English spellings: Difference between revisions
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-íj stŏrage | -íj stŏrage | ||
BrE *báràj, AmE *bəràzh bárràge | |||
sâge | sâge | ||
BrE *məssàj, AmE *məssàzh mássàge | BrE *məssàj, AmE *məssàzh mássàge | ||
-íj méssage | |||
-àzh dréssàge | -àzh dréssàge | ||
-íj ûsage | -íj ûsage | ||
-àzh sábotàge | |||
-íj cóttage | -íj cóttage | ||
-íj wâstage | |||
-íj hóstage | |||
-íj lánguage | -íj lánguage | ||
-íj sávage | -íj sávage | ||
bádge | bádge | ||
édge | édge | ||
plédge | plédge | ||
slédge | slédge | ||
-íj knówledge | -íj knówledge | ||
mídge | mídge | ||
rídge | rídge | ||
brídge | |||
pórridge | pórridge | ||
stódge | stódge | ||
fúdge | fúdge | ||
sácrilege | sácrilege | ||
prívilege | prívilege | ||
cf. édge - allége | cf. édge - allége | ||
oblîge | oblîge | ||
Revision as of 19:40, 25 March 2008
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English is famous, even notorious, for its varied spellings. This is a selection of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside regular ones for contrast. For example, *disāsterous is a common misspelling of disāstrous, with the e echoing that of disāster. The asterisk indicates an incorrect spelling, the accents stress and pronunciation. A table of the accent marks can be found at the end of this article; 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 *Chŷ-kóffsky, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress.
Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation. English is rich in homophones; it also has many homonyms, words with the same spelling and pronunciation, and homographs, words with the same spelling but different pronunciation. All three can be found here.
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.
The 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').
The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it has its own place at the end of the alphabet. An asterisk is placed before incorrect respellings, thus: *thuss. Words in italics are used to suggest meanings, in the case of similar words. The word person (or persons after more than one) implies either a personal or family name. 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 BrE). It may, of course, also be a commercial or place name, as this is a matter regarding individuals: the fact that one is more likely to meet a person, most probably male, called Maurice Mórris than one called Mórris Maurice, both words and hence both names being pronounced the same in BrE (Maurìce in AmE), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.
Alphabetical list
A
 letter = èh? what? (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text)
a article *ə: schwa. It can be a strong form â, like the name of the letter Â, but this can sound pompous, especially in private; 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.
àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust more a´s may be added, ≈ àh response
àardvark
Ãaron - also Ãron or Áron and now some say Áaron = Árran Isle
àh response ≈ àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust (in the latter cases more a´s may be added)
abándoned - not -nned
Abbàs
ábdomen
abdóminal
Aberdêen
Aberýstwýth
aberrâtion
abét
abhŏr
abhórrent
âble capable = Âbel person
abòut *əbòut
ábscess
ábsèil cf. sâil
ábsence
abstâin
absténtion
ábstinence
abýsmal -zməl
abýss
ácadême
acádemy
académic
accélerate ax-, cf. excél, éxcellent
áccent áx-
accéntuate -x-
accépt receive cf. excépt exception
áccess *áxéss, cf. áxis, áxês
áccident áx-
accidéntally áx-
áccolade
accómmodate - two c’s and two m’s
accòmpany
accòmplíce person
accòmplísh achieve
Accrà
accrûe cf. acróss
acërbic
âche *âke
achìêve
ácmê
acquiésce *aquìéss, cf. quiéscent *kwìéssent, quîet *kwîət
acquîre *aquîre
acquít
âcreage *âkerage
acróss cf. accrûe
áctual *ákchəl
ácûmen cf. áccurate
ácupuncture
ádage
adàgio -jô
ádd more = ád advertisement
Áddis Ábaba
ádditive
addíctive
addréss BrE = a dréss; AmE áddress
adhêre (d and h pronounced separately)
adhêsive (d and h pronounced separately)
ád hóc
ádjective cf. ejécted
adjöurn
adjúst *ajúst
ád nåusêám
adôbê
adrénalín can be -íne
advānce
ádvent
advénture
ádversary -vəsrỳ or advërsary
ádvërt
ádvertise never -îze
advërtísement BrE; AmE ádvertîsement
advîce noun -ss
advîse verb pronounced but never spelt -îze
advîser = advîsor (alternatives)
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-
áffect emotion
afféctive emotional cf. efféctive resultant
áffidâvit
affrònt cf. effròntery
Afghánistān - either stressed
aficionàdo
afrâid
África
Afrikàans -ànce
Afrikàner
āfter
āfterwards
again é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâin
against é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâinst
agâpe gaping
ágapê eros
âge cf. édge: Francophones beware
âgeing *âging, *âjing
âgeist
agô
ágriculture
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
ãiry light = all four spellings of éyrie = éyry = ãerie = ãery bird, cf. êerie strange
alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ friend, állêy way
aîsle church = îsle island
Ajáccio *Azháxio
Àjax Amsterdam *Àyáx
Âjax person
Ál person cf. åll total
Alabáma - one m, cf. Montána, Louisiána
Álan = Àllen = Àllan
alás
Ålbany cf. Álbânia
Álbert
Albuquërquê *Albəkïrky
Åldwých
âle beer = âil ailing
Álfred
álgaê *áljê or *álgy
álgorithm rhymes with rhýthm
Áli person = álley walk - except Muhámmad Àlì boxer
âlias *âlius
Álíce
alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ
Álistair = Álastair
âlias
álibî
âlien
alienâtion
alîgned *allîned, cf. állied
alîve
åll every = åwl tool, cf. Ál person
Alládin
allegâtions *allogations
allége cf. lédge, etc.
alléged *aléjd
allégedly *aléjidly
allelûia or allelûja or allelûya
állêy path = Áli person, cf. állŷ
álligâtor
allót assign = a lót much
åll-òut total before noun needs hyphen
allòwed permitted = alòud heard
álloy
állŷ friend cf. állêy, alîgn
állŷ noun
allŷ verb, cf. Álì person
ålmanac
ålmost
àlms gift = BrE àrms body, weapons
alóngside one word
alòud audible = allòwed allow
alréady before = åll réady ready
alrîght = åll rîght - same meaning, probably by analogy with alréady
Alsâtian
ålso
ålter change = åltar church
altërnate adjective
ålternâte verb
altërnative
althôugh *åldhô
alumínium BrE; AmE alûminum
alvêolar
ålways
ám be
âm ante meridian *â-ém
ámateur *ámətə; AmE can be amateûr
ambássador cf. émbassy
ámbergrìs BrE; AmE ámbergrís - s pronounced
ambítious *ámbíshəss
amén BrE à, AmE â
aménd cf. comménd
aménds make = eménds alters
âmìable cf. âim
ámícable
amòng
amòunt
an *ən: version of a before a consonant
anáchronism -nákr-
ánalŷse
análysês plural *ənáləssêez
análysis singular *ənáləssís
ánalýst
ánarchy *ánəkỳ
áncestor
ánchor -nk-
ánchovy -ntsh-
âncient
and *ənd, sometimes ánd for emphasis = &
andántè
Ándês
Andêan
Andórra AmE -ŏrr-, cf. Pandŏra
Ándreŵ
anémonê cf. an énemy
ângel *ânjəl, cf. ángle
ánger BrE *áng-gə
ángry *áng-gry
ángst
ánimus cf. ûnánimous
Ánkara
ánnals cf. ánalyst
annéx verb
ánnex or ánnexe noun
annîhilate *annîyílâte
anómaly
ánonýmity
anónymous anòther one word
ānswer - w silent: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr
Antàrctica first c can be silent
ántê- before = ántì-
Ánthony (usual) = Ántony Mark, -tə-
ántì- against = ántê-; AmE ántî-
ántidote
Antìgua -gə
antirrhînum *antirŷnum
antisémitism
anxîety *angzîety
ánxious *ánkshəss
any thing é-, cf. Ánnie person
anybody *énnybódy, one word
any mŏre two words
anyone *énnywún, one word
anyway despite one word, cf. where wây is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít
apâce fast = a pâce step
apàrtheîd -tîte
apéritìf - either stressed
aphêlion *áfêlian
apìêce each one word = a pìêce part
apócalypse
apólogîse verb
apólogíes plural noun
apóstasy
apóstrophê
appål - AmE can be appåll
appålling
apparátchik
ápparâtus BrE - either stressed (to children apparatus can sound plural, ‘apperators’); AmE apparátus
appárel
appárent
appêar
appêasement
appêaser
applåuse
approval -prû-
approve -prû-
âpricot
à priŏrî two words
àpriŏrísm one word
apropôs *ápropô
Aquãrius
Árab adjective, person
Arâbian adjective
Árabic language
àrc circle = Àrk Noah
archâíc *àrkâyíc
archeólogy àrk-
archipélago àrk-
àrchive *àrkîve
ãrêa space *ãrêə, cf. ària, êra
Argentìna Àrj-
àrgil clay - soft g
Argŷll Scotland = Argŷle Plymouth - hard g
àrgue
àrgument
ària opera cf. ãrea
árid
Ãries -ríz
árístocrat BrE á stressed, AmE í stressed
aristocrátic
Àrkansas BrE -såw, AmE -sà
arrést
arrhythmic
àrsenal *àrssnəl
arrhýthmic
àrtefact
artêsian well *àrtêzhən
artifícial -shəl
artisán art *àrtizán
àrtist art
artìste stage
ascént climb = assént agree
ascertâin
ÁSEAN or Ásean association *ássián, cf. Âsian Asia, *Âzhan
Âsia *Âsha or *Âzha
askānce
as oppôsed to ázəpôzt- ásphalt
áspirin -spr-, cf. aspîring
assássin four s’s
assént agree = ascént climb
ássét
assûme -syûme
assûre AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre
ásterisk
Ásterix
ásthma *ássma
asúnder
asŷlum
âte AmE; BrE *ét
âthêíst cf. aesthétic
atrôcious -shəss
atrócity
áttaboy one word
attáchè -áshè
attörney
Åuckland
auctionêer åuk-
augúst revered
Åugust month
āunt uncle AmE = ánt insect
au fâit *ô-fây
au fónd *ô-fón, French nasal -ón
au pãir ôp-
åural ear = ŏral voice
åuspices
Aussie Australasian = Óssy = Óssie persons
Austen Jane = Austin car, Texas Ó-
Austrâlia Ó-
Austria Ó-
åutarchy sovereignty = åutarky self-sufficiency
authóritative
authórity
àùtobàhn
åutomobìle
åutumn silent n, -m
autúmnal not silent n
ávalānche
ávant gàrde (gàrde = guàrd)
avocàdo
avoirdupŏis *ávədə-pŏiz
åwe
awêigh anchors = awây go
åwful
åwkward *åwquəd
åwl tool = åll total
ÂWOL
awrŷ
áxe chop BrE; AmE áx
áxes plural -íz
áxis spin -íss
áxês plural -êz, cf. áccess
áxle car = Áxel person
Áxminster
aŷe yes = eŷe see = Î me
Ãyr Scotland = ãir breathe
Ãyrshire
ázure -zh-
B
B = bê is, bêe insect
bàa sheep BrE = bàr drink, chocolate, soap
baboôn
Bàch music = bách Welsh
báchelor unmarried = Bátchelor person
báckbiting one word
báckhand tennis
back-hánded ambiguous
bácklash one word
backyàrd one word
bád evil = báde asked
Baghdád BrE; AmE Bághdad Bágd-
bâil law, cricket = bâle hay, parachute
bâilie magistrate = Bâiley person (also Ôld Bâiley, London's law court)
bâit hook = bâte fury, restrain
bâize cloth = bâys bay
Bàli island = BrE bàrley beer
Bålkans cf. bálcony
båll game = båwl shout
ballerìna cf. pizzerìa
bállèt *bállây, cf. bállot
bàlm -àm
bàlmy sea = BrE bàrmy daft
Båltimore
báluster cf. bánister
banàl BrE; AmE bânal
banálity
banāna
bánd music = bánned ban
bándwagon one word
Bangkók cf. Háncóck - both -ngk-
bánish
Bàrbara
barbãrian
barbáric
bàrbecûe *bàrbeqûe
barcarólle or -óle
bàrd poet, bacon = bàrred bar
bãre naked = béãr animal, tolerate
bãrely
bàrgaín *bàrgin
bàrley
bàr mítzvah
bàrnacle
báron nobleman = bárren bare = Bárron person
baróque BrE *bərók, AmE *barôke
bárrage -àzh BrE, AmE *bəràzh
bárrier
bàrtender
bâse basic = bâss treble, cf. báss fish = Báss person
bâses base -ssíz = bâsses music
bâsês basis -ssêez bâsic -ss-
bâsin -ss-
bâsis -ssíss
bāsk sun = Bāsque people
bāsketball one word
báss fish = Báss person
bâss treble = bâse basic
bassoôn -ssoô-
bâste pour, sew = bâsed base
batállion cf. báttle
bâte anger, breath = bâit lure
bāth = Bāth city cf. bâthe swim, final e signifying voiced th
bátón - one t, cf. Pátton, Hátton etc.
báttlefield one word
Báx person = bácks back
bazàar *bəzàr, cf. bizàrre, í
Bà’ath party BrE = bāth water
bê is = bêe insect
bêach sand = bêech tree
bêad string = Bêde person
bêan eat = bêen was
béãr tolerate, animal = bãre naked, cf. bêer drink, hêar hearing
bêat win, hit, rhythm = bêet sugar
bêater beat BrE = bêta Greek
bêátify saint cf. Sêáttle and beaûtify beauty
Bêatríce, Bêatrix a as schwa: Bêə-
beau boyfriend = Bô Diddley
beaûty *byûty
because ó
Béchèt *Béshây
bêe insect = bê is
bêetle insect = Bêatle Beatles, cf. bêat rhythm
bêech tree = beâch sand
bêen was = bêan eat
bêer drink = bìêr coffin
bêet sugar = bêat hit
Bèethôven *Bâitovən
behêmoth
Bèijíng - j not zh sound
bêíng cf. Bíng
Beirût *Bây-roôt
Belarûs - one would expect this post-Soviet word (once literally rendered as ‘White Russia’) to regularise to ‘Bélarus’, with the u as schwa, but this hasn’t happened; the most common alternative is still Belarùs, and one even hears the plainly Russian-influenced *Byelarûs and *Byelarùs
Bélfāst
Bélgium *Béljəm
belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe
belìêve
béllicôse
bellígerent -j-
béllow shout, bellows cf. belôw under
Bénaud *Bénnô
bénefit
benévolent
bérèt *bérrây
bërk insult = Bürke person
Bërkelêy California cf. Bàrclaỳ person = BrE Berkeley person
Bërkshîre AmE; BrE *Bàkshə, as with bàrk dog, tree Bàrking town
Berlín
bérry fruit = bury ground = Bury town
bërth ship = bïrth born
bêta BrE; AmE bèta
Bétjeman *Bétcheman
bewíldered BrE *biwíldəd, AmE *bêwíldərd
bezìque *bəzêek
Bhùtto (not 'Boôto')
bî- two = bŷ preposition = bŷ- extra = bŷe cricket, goodbye = buŷ sell = bî bisexual
bîas
bîased *bŷəst
bìdet *bêedây
bìêr corpse = bêer drink
bígot
Bíllie female = Bílly male = bílly goat
bîô-
biógraphy
biólogy
Bïrmingham *Bïrmingəm, g not sounded separately
bïrthplace one word
bíscuit *bísket, cf. bāsket
bîson cf. bâsin
bîte food = bŷte computer = bîght loop
bizàrre *bízàr, cf. bazàar *bəzàr
bláckmail
blānch white = Blānche person
blancmange *bləmónzh
blãre noise = Blãir person
bléssed *blést; but mostly as attributive adj: a *bléssíd thíng
blóc grouping = blóck prevent, wood, building
blónd male person, male and female adjective = blónde female person
blòodstained one word
blòodthirsty one word
blûe colour = bleŵ blow
blürred cf. cûred
bŏard wooden, directors = bŏred boring, cf. brŏad wide
bôast
bôat
Boàteng Bwà-
Bôeing person = bôwing music
Boer *Bùer
bôgey golf, ghost = bôgie trolley, truck = Bôgey Bogart
bôld brave = bôwled bowl
Bóllywood bôlt metal = Bôlt = Bôult persons Bólton city, person = Bôulton person bómb *bóm Bombây bómbing *bómming bôna fîdê bonhomìê *bónə-mêe boôgie-woôgie boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound as if two boôst boôze drink = boôs boo Bŏrdeaux *Bŏrdô, cf. Bardôt, *Bardô bŏre boring, carried bŏar animal = bŏor rude = bŏred boring = bŏard wooden, directors bŏredom *bŏrdum Bŏrgia *Bŏrjə bŏrn birth = bŏrne wind = bŏurn stream bòrough town BrE -rə, AmE = búrrow earth bosom *bùzəm bôth boûgainvillea *bûgənvília bòugh tree = bòw low, ship bôulder rock = bôlder bold Boulogne *Bəlŏin böurbon bŏurgeois bŏrzhwà bourgeoisìê bŏrzhwà-zêe bŏurne stream = bŏrn birth = bŏrne carried Bŏurnemouth *Bŏrnməth bòw low, ship = bòugh tree bôw knot bòwel bòwer tree = bàuer euchre bôwl all meanings bóxing sport = Bóxing Day búffalo animal = Búffalo America
brâin head cf. Brîan person
brâinwash one word
Brasília - s
Brazíl - z
bréad food = bréd breed
breâk smash, interval = brâke car
breâkaway adjective cf. breâk awây verb
breâkdown noun cf. breâk dòwn verb
breâkthroûgh noun *brâkethrû; cf. breâk throûgh verb
bréakfast
bréath noun unvoiced th, brêathe verb voiced th, cf. mòuth, same noun-verb distinction in pronunciation of the th, but always the same spelling
bréathtaking one word
bréd breed = bréad food
brêed animal cf. bréad food
bréthren -dhrən
Brîan = Brŷan cf. brâin, O’Brîen (one is more likely to meet a Brian O'Brien than a Brian O'Brian)
brìêf
brîght -ît
Brísbane *Brízbən
Brítain country -tən; = Bríton citizen, Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain persons
Bríttany France ≈ Brítney person
brŏad cf. bŏard
bróccolì *bróckəlêy
Brómwich *Brómmidge
Bróntê, sometimes written Brontë
broôch pin AmE; BrE = brôach speak
broôm sweep = brûme mist
bróthel unvoiced th
bròther voiced th
Bròúgh *Brúff
broûgham carriage = broôm sweep - or gha as schwa, broôəm
broûhàhà
Brûges = Brûgge *Brûzh
brûise contusion *brûze = breŵs beer
Bruneî
Brunél
Brússels
Bucharést Bùka-
Budapést Bùda-
Bùddha -ùdə
Bùddhist -ùdi-
Buénos Aîres Argentina –ríz or Ãires *Ãríz, cf. Ãries Ram
bùffèt eat *bùffây
búffet hit, t sounded
buffoôn -ffoô-
buíld *bíld
buílding *bílding
Bulgãria
bùll
bùlletin búllshit one word buŏy sea = bŏy child buŏyant *bŏyant bürden load = Bürdon person bûreau *byûrô, plural bûreaux, *bûrôz bureaucracy *byûrócracy, *beaûrócracy
bürger hamburger = bürgher business = Bërger person
bürgeoning
bürn fire = Bÿrne name
bürqa
búrrow ground = AmE bòrôugh town cf. Búrrôughs person
bús transport = búss kiss
búsed driven or bússed = búst bosom, broke
búses plural, verb *bússes
búsing -ss-
bùsh
business *bízniss, cf. bíz, busy-ness being busy
businessman one word, bíz-
bússed driven or búsed = búst bosom, broken
busy bíz-
busybódy bíz-; one word
busy-ness busy cf. business matter - both í
bútt head, joke, buttocks = bút however
bútterfly
buŷ sell = bŷ preposition = bŷ- incidental = bŷe cricket = bî- two = bî bisexual
bŷe-bye!
