant''' (= wó)<ref>Grave accents on '''w''' and on a '''u''' following a '''q''' indicate the sound of the following '''a''': '''à''' in American English, but in British the extra sound '''ó''' as in the British pronunciation of '''hót'''.</ref>
|-
|-
|The '''ër''' sound, as in '''ër, Î dôn’t thínk sô'''
|The '''ër''' sound (umlaut accent)
|'''përson
|'''përson
|'''bïrd
|'''bïrd
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|
|
|-
|-
|The '''ŏr''' sound, as in '''thís ŏr thát''' (also used for '''cŏin''' and '''jŏy''')
|The '''åw'''/'''ŏr''' sound (ring accent)<ref>'''å''' and '''ŏ''' show the same sound: ideally the '''o''' too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so '''ŏ''' is used instead.</ref>
|
|
|('''cŏin''')
|('''cŏin''')
|('''jŏy''')
|('''jŏy''')
|'''såw''', '''åura'''
|'''åll'''
|'''mŏre
|'''mŏre
|(for some BrE speakers) '''sůre
|(for some BrE speakers) '''sůre
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|
|
|-
|-
|The '''ãir''' sound, as in '''frésh ãir'''
|The '''ãir''' sound (tilde accent)
|('''thére''')
|('''thére''')
|('''ãir''' =
|('''ãir''' =
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These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the [[schwa]] sound, a neutral grunt.
These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the [[schwa]] sound, a neutral grunt.


''The usual short sound:''
''The usual short sound, acute accent:''


'''The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.
'''The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.


''The usual long sound:''
''The usual long sound, circumflex accent:''


'''Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.
'''Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.


''The third sound:''
''The third sound, grave accent:''


'''Christìna Grèy shoùld (and dòes) lòve her mòther and fàther.
'''Christìna Grèy shoùld (and dòes?) lòve her mòther and fàther.


''The '''ër''' sound:''
''The '''ër''' sound, umlaut:''


'''But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.
'''But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.


''The '''ŏr''' sound ('''sůre''' here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = '''Shåw'''):''
''The '''ŏr''' sound ('''sůre''' here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = '''Shåw'''), the ring, or half-ring:''


'''Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?
'''Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?


''Irregular, with respelling:''
''Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:''


'''Many women? Any woman!''' (pronounced: *Ménny wímmin? Énny wùman!)
'''Many women? Any woman!''' (pronounced: *Ménny wímmin? Énny wùman!)
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|-
|-
|'''L
|'''L
|'''llàma'''<ref>Also representing a [[Welsh language|Welsh]] sound in place names like '''Llandudno''' (-dídno) and '''Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantisiliogogogóch'''.</ref> #
|'''llàma'''<ref>Also representing a [[Welsh language|Welsh]] sound in place names like '''Llandudno''' (-dídno) and '''Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch'''.</ref> #
|'''fílling
|'''fílling
|'''wéll'''
|'''wéll'''
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|'''O
|'''O
|'''oôze, oòmph''' #
|'''oôze, oòmph''' #
|'''foôd, foòt, flòod, '''[[British English|BrE]]''' doŏr
|'''foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr'''  
|'''toô
|'''toô
|'''Loôe''' (= '''loô''')
|'''Loôe''' (= '''loô''')
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'''C''': occasionally '''cêe'''; '''sêe''' ''look'', '''sêa''' ''ship
'''C''': occasionally '''cêe'''; '''sêe''' ''look'', '''sêa''' ''ship


'''D''': [[River Dee|'''Dêe''' ''River]], person
'''D''': [[River Dee|'''Dêe''' ''River]], ''surname''


'''E''': '''ê''' as in '''êmail''', '''ê-mail
'''E''': '''ê''' as in '''êmail''', '''ê-mail


