English spellings/Catalogs/A: Difference between revisions

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{{subpages}}
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}


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


'''Ãaron'''; also '''Ãron''' or '''Áron''' and increasingly common is '''Áaron''' = '''Árron''' = '''[[Isle of Arran|Árran]]''' ''Isle''
'''Ãaron''' BrE; AmE '''Áaron''' = '''Árron''' = '''[[Isle of Arran|Árran]]''' ''Isle''; also '''Ãron'''/'''Áron'''  


'''[[Aaron Copland|Ãaron Côpland]]'''  
'''[[Aaron Copland|Áaron'''/'''Ãaron Côpland]]'''  


'''ábacus
'''ábacus
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'''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> officially all upper case, and sometimes with the first B reversed, an [[acronym]] of the band's first names
'''[[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
'''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'''
'''Aberfán''' *Áber-ván, per [[Welsh language|Welsh]]


'''áberrant''' *ábberant, or '''abérrant''', cf. '''érrant
'''áberrant''' *ábberant, or '''abérrant''', cf. '''érrant
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'''abhŏr'''
'''abhŏr'''


'''abhórrent'''
'''abhórrent''' ('''h''' may be silent)


'''ábject''' cf. '''óbject''', '''objéct'''
'''ábject''' cf. '''óbject''', '''objéct'''
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'''accrûe''' cf. '''acróss'''
'''accrûe''' cf. '''acróss'''
'''accürsed''' *accürsid
'''âce'''


'''acërbic''' cf. '''ascertâin
'''acërbic''' cf. '''ascertâin
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'''achìêve'''
'''achìêve'''
'''acknówledge''' *əc-nólij


'''ácmê'''
'''ácmê'''
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'''âcreage''' *âkerage
'''âcreage''' *âkerage
'''ácrimony'''


'''ácronym
'''ácronym
'''Acrópolis


'''acróss''' cf. '''accrûe
'''acróss''' cf. '''accrûe
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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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'''adjúst''' *ajúst
'''adjúst''' *ajúst
'''admínistrate'''
'''administrâtion'''
'''admínistrative'''; some AmE '''administrâtive'''
'''admîre'''
'''ádmirable''' *ádmrbl


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


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


'''adóption
'''adóption
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'''advîser''' = '''advîsor''' (alternatives)
'''advîser''' = '''advîsor''' (alternatives)
'''ádze''', '''ádz''' ''tool'' = '''áds''' ''adverts''


'''Aêgêan''' *Êjêən
'''Aêgêan''' *Êjêən
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'''āfterthŏught''' -åwt, one word
'''āfterthŏught''' -åwt, one word


'''āfterwards'''
'''āfterward''' AmE, BrE '''āfterwards'''
 
'''āfterwörd''' ''preface''


'''again''', '''against''': both have -én, 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''
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'''âge-ôld''' hyphenated
'''âge-ôld''' hyphenated
'''ágîle'''


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


'''Àhmad Jamál
'''Àhmad Jamál
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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'' = [[Jane Eyre|'''Éyre''' ''Jane'']]; 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''
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'''Ál''' ''Arabic'' may be hyphenated to following capital-letter word in Arabic name; may also be '''ál'''
'''Ál''' ''Arabic'' may be hyphenated to following capital-letter word in Arabic name; may also be '''ál'''


'''à là
'''à là''' ('''''à la''''')


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


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


'''Álbert'''
'''Álbert'''
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'''Aldébaran'''
'''Aldébaran'''


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


'''âle'''  ''beer'' = '''âil''' ''ailing''
'''âle'''  ''beer'' = '''âil''' ''ailing''
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'''álgorithm'''  rhymes with '''rhýthm
'''álgorithm'''  rhymes with '''rhýthm


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


'''âlias''' *âlius, cf. '''Alîas''' ''Don''
'''âlias''' *âlius, cf. '''Alîas''' ''Don''
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'''àlms''' ''gift'' = BrE '''àrms''' ''body, weapons''
'''àlms''' ''gift'' = BrE '''àrms''' ''body, weapons''
'''álôe


'''alône
'''alône


'''alóngside''' one word
'''alóngsîde''' one word
 
'''a lót''' ''many'' = '''allót''' ''assign'' (*alót)


'''a lót of''' ''many'' (*əlótəv), cf. '''a lót''' ''many'' = '''allót''' ''assign'' (*alót)  
'''a lót of''' ''many'' (*əlótəv)


'''alòud''' ''audible'' = '''allòwed''' ''permitted''
'''alòud''' ''audible'' = '''allòwed''' ''permitted''
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'''Aloýsius''' *Aləwíshəss
'''Aloýsius''' *Aləwíshəss