bŷ-election
bŷ-product
Bÿrd person = bïrd fly
Bŷzántîne or Býzantîne
C
C = sêe look
cabál cf. câble
cáche arms = cásh money
càdre *càder; AmE càdrê
cáddie golf = cáddy tea
cáfè (can be written as café)
cáfè au lâit (can be written as café au lait) *cáfâyô-lây
cáffêine
Caîro
Caìus Cambridge = kêys lock; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with Gaîus
Calcútta
cálendar not spelt -er, cf. còlander
Cálgary *Cálgəri
Califŏrnia -nyə
callígraphy -ll-
cállous uncaring = cállus skin ≈ Cállas Maria (or Cállás)
càlm -àm, BrE and AmE
Câmbridge
camêllia or caméllia cf. chamaêleon *camêliən
cameráderie
cámouflàge -àzh
campâign *campâin, cf. champâgne *shám-pâin, and words in -èign, all of which rhyme
Cámpbell *Cámble, rhyming with gámble
cán able, tin = Cánnes France
Cânaan *Câynən - aa as schwa
Cánada
Canâdian
canál
cánapè
canãry
canásta
Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cánborough
cáncer illness = Cáncer constellation
cándidate BrE -ət, AmE -âte
câne stick, sugar = Câin Abel
cánister - one n
cánnabis
cánnibal cf. Hánnibal
cannót - or cánnot for emphasis, but always one word when nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…
canoe -noô
cánon church, œuvre, music = cánnon war
cánt cliche = Kánt philosopher, AmE cán’t impossible
cantàta
cánvas paint, tent = cánvass election
cányon cf. ònion, both -yən
câpable
Câpe Tòwn - two words, *Câpetown
capíllary AmE cápillãry
cápital city = Cápitol Washington
capítulate
Cápricorn
càr vehicle = Càrr = Kàrr persons
càr-lôad noun
cárat gold = cárrot food
càrcass body cf. Carácas
cãre
cãrefree one word
carêer profession, speed BrE = Korêa country, cf. cárrier carry
cãrer
Cáríbbêan *Cárri-bêeən (some say Cəríbbêən)
cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-
Carlîsle city, person = Carlŷle person
Carnêgìê hard g
caròusal carouse *cəròuzəl
carousél round *carəssél
cárry bring = Cárrie person
càrt horse = kàrt race
cartél
càrton
cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, m only different sound
cásh money = cáche weapons
cáshmêre wool = Kashmìr Asia
cassàva
cāst drama, throw, eye = cāste India
Castílian cf. Castìlle
cāstle -ssl
cásual cf. cåusal
cásualty
Cátalan
Catalônia - ‘Catalunya’ is Catalan catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátàr catástrophê catastróphic cátchphrase one word Câte - although Kâte is the traditional abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine, etc. câter cáterpillar cáttle cows cf. kéttle boil cåucus rhymes with råucous cåught catch BrE = cŏurt tennis cauliflòur *cóllyflower cåuse reason -z = BrE Cŏrrs persons, cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós because *cóz cause celébre cause célèbre *côz-celébrə cavalìêr cávêát cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold cêasefîre cêde yield = sêed plant cèilidh *kâlêy cêiling floor = sêaling shutting centrífugal s- célebrâte celébrity célibate céll prison, biology = séll money céllar wine = séller sales céllo ch- Céltic or céltic civilisation K-, cf. Céltic, S- football club cémetery *sémətry, not -ary cénsor censorship = sénsor feel ≈ cénsure blame cént money = sént send = scént perfume céntral s- céntre s-, AmE cénter centrífugal centrípetal céntrist s- cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series cérebral s-; AmE cerêbral Ceres planet *Sírêez, cf. Sírius star, seríes string céremony s- cërvical s- or cervîcal cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s- césspit one word césspool one word ch- mostly tch-; ch- where stated chà tea - or chàr as other meanings chà chà Chádian *Cháddian chãir sit = Chér person chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng chágrin sh-; AmE *shəgrìn chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl-, cf. camêlia, only ending sounds different châmber tsh-, cf. Châmbers person chámois *shámwà champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink) chandelìêr sh- Chandrasèkhar chánnel rhymes with pánel châós *kâyóss chápel church = Cháppell person cháperône sh- chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng charàde sh-; AmE charâde cháracter k charivàri sh- chàrlatan sh- Chàrlotte Sh- chásm *kázzəm chássis *shássy châste virgin = châsed chase Chátham -təm chauffëur *shôfër chauvinist shô- chêap cost = chêep bird both tsh- chêapskâte one word chêat tsh- Chéchnya Tsh- chéckpoint one word chêetah tsh- chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound chéque money tsh-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch nationality Cherokêe Tsh- chérry-píck tsh- chévron sh- cheŵ tsh-; cf. words beginning tû- chèz *shây chìc sh- Chicàgo Shí-, à in both BrE and AmE chíck chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh- chihuàhua *tshiwàwa chîld singular tsh- chîldbïrth one word chíldren plural tsh- Chílê country tsh-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold Chílêan Tsh- chimêra kí- chímney tsh- chívalry sh- chívy or chívvy tsh- chlamýdia kl- Chlôê *Klôwie chlóroform kl- chóc chocolate tsh- = chóck wedge chóck-a-blóck choîr singers = quîre paper choléstorol k- choôse select = cheŵs chew chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal chŏrus k- Chrîst Kr- chrísten *kríssen Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal Chrístmas *Kríssməss Chrístopher *Krístəfə chrôme kr- chrónic kr- chrysánthemum kríz- chûte fall sh-; = shoôt gun chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur ci- s- Cícely person = Sícily Italy cîder cigàr cínema cínnamon cïrcle cïrcuit *sërkit circûítous s- cïrcumcîse sër- circumcísion s-; -zhən cïrcumstance s- císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon cíty s- cívil s- civílian s-; one l clándestîne; some say clandéstíne Clãir = Clãire = Clãre clámour - AmE clámor clánger normal ng sound, rhyming with hánger, cf. ánger, áng-ger, dânger, -njer Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them cláptrap one word clāssroom one word clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa claustrophôbia clós- clêan cléanliness cléanse -nz clërgy cléric clërk AmE; BrE = Clàrk = Clàrke persons clìchè *clêeshây clîmb up = clîme weather clìque *clêek, cf. clíck
clóckwörk one word
clôse shut = clôze test
clôse near, cul-de-sac *clôce
clôser end -z-
clôser more -s-
clóth unvoiced th clôthe voiced th clôthes voiced th côach transport, trainer côalésce cŏarse rough = cŏurse sport, eduation côal mine = Côle person côalman coal = Côleman person cŏarse crude = cŏurse route, study côast cf. cóst côastguard one word côax cóbra or côbra cóchineal Côckburn = Côburn persons cóck-up côconut or côcoanut cocoôn côdêine côdicil coêlacanth sêel-, AmE cêlacanth coërce CofÊ Church of England *sêeyəvêe cóffee *cóffy cógnac *cónyák Côhen *Côwen, rhymes with Ôwen côíncidence no hyphen côhêre còlander cf. cálendar Côle person = côal burn Cólin collápse Cóllins collóssal collûde Colôgne Germany = colôgne perfume *kəlôan
Colòmbia country = Colúmbia British, company; or ó
Colòmbo
côlon
cölonel army = BrE kërnel nut
colônial
colonnâde
cólonise
cólony Coloràdo in both BrE and AmE colorâtion or colourâtion cú- cóloratùra còlour tint cf. cóllar neck Colúmbus cólumn *cóllum cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the n côma cf. cómma cômb hair -m, cf. còme here cómbat cómbatant or combátant cómedy còmeúppance ó; one word còmfortable -ft- cómfortably-óff cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious cómment commërcial commít commíttee commûnal cómmune noun commûne verb cómmunism commûnity còmpany compãre contrast cf. cómpére compère host cómparable or compárable compárative compárison compàrtment cómpensâte compensâtion cómpére - compère show, cf. compãre contrast complâint complain cómplement together = cómpliment praise cómplex AmE compléx compléxion not -ct- complîant comply cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss cómrâde AmE cómráde, cf. Cónrád concêde concentrâte cf. consént cóncrete concatenâtion - e, not i concentrâte cf. consént cóncept concéptual concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto concörd Cóncord condîgn -dîne cóndom cóndŏr condûcíve cóndûít or -dwít - BrE was *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised conféss conféssion -féshən cónfidant person -dónt cónfident adjective -dənt Confûcian -shən confûsion -zhən cónger hard g cóngeries soft g connéct Connécticut *Cənétikət connéction BrE can be connéxion connîve connoissëur - -oi- as schwa: *connəssür cónquer win = cónker nut cónquest cf. quést cónscious consénsus cf. cénsus consént cf. concentrâte consërvative conservâtion consigliérê *consíl-yãry cónsôle noun consôle comfort consólidate cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa consŏrt verb conspírator conspîre constábulary constítuency consûme -syû- contémptible cóntext contéxtual contínûùm -nyû- cóntrary opposed contrãry awkward cóntribûte or contríbûte contribûtion contríbutor contrôl contradíct contríbute cóntribûtion cóntrovërsy or contróversy - controvërsial? coòk kitchen = Coòk = Coòke persons Coômbs = Coômbes *Coûmz cooperâtion côwóp-, cf. cŏrporation coóperative côwóp- Copenhâgen Cô-; or -hàgen cóp-òut cóps police = cópse wood cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing córal cŏr ànglâis *cŏ-rónglây cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music cŏrdon cŏre apple = cŏrps army cŏrnerstône one word corôna córonary córoner cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following cŏrpse corràl córrugate AmE cörrugate cóst cf. côast Cósta Rìca cóttage -íj còuch còuchant couchétte cûsh- cóugh *cóff còuncil committee = còunsel advice còuncillor còunt còunty cf. coúntry còunterfeít còunter-productive hyphenated coúntry cf. còunty, còunt, which begin with the còw sound coûp d’état = coô bird coúple coúrage - AmE can be cöurage courâgeous cŏurse route, study = cŏarse crude, -ss, cf. cåuse, -z, cürse, -s cŏurt tennis, monarch, woo - BrE = cåught catch cöurteous cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow
coúsin *cúzzen
còver
côvert cf. ovërt
còvet -ít
còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw
Coŵper = Coôper; or Còwper
cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat
cráckpot noun one word
cråwl ground = Kråll person
crêak noise = crêek water
crêam crêâte crêâtion -êâshən crêature -ch- créche *crésh, cf. crásh crêdence credéntials crédibílity crêed crêek water = crêak noise créme crème créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt Crêôle crêosote crèpe crèpe crescéndos -sh- créscent *crézzənt crévíce crevásse creŵ ship = Creŵe town creŵ-cut Crîchton *Crŷtən crîme Crîmêa -êə Crôát *Crôwát Croâtia *Crôwâshə cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet crócodîle croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón crône crôny cróss-examinâtion cròtch genitals = crútch support crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây crûcible crûcifíxion crûise -ûz crúx crýpt crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t cùckoô cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən cúl-de-sác cúlprit cúm with = còme here cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard curaçào *curassòw cûrate person curâte museum cürb stop, street = kërb street cûre-åll noun, adjective cûrious
cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow BrE; AmE cü-
currículum vìtaê cürse cf. cŏurse cürt blunt = Kürt person cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən cústard cústody BrE *cústardy cút-prîce cy- s- cýclamen s- cŷcle s- cýclical s- cŷclist s- cýgnet swan = sígnet ring cýlinder cýmbal drums = sýmbol sign cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher cŷpress tree = Cŷprus country s- cýst s- cýnic s- cýnicism Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash
cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow
coúsin *cúzzen
còver
côvert cf. ovërt
còvet -ít
còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw
Coŵper = Coôper, or Còwper
cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat
cráckpot noun one word
crêak noise = crêek water
crêam
crêâte
crêâtion -êâshən crêature -ch- créche *crésh, cf. crásh crêdence credéntials crédibílity crêed crêek water = crêak noise créme crème créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt Crêôle crêosote crèpe crèpe crescéndos -sh- créscent *crézzənt crévíce crevásse creŵ ship = Creŵe town creŵ-cut Crîchton *Crŷtən crîme Crîmêa -êə Crôát *Crôwát Croâtia *Crôwâshə cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet crócodîle croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón crône crôny cróss-examinâtion cròtch genitals = crútch support crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây crûcible crûcifíxion crûise -ûz crúx crýpt crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t cùckoô cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən cúl-de-sác cúlprit cúm with = còme here cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard curaçào *curassòw cûrate person curâte museum cürb stop, street = kërb street cûre-åll noun, adjective cûrious cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow currículum vìtaê cürse cf. cŏurse cürt blunt = Kürt person cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən cústard cústody BrE *cústardy cút-prîce cy- s- cýclamen s- cŷcle s- cýclical s- cŷclist s- cýgnet swan = sígnet ring cýlinder cýmbal drums = sýmbol sign cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher cŷpress tree = Cŷprus country s- cýst s- cýnic s- cýnicism Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash
D
D = Dêe person
Dail parliament = Dŏyle person
dâily
daîquíri
dãiry milk cf. dîary day
Dàlek
Dalziél *Dêe-él
dám river = dámn hell
dámage
dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound
Dániel *Dányəl
Dânish
Dáphnê *Dáffney
dãresây is one word in Î dãresay meaning ‘probably’
dàrtbŏard one word
dāstardly cf. bāstard
dâtabâse BrE; AmE dátabâse one word
dåughter *dåwter
Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis
dávit
dâze dazzle = dâys day
de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right
déad cf. dêed
déadline one word
déadlock one word
dêal
déalt
dêar loved, expensive = dêer animal
dëarth
debàcle
débris can be written with the French accent: débris; BrE *débrêe or dâybree; AmE *dəbrêe
débt *dét; silent b
dèbut début *dâybyû - or dé-
dèbuted débuted *dâybyûd - or dé-
décade years cf. decâyed decay - though some do rhyme them
Decémber
dêcent
decídûous -yû
déckchair one word
declássè can be written as in French déclassé *dây-clássây
décimate
decîpher cf. cŷpher or cîpher
Déclan dêed cf. déad dêer animal = dêar friend, expensive dè fácto two words, *dây-fácto defámatory defâme defër cf. díffer déficit définitely defûse problem dê-, -z, cf. diffûse, dí- degénerate dèign condescend = Dâne Denmark deipnósphist déjà vu *dèzhà-vû delây deletêrious Délhi India = déli delicatessen delínêâte delínquent delîght -ît Dêlius cf. Sibèlius delíver déluge -yû- delûsion cf. illûsion de lûxe or de lúxe démagogue -góg demānd démo demócracy cf. hypócrisy democrátic demür demûre dénguê fêver dénier weight, coin *dényə, cf. denîer deny Dénis = Dénnis Denìse -êez denŷ depéndant person = depéndent adjective dërby race = Dërby England AmE; BrE = Dàrby person de riguëur *dərigër - hard g desálinate descént down = dissént disagree descrîbe dís- désert sand desërt leave = dessërt meal désiccate - very commonly misspelt: -ss- would be expected after é, cf. párallel despãir désperate cf. dísparate, séparate desperâtion despícable dessërt meal -zërt = desërt leave dessërts just -zërts détail noun detâil verb detër detêriorate detërmíne detérrent detrîtus dévastate devastâtion devélop rhymes with envélop verb, cf. énvelôpe noun devîce -ss, cf. divîde devîse -z, cf. divîde devôte devotêe devòut deŵ morning = dûe owed, cf. do act *dû déxtrous or déxterous diabêtes *dîəbêtêez or -tíz diabétic diaérisis *dî-érisis, AmE diérisis dîálýsis dîamond dîáphanous dîaphragm -ám diarrhoêa BrE *dîre-rêar; AmE diarrhêa dîary cf. dãiry diáspora dictâte cf. díktát dîcy dodgy cf. Dícky, Díckie persons dîe death = dŷe colour dîehard one word dìêsel dîet *dîət díffer cf. defër diffûse various -ss, give out -z dígit díktát cf. dictâte dilémma dilettántê dímwit one word dínghy boat - no g sound, only ng sound díngy dark *dínjy dînosåur dîocese *dîəsíss diphthêria díphthong diplôma díplomat dîre cf. dêar dírham disassôciate - -sass- disarrây disāstrous -zā-, no e, cf. disāster; mürderous, cantánkerous, etc. dísc record, circular = dísk computer discòver discrêet careful = discrête separate discrétion -éshən discriminâtory díscus discúss disequilíbrium disgúst revulsion ≈ discússed talked disingénuous - -uou- Dísney *Díznì dispátch or despátch dispénsable disséction dissént disagree = descént down dissymétric dîssý- dístribûte or distríbûte -yû- divîne cf. Devìne divîsive cf. divîde, dêvious, devîse Djángo Reînhardt - unlike in French do *dû cf. dûe cause, time = deŵ morning *dyû doable *dûwable Dócherty or Dóherty same pronunciation: Celtic ch sound, same as Arabic kh as in Khàn dôcîle AmE *dóssle dòes do *dúz, cf. dôes female deer dóg-êat-dóg dógged verb *dógd: this próblem dógged us dógged attributive adjective *dóggíd: a dógged pursûer dôe animal = dôh music, exclamation dòes *dúz, cf. fãir do’s, *doôz dôle money = Dôle person dóll model dóllar domâin territory = demèsne estate, domâine vineyard dón clothes = Dón person dòne do = dún colour = Dúnn person = Dònne poet
dóner kebab = Dónner person
dônor give
doômsday doom = Domesday Book
dŏorstép one word
dŏrmant
dóssièr silent French r - or e regularised to schwa
doúble rhymes with búbble
doûble entendre *dôôblon-tóndrə
dòubt *dòut, cf. dòughty
dôugh bake, money = dôe deer dôughnút *dônut
dòughty
Doúglas *Dúgləss
doûr serious, one syllable ≈ doer do, two
dòve bird
dôve dive - AmE for dîved
dòvish
dòwnfall one word
downhíll one word
dòwry
dôze
dôzed doze
dòzen 12
dracônian
drāft AmE all meanings, BrE outline, money, group, US conscription = drāught
dràgon
dràma
drāught BrE cold, net, liquids, game, horse = drāft, cf. dròught *dròwt
dråw design ≈ dråwer pull
dråwback noun one word
dreŵ draw = Dreŵ person
dríll
drîly or drŷly
drível
drízzle
drómedary
droôp down = drûpe fruit
dròught *dròut, cf. drāught = drāft
drúnkenness -nn-
Drûze
dûal two = dûel fight ≈ jeŵel stone
dúchess cf. Dútch
dûe owed = deŵ morning *dyû, cf. do act *dû
dúmb-bell
dún colour = Dúnn person = dòne do, cf. dón clothes, academic = Dón Donald
Dúncan rhymes with drúnken
Dundêe
dûne sand
Dúrham *Dúrrəm
dûring j-
dúst dirt = dòst archaic do
dústbin one word
duúmvirate ûú
dûvèt *doôvây
Dvŏrak, in Czech Dvořák, *Dəvåwzhàk
dŷe colour = dîe dead
dŷeing dye = dŷing die dynámic dŷnamísm dŷnamîte dýs- bad = dís- negative dýsentery dysfúnctional dysléxic
E
Ê êar cf. ërr
ëarl
Ëarl Grây tea cf. colour BrE grèy, AmE grây
ëarly
ëarn money = ürn bury = ërne eagle
ëarnest serious = Ërnest person, cf. Thê Impŏrtance of Bêing Ëarnest
ëarth
Eâster
eâstern east BrE = Êaston person
êasy-gôing
êaten eat = Êton school
êaves roof cf. êve before
êavesdróp one word
eccéntric exé-
échelon ésh-
eclãir sometimes with French accent éclair *í-clãir
eclát sometimes with French accent éclat *è-clá
éctoplasm
económic, -al, -s AmE éc-, BrE êc-
ecónomy
ecólogy
êcosystem
écstasy éxt-
ecstátic éxt-
Écuador *Équador
éczema *éxma éddy pool = Éddie = Éddy persons
êdict
édit
êerie strange as in Lâke Êrie, cf. ãiry light = éyrie - and variant spellings - bird
efféct result í- or ə-: when schwa = afféct cause effervésce -véss
efficácity
effícient -shənt éffort -or- as schwa effròntery cf. affrònt Èid èight 8 = AmE âte eat, BrE *ét eîther neither AmE êither voiced th, cf. êther sky, unvoiced th élbôw eléction eléctoral elegîac Eléktra élement
eleméntary
elévenses
Élgàr - though it seems contemporary pronunciation was *Èlgə
éligible cf. illégible
elícit obtain = illícit illegal elìte íl-
elìtist
Elízabeth Queen = Elísabeth
Éltham -təm
elûsive elude = illûsive illusory
élsewhere one word
émanate
embárrass cf. embrâce
émbassy cf. ambássador
embézzle
émblem
embódiment
embrâce cf. embárrass
embrŏidery
eménds alters = aménds make, cf. imménse huge
emërge
émigrate cf. ímmigrâte
émigrè émigré
éminence grìse *éminónss-grêez
éminent
emôtion
emphysêma
émulate
en French = ón English - en occurs in the following expressions taken from French: en attendant *onətóndón, en blóc, en clãir, en fáce, en famìlle *onfamì, en fête *onfét, en másse, en pássant *onpásson, en plein *onplán, en póste, en prìse, en rappŏrt, en roûte, en suìte *onswêet
encéphalitis ens-
encore ón-
énclave - some say ón-
encúmber cf. incúmbent
endéavour
endógenous cf. indíginous
endûre cf. ínjure
énergy - g as j
energétic - g as j
enfant terrìble *ónfóntérêebl
enfŏrce require = ín fŏrce applicable
engâge engagé *ongázhây éngine -jín England Íng-glənd English Íng-glísh ennuì *ón-wê enŏrmous enoúgh *inúff en pássant *ompássom - last syllable nasalised enquîre, enquîry or inquîre, inquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry ensemble *onsómble
ensûe -syû
ensůre certain = insůre insurance; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûre
énter
entîre *íntŷre, cf. MácIntyre etc.