'''F''': '''éff''' ''euphemism
'''F''': '''éff''' as in the euphemism '''éff óff


'''G''': '''gêe''' ''up, exclamation'' *jêe
'''G''': '''gêe''' ''up, exclamation'' *jêe
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'''U''': '''yoû''' ''me'', '''eŵe''' ''sheep
'''U''': '''yoû''' ''me'', '''eŵe''' ''sheep


'''V''': '''[[Bobby Vee|Vêe''' ''Bobby]]''
'''V''': '''[[Bobby Vee|Vêe]]''' ''Bobby''


'''W''': "'''doúble you'''" (first syllable stressed, cf. '''vácûum''', which has '''doúble Û''')
'''W''': "'''doúble you'''" (*dúblyu; cf. '''vácûum''', which actually does have a '''doúble Û''')


'''X''': '''éx-''' ''past
'''X''': '''éx-''' ''past
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'''Z''': BrE '''zéd''', AmE '''zêe
'''Z''': BrE '''zéd''', AmE '''zêe


==The Chaos by Gerard Nolst Trenité==
==''The Chaos''==
This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks and respellings have been added to show current British English pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found [http://ncf.idallen.com/english.html here].
by Gerard Nolst Trenité


This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current [[British English]] pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found [http://ncf.idallen.com/english.html here].


'''The Châós''' [*câyóss]
 
'''The Châós''' (*câyóss)




Dêarest crêature ín creâtion
Dêarest crêature ín creâtion


Stúdying English [*Ínglish] pronunciâtion,
Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion,


Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse
:Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse


Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps [*cŏr], hŏrse and wörse.
:Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse.


Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy [*bízzy],
Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy),


Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;
Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;


Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;  
:Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;  


Quêer, fãir sêer [*sêe-er], hêar mŷ prãyer.  
:Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer.  


Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,  
Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,  


Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew [=sô] ít!   
Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít!   
Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,  
:Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,  


Dîes and dîet [*dîət], lŏrd and wörd.  
:Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd.  


Swŏrd [*sŏrd] and swård, retâin and Brítain  
Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain  


(Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten).  
[Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten].  


Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,  
:Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,  
 
Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.


:Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.
Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû  
Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû  


Line 504: Line 504:
Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?  
Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?  


Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK (*ôkây).  
Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.<ref>The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the '''K''' is normally the stressed syllable: '''okây'''.</ref>


:Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
:Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
Line 546: Line 546:
Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.  
Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.  


:To [oô] abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
:To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
   
   
:Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.     
:Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.     
Line 560: Line 560:
Màrk the dífference, moreôver,  
Màrk the dífference, moreôver,  


Betwêen mover [oô], plòver, Dôver.  
Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver.  


:Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,  
:Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,  
Line 582: Line 582:
:Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.  
:Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.  


Múscle, múscular, gâol [= jâil], îron,  
Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron,  


Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,  
Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,  


:Wörm and stŏrm, chaise [*shézz], châós, chãir,  
:Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir,  


:Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,
:Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,
Line 594: Line 594:
Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.  
Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.  


        Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,  
:Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,  


        Désert, but desërt, addréss.  
:Désert, but desërt, addréss.  


Gôlf, wolf [ù], còuntenance, lieuténants
Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants
   
   
Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.  
Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.  


        Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb [oô], bómb, cômb,  
:Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb,  


        Còw, but Cowper [oô], sòme and hôme.  
:Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme.  


"Sôlder, sôldier!  Blòod ís thícker",  
"Sôlder, sôldier!  Blòod ís thícker",  


Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",   
Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",   
        Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,  
:Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,  


        Ín bravàdo, múch ado [oô].  
:Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô).  


Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,  
Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,  


Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour.—neither does anger: *áng-gə
Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —''neither does anger: *áng-gə''
        Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
:Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
   
   
        Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.
:Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.
 
Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,  
Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,  
Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.  
Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.  
        Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,  
:Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,  
        Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.
 
:Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.
Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,  
Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,  
Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.  
Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.  
        Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,  
 
        Válentîne and mágazìne.  
:Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,  
 
:Válentîne and mágazìne.  
 
Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,  
Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,  
Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many [é],  
 
        Whích ís wróng.  Sây râpier, pìêr,  
Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny),  
        Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.  
 
:Whích ís wróng.  Sây râpier, pìêr,  
 
:Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.  
 
Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring  
Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring  
Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?   
Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?   
        Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,  
:Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,  
        Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,  
 
:Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,  
 
Persevêrance, séverance.  Ríbald  
Persevêrance, séverance.  Ríbald  
Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.  
Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.  
         Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,  
          
         Lìên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.  
:Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,  
          
:Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.
Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,  
Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,  
Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet;  
 
Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,  
Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet;
        Worcester [oò], Boleýn, to [oô] impûgn.
:Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,  
 
:Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn.  
Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling
 
Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling ''—yëar and yêarling are about as likely''
 
Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt,
 
:Mînd the Z (zéd)!  (A géntle hínt.)
 
Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion
 
To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion,
:Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws,
       
:Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs;
 
Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded,
 
Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd,     
:Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn,
       
:Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —''nowadays regularised to *Strákhən
 
Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely,
Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley).
       
:Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud
 
:Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud).
 
But mînd trívial and vîal,
 
Trîpod, mênial, denîal,
       
:Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam,
       
:Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême.
Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely
 
Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh,
       
:Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây
 
:Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt.
 
Hád thís ínvalid inválid
 
Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid,
       
:Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked,
       
:Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked!
Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê,
 
Páramour, enámoured, flîghty, 
:Épisôdes, antípodês,
       
:Ácquiésce, and óbsequies.
 
Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser,
 
Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor,
 
:Rāther sây ín áccents pûre:
       
:Nâture, státure ánd matûre.
 
Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly,
 
Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly,
 
:Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán,
       
:Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan.
The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you
 
Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û)
 
:Sây thén thêse phonétic géms:
       
:Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz).
 
Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham,
 
Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em -
       
:Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony,
       
:Lîghten yŏur anxîety.
 
Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít
 
Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít; 
:Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice,
   
:Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice.
 
Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger;
Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger.
       
:Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge,
       
:Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge,
 
Hêro, héron, quêry, véry,
 
Párry, tárry, fûry, bury,
     
:Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth,
       
:Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath.
Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners,
 
Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners
 
:Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz),
 
:Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)?
 
Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle,
 
Wê sây áctual, but víctual,
 
Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght,
       
:Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte.
 
:Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer,
 
Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer.     
       
:Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte,
       
:Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte.
 
Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —''Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish
 
Scîence, cónscience, scientífic;
       
:Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur,
 
:Gás, alás, and Àrkansås.
 
Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit,
 
Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít
 
:Bôna fîdê, álibî
 
:Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ.
   
Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa,
 
Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria.
 
:Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan,
 
:Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne.
 
Compãre âlien wíth Itálian,
 
Dándelîon wíth battálion,
 
:Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê,
 
:Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! ''—ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh
 
Sây avër, but éver, fêver,
 
Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver.     
:Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe,
     
:Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf.
 
Stàrry, gránary, canãry,
 
Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie,
       
:Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce,
 
:Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss.
 
Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging,
 
Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging;
 
:Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar
 
:Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir.       
Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften
 
Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, ''—scarcely heard nowadays
       
:Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce;
 
:Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss.
 
Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting?
 
Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting.
 
:Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént.
       
:Lîable, but Pàrliament.
 
Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven,
 
Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen,     
       
:Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk,
       
:Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk.
 
 of válour, vápid vâpour,
 
S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)),
       
:G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-),
       
:Î of ántichrîst and gríst,
 
Díffer like divërse and dîvers,
 
Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers.
 
:Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll,
 
:Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll.
Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! -
Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky.
       
:Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts
       
:Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —''no longer
 
Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel
 
Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,
 
:Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,
       
:Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.
 
Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,
 
Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?     
       
:Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
       
:Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??
 
Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.
 
Mŷ advîce ís:  GÍVE ÍT ÚP!