'''ál-Qàêda''', '''Ál-Qàêda''' (also minus hyphen) *ál-Kŷda (rarely does one hear an anglophone sound the glottal stop that is present in the [[Arabic]], *ál-Qà-êda)
'''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''
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'''ålso'''
'''ålso'''
'''ålt-'''


'''ålter''' ''change'' = '''åltar''' ''church''  
'''ålter''' ''change'' = '''åltar''' ''church''  
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<nowiki>*</nowiki>altêrior '''ultêrior
<nowiki>*</nowiki>altêrior '''ultêrior


'''altërnate''' ''adjective''
'''altërnate''' BrE; AmE '''ålternate''' ''adjective''


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


'''altërnative'''
'''altërnatíve'''


'''althôugh''' *åll-dhô
'''althôugh''' *åll-dhô
Line 485: Line 534:


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


'''alvêolar'''
'''alvêolar'''
Line 494: Line 545:
'''ám''' ''be''
'''ám''' ''be''


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


'''amanuénsis''', cf. '''Emmánuel'''
'''amanuénsis''', cf. '''Emmánuel'''


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


'''ambássador''' cf. '''émbassy
'''ambássador''' cf. '''émbassy
Line 527: Line 582:


'''ámícable'''
'''ámícable'''
'''amíss''' ''awry'', cf. '''Âmíss''', '''Âmís''' ''names''


'''Ammàn
'''Ammàn
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'''ánalýst'''
'''ánalýst'''


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


'''anáthema
'''anáthema
Line 585: Line 646:
   
   
'''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 590: Line 653:
'''Ándreŵ'''
'''Ándreŵ'''


'''anémonê''' cf. '''an énemy'''
'''anémonê''' *an-émeny, cf. '''an énemy'''
 
'''Ánerley'''


'''aneŵ''' ''afresh'' (adverb) = '''a neŵ'''  
'''aneŵ''' ''afresh'' (adverb) = '''a neŵ'''  
Line 603: Line 668:


'''angîna''' *án-jînə
'''angîna''' *án-jînə
'''ángle''' hard '''g''', cf. '''ângel''' *âynjl


'''Ánglia
'''Ánglia
Line 625: Line 692:


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


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


'''ánonýmity'''
'''ánonýmity'''
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'''Ánthony''' ''usual'' = '''Ántony''' ''Mark'', -tə-
'''Ánthony''' ''usual'' = '''Ántony''' ''Mark'', -tə-


'''ántì''' BrE (AmE '''ántî''') ''against'' = '''ántê'''- ''before''; '''prô''' and '''ánti''' are always hyphenated to the word they modify: '''prô-wår''' and '''ánti-wår'''
'''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'''
'''antibiótic'''
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'''antirrhînum''' *antirŷnum
'''antirrhînum''' *antirŷnum


'''antisemític''' ''anti-Jewish'' ([[Antisemitism|euphemism?]])
'''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'?)
'''antisémitism''' (or '''anti-Sémitism''', but what, then, is 'Semitism'?)
Line 698: Line 769:
'''Ántón''', cf. '''Ánthony''', '''Ántony
'''Ántón''', cf. '''Ánthony''', '''Ántony


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


'''ánxious''' *ángkshəss or *ángshəss
'''ánxious''' *ángkshəss or *ángshəss
Line 729: Line 800:


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


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


'''approval'''  -prû-
'''approval'''  -prû-
Line 791: Line 868:


'''aquátic
'''aquátic
'''áqueduct'''


'''áqueous
'''áqueous
Line 807: Line 886:


'''Árabic'''  ''language'', some AmE '''Ãrabic'''   
'''Árabic'''  ''language'', some AmE '''Ãrabic'''   
'''árable'''


'''àrbíter
'''àrbíter
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'''àrced''' ''arc'' *àrkt
'''àrced''' ''arc'' *àrkt


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


'''archâíc''' *àrkâyíc
'''archâíc''' *àrkâyíc
'''archângel''' àrk-
'''archbíshop''' àrtch-
'''archdêacon''' àrtch-


'''archeólogy'''  àrk-
'''archeólogy'''  àrk-
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'''Àrctic'''  
'''Àrctic'''  


'''àre''' BrE = '''àh
'''àre''' BrE = '''àh'''; BrE weak form = '''a''' weak form *ə; AmE weak form *r
 
'''ãrêa'''  ''space'' *ãrêə makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''ària''' ''song


'''ãrêa''' ''space'' *ãrêə, cf. '''ària''' ''song
'''arêna'''


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


'''Argentìna''', '''Àrgentîne''', '''Argentínian''' = '''Argentínean''' Àrj-
'''Argentìna''', '''Àrgentîne''', '''Argentínian''' = '''Argentínean''' Àrj-
Line 856: Line 945:
'''ària'''  ''opera'' cf. '''ãrea''' ''space
'''ària'''  ''opera'' cf. '''ãrea''' ''space