entîrety *entîrity
entouràge *óntùràzh
éntrance enter
entrānce beguile
entrèe in French entrée *óntrây
entrepôt *óntrəpô
entreprenëur ón-; AmE -neûr
enúnciate´
envélop verb
énvelôpe noun
envîronment - nm
environméntalist - nm
epicûrêan
épitāph
êqual
eqùality
equâte
équitable
ër hesitation = BrE ërr error
êra BrE; AmE éra time = BrE érror mistake; cf. ãrea, ària
erádicate cf. írrigate
ére before = ãir oxygen = héir estate
ërne eagle = ëarn money = ürn pot
ërr BrE; AmE érr cf. êar
érror
eschêat - s and ch pronounced separately: rhymes with chêat
escheŵ - s and ch pronounced separately
ÉTA Basque = Étta person
ét ál
etc. = ét cétera - the pronunciation ‘ixetra’ is frowned upon
éthnocéntric one word
ethnógraphy
êthŷl
Êton school = êaten eat = Êton = Êaton persons
eû- well = yoû pronoun
Eûcharist Yûkə-
eûchre *yûker
Eûgêne = yoû, Jêan
eûlogy
eùro currency = Eùro championship
Eùrope *Yùrəp
Europêan
euthanâsia -âzìyə
eváporate
êve before cf. êaves roof
êven cf. Évan
evént
Évelyn usually female
Êvelyn usually male
éveryday adjective as in éveryday lîfe; cf. wê gét úp évery dây
êvil cf. dévil
eŵe sheep = yoû me = yeŵ tree
éx lover = éx- past exácerbate
exággerate
excél
éxcellent
excépt exception = accépt receive
exclâim
exécutive cf. éxecute
éxercise
exhíbit
exhibítion
exhílarating silent h, cf. hilãrious
éxîle
éxiting exit cf. excîting excite, both one t
exónerâte
éxŏrcise or = éxercise
expátriate -ət, cf. pâtriot, also ət
expêrience
expériment
expertìse -têez, cf. other words ending in -ise, mostly -îze
expôse
exposé *expôzây - either stressed
extól or extôl
éxtra *xtra
extrávagant
extravagánza
extrêmist
extraŏrdinary - the first a often is not heard: *extrŏrdinary
eŷe see = Î am = aŷe yes
eŷesîght one word, *îsîte
eŷeẁash one word, *îwósh
éyrie bird has variant spellings éyry, ãérie and ãéry = ãiry light; cf. Lâke Êrie = êerie weird
F
F *éff
fábulous *fábyələss
façàde *fəsàd
facêtious *fəsêeshəss
fáction *fácshən, cf. fáshion
Fáhrenheît
fãir justice, pretty, fun- = fãre
fãiry cf. férry
fait accomplì *fét-əcomplì
fåll-òut noun
Fålstaff
fålcon
Fålklands fámily *fámly fámíne fàraway adjective before noun, one word, cf. ít’s toô fàr awây fàrcical fãre travel, food = fãir farewéll Fãroe Islands = phãroah Egypt fàr-rêaching Fàrquhar *Fàrker fàrther further BrE and some AmE = fàther dad fáscist *fáshist, cf. râcist fáshion *fáshən, *fátion, cf. fáction fāst fāsten *fāssən Fátah Palestine = BrE fátter fat fâtal fatálity fáthéad as if two words fátwà fåucet tap = Fåwcett person fåulty fault = Fåwlty Towers fåun goat-god = fåwn fåuna faux *fô faux-pas *fô-pà fåwn grovel, colour, deer = fåun fâvourite -vr-; AmE fâvorite fáx machine = fácts truths Fây = Fâye persons = fèy whimsy fâze confuse = phâse period fêat achievement = fêet foot Fébruary fêed verb cf. féd past, foôd noun fèign pretend = fâin willing fèint sham, write = fâint unconscious feîsty Fêlix fêmur fermént chemical, excite cf. fomént water, disorder férry cf. fãiry *féəry fète garden, celebrate fête = fâte destiny fétid cf. fèted = fâted feûd argument cf. leŵd, foôd fèy whimsy = Fây = Fâye persons feŵ many = pheŵ relief fìat decree = Fìat ® car fìêrce fîery cf. fîre, wîry, feîsty fífth *fíth fíg-lêaf fígurehead *fíggerhéd, one word fîle nail, paper = phîal liquid fílet or fíllet - BrE t sounded, AmE *filây fíll up = Phíl Philip fíllip boost = Phílip person fín fish = Fínn Finland fînal finàlê fîne all meanings fínger *fíng-gər fínish stop = Fínnish Finland fïr tree = für animal fîreworks noun one word físcal finance -ss-, cf. phýsícal body, -zí- físsure break = físher fish, Físher person fláccid *fláxid flagellâtion flãir ability = flãre fire flák cf. bláck flãre fire = flãir ability flåutist flák abuse = Fláck person flåw error = BrE flŏor ground flêa insect = flêe escape Fléming flíck-knife flîer or flŷer flípside one word flôe ice = flôw water flòod flòur bake = flòwer plant floúrish flŏra flôw water = flôe ice, cf. flåw error flòwer plant = flòur bake flû influenza = flûe chimney flûgelhorn flúmmoxed *flúməxt fôcus, fôcused and fôcusing are preferable to fôcussed and fôcussing as they do not remind one of cússed and cússing foêtus AmE fêtus fôlìage has three syllables, cf. cárriage, márriage, each two fomént water, disorder cf. fermént chemical, excite foòt foôd eat cf. feûd quarrel fyoô- foôl foôlscap foòtnôte one word fŏr preposition usually schwa; stressed = fŏur 4, fŏre front fóray AmE = Fåurè Fauré forbád or forbâde forbíd fŏre front = fŏur number fŏrecast fŏrecastle -səl: sailors traditionally say *fôksəl fŏrehéad traditionally *fórrid, cf. hórrid, but now normally spelling pronunciation fóreign *fórrən fórest -íst = Fórrest person = Fórest Nottingham, person fŏrewörd book cf. fŏrward back fŏrmally formal BrE = fŏrmerly before fŏrmer cf. fàrmer fŏrmidable or formídable fŏrtè fŏrth forward = fŏurth four forthcòming one word fŏrtnight *fŏrtnîte fŏrty cf. fŏur, fŏurteen fŏrward forwards cf. rewård prize, fŏrewörd introduction fòul bad = fòwl birds fòund find, establish fŏur number = fŏre front = fŏr preposition fŏyèr *fŏyây frácàs *frácà frâmework one word fránc currency = fránk honest = Fránk person Frānces usually female Frāncís usually male fråught frêak frêe - as a suffix meaning ‘without’ it must be hyphenated: débt-frêe *dét-frêe frêer *frêeər frêest *frêeíst frêeze cold = frìêze wall Frêmantle frêquent adjective frequént verb fréshwåter adjective cf. thére ís nô frésh wåter frîed friénd frìêze wall, cloth = frêeze frîght *frîte frîghtened *frîtənd frólic frònt fròwzy frûit *frûte frŷ FTSE *foòtsìê fûchsia *fyoôsha fùll fundaméntalist für animal = fïr tree fürlôugh *fürlôw fürnace -níss fürnish furŏrê or as AmE fûrŏr fürther
G
G = gêe up
gádfly one word
Gâelic Irish
Gáelic Scottish = Gállic French
gáffe cf. gúff
gág
gâge is an AmE alternative to gâuge
gâit walk = gâte garden
Galápagos - identical Spanish accent may be written
gâle storm = Gâil = Gâle persons = Gâel Gaelic
Gålle Sri Lanka = Gåul France
gállop horse = Gállup poll
gámble money = gámbol frisky gánder Gándhi *Gándy, cf. cándy and gh- words gâol BrE old alternative spelling of, and pronounced, jâil gárage hard g; BrE -àzh, AmE *guəràzh Gáry hard G, cf. Gérry = Jérry; cf. Hárry, Cãry, Gáby gàrdener garden = Gàrdiner = Gàrdner persons gàrgoyle gàrner gather = Gàrner person; BrE = Ghàna country gáses noun = gásses verb gâte open = gâit walk gâuge *gâij, AmE can be gâge; cf. grêengage gåuze gécko gêese hard g: plural of goôse Geîger còunter hard G gèisha hard g gél *jél, cf. jélly Géminî Jé- gêne genetics = Jêan girl = Gêne Eugene; gênes = jêans trousers genealógical jê- géneral *jénral genéric j- gênes genetics = jêans trousers, cf. Jêan person - pronounced *Zhà with nasalised à if French geneálogy genétics gênìê j- gênìî j- génitâlia j- gênius j- genre *zhónrə gentêel j-, cf. Géntîle géntle j- gênus j- Géoff = Jéff Géoffrey = Jéffrey geográphic jêə- geógraphy jóg- in rapid speech, cf. gêólogy Geŏrge Jŏr- Gërman J- germâne relevant = Germâine, Jermâin, etc. persons gërminate j- Gérry = Jérry cf. Gáry, hard G gétaway adjective and noun one word, cf. verb gét awây gêyser water = BrE gêezer man, AmE geŷser gh- = g- Ghàna Africa = BrE gàrner gather Ghanâian cf. Gándhi ghāstly ghåt or ghåut ghërkin ghétto ghôst gíbbet j- gíbbon hard g Gídêon hard G, *Gídêyən gíg hard g cf. jíg Gílbert hard G gíll fish hard g, as also in McGíll person gíll liquid = Jíll = Gíll = Gíl persons gín *jín giráffe j- glâcial glácier or glâcier glâde Gládys glámorise glámorous glámour glêam glêan Glóucester *Glóster glûtinous glútton Glŷndebŏurne gnàrled *nàrld gnásh teeth = Násh person gnát mosquito = Nát person gnåw chew = BrE nor neither gnócchì *nyócky gnôme garden = Nôme Alaska gô-ahéad noun, adjective hyphenated gôad gôalless - sustained l sound gôat cf. côat góbbledygoòk gŏitre AmE gŏiter gôlf cf. gúlf Gomórrah rhymes with BrE Andórra góner fatal gonna going to two schwas: *gənə goodsélf one word goôgle verb no capital goôgly goòseberry *gùzbry goôse *goôss Gorbachev -chóff gorílla ape = guerílla warfare gŏurmet *gŏrmây gòvern gòvernment first n silent in rapid speech Grâeme *Grâyəm = Grâham most common spelling = Grâhame Kenneth graffìti grámmar grammátical grə- grámophone ‘grammar phone’ has been seen grándad or gránddad - dd can be extended d sound; as name, G- gránddaughter *grándåwter grándchîld grándeûr *grándûre Grànd Prìx *gràm-prì gráphic cf. tráffic grâte cheese, fire, annoy = grêat important grâteful grâve serious, burial gràve accent grâvy grây is AmE for grèy grâze sheep = grèys grey, cf. gràss greât big = grâte cheese, fireplace, irritate grêase oil = Grêece Greek grêen colour = Grêen, Grêene persons Gréenwich *Grénnídge grêet Grêig composer Gréig English = Grég Grenâda cf. Granàda grenâde grèy AmE grây = Grèy = Grây persons grèyhòund one word grìêf gríll food, interrogate = grílle lattice grimâce AmE grímace grísly horrible = grízzly bear grôan pain = grôwn up grŏin body = grŏyne wood gròundswell one word grôwn-úp noun hyphenated grûel gu- followed by vowel, hard g, silent u, unless stated otherwise Guàm *Gwàm guarantêe gá-, cf. ẁarranty guàrd *gàrd = gàrde in ávant gàrde Guatemàla Gwà- guerílla war = gorílla animal guéss guést visit = guéssed guess gúff cf. gáffe guîde guíld society = gíld lily guílt guilty = gílt gild gúlf cf. gôlf gúng-hô gúnwale = gúnnell Guínêa country = guínêa money guíllotìne - either stressed gúng-hô hyphenated guŷ gým gymnasium = Jím person gynaecólogist hard g-: *gŷnəcólojist, AmE -nec- gyrâte *jîrâte gŷroscope j-
H
H âitch
hà
ha hà laughter
hà-hà fence
hâbeas cŏrpus
háckneyed *hácknid
haemoglôbin - haê-
haemophília - haê-
haémorrhage *hémmoridge, *hémerage
haémorrhoid
haemostâsis
Hâgue person, Netherlands = Hâig = Hâigh persons
hâil stones, greeting = hâle hearty
hãir head = hãre animal
Hâiti *Hâtey, cf. hâte
hàjj or hàdj
hālf *hàf; AmE *háf
hâlfpenny *hâypəny
håll building = håul pull, rob, cf. Hál person
hallelûjah - j as y: *hallelûya
hállôw cf. hallô
hålt
hālve half AmE ≈ háve own, though hálve tends to be longer
hámlet -lít, cf. hám ómelette
hámster *hámpster, cf. hámper, Hámpstead
hándbag can be *hámbag
hándkerchìêf *hánkerchêaf
hándle touch, door = Hándel, Hándl persons
hándout noun one word
hándover noun one word
hándwrítten one word
hángar plane = hánger clothes
Hanŏi
Hánover has one n in English, two in German
Haràrê
haráss AmE; BrE *hárras, cf. Hárrís person
hàrem or hãrem
hàrk cf. heàrken
hàrpsichord -kŏrd
hássle cf. hústle, *hússle
hâsten *hâyssən
hâte love = Hâight Ashbury
hâtred -íd cf. pûtríd
hautëur *ôat-ër
háve can sound like *háff when emphasised before an unvoiced consonant: I *háff to sêe hím
háve-nóts haves
Hawàiì
Håwes
håwk
håwthorn plant = Håwthorne person
hây farm = hèy exclamation
Haŷdn cf. Hâydon = Hâyden
hâ’p’orth
héad cf. hêed
héalth
Hêar, hêar! agree
hëard hear = hërd animals, cf. hàrd soft
heàrken cf. hàrk
hêarsay
hëarse
heàrt beat = hàrt deer = Hàrt person
heàrtfélt one word
heàrth
hêath
hêathen -dhən
héather rhymes with wéather -dh- hêave héaven héavy héavywèight boxing *hévviwâit, one word, cf. héavy wèight literal hêed cf. héad hêe hêe laugh cf. hê him hêel foot = hêal cure hegémony - hard g or j Heîdelberg héifer cow = Héffer person heîght *hîte heîghten high = Huŷton place hèinous Heînz *Hŷnts: in the 1950s, with memories of the second world war still fresh, the company of this name pronounced itself Hînes *Hŷnze héir heiress = ãir breathe, etc. hélicopter cf. hêlium héllhole one word hellô or hallô or hullô hém but not many other words begin this way, haém- being more common hémidemisémiquaver hémisphêre hërd animals = hëard hear, cf. hàrd soft hêre there = hêar sound Héreford héretic herétical hêro héron hérôín drug = hérôíne hero cf. méscalíne heteroséxual cf. métro, rétro heŵ wood = hûe colour = Hûgh = Hûw persons hèydây one word he’s he is = hís belonging to him - but can be hê’s *hêez hîâtus *hîgh-èight-us híccúp can be spelt híccoúgh hídden hídeous *hídìəss hîdeòut hîeràrchy *hîeràrky hîgh height = hî hello hîghbròw one word, *hîbròw hilãrious Hílary = Híllary hînd hínder híndrance -drənss híppocratic cf. hypocrítical hîre rent ≈ hîgher high
hís he *hízz, cf. híss snake, hê’s or he’s
históric
hítchhîke second h aspirated
hŏar frost = whŏre prostitute = Hŏare person
Hîte person = heîght high
hŏard store = hŏrde gang
hŏarse voice = hŏrse animal hôax
hóbnób one word
hóck as in ín hóck, cf. ád hóc
hôe garden cf. hô hô laughter
hôld hand = hôled golf
hôle gap = whôle complete
hóliday vacation = Hólliday person = Hóliday Billie
hólly cf. hôly
Hóllywoòd
Hôlmes person = hômes living; or Hólmes, with l pronounced or hinted at