==Notes==
==Notes==
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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  

English is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular spellings. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of proper nouns—for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common misspelling is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a cluster of articles devoted to these things.

To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added accent marks, instead of relying on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like thís *thíss. The accent marks show pronunciation, thús. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language[1]) can be found below; there is also an IPA key at English phonemes. Where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed, and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling of Tchaikóvsky, *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: Tchaî|kóvsky.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, retaining the E of disāster." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the IPA, where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for disāstrous is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character – the only one used – for schwa); or we can contrast British English *dizàstrus with American *dizástrus.

Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, cán able, tin (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations.

Also of special note are words that many writers incorrectly divide. ôver and dûe, for example, combine to form overdûe, without a space in the middle. Such examples are included with ‘one word’ alongside them: alongsîde one word.

An equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar-looking words are included after 'cf.' (Latin conferre, 'compare').

Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, such spellings are shown using bold italics: touchè may be written with a French accent: touché *tooshây.

The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet.

Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: Ukrâine has -âine, not -âne.

Words in italics are used to suggest meanings (e.g. sêa water = sêe vision, where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation). Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or place names. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: a bank clerk might be named Clàrk or Clàrke, but probably not 'Clerk' (though BrE clerk = Clàrk/Clàrke). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: Cloúgh = Clúff. An American called Maurìce Mŏrris could just as well be called Mórris Maurice ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where Maurice = Mórris (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name).

Links to letter articles and lists

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  

In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the cluster) the cells in each row link as follows:

  • Top row: articles on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on GH, the apostrophe and the hyphen.
  • Second row: alphabetical lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are here). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd disbánd means that the word is 'disband'. (The bottom row is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
  • Third row: retroalphabetical lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it:
In the retroalphabetical lists the headword is on the right. In this way, suffixes and other word endings can be seen grouped together, just as prefixes can be seen in normal alphabetical order. So, instead of ádd båll coúsin, we have réplicA fláB plástiC; and so for mûsiC, see under -C, for mûsicaL, see under -L, for pàrticlE, see under -E, and so on.
Some suffixes are included separately; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -ãrian" means there is no other pronunciation of -ãrian).
Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after Z. (Words ending in an apostrophe are also here.)
For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
woman mâid = make mâde
Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
wêasel *wêasal
  • Bottom row: common misspellings including typos (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.

Two main varieties are distinguished: British English (BrE), that of the UK and much of the Commonwealth (see also Commonwealth English), and American English (AmE), that of the USA and Canada (without the cåught = cót merger that has occurred in some parts of North America).

Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.

Table of accents

These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on i and y show the same sound; similarly with u, oo and w. Accented vowels are stressed (ỳ is normally unstressed, as in háppy). ā, not in the table, means that the sound is à in standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but á in American and other British and Commonwealth speech.

Front vowels Back vowels
e i y[2] a o u oo w[3]
The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent) pét pít crýpt cát dóg[4] nút
The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent) sêe nîce mŷ nâme nôse rûle toô neŵ
Sounds shown with the grave accent (ẁ- and qù- indicate the BrE ó sound of the following a, ẁad rhyming with qùad; òu and òw are diphthongs sounding like àù in àùtobahn: nòw has this sòund) èight (= â) machìne (= ê) quaỳ water = kêỳ lock
(= ê) 		àre òther, blòod
(= ú) 		fùll (= oò), qùantity (= w) foòt (= ù) ẁant (= wó)[5]
The ër sound (umlaut accent) përson bïrd mÿrtle (ëarth) wörd pürr
The åw/ŏr sound (ring accent)[6] (cŏin) (jŏy) åll mŏre (for some BrE speakers) sůre
The ãir sound (tilde accent) (thére) (ãir = Ãyr) stãre
Irregular (respelling needed) sew (= sô) meringue (*məráng) because (*bikóz) woman (*wùmən), women (*wímən) business (*bízníss)

Example sentences

These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.