'''Ãrian''' ''Arius'' = '''Ãryan''' ''race''
'''Ãrian''' ''Arius'', ''Aries'' = '''Ãryan''' ''race''
 
'''Ariàna'''
 
'''Àriàna Grànde''' AmE; BrE '''Áriàna Grándè'''


'''Ariáne'''
'''Ariáne'''
Line 864: Line 957:
'''Ãríes'''  -ríz
'''Ãríes'''  -ríz


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


'''aristocrátic
'''aristocrátic
'''Aristóphanês'''
'''Áristótle'''


'''Àrk''' ''Noah'' = '''àrc''' ''circle'' = '''Àrc''' ''Joan
'''Àrk''' ''Noah'' = '''àrc''' ''circle'' = '''Àrc''' ''Joan
Line 873: Line 970:


'''aròund''' = '''a ròund
'''aròund''' = '''a ròund
'''arrâign''' = '''a râin


'''arrêars
'''arrêars
Line 878: Line 977:
'''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''')
'''àrt déco''' or '''Àrt Déco''' (may retain French accent on '''é''')


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


'''artêsian'''  ''well'' *àrtêzhən
'''artêsian'''  ''well'' *àrtêzhən
Line 900: Line 1,001:
'''artìste'''  ''stage''
'''artìste'''  ''stage''


'''Ãryan''' ''race'' = '''Ãrian''' ''heresy''
'''Ãryan''' ''race'' = '''Ãrian''' ''heresy'', ''Aries


'''asbéstós
'''asbéstós
Line 941: Line 1,042:


'''Ássád''', first syllable stressed, making a minimal pair with '''ácid'''
'''Ássád''', first syllable stressed, making a minimal pair with '''ácid'''
'''Assànge''' ''Julian'' -ànzh


'''assássin'''  has four '''s'''’s
'''assássin'''  has four '''s'''’s
Line 982: Line 1,085:
'''at lêast''' two words
'''at lêast''' two words


'''átóll
'''átmosphêre'''
 
'''atmosphéric'''
 
'''átóll''', some AmE '''âtóll'''


'''atône
'''atône
Line 999: Line 1,106:


'''atténtion''' *əténshən makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''ténsion'''
'''atténtion''' *əténshən makes a [[minimal pair]] with '''ténsion'''
'''Attíla''' *Atílla


<nowiki>*</nowiki>attône: '''atône
<nowiki>*</nowiki>attône: '''atône


'''attörney
'''attörney
'''attríbutable
'''áttribute''' ''noun


'''Auchinleck''' *Ókhinleck, *Áffleck
'''Auchinleck''' *Ókhinleck, *Áffleck
Line 1,009: Line 1,122:


'''auctionêer''' åukshə-
'''auctionêer''' åukshə-
'''åudio


'''auditǒrium
'''auditǒrium
Line 1,034: Line 1,149:
'''au pãir''', '''ôp-
'''au pãir''', '''ôp-


'''åural''' ''ear'' = '''ŏral''' ''mouth'', though the first may be pronounced '''àùral''' to distinguish it
'''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
Line 1,071: Line 1,186:


'''ávant-gàrde''' ('''gàrde''' = '''guàrd''') hyphenated
'''ávant-gàrde''' ('''gàrde''' = '''guàrd''') hyphenated
'''avénge'''
'''avërt'''


'''Áviemore
'''Áviemore


'''avocàdo
'''avocàdo
'''avŏid'''


'''avoirdupŏis''' *ávədə-pŏiz
'''avoirdupŏis''' *ávədə-pŏiz
Line 1,092: Line 1,213:
'''åwful
'''åwful


'''awhîle''' ''adverb'' = '''a whîle''' ''noun''; the one-word form is rarely correct, as it can only be used after a verb, not after a preposition ('''ín''', '''āfter''', '''fŏr''' etc.), and also has a rather poetic feel, typically in utterances such as '''línger awhîle''', '''stây awhîle'''; compare: '''stây for a whîle''', '''hê'll bè hêre ín a whîle''', ''' a shŏrt whîle''', '''ít háppened a whîle báck''', '''ít's bêen a whîle
'''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 1,118: Line 1,239:
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Âyman '''Eâmonn''', cf. '''Hâyman'''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Âyman '''Eâmonn''', cf. '''Hâyman'''


'''[[Ayn Rand|Âyn Ránd]]
'''[[Ayn Rand|Aŷn Ránd]]


'''Ãyr''' ''Scotland'' = '''ãir''' ''breathe''
'''Ãyr''' ''Scotland'' = '''ãir''' ''breathe''

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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