hôly sacred ≈ whôlly completely, which has the two l’s pronounced Hólyhéad Hôlyroôd hómage - unlike French, one m homêopáthic AmE; BrE homoêo- homêópathy AmE; BrE homoêó- hômewörk one word hómicide homógeneous -jenəss or hômôgêneous rhyming with gênius hómoným hômo sápiens homoséxual - hó- Hóng Kóng *Honkóng hône hónest *ónnist honoràrium ón- hónorary ón- honorífic ón- hónour *ónner, AmE hónor hónourable ón-, AmE hónorable hoòdwink hoòk hoòkah pipe *hùkə = BrE hoòker prostitute, rugby hoôver carpet is from Hoôver person hôping hope cf. hópping hop Hórace rhymes with Bóris, Dóris, Nórris and Mórris hŏrde gang = hŏard store horrífic hórror hŏrs d’oëuvre ŏr-dërvrə hŏrse animal = hŏarse croak hóspice -íss hóspital hóspitalised hôst hóstage hóthead as if two words hóthòuse as if two words hóugh leg = hóck pawn hòur time = òur us hôuse noun -s, verb -z Hoûston *Hoôston howéver one word hòwl wolf cf. òwl bird hûbris
hûe colour = Hûgh person = hêw cut = Hûw Welshman
Hûghes person = heŵs hew
hullabaloô
hûman
hûmor AmE; BrE hûmour
hûmorist
hûmorous humour = hûmerus bone
húndred
Húngary country - three syllables ≈ húngry
hunger - two syllables
hústle *hússle, cf. hássle
hýmn church = hím he
hŷper- very
hypercrítical critical
hypócrisy cf. hýpocríte, demócracy, hippocrátic
hypocrítical hypocrite
hystêria
hystérical
I
Î letter, me = eŷe sight = aŷe yes
Ìan person cf. îron, silent r
îceberg one word
Îceland -lənd
Icelándic
îcon
idêa *îdêə, cf. monosyllables pêa, têa, a not sounded separately
ídeogram
idêólogy - î or í
idiosýncrasy
îdle lazy = îdol god = AmE îdyll idyllic
Idomenèo
ídyll BrE; AmE îdyll = îdle = îdol ígnorance ignŏre íleum intestine = ílium bone illegálity illícit illegal = elícit get íll-thŏught-òut illûsive illusory = elûsive elude ímage -íj imaginâtion imágíne imàm imbróglio *imbrólyo immêdìately imménse cf. eménd ímmigrate cf. émigrate ímpact noun, affect impáct fix, wedge impâle impàla ímpasse impêach impéccable impêrial impéril ímpetus impŏrtance ímpotence impresàrio one s ímpress noun impréss verb improprîety ímprovîse improvisâtion BrE -əvî-, AmE -óví- ímpudent -yû- impûte ascribe cf. ínput put in *ímpùt ín abséntia inadvërtent íncense smoke incénse anger inchôâte ínk- íncident incidéntal incidéntally incrédible incúmbent cf. encúmber indepéndent cf. depéndent, depéndant ín-dépth adjective Índian - can be spelt without a capital when referring to American indians Indiána indîct *indîte indígenous indispénsable índustry indústrial inévitable infállible ínfamous cf. fâmous infátuâtion inflámmatory -mm- ín frònt of three words inhérit inítial *iníshəl inítiative *iníshətíve ínjure cf. endûre ínland adjective inlánd adverb ínn pub = ín preposition inóculate ínpùt put in *ímpùt, cf. impûte ascribe inquîre, inquîry or enquîre, enquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry ínroads insâtiable insístent ín sítu insoûciance inståll some AmE instål instålment AmE instållment instéad insůre insurance = ensůre verify; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûr insürgent cf. sürge intáct one word intégral íntegrate intélligent interáction interfêre interfêrence interlócutor intërnal internátional -áshnəl, cf. nâtion internêcîne intërpret ínterview intestînal or intéstinal íntimate adjective -ət íntimâte verb ínto *íntû or *íntə: one word - but ón to is still two íntricacy íntrìgue noun *íntrêeg intrìgue verb *ín-trêeg introspéction inválid valid ínvalid ill ínventory *ínvəntry, cf. ínfantry in-yer-fâce îón electron cf. îron metal, *îən, silent r Îôna îPód ® showing a trend towards internal capitalisation also seen in EastÉnders Irān cf. îron metal, silent r Irânian or Irànian Irāq -k Irāqi -kì irâte î- Îreland BrE Îələnd, cf. îsland *îlənd Irênê or silent final e iridéscent *írridéssant îron metal BrE *îyən, cf. îón electron, Ìan person, Iràn country irónic îrony *îrənỳ irresístible irréverent irrévocable írrigate cf. erádicate Îsaac *Îzək îsland *îlənd, cf. Îreland Íslám Íz- Islámic Îslay *Îlə îsle island *île = aîsle theatre Îsle of Wîght *Île of Whîte îsobar -ss-, cf. Ísobel = Ísabel, -z- Ísrâel *Ísreâl Isrâeli íssue *íshû or íssyû Istanbùl or to please the Turks Istánbul cf. old spelling in Graham Greene’s novel title Stamboul Train ísthmus íts belonging to it = ít’s it is - ít’s for íts is probably the most common mistake of all Îvan Îvor îvory îvy plant = Îvy person
J
J = jây bird Jáckie either sex = Jácqui female Jâin religion = Jâne person jalópy jámb door = jám bread, cf. lámb, also -m Jánet Jânus Japán jéalous *jélləss Jêan person = gêne genetics, cf. Jâne person jêans trousers = gênes genetics jéll shape = gél hair jélly jéopardy *jéppardy, cf. léopard, also silent o Jéricho -kô Jerôme Jérry = Gérry Jéssê = Jéssìê Jêsus -z- Jésûít -z- jéttison jétty Jeŵ cf. Jûdaism jeŵel stone cf. dûel fight = dûal two jeŵeller *jûəler jihád jínx bad luck = jínks high jinks Jô Josephine = Jôe Joseph Jôêy Joseph = jôey animal Jôan Jôánna Jôánne jób work Jôb person jöurnal jöurney Jûdâísm AmE *Jûdêísm júdgement or júdgment soft g jûice fruit *jûce, cf. deûce two, equal Jûlie Julŷ júmpstart one word jùnta or ú or h- jûry justice = Jeŵry Jew, cf. Dûry person, Neŵry town Jûvenal jûvenîle
K
K = Kây person
Kàbul - some say Kabùl
Kafkaésque *Káfkə-ésk: there may be a glottal stop before é
kamikàzê
kapùt unlike German kaputt
karaôkê *kariôkêy, *cárry-ôkie
Káren ancient
Kàrin modern kàrma
Kashmìr Asia = cashmêre wool
Kathmandû Kátm-
Kátz person = cáts cat
kebáb
kêen interested, sharp = Kêane = Kêene persons
Kêighley *Kêithley
Kêith
kërb street = cürb lessen, street
kërnel centre = colonel army
kérosêne or kérosìne
késtrel
kétchup
kéttle water cf. cáttle farm
kêy door = quaỳ port
kêyboard one word Kèynsham Khachatûrian *Kachachûrian khàkì - either stressed Khmér Kəm- Kìév *Kìyéff kìlo kílomêtre or kilómetre; AmE -er kînd kíndred -dríd kíngly Kíngsley cf. Mackínley Kirkûdbright *Kəkûbry kítsch *kítch Kleîn = Clîne knâve cad, cards = nâve church knêad dough = nêed necessary = knêed knee knêejerk one word, n- knêel down = Nêil, etc. persons kneŵ know = neŵ fresh kníck-knáck cf. Níck knîght chess, Sir *nîte = Knîght person = nîght dark knít wool = nít creature, fool knóck *nóck, cf. noòk knót tie = nót no knôw acquaint = nô negative knôw-hòw knowledge hyphenated = nôhòw anyhow knôw-nothing adjective one word knówledge *nólij knôwn cf. nòne knôws know = nôse face Knóx person = knócks knock, n- koòky eccentric = coòkie cake Koràn = Quràn = Qur’àn Korêa peninsula = BrE carêer job, fast Kósovô -ss- - although Kosovans say ‘Kóssôvə’ kòwtòw Kürt person = cürt abrupt Kuwâit Kÿrgyzstān
L
L = él railway
labŏrious
lâbour BrE; AmE -or, cf. Lâbor Pàrty Australia, etc.
lâbourer BrE; AmE -or-
lábyrinth
lackadâisical
lácklustre adjective one word
lácquer *lácker
láddies boys
lâdies women
làger beer hard g, cf. soft g in làrger bigger
lâid egg, table, trap *lâyed
lâin down = lâne traffic
lãir hideout ≈ lâyer covering: both are two syllables, but lâir is normally shorter
lâissèz-fãire silent z: *lây-sây-fãir
lámb -m
lambást or lambâste
lamént
lámentable or laméntable
lâne road = lâin lie = Lâne, Lâine persons
lánguorous -uorou-: -ərə-
Làos nation = lòuse bug
lápdog one word
lápse negative = láps lap largésse or AmE largéss làrva insect BrE = làva volcano lâser -z-; rhymes with râzor lasso *lássoô Làs Vègas - many BrE speakers say *Lós Vègas probably because they would normally read Las with the á sound, the AmE Làs sounds to them like Lós, and by analogy with Lós Ángeles lâter làttè látter låud praise = BrE lŏrd master låudanum lāughter rhymes with āfter laureate *lóriat laurel *lórrel làva volcano BrE = làrva insect lávish cf. slâvish låw legal = BrE lŏre folk: *lŏ, cf. lôw *ləù: Francophones beware Lawrence Ló- or Laurence w more common låwyer *lŏyer lây table, egg, snooker as a verb in its own right, or as past of lîe; = lâze lazy lâybŷ lâyer covering ≈ lãir hideout: both are two syllables, but lâyer is normally longer lâze lazy = lâys table lâzy lêa grass = lêe shelter = Lêe = Lêigh persons lêach percolate = leêch worm, sail lêast cf. lést lêaves leave, leaf lêad first, guide léad metal = léd took, past of lêad, cf. réad, past of rêad lêader lead = lìêder songs lêak liquid = lêek vegetable lêague *lêeg léant lean = lént lend = Lént season léapt leap lëarn past: lëarned or lëarnt lëarned as attributive adj: a *lëarníd mán lêast less cf. lést in case Lébanon -ənən; AmE -ón léd guided = léad metal lée shelter = Lêe = Lêigh = Lêa persons = lêa grass lêes dregs cf. lêase contract, unvoiced s leêch worm, sail = lêach percolate Lêeds city = lêads lead lêek vegetable = lêak liquid lêer look = Lêar person léft hand, leave léftie politics = léfty hand légacy lêgal législâtor législatûre Léicester city = Léster person Léinster leisure BrE léisure *lézher; AmE lêisure *lêzher; BrE rhyming with méasure, pléasure and tréasure leîtmotìf Lénnox léns *lénze, plural lénses lént lend = Lént season = léant lean Lêô
Léominster *Lémstə
Léonard *Lénnəd = Lénnard
léopard animal = Léppard person *lépəd, cf. Léonard, jéopardy, also silent o
lêotàrd *lêətàd
léper *lépə, rhyming with pépper
Lêroy
Lésley female = Léslie male
Lesotho *Lesûtû
léss more
léssen less = lésson school
lést in case cf. lêast less
lêthal
léts let = lét’s let us
léttuce *léttis
Levánt
lévee dam = lévy tax
lêver BrE; AmE léver
lêverage BrE; AmE léverage cf. béverage in both
Lêvi
Lévis cf. Lêavis
lévy tax = lévee dam
leŵd cf. feûd
Leŵis Scotland, person *Loôwis = Leŵes England
Lhàsa
liâison lì-
lîable three syllables
lîar
lîbel two syllables
líberal
libertãrian
líberty
líbido
Lìbra
lîbrary
lîbrãrian
Líbya
lîcence BrE or lîcense AmE; can be verb in BrE
lîcensêe *lîcencee
lîchen plant = lîken compare
lîe down, untrue cf. lŷing, lây
lìên *lêən
lìêder songs = lêader lead
lieuténant AmE lût-, BrE léft- or lût-
lîfestyle one word
lîfetime one word
lígament
lîght *lîte - but ‘lite’ can be seen commercially
lîghtning flash *lîtning ≈ lîghtening lighten
lîkelihood
lîkely
lîke-mînded
lîlac
Lilóngwè
líly-lívered
límb *lím, cf. clîmb up = clîme climate
lîme cf. Lŷme Rêgis
límô
limousìne *limmazêen
línchpín cf. lýnch
Líncoln *Língkən
Líndsay = Líndsey *Línzy
línêage *línêíj, cf. lîne
lingerie BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjerèy, è stressed
lîon animal = Lŷon person, cf. Lỳon France líp-rêad
líquefy cf. líquid líquidate
liqueûr chocolate *licûre
líquor whisky *líkker
Lîsa
Lísbon *Lízbən
líst column, sway = Líszt Franz lísten *líssen lístless *lístlíss lîte - humorous or commercial spelling of lîght líterary líturgy líve verb lîve adjective cf. lîfe noun líves verb lîves life plural of lîfe Líz Lìza – usually Ljubljàna´*Lyùblyàna llàma animal = làma Buddhism
Llanélli - Welsh names featuring Ll- are pronounced by many English speakers as if they began Thl-, so: *Thlanéthly - except for the very common...
Llŏyd *Lŏyd
lôan lend = lône alone
lôath unwilling unvoiced th; its variant lôth is perhaps preferable, to avoid confusion with the following, which is sometimes used incorrectly in its place
lôathe hate voiced th, *lôadh
lôathsome voiced th, no middle e
lóch Scottish ch like Arabic kh, phonetic symbol χ, cf. lóck; Irish ones are lóugh, same pronunciation
lóckjaw one word
lôgo
Lòndon
lône only = lôan money longévity -njé-
lónger long hard g sounded separately
longëur bore g not sounded separately
Lóngfellow
loô toilet = Loû person = lieû in
loòkalike noun one word
loôse insecure *lûce, cf. lose lost = loôs loo *lûze: writing 'loose' for 'lose' is perhaps the second most common mistake in English after ít’s for íts
loôt spoils = lûte music
lŏre folk = BrE låw rule
lórry transport = Laurie person
lose lost *lûze = loôs toilets, cf. loôse insecure *lûce
loser unlucky *lûzer, cf. loôser more insecure
loses lû-, cf. lósses
lôth disinclined variant of lôath, and arguably preferable, as it is further from lôathe hate
loûche -sh
Loûìs silent s, or (particularly in St. Loûis) = Leŵís
Louìse
Louisiána Lûì-; one n
lòve cf. lôathe
lôw cf. låw
lûchre *lûker, AmE lûcher
lúggage
lúllabŷ
lúmbar back = lúmber wood
lûte music = loôt spoils
lúvvie, a satirical British word for an actor cf. lòve, lòvey-dòvey
Lúxemboürg
lŷing from lîe
lýmph
lýnch = Lýnch person, cf. línchpin
lýnx animal = línks link
Lỳón France cf. lîon animal
lŷre harp = lîar cheat
M
M = ém print
macádam road comes from McÁdam person: names begin Mac- or Mc- with or without a following capital
macarôni cf. original Italian ‘macheroni’
MacGrégor or McGrégor
machétê *məshétty
machìne -sh-
machísmo mátch- or mətch-
mácho mátch-
Mácintyre = MácKintyre (c of ‘Mac’ is always hard, even before a vowel)
Macleod or MacLeod or McLeod *Məclòud
mádeleine cake = Mádeleine Paris, person
mâde-up adjective before noun
mádman or -mán; one word
Madràs
mâelstrom
màêstro *mŷstro
máfia AmE màfia
magazìne
Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge both silent g = måudlin sentimental
Mágdalene Mary *Mágdəlín
magistêrial cf. májesty
mágnâte power
mágnet magnetic
mâid servant = mâde make
mâil letters = mâle female
mâin principle = Mâine America = mâne horse
mâinstream one word
mâize crop = mâze labyrinth
Majŏrca *Məyŏrcə
majórity
malãria
Malâysia cf. Âsia etc.