The usual short sound, acute accent:

The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.

The usual long sound, circumflex accent:

Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.

The third sound, grave accent:

Christìna Grèy shoùld (and dòes?) lòve her mòther and fàther.

The ër sound, umlaut:

But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.

The ŏr sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw), the ring, or half-ring:

Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?

Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:

Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny wímmin? Énny wùman!)

Double letters

The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.

Double consonant letters before suffixes are used (as often elsewhere) to preserve short vowel sounds, as in flípped (not *flîped), rebélled (not *rebêled) and pégged (not *pêged, which if regular would in any case be pronounced *pêjed). Compare scrâped, past of scrâpe, and scrápped, from scráp. In the case of t, doubling it after an unstressed vowel and before a suffix may seem unnecessary, but in some cases it can be doubled before -ed: either tàrgeted or tàrgetted (but always commítted).

The sign # indicates a double letter that is rare in that position; capital-letter words indicate that the double letter in this position is only found in names. An asterisk (*) indicates a respelling to show pronunciation, and an equals sign (=) introduces a homophone.

letter initial medial final final + silent e
A àardvark #[7] bazàar # bàa #
B ríbbon ébb # Crábbe (= cráb)
C sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt)
D hídden ádd
E êel bêen sêe
F Ffoùlkes éffort óff Clíffe (= clíff)
G aggréssion (-g-), exággerate (-j-) égg # Légge (= lég)
H hítchhike # (accidental)
I skìíng # Hawàìi #
J hàjj # (also spelt hàdj)
K púkka; boòkkeeper (accidental)[8] #
L llàma[9] # fílling wéll bélle beauty (= béll ring)
M súmmer Crámm (= crám) grámme (= grám)
N dínner ínn # pub Ánne (= Ánn)
O oôze, oòmph # foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr toô Loôe (= loô)
P flípped stéppe Asia # (= stép foot)
Q Sadìqqi #
R érror pürr
S méssy lóss crevásse
T bétter ẁatt couchétte -sh-
U vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
V révved #
W Lawwell # (accidental)
X Éxxon ™ # Bób B. Sóxx #
Y Khayyàm #
Z fízzy búzz

Names of the letters

The names of the letters of the alphabet are rarely written out in English (a simple capital being the normal usage: "with a C, not a K") so that, unlike in many other languages, most of their spellings have a rather unofficial status. But they can be shown as follows, using real words where possible:

A: â (the indefinite article, when stressed), èh? what?

B: bê exist, bêe sting

C: occasionally cêe; sêe look, sêa ship

D: Dêe River, surname

E: ê as in êmail, ê-mail

F: éff as in the euphemism éff óff

G: gêe up, exclamation *jêe

H: âitch as in drópping your âitches

I: Î me, eŷe vision

J: jây bird

K: Kây person

L: él elevated railway (AmE)

M: ém dash

N: én dash

O: ôwe debt, ôh! exclamation

P: pêa pod, pêe urine, p pence (BrE)

Q: queûe line, cûe ball, prompt

R: àre be, BrE àh exclamation

S: occasionally éss

T: têa drink, têe golf, tì do-re-mi

U: yoû me, eŵe sheep

V: Vêe Bobby

W: "doúble you" (*dúblyu; cf. vácûum, which actually does have a doúble Û)

X: éx- past

Y: whŷ reason (voiced w, as in BrE)

Z: BrE zéd, AmE zêe

The Chaos

by Gerard Nolst Trenité

This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current British English pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found here.


The Châós (*câyóss)


Dêarest crêature ín creâtion

Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion,

Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse
Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse.

Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy),

Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;

Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;
Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer.

Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,

Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít!

Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,
Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd.

Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain

[Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten].

Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,
Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.

Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû

Wíth súch wörds as vâgue and âgûe,

Bút bê cãreful hòw yoû spêak,
Sây: gúsh, bùsh, steâk, strêak, breâk, blêak,

Prêvious, précious, fûchsia (*feŵsha), vîa,

Récipê, pîpe, stúdding-sâil, choîr (=quîre);

Wôven, óven, hòw and lôw,
Scrípt, recêipt (*rissêet), shoe (=shoô), pôem, tôe.

Sây, expécting fråud and tríckerỳ:

Dåughter (*dåwter), làughter (*làfter) ánd Terpsíchorê (*Terpsíckery),

Brànch, rànch, mêasles, tópsails, aîsles (*îles),
Míssîles, símilês, revîles.

Whôlly (=hôly), hólly, sígnal, sîgning (*sîning),

Sâme, exámining, but mîning,

Schólar (*scóllar), vícar, and cigàr,
Sôlar, mîca, wår and fàr.

From "desîre": desîrable - ádmirable from "admîre",

Lúmber, plúmber, biêr, but brîer,

Tópsham, broûgham (*breŵəm), renòwn, but knôwn,
Knówledge, dòne, lône, góne, nòne, tône,

Òne (=wòn), anémonê, Balmóral,

Kítchen, lîchen (=lîken), låundry, laurel (lórrel).

Gërtrude, Gërman (J-), wínd and wînd,
Beau (=Bô), kînd, kíndred, queûe, mankînd,

Tŏrtoise (*tŏrtus), türquŏise, chámois-léather (*shámwà-),

Rêading, Réading, hêathen, héather.

Thís phonétic lábyrínth
Gíves móss, grôss, broòk, brôoch, nînth, plínth.

Háve yoû éver yét endéavoured

To (=toô)[10] pronòunce revêred and sévered,

Dêmon, lémon, ghoûl, fòul, sôul,
Pêter, pétrol and patrôl?

Bíllet dòes nót énd lîke bállèt (*bállây);

Boûquèt, ẁallet, mállet, chálèt.

Blòod and flòod are nót lîke foôd,
Nŏr ís môuld lîke shoùld and woùld (=woòd).

Bánquet ís nót nêarly pàrquèt,

Whích exáctly rhŷmes wíth khàkì. —not usually nowadays

Díscòunt, vîscòunt (*vîcòunt), lôad and brŏad,
Towård, to fŏrward, to (=toô) rewård,

Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?

Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.[11]

Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
Friénd and fiênd, alîve and líve.

Ís yŏur R corréct ín hîgher?

Kêats assërts ít rhŷmes Thalîa.

Hûgh, but húg, and hoòd, but hoôt,
Buŏyant, mínute, bút minûte.

Sây abscíssion wíth precísion,

Nòw: posítion ánd transítion;

Woùld ít tálly wíth mŷ rhŷme
Íf Î méntioned páradîgm?

Twòpence, thréepence, têase are êasy,

But cêase, crêase, grêase and grêasy?

Cŏrnice, nîce, valìse, revîse,
Râbíes, but lúllabîes.

Óf súch púzzling wörds as nåuseous,

Rhŷming wéll wíth cåutious, tŏrtious,

Yoû'll envélop lísts, Î hôpe,
Ín a línen énvelôpe.

Woùld yoû lîke some mŏre? Yoû'll háve ít!

Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.

To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.

Líberty, lîbrary, hêave and héaven,

Râchel, lóch, moustàche, eléven.

Wê sây hállôwed, bút allòwed,
Pêople, léopard, tôwed but vòwed.

Màrk the dífference, moreôver,

Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver.

Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,
Chálíce, bút polìce and lîce,

Cámel, cònstable, únstâble,

Prínciple, discîple, lâbel.

Pétal, pênal, and canál,
Wâit, surmîse, pláit, prómíse, pál,

Sûit, suìte, rûín. Cïrcuít, cónduít

Rhŷme wíth "shïrk ít" and "beyónd ít". —still?