Málcolm person *Málcum, cf. tálcum powder mâle man = mâil post måll shopping = måul violence; Páll Máll is an exception mállêable målt Målta Mámmon mán male = Mánn = Mánne persons = Mán Manchester mánakin bird cf. máníkin dwarf, model = mánnequin dummy Mánchester cf. Chéster mânger cf. mánager mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State mándarin mándatory mandolíne mâne lion = mâin important = Mâine state mângy -jy mánhandle mâniácal máníkin or mánníkin dwarf, model = mánnequin dummy, cf. mánakin bird mán-mâde mánna heaven BrE = mánor house = mánner way mánnequin dummy = máníkin dwarf, model, cf. mánakin bird manoeûvre BrE or manœûvre; AmE maneûver many *ménny, cf. pénny Màori *Mòwry, cf. Lòwry mãre horse = mãyor councillor margarìne màrj- Màrgot -gô Marìa but: Bláck Marîa marìne máriner sailor = Márriner person máritîme Màrlboro ™ cigarette -bərə = Màrlborough person Mårlborough town *Måwlbərə Màrs Martian = màrs mar Marsèille *Marssây Mãry cf. márry màrten animal = màrtin bird = Màrtin person màrtyr -tər māsk face = māsque ball Massachûsetts mássacre -ker mássacring mássàge -àzh AmE *məssàzh massëuse -ëz; AmE -ûz māsterstroke one word matêrial unlike in French mátinèe *mátinây: matinée, accent can be written in BrE but not in AmE mátress mâtrix måudlin sentimental = Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge måul lion = måll shops Maurice person BrE = Mórrís name; AmE Maurìce; see -óris in Retroalphabetical List mauve colour *môav, cf. move û movement mây perhaps = Mây month, person
mâybe perhaps only meaning ‘perhaps’ is one word, cf. mây bê verbs: mâybe it’s trûe; ít mây bê trûe
mâyhém
mãyor councillor = mãre horse, cf. Mâyer person, mâjor
McEnroe *Máckenroe
McIlroy *Máckilroy
McGóugh *MəGóff
McKénzie = MacKénzie = Mackénzie Mək-
mêaly-mòuthed
mêan intend, generous = mìên face
méant mean cf. -ment suffix
mêantime one word
méasure *mézher
mêat flesh = mêet up = mête appropriate
mêatball one word
médal medallion = méddle interfere
mêdia
mêdial
médical
médicine - the first i may be silent
medìêval or mediaêval *medì-êvəl or *medêvəl
Mediterrânean cf. ‘terra’, Latin for ‘earth’, so it is not spelt *Meditterânean
mêet encounter = mêat eat = mête suitable, out
megalomâniac
melanchôlia -nk-
mélancholy -nk-
Mélbourne *Mélbən, cf Mílburn, BrE *Mílbən
méltdown noun one word
meménto remember cf. môment, moméntous time
mémoir *mémwà (no final -e unlike in French original)
ménace rhymes with Dénnis and ténnis (-əss or -íss)
ménû
Menzies Campbell *Míngiz
Méopham *Méppəm
mêre
meringue *məráng
mesméric
mésmerise
Méssrs Mister r as er, cf. mésser mess
Mésurier John le = méasurer measure
métal metallic = méttle quality
metamŏrphôsis - either stressed
meteorólogy mê-
mête suitable, out = mêet encounter = mêat animal
mêter measure = mêtre distance, rhythm BrE; all three meanings in AmE are mêter mêthane methínks one word méthod methódical mètièr métier *mâytiay meŵs street, cat = mûse think, inspiration mézzanine méz- or méts- mézzo *métso mì doh-re-mi = mê I Mîámì miaòw mîca Mîchael *Mŷcle, rhyming with cŷcle mîcrô-ŏrganism hyphenated míd does not require hyphen middây mídnight *mídnîte mìên face = mêan intend, ungenerous míffed rhymes with ríft etc. mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid mìgraine mîke microphone = Mîke Michael Milán Italy í, cf. Mìlán person mîles mile = Mîles person mílitary milítia *milíshə millénnium minarét mînd brain, care = mîned mines mîndset noun one word mîne me, bomb, coal mînefield one word mîner coal = mînor small, young, major minestrônê míni small = Mínnie person míniature *mínitcher mínímum mínistry cf. mónastery mínkê *mínky mînus mínuscule mínute time *mínít mînûte tiny minûtiae *minûshî mîre mís- not hyphenated miscellâneous -səl- miscéllany -sél- míschíef míschíevous misconcéption mislêad misléd misógynist misquôte míss aim = Míss female = mís- wrong míssal prayers = AmE míssile hit, cf. BrE pronunciation míssîle misshâpen *míss-shâpen Mississíppì Missoûrì *Mizoôry; some AmE speakers say *Mízoôrə misspéll místral wind cf. místrîal trial misûse mîte small, arachnid = mîght perhaps, power mnemónic nem- môbîle move Môbìle Alabama módel *móddle, cf. môtél Mohámmed or Muhámmad *Məhámid mŏisten *mŏissən Mojàvê *Məhàvì môld shape = môuld mouldy mólecule molécular móllycoddled one word Mólotov -f Mólineûx *Móllyneŵ môment cf. meménto moméntous cf. meménto mónarch BrE -nək, AmE -nàrk mónestery *mónistry, cf. mínistry mònetary mòney mónicker name = móniker name; BrE = Mónica person mònk Montána BrE and AmE, cf. AmE banána but BrE banàna, with the usual BrE pronunciation of this ending; also Alabáma and Louisiána are both BrE and AmE mònth *múnth cf. mòunt *máùnt Montgómery = Montgómerie Montreål -ê- moôn mŏor land = mŏre plus = Mŏore = Mŏre names moôt mention cf. mûte silent môped mope môpéd bike móral virtuous morāle confidence mŏrès (-âyz) mŏrning early = mŏurning death mŏron Mórris person BrE = Maurice person: see -óris in Retroalphabetical Word List mŏrtgage *mŏrgij mŏrtíce or mŏrtíse mosâíc pattern = Mosâíc Jewish *môzâíc Móscôw - some AmE speakers say Móscòw mósque *mósk, cf. músk, màsk mosquìto -skêeto môte eye = môat castle móthball one word motìf pattern mô-, cf. môtive reason moûe pout = moô cow môuld mouldy = môld shape
mòuntaínous -tínəss
mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning
mòuse rodent, cf. moûsse
Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl
moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. môuse
moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh
mòuth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced, same spelling, cf. bréath noun th unvoiced, brêathe adding an e when becoming a verb th also voiced
mòuthpiece one word
move û
Môzart *Môatsart
Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used Mrs *míssíz; abbreviation of míssis or míssus, of which the full form is rarely used; = mísses mistakes, girls
mûesli *meŵzly
Mûïr name *meŵer
Mujahedìn
múltiplŷ verb
múltiplỳ adverb
múm quiet, mother BrE = AmE mòm mother
múmmy body, mother BrE = AmE mòmmy mother
Mûnich -ík
Múrraỳ = Mòray Firth = Múrry, cf. húrry
mürky
múscle body = mússel shellfish
Múscovite
mústáche AmE; BrE moustàche
mûse think, inspiration = meŵs street, cat
musêum mûz-
mûsic current = mûsick archaic
Mùslim or Móslem, -z-
múslin
mústn’t *mússənt
mûte silent cf. moôt mention mŷ
mŷnah bird BrE = mînor lesser = mîner mines
mŷre
mýriad
mÿrtle
mýstery *mistry
mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke
mýth
myxomatôsis
N
N = én print
nâdír
naìve can be written naïve innocent nàì- *nŷêve, cf. nâve church
naìvity *nà-ìvity - or naïveté, *nî-yeevitây
nâked -íd
Náncy person = Nàncy France
Nâomi
narcissístic
nárrative
narrâtor
NÁSA space = BrE Násser person
nâscent *nâysənt
Násh person = gnásh teeth
nāstiness
nāsty
Nâthan
nátional *náshnəl, cf. nâtion
nâtionwîde one word
nátural *nátchrəl
nåught nothing *nåwt = nŏught zero: thèy wíll stóp at nåught; hòw many nŏughts dòes a quadríllion hàve?
nåughty *nåwty
nåusea BrE *nåuzìa, AmE *nåusha
nåuseous -shəss
nâval navy = nâvel body
nâve church = knâve cad, cf. naìve, which can be written naïve innocent
nâvel stomach = nâval navy
nây see nèigh
Nàzi -tsì
Nàzísm *Nàtsízm; not *Nàtsìyízm
neánderthal - nê-
nécessary
nêe- = knêe; see also nì-
nêed require = knêad dough = knêed knee
negôtiate
negotiâtions
nèigh horse = nây no = nè, which can be written before a man's birth name = nèe, which can be written before a woman's birth name
nèighbour *nâber, rhymes with lâbour, sâbre, tâbor, câber and Fâber (AmE nèighbor)
Nêil = Nêill = Nêal = Nêale = Knêale persons = knêel down, cf. níl zero
neîther AmE nêither
némesis
nêô-
neólogism nê-
nét catch = nétt deductions
neûter
néver mînd is two words
Neŵ Ŏrleans is the local pronunciation
neŵbŏrn adjective, noun one word
newfángled one word
neŵ-fòund
Neŵfoundland BrE *Neŵfəndlənd
neŵly new = Neŵley person
neŵspaper -eŵss-; one word
neŵswörthy -eŵz-; one word
Ngaîo *Nŷô Màrsh
Nicarágua -gûa has given way to -gwə
nîce good cf. Nìce France, NYSE New York
nìche *nêesh
níck steal = Níck person = kníck -nack
Nicosìa
Nîgel *Nîjəl
Nîger delta *Nîjə, cf. Nîgel
Nigér country *Nízhãiə, French style
Nigêria Nîj-
nîgh *nŷ nîght dark *nîte; = kníght Sir, chess nîghtmãre nìhílíst - h can be as y níl - one l nìrvàna nít creature, fool = knít wool nítpick one word nítwit one word neŵborn one word néxt doôr two words nô negative cf. nº number nób rich = knób handle Nôbél prize - either stressed nôble birth, elevated noblésse nóctürne cf. türn nô-gô ãrea noir BrE *nwà, AmE *nwàr nóm de plûme *nómdəplûme nón- not not a word in its own right except in persôna nón gràtis nónchalant nónsh- nòne zero = nún God, cf. knôwn knew, nô-one nobody
nònesuch
nonplússed no hyphen
nónsense
nonsénsical
nón séquitùr - or nôn; or -tə
noòk cf. knóck *nóck
noôn midday = Noône person
noôse cf. nòus
nô-òne nobody *nôwún - the hyphen seems the happy medium, but it can be two words and must be when òne is a numeral, as in nô òne síngle rêason
Nŏrfolk -fək
Nórwich rhymes with pórridge or, sometimes nowadays, Ípswich
nŏrthern voiced th, unlike nŏrth
nôse face = knôws know
nôsey or nôsy
nôtewörthy one word
nòthing
nôtice -íss
nôticeable
notorîety
notŏrious
nŏught zero *nåwt = nåught nothing
noúrish
nòus cf. noôse, hòuse
noûveau rìche *nûvô-rêesh
Nôva Scôtia *Nôvə Scôshə
nóvelist
novélla
nôwhere one word, cf. nô plâce
nth *énth
nûisance nyûss-
númb -m
númber 123
númber numb *númmer
nûmerous
nún God = nòne nought
nútcase one word
nutrítion nû-
nyctophôbia
nýmph *nímf
O
Ô letter = ôh exclamation
ŏar boat = ŏr alternative = ŏre metal
oâsis *ôwâyssís
obêdience
obèisance
obèy
oblìque -lêek
obscêne
obscénity
obsêquious
óbsolête
obsoléscence
óbstacle
occâsionally
occür
occürred (cf. cûred), occúrrence, occürring - two r’s
ôcean *ôtion, *ôshən
óchê *ócky, cf. hóckey
ôchre *ôker; AmE -er
óctagon
óctopus
ôdious
ôdium
ôdorous
Oêdipus AmE Ê-
oêstrogen AmE ê-
öeuvre *ëvra
óf *óv
offénce BrE; AmE offénse
offénsive
óffspring one word
óften *óffen; though some pronounce the t
ÔK or ôkây
Ôklahôma
ôld normal = ôlde jocular, old-fashioned = Ôld person
ôld-fáshioned
Olýmpic
ómelette *ómlit, cf. hámlet
omérta
omnípotent
òne single = wòn game
òne-óff
ònes plural = òne´s possessive *wúnz òneself one word, wú- óngôing one word ònion *únyon, cf. Cányon onlîne connected one word ónlooker one word Ontãrio ón to *óntû or *óntə: two words, but ínto is one ónyx or ônyx oòps óperate ophthalmólogist ph opínion opportûnity *óppərtyûnity oppréss oppûgn -ûne optimístic ópt-òut noun hyphenated ŏr instead = ŏre metal = ŏar boat ŏral voice = åural ear órange *óringe
oráng-utan
orâte
órator BrE; AmE ŏr-
ŏrchestrate ŏrk- ŏrchid *ŏrkid, cf. ŏrchard, ch sound ŏrdnance weapons cf. ŏrdinance decree ŏrient órifíce AmE ŏrifíce Orîon .*ŏrtha- no words begin like this ŏrthodox ósprêy or ósprèy òtherwise one word Ouagadoûgou *Wágadûgu ouìja-bŏard wì- ŏught *åwt òur us = hòur time òut outdo *òutdoô, one word òutlåw one word òutrîght one word outsîde one word ôva ovum = BrE ôver top, finish òven ôver overbürdened one word overcòme one word overdûe one word ôverload one word overlôaded one word overnîght *ôver-nîte, one word overrâte rate ≈ overâte or *overét overeat overreáct *ôverêáct, one word overrîde one word overrûle one word overshádow one word overthrôw one word ovërt ô- ôwe debt = ôh exclamation = Ô letter óxbow Óxford -əd O’Brîen cf. Brîan
P
P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine
pâce speed
pàcè peace *pàchè
páchydërm *pákidërm
pácifist cf. pássive
paêan
paediatrícian
paêdophile
pâge
págeant ea as schwa, *pájənt
pâid pay *pâyed, *pâde, cf. regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc.
pâin hurt = pâne window
pâinstâking
pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails
Pākistān but not Pàkistán
pálatal palate
palâtial palace -shəl
pâle pallid = pâil bucket
Pálestîne
Palestínian
påll cf. Páll Máll, måll
pállet mattress = pálette paint
Pámela
panáche *pənásh
Pánamà
páncake *pángcake
Pàncho AmE; BrE Páncho
pánda animal BrE = pánder serve
pandemônium
pánel cf. chánnel
panoràma
paparázzi pápərátsy
pâper-thín
páprika BrE; AmE paprìka
papŷrus
parábola
párachute -shû-
páradigm -îm
Páraguay -gwî
párallel *párralel, cf. désiccate, where one would expect double s
páralyse
parálysis
paralýtic
parámeter
pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit pãrent parîah Parísian -ízì- pàrliament *pàrləmənt párrot bird = Párrott person partisán -z- AmE pàrtisan -zən pàrse -z partícipate pássè passé pāssed pass = pāst time, tense pássion *páshən pássive cf. pácifist pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field pastìche -ìsh pāstime pāst ít old pátè pâté pâtent pàth pathétic pathológical á pathólogy pâthós pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients hospital pátois *pátwà cf. fátwà pâtriàrch -k pátriot or â patriótic - á or â patrôl cf. pétrol pátronise condescend pâtronise patron påuse stop = påws animal pâyback noun one word pây-óff noun pêa vegetable = pêe urine = P letter = p pence pêal bell = pêel fruit = Pêel person pêak summit = pêek cheat = pìque annoyance péãr fruit = pãir two = pãre cut cf. Pêter Pêars Pêarce person = Pìêrce person, pìêrce hole, cf. Pìêrs, -z person = pìêrs pier pëarl stone = pürl knit, liquid pêase pudding -z: = pêas pea pêat bog = Pête Peter peccadíllo pédal foot = péddle sell pédestal pédigree pédlar or péddler seller pêe urine = pêa vegetable = p pence = P letter pêek cheat = pêak summit = pìque annoyance
pêer look, lord = pìêr jetty
pêeved
pejórative cf. përjury
péll-méll cf. Páll Máll
pén write = Pénn person
péncil
Penélopê
penicíllin
península noun = BrE penínsular adjective
Pennsylvânia
péntagon
pêony *pêənỳ
pêople pêep-, cf. stêeple
Pêpys Samuel = pêeps looks
për normally weak, but when strong = pürr cat
per cént two words
percéntage one word
përfect adjective
perféct verb
përjury cf. pejórative
permíssion
permít verb
përmit noun
përpetrate not perper-
për sè *persây, cf. sây
përson
persôna
personálity
persôna nón gràtis
personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private
persuâde -swâde
Perû
pervërse
përvërt
pervërted
péssimistic can be péz-
pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. patrôl
Pëugeôt ™ -zhô
ph- f-
phâeton
phálanx
phãraoh Egypt -rô; = Fãroe Islands
pharmacôpoêia BrE, AmE pharmacôpêia rhyming with cornucôpia
phàrming chemicals = fàrming farm
phâse period = fâze puzzle
phenómena plural
phenómenon singular
pheŵ relief = feŵ many
Phílip person = fíllip stimulus
Philìppe
phîal liquid = fîle papers, nails
phíshing email = físhing water
physiógnomy *fízzy-ónomy
phlégm
Phnóm Pénh *Pənóm Pén
Phoêbê *Fêeby
Phoênix Arizona *Fêenix = phoênix or phœnix ashes
phôney or phôny; phôneys or phônies
phôtograph
photógrapher
photógraphy
phrâse -âze
phýsical -zí-, cf. físcal, -ss-
pî number π, pious = pîe food
pìanist
piáno
píc picture = píck other meanings
Piccadílly - cc, ll
pídgin language = pígeon bird
pìêr jetty = pêer look, lord cf. Pêter Pêars, péar
pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce, Pêirce persons
piérrot *pyérrô pígeonhole one word píllage -íj pîlot plane = Pîlate Pontius pîneápple -eá- pínnacle pînt cf. línt, mínt pîonêer pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek look Pîscês *Pŷsêez pìste cf. píssed píttance píty pívot pìzza *pìtsa pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. ballerìna pizzicàto píts- plácard plâce where = plâice fish plâgiarise pláid pláit hair cf. plâte food plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin straightforward plánet cf. gánnet plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher plátinum plátypus plâyboy one word plâywright pléasure -ézher plîght *plîte plòver plúm fruit, exact = plúmb depths, plumber plŷ Plýmouth -məth pm post meridian = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém pneumátic neû- pŏignant *pŏinyant Polàris Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll election polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze pólish shine Pôlish Poland políticking pólitics pôker cards, fire pôlka dance pôll vote = pôle wood = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll póll parrot pólythene *póllithêen polyéthylene -éthílêen polyphónic polýphony pómegranate cf. gránite poôl swim = Poôle place, person pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (some say poôr) pópulace noun = pópulous adjective pŏring examining = pŏuring out pŏrous pornográphic pornógraphy Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce Pŏrtugal, Portuguêse Pŏrch- Poseîdon posëur pseud cf. pôser puzzle póssê posséss *pozéss pôst letter = pôst- after, which must be hyphenated postpône pôsp- potâtoes cf. tornâdos, both -ôz Potômac poùffe práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (not -îse/-îze) the American custom of using only the -íce spelling would seem the more sensible
Pràgue *Pràhg
prây prayer = prèy victim
prãyer *prãir, cf. plâyer
precêde before prí-, cf. procêed start *prəsêed
précedent before préss- *précident, cf. président head, préz-
précious *préshəss
prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe
prècìs’d past *prâycêed
precîse *precîce
prê-dâte
prédator prêdecessor AmE pré- prê-émpt hyphenated prê-éminent hyphenated préferable cf. prefër prélude prémìêr government, league, -er as schwa; AmE premìêr = premìêre prémìére performance cf. thére; AmE premìêre = premìêr prémíse preóccupied - prê- prepãre présent gift, now préz- presént give príz- prestìge -êezh prestígious -íjəss preténce preténd preténsion preténtious pretty -í- prevâil prévalent prêvious prèy victim = prây prayer prîce cost = prîce = Prŷce persons prìma dónna *prê-madónna prìma fâcìê prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male cf. príncéss female - either stressed príncipal main = prínciple reason principálity prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor persons prívacy AmE prîvacy prívilege prîze present = prîse apart prô- in favour procêdure procêed cf. precêde procreâte proféss prófit money = próphet prophecy prodûce verb pródûce noun pródúct prodúctive proféssional prôgram computer, AmE prôgramme BrE not computer prôgress noun, BrE AmE prógress; verb progréss próject activity - some say prôject projéct stick out prôle prolóng one word prómenàde AmE -âde prómise -íss prônòun pronunciâtion ú: cf. pronòunce proôf cf. prove *proôve propagánda própagate próper próphecỳ noun próphesŷ verb próphet religion = prófit gain propônent prôs pro = prôse verse próspect future prospéct gold prôtêan protéct protéctor prôtegè male protegé *prôtezhây protegèe female protegée *prôtezhây prôtest noun protést verb prótestant protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor prove *proôve, cf. proôf prôven or *proôvən próvenance Provence *Provónce Provençal *Provón-sàl próvince províncial -shl provocâtion provócative provôke pròwess pròwl prŷ ps- s- psàlm *sàm pseûd pseûdo-intelléctual psilocŷbin psst - p pronounced, any number of s’s psŷch *sîke psŷchê *sîky psychîatrist psychólogist cf. sýcophánt psychólogy psychométric psŷchopáth psychopáthic psychópathy pterodáctyl térə- públicly cf. bâsically púcker lips BrE = púkka real pùdding púddle pûerile pùll push cf. poôl water pùllover clothing cf. pùll ôver car púmíce púnish pûny yû pûre yû pürl knit, liquid = pëarl stone pürr pús yellow cf. pùss cat pùsh pùt place cf. pútt golf pûtrid cf. hâtred, both -íd pùtsch cf. pùsh pùtting put pútting putt púzzle pýgmy pyjàmas AmE pajámas pŷre Pýrrhic
Q
Q = queûe up = cûe prompt
Qátàr or *Cátter, cf. catàrrh
qát drug or khát or kát; = cát animal
quáck
qùad
quadriplégic
quágmire or qùagmire
quàlm -àm
quángo
qùantity
quàrk
qùarrel
quartét å
quårtz mineral = quårts liquid
qùash
quaỳ harbour = kêỳ lock
quêasy -zêe, rhymes with êasy and slêazy, not with grêasy -sêe
Quebécker
quéll
quêry
quéstion *quéshchən
queûe line = cûe theatre, billiards
quìche *kêesh
quíd prô quô
quiéscent *kwìéssent
quîet silent two syllables, e as schwa: *kwîət
quít leave, stop
quîte moderate one syllable
Quìto *Kêeto
quíz
quŏits
Quràn = Qur’àn = Koràn
QWËRTY
R
R = àre be rábbî raccoôn or racoôn râcehorse one word râcism cf. fáscism *fáshism ráck frame, stretch = wráck pain rácket corruption, noise = rácquet sport râdàr râdìî râdius râid râin water = rèign monarch = rèin horse râise up = râze ground râisin -zən râison d’étre raison d´être Ráleigh person = rálly meeting, though officially Sir Wålter Råleigh rhymes with Råwley Rálph mostly, but some are Râlph, *Râfe rámpâge noun rampâge verb Rámsey Isle of Man = Rámsay MacDonald ráncour *rángkə; AmE ráncor *rángkər Rangoôn *Ráng-gûne ránkle cf. wrínkle ránsom money = Ránsome person rappróchement *rápróshmó rápt entranced = wrápped parcel rāspberry -spb- Rastafãrian râtio *râyshôw rátion -sh- rátional -sh- rationâle -sh- ráttlesnake one word råucous rhymes with cåucus rây light = Rây = Râe = Wrây persons râzor rhymes with lâser rê concerning = rê- again prefix - in more common words, rê- sounds like rí-: compare revêal and rêdêal rêad writing = rêed plant = Rêed = Rêid = Rêad persons réad past, past participle = réd colour; cf. lêad present, léd past, past participle Réading town = Rédding person, cf. rêading read Reâgan Ronald cf. Rêgan Lear, Mégan reáct - rê- rêal genuine = rêel rotate Reál Madríd *Rèy-ál Mədríd reálpolitìk rêalty rêálity réalm rêam rébel noun *rébble, cf. pébble rebél verb réccê *récky recêde back *rísêed ≈ resêed plant, rê- recêipt money -cêet, cf. concêit, decêit recêive rêcent lately cf. resént disapprove *rizént rêcess récipê food recíprocal réckon récognise - g can be silent recónnaíssance *recónissənss récrêâtion fun, sport rê-crêâtion forensics recrûit redundant i recür recürred, recúrrence, recúrrent, recúrring - two r’s réd colour = réad book rédolent Rêes = Rhỳs = Rêece = Rêese refléct refléction BrE can be refléxion rêflex rêed water = rêad book = Rêed = Rêad = Rêid persons rêek smell = wrêak havoc rêel round = rêal genuine rê-énergise - rê- hyphenated before é rê-éntry - rê- hyphenated before é refër réference refŏrm refûse no -z réfuse rubbish -s Rég *Rédge, rhyming with hédge Rêgan Lear cf.Reâgan Ronald, Mégan regìme *râizhìme régister rehëarse Rêid person = rêad write = rêed water = Rêed person rèign monarch = râin wet = rèin horse rêígnîte rêímbürse rêínfŏrce cf. enfŏrce rêíterate - not -tt- rêjéct noun rejéct verb rejûvenate relêase cf. rêalîse rélevant relìêf relìêve rêlíve relŷ remémber remémbrance reminíscent -ssent Rénault ™ *Rénô rendezvous *róndâyvoô renège or renègue *rənâyg Rêno renòunce renunciâtion ú repéllent rêpercússions repétitive rêplay noun replây verb replŷ represént represéntative reprîsal reprìse repúblic réputable repûte resëarch AmE rêsëarch resémble *rizémble resént *rizént cf. rê-sént re-send, rêcent lately réservoir *rézəvwàr rêshuffle noun reshúffle verb resîgn leave *rizîne, cf. rê-sîgn return *rê-sîne resignâtion g sounded resíst -zí- resístance -zí- resôlve *rízólve resŏurce AmE rêsource réspiratory réspîte AmE réspíte respónsible *respónsable réstaurant *réstrónt resúlt *rizúlt resûme again *ríz-yoôm résumè CV - may be written résumé to distinguish from resûme resurréction réz- resúscitate retàrd verb rêtard person rétch vomit = wrétch poor rethínk rétina reveillê *reválly rével cf. revêal revêre réverence revieŵ newspaper = revûe show revísit revôke cf. irrévocable rewård Réynolds rhápsody -ədy rhêa bird = Rhêa Saturn rhétoric rhetórical rhodedéndron rô- rhŷme rhýthm *rídhəm rhýthmic *rídhmic ríbald *ríbbled, *ríbəld ríbbon -bən Ríchard BrE *Ríchəd rídicule ridículous *ridíkyələss rîght side, correct = wrîte read = rîte ritual = wrîght artesan = Wrîght person Rîley = Reîlly rîme frost also alternative, more regular, spelling of rhŷme ríng round, noise = wríng neck rísquè risqué *rískè rîte ritual = wrîte read = rîght side, correct = wrîght artesan ríven ríver Rìyadh - the only word with dh as the voiced sound of th in thís, and the only word with iy rôad street = rôde ride rôam wander = Rôme city rób steal = Rób Robert róbber róbbery róbin bird = Róbin = Róbyn persons rôe fish = rôw line, in a, cf. ròw Rôland cf. Rónald rôle model rôle = rôll bread, rolling, call roôfs roof *roôves, cf. hoôves hoof roôm Rôosevelt first syllable rhyming with rôse roôt plant = BrE roûte journey rôse flower, rise = rôws boat, line rôsè rosé wine rôse-tínted rôte learning = wrôte write rótten roûè roué roúgh violent = rúff cards, neck, bird, fish ròughage *rúffage, *rúffij ròund ròut victory roûte journey BrE = roôt plant; AmE ròute = ròut victory rôw boat, line = rôe fish ròw argument rúbble wreck cf. AmE rûble BrE roûble money rûbric rúcksack Ruîslip *Rŷslip rúmpus rúnaway person cf. rún awây action rúng ladder, ring = wrúng wring Rûpert rústle noise = Rússell person Rŵánda Rûá-
S
S *éss
sáccharine sácə-
sáchet bag = sáshay walk
sácrament
sâcred
sacrilegious -íjəss, from sácrilege, cf. relígious, which rhymes
Sagittãrius Sáj-
said *séd, cf. pâid, lâid etc.
Sàìd Port, person = Sàêed person
sâke for
sàkè Japan
sâle sell = Sâle England = sâil boat
Sålisbury *Sålzbry
sálivate
salîva
sálmon *sámmon
Sálomè
sálon
Samôa
Sámùel -myùl
sanctimônious
sándal rhymes with cándle
Sandinístas
sang-froid *sàm-frwà
San Josè San José *Sán Hô-zè
Sánskrit cf. scrîbe
Sàra usually
Sãrah usually
Saskátchewan
sátellite - l is doubled, but not t
Sâtan
sátín
sátîre cf. sátyr
Sátürn
sátyr *sátter
Sàùdì
sàùerkràùt *sòurcròut
sàùna
såw see, wood, saying = BrE sŏre pain = BrE
sŏar up
sáx saxophone = Sáchs person
says *séz
sáy-sô noun one word
scándal *scándle, rhyming with cándle
scàr
scárab
scãre
scãrce
scàrf neck = Scàrfe person
scàrlet colour = Scàrlett person
scêne vista = sêen see
scént smell = cént money, sént send
scéptic AmE sképtic
schàdenfreude *shàdənfrŏyd
schédule BrE shé-, AmE ské-
schêma *skêemə
schemàta *skêem-àtə
schême *skêem
schérzo *skãirtso
schizophrênia skítsəfrìnia
schizophrénic skítsəfrénnic
schnítzel shn-
schtùm sht-
schoôl *skoôl
schoôlboy, schoôlgirl each one word
schoôner skoô-
schwà sh-
sciática sî-
scientífic sîən- scíssors - ss as z scóne cf. góne, dòne, cône scöreboard one word Scót Scotland = Scótt person scòur scöurge scráp scrâpe scrâped scrápped
scrêam
scrêen
scríbble
scúll oar = skúll head
scŷthe
sêa water = sêe vision
sêal shut, animal
sêaling = cêiling floor
Seån person = Shåun = BrE shŏrn shear
Sêáttle cf. bêátify
secêde cf. procêed, precêde, succêed, supersêde
secónd BrE military
sécond other meanings
sectãrian
sedán cf. Sudàn
sédentary cf. said, *séd
sêed plant = cêde yield
sêem appear = sêam coal, thread
sêer *sêe-er
segregâtion
seîsmic sîz-
seismólogist sîz-
sêize grab *sêez = sêes see, cf. cêase stop, sîze big, síeve filter sélf-évident séll buy = céll prison, biology séll-bŷ dâte - I once saw ‘sell buy date’ sémblance cf. resemble sêmen sperm = sêaman sailor = sêamen sailors sénsor feel = cénsor censorship séntence Seôul Korea = sôle only, shoe = sôul spirit séparate adjective, séparâte verb not -per-, cf. a in pãir, désperate séptic infected cf. scéptic = AmE sképtic doubter sépulchre *sépulker sërf peasant = sürf sea sergeant *sàrjent = Sergeant = Sàrgent persons sêrial TV = cêreal breakfast sêries *sêríz sêrious cf. Sýria, Sírius sërve cf. sürvèy noun, *sërvây; survèy verb sërvíce *sërvíss, cf. sürface, -físs, only one sound diferent sétback noun one word séver cut sevêre tough sew thread = sô thus = sôw seed, cf. sòw pig seŵer pipe sewer sew séxìêst -ìyíst most séxíst sexism sextét Shâkespêare - variant spellings omitted one or both silent e’s in William Shakespeare’s time but this is the norm now; cf. shâke and spêar shâky shâman shãreholder one word shêar cut = shêer absolute shèikh Arabia - kh sound, or = shâke rattle Shêila shéllfish cf. sélfish shenánigans shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons shh any number of h’s Shìa ≈ BrE shêer shibbóleth Shìîte - no apostrophe or hyphen shoe foot = shoô away shoô-in noun one word; *shoe-ín shoôt bang = chûte fall shôre sea BrE = Shåw person and often sûre certain shŏrn shear BrE = Shåun, Seån persons shŏrtcoming one word shŏrtlist finalists cf. shŏrt líst Shostakôvich shoùld *shoòd, cf. shôulder, hoòd shôwcase one word, cf. bàsket câse Shreŵsbury *Shroôzbry or, more commonly, *Shrôzbry shŷ shŷlỳ Siàn *Shàn Sîbêria síbyllîne - y as schwa sìêge cf. sêize síeve *sív, cf. sêize sîgh breath = Cŷ person sîghed sigh = sîde beside sîght see = sîte place = cîte quote sîgn signal = sîne mathematics sígnature Sìkh religion = sêek find símilê cf. símilar, smîle simultâneous Sînaî or *Sînêî síng song = Síngh person sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing síngeing singe -jing, cf. sínging sing - hard g Singapŏre sîphon or sŷphon sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə Jóhn Fålstaff sîting site sítting sit sîze cf. sêize sîzeable or sîzable skì snow, cf. skŷ above skìêr ski skîer sky skìíng skîve skuldúggery skúll head = scúll oar skŷscrâper one word slág cf. Glénda Slágg slây kill = slèigh snow slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase, which has the s hissing sound slêeve, cf. lêave sleîght-of-hand cf. slâte sleŵ slîght little, slur = sleîght-of-hand slípshod no hyphen slôth slòugh swamp *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw fast sloúgh skin *slúff slúg slür slŷ slŷlỳ smållpox one word smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin smôkescreen one word Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th snêeze snóbbery snoôze snôwmobìle cf. môbîle snôwstorm sŏar up = sŏre hurt sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber sóccer *sócker sôcial sôsh- sôcialism sociólogy sôsh- sociológical sóck cf. sóccer sóften *sóffen sóftwãre sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt sôle only, fish = sôul spirit = Seôul Korea sólipsism solitãire patience cf. sólitary alone sôlo Sólomon - all o’s sómbre AmE sómber; cf. sôber sòme any = súm total sòmeone *súmwún, one word sòmersåult cf. súmmer Sòmerville cf. súmmer sòmething cf. sòme thíngs sòmetime former cf. sòme tîme sòmeẁhat one word sônàr sóngwrîter one word soôn soòt sŏre pain = sŏar rise, BrE = såw see sŏught seek BrE = sŏrt type
sôul spirit = sôle only, fish = Seôul Korea
sòundbite one word
soûpçon *soûpsón
sŏurce origin BrE = såuce seasoning
sòuth unvoiced th, *sòwth
soúthern voiced th, *súdhern
Soúthwark voiced th, *Súdhək
soûvenìr *sûvenêer
sóvereign *sóvrin
sôw seed = sô therefore = sew cloth, cf. sòw
sòw pig
sŏya bean = Såwyer person = såwyer saw
spà town BrE = spàr fight
spây
spâceship one word
spêak cf. spêech
spêcíes *spêeshiz
spécimen
spéctre BrE; AmE spécter = Spéctor person
spêech cf. spêak
Spéncer usual = Spénser poet
spíllage -íj
spínach *spínij, *spínnage, cf. spíllage
spôkesperson one word spótlîght -lîte, one word spŷ Srì Lánka sqùander sqùalor cf. dóctor, BrE còlour AmE còlor squêamish St. *Sənt: abbreviation of Sâint before a name as in St. Màrk; St. Jóhn secular may be *Sínjən stâbilise stâble stability, horse stâgefright *stâjefrîte, one word stâid old-fashioned = stâyed stay stâin stâir up = stâre look stâke bet, wooden = steâk meat ståll stålwart stànch flow stàr sky, film = Stàrr person stãre look = stãir climb stãring stare stàrring star stâtionary motionless = stâtionery paper stâtist statístics státistícian -shn ståunch support stây stâyed stay = stâid old-fashioned steâk meat = stâke bet, wooden, cf. strêak line stêal thieve = stêel metal stéalth sténch stép walk = stéppe plain Stêphens = Stêvens -v- stérilise stërling currency = Stïrling Scotland steŵard Steŵart person = Stûart person: one is more likely to meet a Stûart Steŵart than the reverse stíck stîfle stíll stíng stíngy -njy stínk stítch St. Jóhn in most cases *Sənt-Jón, in a few *Sínjən stôny stópôver noun, adjective stŏre shop = Stŏrr person stŏrey BrE floor = stŏry tale, AmE floor stŏry-télling Stŏrmont strâight direct = strâit narrow straightfŏrward adjective one word Stranràer stràta AmE strâta = BrE strâighter stratêgic strátegy stràtum AmE strâtum
strénuous
Stréatham -təm
strýchnìne *strícknêen
Stûart person = Steŵart person - the Scottish royals were Stûarts but Stûart is more common as a given name, Steŵart more as a family name
stúcco stûdent stúdy stûpid stŷ pig = stŷ or stŷe eye stŷle mode = stîle field stŷmie cf. slîmy Stýx river = stícks stick suàve swà- súb jûdicê súbjugate submarìne submáriner submít subŏrn subpoêna AmE -pê- subsîdence súbsídy substántial -shəl súbtle *súttle, cf. súpple succêed -x- succéss -x- súccour help = súcker fool succúmb -úm Sudān cf. sedán sûe law = Sûe Susan = Sioûx American; cf. diminutives Sûsie, Sûzy, etc. = Sioûxsie Banshees; words beginning soô- and soû- also have this sound suède material = swâyed sway Sûez *Soôwíz suffîce Súffolk -fək sùgar shù- sûit wear, cards *sût - or *syût (more common in inflected versions such as unsûitable), cf. soòt black suìte rooms, music = swêet confection súlphur AmE súlfur súm arithmetic = sòme others súmmary summarise = súmmery summer sún star = sòn offspring súnglasses one word súnny sun = sònny son súndae ice-cream = Súnday day Sùnni Muslim cf. súnny weather - some AmE speakers say Sûnni *Soôny sûper-rích is a good example of the usefulness of the hyphen: compare an apparent ‘supérrich’
supercílious
supersêde cf. precêde, intercêde
súpper
súpple *súpəl, cf. súbtle, *sútəl
súpplement -pləmənt
supplŷ provide
súpplỳ supple
suppréss -pp-
sûre AmE *shûre; BrE sůre rhyming with Shåw
sûrety AmE *shûre, BrE *shůrety
sürf sea = sërf peasant
sürface -físs, cf. sërvíce, only one sound different
Surinám or -náme
surmòunt
súrrogacy
sürplíce clergy ≈ sürplus extra
surprîse -rpr-; not -ize
survèillance -ll-
sürvèy noun
survèy verb
Sûsan -z-, cf. Suzánne, etc.