Bút ít ís nót hàrd to téll
Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.

Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron,

Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,

Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir,
Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,

Îvy, prívy, fâmous; clámour

Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.

Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,
Désert, but desërt, addréss.

Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants

Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.

Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb,
Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme.

"Sôlder, sôldier! Blòod ís thícker",

Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",

Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,
Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô).

Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,

Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —neither does anger: *áng-gə

Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.

Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,

Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.

Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,
Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.

Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,

Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.

Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,
Válentîne and mágazìne.

Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,

Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny),

Whích ís wróng. Sây râpier, pìêr,
Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.

Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring

Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?

Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,
Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,

Persevêrance, séverance. Ríbald

Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.

Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,
Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.

Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,

Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet;

Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,
Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn.

Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling

Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling —yëar and yêarling are about as likely

Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt,

Mînd the Z (zéd)! (A géntle hínt.)

Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion

To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion,

Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws,
Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs;

Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded,

Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd,

Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn,
Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —nowadays regularised to *Strákhən

Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely,

Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley).

Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud
Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud).

But mînd trívial and vîal,

Trîpod, mênial, denîal,

Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam,
Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême.

Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely

Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh,

Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây
Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt.

Hád thís ínvalid inválid

Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid,

Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked,
Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked!

Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê,

Páramour, enámoured, flîghty,

Épisôdes, antípodês,
Ácquiésce, and óbsequies.

Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser,

Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor,

Rāther sây ín áccents pûre:
Nâture, státure ánd matûre.

Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly,

Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly,

Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán,
Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan.

The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you

Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û)

Sây thén thêse phonétic géms:
Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz).

Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham,

Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em -

Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony,
Lîghten yŏur anxîety.

Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít

Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít;

Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice,
Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice.

Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger;

Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger.

Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge,
Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge,

Hêro, héron, quêry, véry,

Párry, tárry, fûry, bury,

Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth,
Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath.

Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners,

Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners

Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz),
Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)?

Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle,

Wê sây áctual, but víctual,

Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght,

Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte.
Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer,

Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer.

Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte,
Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte.

Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish

Scîence, cónscience, scientífic;

Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur,
Gás, alás, and Àrkansås.

Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit,

Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít

Bôna fîdê, álibî
Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ.

Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa,

Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria.

Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan,
Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne.

Compãre âlien wíth Itálian,

Dándelîon wíth battálion,

Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê,
Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! —ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh

Sây avër, but éver, fêver,

Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver.

Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe,
Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf.

Stàrry, gránary, canãry,

Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie,

Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce,
Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss.

Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging,

Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging;

Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar
Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir.

Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften

Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, —scarcely heard nowadays

Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce;
Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss.

Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting?

Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting.

Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént.
Lîable, but Pàrliament.

Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven,

Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen,

Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk,
Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk.

 of válour, vápid vâpour,

S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)),

G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-),
Î of ántichrîst and gríst,

Díffer like divërse and dîvers,

Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers.

Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll,
Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll.

Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! -

Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky.

Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts
Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —no longer

Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel

Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,

Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,
Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.

Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,

Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?

Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??

Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.

Mŷ advîce ís: GÍVE ÍT ÚP!

Notes

  1. ↑ A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see French words in English.
  2. ↑ When not accented, y is usually the semi-consonant of yoû and yés.
  3. ↑ When not accented, w is usually the semi-consonant of wê and wíll.
  4. ↑ In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer à in most positions, and by ŏ before r.
  5. ↑ Grave accents on w and on a u following a q indicate the sound of the following a: à in American English, but in British the extra sound ó as in the British pronunciation of hót.
  6. ↑ å and ŏ show the same sound: ideally the o too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so ŏ is used instead.
  7. ↑ àardvark and Transvàal are from Afrikàans, itself a further example.
  8. ↑ With a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.
  9. ↑ Also representing a Welsh sound in place names like Llandudno (-dídno) and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch.
  10. ↑ Strong form of to, not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.
  11. ↑ The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the K is normally the stressed syllable: okây.
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