suscéptible
suspénse AmE and BrE; but see retroalphabetical list for -ence and -ense sustâin sústenance svélte sẁallow throat, bird sẁamp sẁan bird = Sẁann person Sẁansea *Swónzy swårthy sẁastika sẁat fly = swót exam swâth or swâthe swéar swéat perspire swêet eat = suìte music, hotel swêetheàrt sweêt-talk verb hyphenated swŏrd blade *sŏrd, cf. swård turf, swŏre, swŏrn swear, w pronounced in all three swót exam = sẁat fly sý- apart from the variant spelling of sîphon, sŷphon, and Sŷracûse sybarític cf. síbyllîne sýcamore .*sych- no words begin like this sýcophánt Sýdney Australia, person = Sídney person sýllable sýllabus sýlph sýmbol sign = cýmbal percussion sýmmetry symmétrical sýmptom cf. Símpson sýnagogue -góg sýnch synchronisation = sínk lower, wash sýndrome synécdochê -kê sýnod syrínge sýrup sýstem
T
T = têa drink
tábleau *táblô, plural tábleaux, *táblôze
tâilor clothes = Tâylor person
tâle ~story = tâil animal
Táliban or Táleban
Taîwàn
tålk -åk; more examples in retroalphabetical list
Tállíín -íí- as í
tálon
Tánzanìa
taoìseach *têeshək
táriff *tárrif
tárôt rhymes with árrôw
tāsk cf. túsk
Tâte = Tâit
tattoô
tåut firm = tåught teach
Tbilìsi *Təblêezy - neither spelt nor pronounced ‘Tibilisi’
Tchaikóvsky has a redundant T: *Chŷ-kóffsky
têa drink = têe golf = tì do-re-mi
têam game = têem pour
téar paper
têar cry
têase provoke = têas tea
têenager one word
teetôtaller BrE; AmE teetôtaler
Tehràn - é or è; or Teheràn
Tél Avìv
télephône
teléphony
télevísion -ízhn
télly
ténant *ténnent
téndency
ténor sound = ténner money
tërn bird = türn round
Terpsíchore rhymes with híckory
Terpsichŏrean Tërpsik-
térrorism
testósterone
téther - no a
th- respelt as dh- where voiced
Thaî nationality = tîe knot, score
Thaîland *Tŷlənd
Thames *Témz
than - only thán at dictation speed
thát dh-; as a demonstrative it has the á sound, but when a conjunction or relative pronoun it normally has schwa *dhət: Î dôn’t thínk that thát was the sâme mán that câme befŏre
thåw freeze = BrE Thŏr god
the *dhə: the schwa sound before a following consonant, thê before a following vowel; in other circumstances thê sounds mannered, as with â for the indefinite article
thêatre - a as schwa: *thêəter; AmE -ter
théir them dh- = thére here = théy’re are: *thãir
Thêodore
thêorem
thêory
thérefore dh-
thêse this -z
thêsês thesis -ssêez
thèy dh-
thìêf
thìêves
thínk
thís dh-
Thómas Tó-
Thómpson, Thómson Tó-
thŏrn rose, letter þ
thòrough exacting *thúrra, cf. throûgh
thòu you *dhòu
thôugh although *dhô
thŏught think *thåwt
thŏught-provôking hyphenated
thréat
thréepence or *thrùpence or *thrúppence
thréshold
threŵ throw
thrôes anguish = thrôws throw
thrône queen = thrôwn throw
throûgh preposition = threw throw = thrû informal American spelling of throûgh; cf. thòrough
throughòut all over one word = threŵ òut throw out, w sounded
thrôw toss
thrôwn throw = thrône king
thúmb -m
thús dh-
thwårt
thŷme herb = tîme clock
tîde sea = tîed tie
tîe knot, level = Thaî nation, cf. tŷing
tìêr rank = têar cry, cf. téar rip
tîer tie
tíff
tîger cf. Nigér *Nizhãir
tîghten tight = tîtan giant = Tîtan Saturn
Tîgris
tíll until, field
tîme hours = thyme herb
tîmetable one word; cf. tîmes tâbles
Tìmor
tínpot adjective one word
Tintágel -j-
tîre tired, AmE car = tŷre BrE car = Tŷre Lebanon
tîtan giant = tîghten tight = Tîtan Saturn
títillate *títtilate
tîtle
títtle-tattle
tmêsis
to preposition *tə; when stressed, especially before a vowel = toô also, much, tŵo 2
tôad animal = tôwed tow
tôaster toast = Tôcester England
to-do fight = to do do *tədû
tôe foot = tôw pull
tóffee *tóffy
tôga’ed
tôld tell = tôlled toll, cf. åll tôld
tólerance
tôll
tómahawk cf. Tómmy
tomb *toôm
tòn avoirdupois = tònne metric = tún cask
Tónga - g sound optional
tòngue mouth *túng, cf. tóng tongs
toô much = to at' = tŵo number
tópple
tópsy-türvy
tŏrment noun = tormént verb
tornâdôs cf. potâtôes
tŏrturous torture
tŏrtûous twisting
Tóttenham *Tótnəm
toúch cf. pòuch
toúgh hard = túff rock
Touloûse France ≈ to lose lost toûr
toûr de fŏrce
Toûr de Frànce
tòusle -zle
tòut
tôw rope = tôe digit tòwel
tòwer building
tôwer tow
tráffic cf. gráphic
trâil cf. trîal
trâiler cf. tâilor
trâit character = trây flat
trajéctory
tranquíllity AmE -íli
transpárent cf. pãrent
transséxual -ss-
traumátic -åu-
trêat
trêatíse study = trêatíes treaty
tréspass -əss *trésspass
trîal cf. trâil
tríbûne
trîbûnal
trîénnial
trígger-háppy
trîumph
tróglodyte
trombône
troôp army = troûpe stage
troôper army = troûper stage
troúble rhymes with búbble, doúble
tróugh -óff
tròunce
trûe
trûly *trûely
trûth unvoiced -th
trûths -dhz
trŷ
trýst
Tsàr or Czàr *Zàr
tsétsê, tsunàmi - it makes little difference whether or not one attempts to pronounce the initial t
tubërculôsis
Tûcsón *Tûsón
tûne *cheŵn
Tûnis Chûníss
Tunisia BrE Chû-níziə, AmE Toô-nêezhə
túnnel
türn round = tërn bird
túppence = twòpence
Türkêy country = türkêy bird
türmoil
Tutankhàmun
TV *têe-vêe
tẁaddle
twêezers cf. têaser *têezer
twërp
tŵo 2 *tû = to at = toô also, much
tŷing from tîe
tyránnical
týranny
tŷrant
tŷre car AmE tîre car, tired = Tŷre Lebanon
U
Û = yoû person
UÈFA *yu-wâfə
uhúh
Uìghur *Wêeger
ukelèlê yû-
Ukrâine Yû-; -âine, not -âne
umbílical
ún- not hyphenated
úndergròund adjective before noun, one word; otherwise under gròund
underrâted -rr-
understánd one word
undertâke
únder wây two words
undo -û
ÛNICEF YÛ-
únidéntified
ûnîted yû-
unknôwn - silent k, so two n’s sounded
unnôticed - two n’s sounded
úprŏar
ür- original = ër pause Urânus *Yərânəss: *Yùrənəss is a euphemism ürban town urbâne civilised ürchin Ürdu ûríne yû- urînal yû- ürn bury = ëarn money = ërne eagle Ürquhart *Ürkət, Ürcàrt, *Ïrk-heàrt Ùruguay Yù- ÛS America *yû-wéss, cf. ús we ûse noun *yoôss as in ẁhat ís the ûse? verb *yoôz as in ûse mîne ûsed use *yoôzd as in ûsed cars; habituated *yoôst as in Î’m ûsed to thát and wê ûsed to gô thére Ûtàh *yû- Utôpia Yû- cf. eûlogy, also yû-
V
V = Vêe person
váccine *váxín, cf. tóxin
vácûous *vákyûwəss
vácûum *váckyûme
vâin proud = vâne weather = vèin blood
válue
válve
vápid
vâpour AmE vâpor
vãry cf. véry, é not followed by schwa
vàse BrE *vàz, AmE *vâyss, rhyming with bâse
Våughan = Våughn *Våwn
Vauxhall *Vóxåll
vêer
végetable -jt-
vêhicle - -hi- as schwa: *vìəcle
vèil face = vâle valley
vèin blood = vâin proud = vâne weather
Venêtian -êshən
Venezuèla *Venezwâyla
véngeance cf. vindíctive
Véníce *Vénnis, cf. ténnis
vénison - i can be silent; s can be z
vénûe Vênus verbâtim vermílion -l-, cf. míllion Vérsaîlles *Vãir-sŷe vërsus against *vërssəss ≈ vërses verse *vërsíz
véry *vérry, cf. vãry, longer sound
véterinary *vétinary
véx
vîa
vicãrious
vîce-président - the hyphen differentiates from vîce président which would theoretically mean ‘president of vice’
vichyssoise *víshy-swàz
vícious *víshus, cf víscous
víctual *víttle
Vìénna
Vìênnêse
Vìêtnām one word *VietNām
vieŵ rendundant i: *vyû, *veŵ, cf. feŵ, etc.
vieŵpoint one word
vígorous
vígour BrE; AmE vígor
vîle
vílify
víllage -íj
víllain -an
vindaloô
vindíctive cf. véngeance
vîne
vínegar
víneyard
vînyl *vînəl
vîôla music
vîola plant = Vîola person
vîolate
vîolent
vîolet
violín
Vïrgo
vïrtue good = Vërtue person
vis-a-vìs, or with French accent vis-à-vis *vizavêe
vísceral *vísseral
víscous -sk-, cf. vícious
vísible
vísion *vízhən
vítamin BrE; AmE vîtamin
Vívian = Vývyan = Vívien = Vývien = Vívienne
vódka
vólley
voluntêer
W
W *doúble-û
wácky cf. wháck
ẁad
ẁaffle
wág
wágon - ´waggon’ is French
wâil cry = BrE whâle sea
wâist body = wâste spend
wâit time = wèight heavy = Wâite person
wâive dismiss = wâve hand, sea
Wâles Welsh = BrE whâles sea
wålk -åk
wåll
Ẁallace = Ẁallis rhyming with Hóllis
Wallônia Wó-
Walloôn Wó-
wålrus
Wåltham -təm
wåltz *wålse
ẁan pale *wón cf. wòn win
ẁander roam cf. wònder what?
wâne less = Wâyne person = wâin wagon
ẁannabê cf. ẁallabỳ
ẁant desire cf. wôn’t will not
wår battle = wŏre wear
wãrehouse cf. whŏrehouse h-
wãres market = weãrs clothes
wårhéad one word
wårm hot cf. wörm wriggle
wårn caution = wŏrn wear = Wårne person
wårt
ẁarrant *wórrənt
ẁarranty cf. guarantêe from same root
wårring
ẁarrior cf. wòrrier
Ẁarrington *Wórrington, cf. Dórrington, Nórrington
wårt
Ẁarwick *Wórrick
wãry
ẁas *wóz
ẁash
Ẁashington
ẁasp
wâste loss = wâist body
ẁatchtòwer one word
wåter cf. Wålter
ẁatt electricity = BrE ẁhat question
ẁattage *wóttij
wâvelength one word
wê us = wêe little, toilet
wêak feeble = wêek days
wêal mark = BrE whêel traffic wéapon
Wêar River = Wêir person = wêir water, rhyming with êar, hêar and fêar
wéars clothes = wâres shop
wêary
wéather cloudy = wéther ram = BrE whéther if
wébsite one word
Wédnesday Wénz-
wèigh heavy = wây route, manner = BrE whèy curds
wèight heavy = wâit time
wêir water = Wêir person = wê’re are, cf. wìêld, fìêld
wêird odd cf. wìêld carry
wê’ll shall cf. wéll good
wén lump = BrE whén time wëre was cf. whére place, wê’re are wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if wê’re are wh- BrE w-, AmE hw- wháck cf. wácky whâle sea BrE = wâil cry whám ẁhat question BrE = wót jocular = ẁatt electric whêedle whêel round BrE = wêal mark whén time BrE = wén tumour whére place cf. wëre was whereás one word, *wéəráz whét appetite BrE = wét water whéther if BrE = wéather rain = wéther ram whèy curds BrE = wèigh weight = wây method whîne moan BrE = wîne drink whínge -nj, cf. wíng whïrl whïrlwind one word whïrr noise BrE = wëre be whísky or whískey whísper whístle *whíssle whít small = Whít Whitsun BrE = wít humour whîte colour BrE = Wîght Isle
whîteẁash one word
whíther where BrE = wíther decay
Whítsun -u-
who person *hoô, cf. WHO World Health Organisation *doúble-yoû-âitch-ô
whôle all = hôle gap
whôlesâle h-, one word
whôlly completely two l’s pronounced; ≈ hôly sacred – where only one l is heard
whoôping-cóugh hoô-
whoòps!
whoòsh rhymes with pùsh
whópping big BrE = Ẁapping London
whŏre prostitute = hŏar frost = Hŏare person
whose belonging = who’s who is/has *hoôz whŷ
wícked evil *wíckíd cf. wíki
wícked wick *wíct
Wíckham = Wýcombe
wìêld cf. wêir, wêird
Wikipêdia
wîles stratagems cf. whîle during
wílful in AmE can be wíllful, which is unusual: in most words it is the BrE spelling which has the double l before a suffix, as in dîalling
wíll verb = Wíll William
wílly-nílly
wîly
wînd round
wínd blow
wíndbag one word
wîne drink = BrE whîne moan
Wiscónsin
wísp
wít humour = BrE whít small = BrE Whít Whitsun
wítch-húnt
wíther decay = BrE whíther where
withhéld second h aspirated
withhôld second h aspirated
withín one word
withòut one word
Wodehouse PG = Woòdhouse Emma, etc.
wôe sad = BrE whôa horse
wók
wolf *wùlf = Woòlf person
woman *wùmən
women *wímmin
wòn game = òne only
wònder what? cf. ẁander roam
wòndrous
wónky
wôn’t will not = wônt habit, cf. ẁant require
woòd tree = woùld if
woòlly wool = Woòlley person
Worcester England = Woòster Bertie
wörd cf. wård
wörkingmán in AmE can be one word, BrE wörking mán
wörld
wŏrldwide one word
wörm
wòrry
wörship cf. wårship
Worcester *Wùster
wŏre wear = wår fight
wörse
wörsted worst
worsted cloth wû-
wörth
woùld if = woòd tree
would-be adjective hyphenated
woûnd injury
wòund wînd
wòw excitement cf. wôe depression
wráck pain = ráck frame, stretch
wráp parcel = ráp knock, speak
ẁrath anger = Róth person
wrêak make = rêek smell, cf. wréck collapse, réckless careless
wrêath noun unvoiced th as in bréath, different vowel sound
wrêathe verb voiced th, as in brêathe
wréck cf. réckless
wrést wrestle = rést repose
wrétch miserable = rétch vomit
wrîght artesan as in plâywright; = Wrîght person = wrîte letter = rîght side, correct = rîte ritual
wríng squeeze = ríng finger, bell
wrínkle cf. ránkle
wrîte written = wrîght etc.
wróngdoing one word, *róngdûing
wróng-foòt verb
wrôte write = rôte learning
wrúng wring = rúng ring, ladder
wrŷ humour = rŷe crop
wrŷlỳ wry = Rîley person
wùff
Wŷatt *Wŷət, cf. whîte
xénophobe z-
xenophôbia zé-
X
X = éx- past
Xénophon author Z-; ‘xénophône’ if it existed would mean a speaker of a foreign language
Xêrox z-
Xhôsa k-
Xinjiáng and other words from Chinese Sh-
X-ray *éxrây
xŷlophone z-
Y
Y = whŷ reason
yacht *yót
yê you
yeâ yes
yéah yes *yé
yêar or yëar
yëarn
Yeâts poet = Yâtes more common spelling
yeôman
Yeôvil
yìêld
yôke oxen = yôlk egg
yŏre days = yŏur you
yoúng
your my = you’re I’m = yŏre past
yoû’ll or yŏu’ll or yoù’ll
Z
Z BrE zéd, AmE zêe
zêal
zéalot
zébra or zêbra
zeîtgeîst
zénith
Zeûs
Zìa
zígzág
zíp
Zôê *Zôwỳ
zoô
zoólogy avoiding triple letter: *zoô-ólogy or *zuólogy or *zoôwology
zoôt
Zûlu
Zûrich -k
Words beginning with an apostrophe
’em them = um hmmm *əm
’tís and ’tẁas - poetic use of initial apostrophe, replacing omitted initial í of ít ís and ít ẁas and shaped (in fonts where there are different shapes) like 9, not 6
Retroalphabetical list
This list is in alphabetical order beginning with the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it. 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 with their pronunciation applying or not to following words.
Again, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after z. For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
woman mâid = make mâde
A
mostly schwa -a
BrE barrier, drink bàr = sheep bàa
Ábba
Shêba
Cûba
Hécuba
scûba
tûba
Lŏrca
(but Nabokov's is Àda) Âda
Granàda
Grenâda
propagánda
.*îdêə idêa
.*flê flêa
.*plê plêa
-êə Crîmêa
-êə ãrêa
place = Chélsy person Chélsêa
.*Swónzy Sẁansêa
.*nåuzêə nåusêa
Ólga
broûhàhà
gèisha
clós- claustrophôbìa
-íshə Alícia
-ìssiə Galìcia
-íshə: rhymes with milítia - Patrícia
Albânia
Tanzanìa
Armênia
.*skítzô-frêniə schizophrênia
Slovênia
insómnia
Wó- Wallônia
ària
malãria
Bavãria
Lîbêria
hystêria
pìts- pizzerìa
Victŏria
trattorìa
.*Âyshə or *Âyzhə Âsia
-zhə amnêsia
-zhə Indonêsia
.*Toô-nìzhə AmE; BrE Chû-nízìə Tunisia
-zhə Maláysia
-shə -tia
- Crôw-âyshə Croâtia
Patrícia rhymes with milítia
inërtia
vîa
trŏika
là
Kampàla
Mandéla
-zwâyla Venezuèla
umbrélla
côla
scrófula
.*pé-nínssyələ península
Mà
Alabáma
Pánamà
dràma
or -mə cínemà
Émma
dilémma
diplôma
carcinôma
Victoriàna
.*Loû-êasy-Ánna Louisiána
banāna
Montána
nìrvàna
Guyána
vagîna
Regîna
Polyánna
tûna
bôa
Nôah rhymes with Gôa
môa
Pà
spà
brà
cf. Ôprah - ópera
Pandŏra
Andŏrra AmE; BrE Andórra
Sumàtra
Sinàtra
ork- ŏrchestra
strâta AmE ≈ BrE strâighter - stràta
táffeta
excrêta
-wə Manágua
-yûə or -wə Nicarágua
nôva
sŏya
Gàza
plàza
.*pêetsa pìzza
B
náb
jáb
Árab
stáb
ébb
fíb
níb
.*lám lámb
.*lím límb
up clîme = climate clîmb
.*côam cômb
còme, húm, súm rhyme with -cúm succúmb
.*dúm dúmb
.*thúm thúmb
fruit plúm = plumbing plúmb
.*núm númb
.*bóm bómb
.*côam cômb
.*toôm tomb
hóbnob
.*dŏrnób dŏorknob
AmE *érb hërb
súburb
blürb
pertürb
distürb
cúb
dúb
húb
C
mâniac
insómniac
.*afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac
lîlac
ålmanac
terrífic
horrífic
lógic
.*shêek chìc
pýrrhic
éthic
Góthic
mýthic
repúblic
seîsmic
herôíc
cf. Pátrick - Éric
ill síck = thus síc
mûsic
dramátic
tråumátic
fanátic
noun, verb státic
parasític
plástic
drástic
acoûstic
cf. adjective mýstical - noun mýstic
loft áttic = Greek Áttic
paralýtic
wood blóck = political blóc
súbfúsc
can be móllusk in American - móllusc
D
bád
dád
book Bêde = string bêad
déad
héad
knêad
bréad
dréad
spréad
instéad
fád
hád
Ílìád
Jeremîád
trîád
lád
mád
gôad
rôad
brŏad
abrŏad
tôad
sád
qùad rhymes with ẁad
ádd
ódd
-did -ded
woûnded
låuded
procêed
hêed
nêed
grêed
wêed
áct = -ácked
tactful táct = tack tácked
stácked
AmE tráveled
-ld fîled
-ld smîled
-ld pîled
l doubled after stressed syllable - BrE and AmE rebélled
BrE trávelled
abándoned
boôed
-pt stépped
réd
scãred
.*sâycríd sâcred
hámpered
cf. compãred - cómpéred
two syllables neûtered
revêred
sévered
mîred
cf. hâte - *hâtríd hâtred
cf. kînd - *kíndríd kíndred
-rəd húndred
food bâste = base bâsed
- bîast bîased
-éssed mostly rhymes with -ést: conféssed
- blést, but can be *bléssid before a noun bléssed
asséssed
obséssed
-tíd -ted
tàrgeted
- rícoshâid rícochèted
intërpreted
excîted
éxited
ẁanted
bígoted
-vd shôved
-vd lòved
allòwed
hállowed
néxt rhymes with séxed
stãry-eŷed
stàrry-eŷed
person Bŏyd = buoy buŏyed
âid
lâid
make mâde = woman mâid
.*pâyed pâid
bray brâyed = hair brâid
.*séd said
bíd
díd
líd
sqùalid
válid
vŏid
rápid
vápid
flûíd
Réginald
Rónald
géld
héld
fìêld
wìêld
mèld
wéld
gíld
chîld
mîld
wîld
ôld
bôld
fôld
thrêefôld
gôld
hôld
x yêars ôld in the plural, but hyphens when it's an adjective, noun x-yêar-ôld
sôld
tôld
cf. gôld - Goûld
cf. coùld, shoùld and woùld, all -ùd - môuld
ánd
hánd
lánd
-lənd: mostly schwa in (place or people’s) names, where it conveys familiarity: -lánd suggests alienness, even lack of sovereignty -land
Tŷ- Thaîland
Blánd
Åuckland
Hólland
a as schwa before nouns, e.g. Ínland Révenue, otherwise á - ínlánd
mâinlánd
Fínland
Pôland
Láplánd
Súnderland
mòtherlánd
hínterlánd
ôverlánd
Swítzerland
Scótland
heàrtlánd
Mãryland
sánd
fìênd
friénd
blénd
pénd
rénd
sénd
ténd
wénd
bînd
crime fîned = discover fînd
hînd
one word hûmankînd
blînd
mînd
rînd
támarínd
blow wínd
round wînd
beyónd
ròund
woûnd
religion Gód = idol gód
clód
nód
pód
foôd
goòd
no y - lîkelihoòd
moôd
broôd
woòd
apart from monosyllables, mostly -ə(r)d -ard
càrd
bêard
hëard
hàrd
- Ríchə(r)d Ríchard
shàrd
làrd
cf. wide brŏad - boring bŏred = wood, company bŏard
.*cúbbə(r)d cúpboard
flŏorbŏard
.*lépə(r)d léopard
lêotàrd
bāstard
bústard
.*gàrd guàrd
wård
báckward
åwkward
except for Fránkie Hòwerd: Hòward
yàrd
házard
lízard
wízard
blízzard
búzzard
hear hëard = animals hërd
nërd
bïrd
tie chŏrd = vocal cörd
person Fŏrd = water fŏrd
name suffix, -fəd -ford
Brádford
Rédford
Blándford
Rétford
Óxford
rope cŏrd = music chörd
wörd
absürd
türd
applåud
Måud
fråud
Î’d
listen hêed = he hê’d
shê’d
plant wêed = we wê’d
ít’d
yoû’d
thèy’d
E
mostly silent; for words normally italicised and ending in written -é see French words in English -e
AmE -ê -aê
nébulaê
fŏrmulaê
anténnaê
nôvaê
scrîbe
descrîbe
medicine prescrîbe ≈ illegal proscrîbe
zé- xénophobe
lôbe
fâce
.*préffis préface
.*ménnis ménace
Ẁallis = Ẁallace
.*Hórris, rhyming with words in -óris - Hórace
.*térris térrace
îce
sácrifîce
órifíce BrE; AmE ǒrifíce
sürplíce
nîce
Véníce
cŏrníce
hóspíce
thrîce
caprìce
trîce
pôultíce
láttíce
noun = práctíse BrE verb - práctíce
nôtíce
devîce
crévíce
véngeance
(sometimes written as in French) séance - sèànce
chānce
vígilance
románce
perfŏrmance
noun = verb either stressed fînánce
híndrance
forbéarance
enter éntrance
beguile entrānce
cf. exístence - stānce
cf. exístence - resístance
AmE lîcense, cf. BrE and AmE suspénse - lîcence
.*ákwêeyéssənss; cf. présence, -zənss - acquiéscence
câdence
décadence
transcéndence
subsîdence
évidence
próvidence
cf. dénse - fénce
AmE defénse - defénce
AmE offénse - offénce
hénce
scîence
-shənss cónscience
åudience
-âshence impâtience
cf. prevâil - prévalence
vîolence
përmanence
adhêrence
occúrrence
rêcúrrence
ábsence
cómpetence
séntence
insístence
cf. stānce - exístence
ínfluence
mint mínts ≈ meat mínce
print prínts ≈ royal prínce
fìêrce
pìêrce
enfŏrce
-êí- reinfŏrce
divŏrce
verbs -ésce
-éss acquiésce
.*côwaléss coalésce
-éss effervésce
BrE -dyoôss or -joôss, AmE doôss -dûce
redûce
indûce
verb prodûce
noun próduce
fâde
shâde
jâde
glâde
woman mâid = make mâde
granâde
sh-; AmE charâde - charàde
parâde
concêde
intercêde
supersêde
stressed in verbs, unstressed in nouns, but always pronounced -îde
régicide
sûicide
cŷanide
derîde
asîde
besîde
.*rizîde resîde
one word úpside
one word dòwnside
provîde
óxide
in some names -forde
íl- elûde
əl- allûde
lóngitude
látitude
áttitude
insect bêe
divorcêe
fêe
cóffee
banóffee
tóffee
Yánkee
glêe
referêe
as a suffix meaning ‘without’ -frêe should be at least hyphenated: cãrefrêe and commítment-frêe
degrêe
pédigree
sêe
.*lîcencêe licensêe
cf. députy - devotêe
payêe
-êe has main stress when in contrast to emplŏyer - emplŏyêe
gáffe
lîfe
.*nîfe knîfe
wîfe
âge
mostly -íj -age
-íj cábbage
-íj bándage
- hémərij haémorrhage
fôlìage
.*cárríj cárriage
.*márríj márriage
-àzh fûselage
-àzh cámouflage
-íj víllage
-àzh cóllage
-íj dámage
-íj mánage
-àzh bádinage
BrE *gáràj; *gáríj is regarded by many as uneducated; AmE *gəràzh gáràge
-íj áverage
-íj béverage
-íj lêverage
-àzh míràge
-íj stŏrage
BrE *báràj, AmE *bəràzh bárràge
sâge
BrE *məssàj, AmE *məssàzh mássàge
-íj méssage
-àzh dréssàge
-íj ûsage
-àzh sábotàge
-íj cóttage
-íj wâstage
-íj hóstage
-íj lánguage
-íj sávage
bádge
édge
plédge
slédge
-íj knówledge
mídge
rídge
brídge
pórridge
stódge
fúdge
sácrilege
prívilege
cf. édge - allége
oblîge
-êezh prestìge
-íj véstíge
chânge
whínge
lòunge
scròunge
Dôge
bàrge
làrge
dïrge
fŏrge
ürge
scöurge
pürge
sürge
.*âke âche
BrE *məstásh, AmE *mústásh moustàche
-kê synécdochê
cf. trôphy, átrophy - catástrophê
apóstrophê
- dhə before consonants, *dhê before vowels - thê
lôathe rhymes with clôthe
colour dŷe = death dîe
bïrdìê
Chàrly = Chàrlie
Wílly = Wílley = Wíllie
Cónnie
Lónnie
Rónnie
pîe
soft g - menágerìê
côterìê
cálorìê
éyrìê
bâke
câke
Jâke
cf. bláck, Bláck - Blâke
mâke
snâke
sâke
tâke
eat steâk = hold stâke
mistâke
lîke
chîldlîke
gódlîke
wårlîke
cátlîke
pîke
chôke
brôke
broòk rhymes with Ládbroke
broòk rhymes with Bólingbroke
evôke
provôke
wôke
rebûke
dûke
cf. noun, adjective fînal - noun finàlê
cf. adjective rátional - noun rationàle
cf. Âbel, Bâbel, lâbel, Mâbel - âble
impertürbable applícable dis- despícable it is normal to retain an e before -able to show either palatalised pronunciation of preceding consonant or long sound of preceding vowel -eable -nsəble pronòunceable -jəble mánageable -jəble chângeable -kəble unshâkeable
-ləble sâleable
gâble cf. lâbel - avâilable unwínnable ádmirable desîrable advîsable tâble debâtable insurmòuntable stâble cònstable forgívable dábble rábble cf. rébel - pébble dríbble cóbble góbble hóbble nóbble wóbble Húbble rúbble stúbble édible tánj- tángible fállible térrible hórrible comprehénsible apprehénsible sénsible -sable is French - respónsible axé- accéssible colléctible suscéptible contémptible irresístible ámble prê- preámble gámble rámble scrámble assémble dissémble
- rizémble resémble
- onsómble ensemble
nímble thímble
búmble crúmble fúmble grúmble húmble
júmble
múmble
rúmble grúmble túmble
stúmble
nôble doúble AmE rûble = BrE roûble troúble pínnacle bàrnacle téntacle óbstacle
*vêícle vêhicle
véntricle pàrticle
- úngkəl úncle
càrbuncle tréadle crâdle páddle stráddle ẁaddle tẁaddle médal medallion = interfere méddle bicycle pédal = sell péddle díddle fíddle míddle píddle ríddle códdle cúddle fúddle befúddle húddle múddle cándle dándle hándle spíndle noôdle poôdle gïrdle cürdle hürdle kerfúffle trúffle strúggle invêigle g sounded separately from ng -ngle ángle bángle dángle spángle wrángle wángle bürgle bûgle bîle BrE -île, AmE -əl môbile åutomobìle fîle BrE -île, AmE -əl frágile Ánglophîle mîle símilê
- fáx-íməly facsímilê
smîle pîle rîle BrE -île, AmE -əl stérile BrE -île, AmE -əl prayers míssal = war míssile tîle BrE -île, AmE -əl vólatile mërcantîle ínfantîle BrE -île, AmE -əl hóstile
- gîle, hard g - guîle
revîle táckle héckle fréckle píckle tíckle cóckle búckle ánkle tínkle wrínkle wínkle food gríll = screen grílle fire côal = person Côle dôle hôle môle ballot pôll = Poland Pôle = wood pôle over rôll = play rôle partíciple adjective, person príncipal = belief prínciple discîple sāmple exāmple dímple símple rúmple crúmple stêeple rhymes with pêople nípple rípple típple coúple scrûple vással and in AmE words in -āstle rhyme with hássle -zle tòusle
- súttle súbtle
chŏrtle -səl -stle cāstle véssel rhymes with -éstle néstle tréstle wréstle whístle grístle Rússell rhymes with -ústle bústle hústle rústle líttle cáttle kéttle gold métal = courage méttle bóttle súbtle rhymes with shúttle -ûel rhymes with -ûle módule mûle rûle cápsule dázzle fízzle cf. drível - drízzle sízzle púzzle mê cf. âim - câme gâme lâme sâme frâme tâme extrême dîme
- rèzhìme regìme
lîme verse rhŷme = frost rîme tîme íncòme òutcòme dôme hôme gênome garden = Nôme Alaska - gnôme sòme schwa -some troúblesome hándsome thrêesome h- whôlesome wínsome cf. hysteréctomy - epítomê
- rizyûme resûme
written with French accents avoids confusion with resûme: résumé *rézumây résumè
- prizyûme presûme
-syû- consûme
-syû- assûme
frost rîme = verse rhŷme
fruit lîme = England Lŷme
énzŷme
bâne
persons Câin = Câine = stick câne
urbâne
Dâne
mêthane
Jâne
lâne
cf. remâin - relevant germâne
scêne
obscêne
person Germâine
-ône colôgne
-îgn rhymes with -îne
mìgrâine
Ukrâine
- Mádlin or *Mádlən - Mádeleíne
refîne
confîne
éngíne
cf. hérôín drug, hérôíne hero - méscalíne
declîne
reclîne
mîne
vërmín rhymes with ërmíne
detërmíne
sërpentîne
türpentîne
prístìne
magazìne
win wòn = number òne
cône
cf. Stône of Scone, *Scoôn - scóne
dòne
condône
góne
alône
anémonê
nòne
atône
stône
cf. Kíngston, both schwa - Mâidstone
zône
ãirborne
Mélbourne
Êastbŏurne
- dí-mâin demèsne
= -ô, -ôw -ôe
ôboe
dôe
fôe
-oô shoe
-oô canoe
rôe
tôe
wôe
grâpe
Penélopê
ántelôpe
énvelôpe
shãre
prepãre
îronwãre
sóftwãre
-re as schwa - *âkə âcre
-re as schwa - -kə mássacre
ear hêar = this hêre
them théir = that thére
clothes wéãr = place whère
mêre
was wëre
sevêre
shîre
in England, schwa, -shə -shire
.*Glóstersher Glóucestershire
.*Léstersher Léicestershire
.*Wùstersher Worcestershire
-shîre in Scotland – though non-Scots may not comply Âyrshîre
hîre
mîre
AmE mêter = BrE length mêtre
cf. fŏr - befŏre
to the fŏre
thérefore
(and, for some, toûr guide) rock tŏr = téar tŏre
bizàrre
cf. grándeûr - cûre
endûre
pāstûre
abjûre
-jə ínjure
-jə cònjure
përjure
lûre
-lyə fâilure
BrE əlyûə allûre
BrE Shåw = AmE sûre
-zhə -sure
pléasure
méasure
tréasure
léisure
clôsure
-sh- préssure
-sh- físsure
-chə -ture
matûre
nâture
státure
fûture
sûture
wê’re
of you yŏur = days yŏre = you are yŏu’re
here thére = them théir = they thèy’re
chêese, slêaze and frêeze rhyme with êase
-ss lêase
êase rhymes with plea plêas = request plêase
-ss crêase
verb -ss decrêase
noun -ss dêcrêase
verb -ss incrêase
noun -ss íncrêase
âce rhymes with châse
confuse fâze = temporary phâse
-êez (no nationalities end in -ìse); usually stressed but can become unstressed before a noun as in Jápanese -êse
chêese
jöurnalêse
Nepalêse
Jápanêse
Chînêse
in all words apart from those specified below, -îse can be spelt -îze, for example críticize, and this is how -îse is pronounced in most verbs -îse
críticîse
noun, verb pronounced but never spelt -ize éxercîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize mërchandîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize fránchîse
vërbalîse
rêalise
êqualîse
valìse
fërtilîse
never spelt -ize because it is a noun and pronounced -íss prémíse
noun, verb never spelt -ize because pronounced -íss prómíse
pronounced but never spelt -ize cómpromîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize surmîse
.*pŏrpus pŏrpoise
.*tŏrtus tŏrtoise
pronounced but never spelt -ize despîse
glámorise
pronounced but never spelt -ize comprîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize surprîse
presh- pressurîse
émphasîse
práctíce = BrE verb práctíse
áppetîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize ádvertîse
.*éxpertêez expertìse
silent u; pronounced but never spelt -ize disguîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize advîse
cf. noun devîce - -z verb devîse
pronounced but never spelt *wîze wîse
pronounced but never spelt -wize -wîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize lîkewîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize clóckwîse
-ss, as also hénce, fénce - dénse
sénse
nónsense
cf. defénce, lîcence, offénce where AmE has -ense, all -ss suspénse
-ss dôse
-z chôse
grandiôse
- loôze lose
noun, adjective -s, verb -z clôse
-z nôse
-z choôse
.*lûce loôse
-z expôse
can have French accent: exposé *expôzây expôsè
-z rôse
ápse
lápse
noun rêlapse
verb relápse
collápse
trâipse
eclípse
wood = cóps cop cópse
hëarse
cf. revërse - rehëarse
tërse
vërse
avërse
ádverse
cf. rehëarse - revërse
gŏrse
hŏrse
wörse
bŏurse
cŏurse
-z ûse
no -z refûse
rubbish -ss réfuse
-z mûse
-ss spòuse
-îze ánalyse
-îze páralyse
lure bâit = anger, breath bâte
debâte
rêbâte
-âte verb, -ət noun prédicate
índicâte
víndicâte
-ət certíficate
BrE -ət, AmE -âte - cándidate
fâte
hâte
lâte
-âte verb, -ət adjective artículate
régulâte
mâte
-ít or -ət clîmate
-âte verb, -ət adjective éstimate
spâte
séparate
-rət dísparate
-âte verb, -ət adjective delíberate
exónerâte
-rət désperate
émigrate
ímmigrate
-âte verb, -ət adjective eláborate
máj- mágistrâte
démonstrâte
rémonstrâte
-âte verb, -ət adjective precípitate
áctivâte
effête
complête
.*sôshalîte sôcialîte
elìte
polîte
gráníte
fînîte
.*définət définite
.*ínfinət ínfinite
unîte
despîte
AmE réspíte - réspîte
hýpocríte
AmE -or- fâvouríte
Trótskyîte
ánecdote
ántidote
môte
nôte
vôte
fŏrtè
càste
hâste
châste
-étte
oô- oubliétte
serviétte
cf. hámlet - *ómlet ómelette
kitchenétte
tríbûte
cóntríbûte
dístríbûte
noun áttribûte
verb attríbute
.*mínít time mínute
.*mŷ-neŵt small mînûte
repûte
compûte
cf. ínput - impûte
bŷte
nêophŷte
silent unless shown with an accent -ue
âgûe
.*lêag lêague
persons Hãig = Hâigh = city, person Hâgue
.*plâig plâgue
.*Pràg Pràgue
-êeg noun íntrigue
-êeg verb intrìgue
-êeg fatìgue
.*meráng meringue
.*túng tòngue
-óg sýnagogue
-óg dîalogue
àrgûe
blow bleŵ = colour blûe
clûe
glûe
-àk pláque
-âik opâque
cf. reálpolitìk - critìque
-ésk burlésque
-ésk picturésque
-ósk mósque
cf. brísk -ùsk brùsque
Susan Sûe = law sûe
.*insyû ensûe
-syû pursûe
.*íshû íssue
.*tíshû tíssue
câve
Dâve
gâve
háve
cónclâve
pâve
râve
crâve
serious, dead grâve
accent gràve
sw- suàve
êve
slêeve
belìêve
relìêve
grìêve
síeve
sémibrêve
côërcíve
dîve
éndíve
recêive
concêive
fîve
cf. jîve dance - hard g in take gíve
hîve
líve
alîve
derîve
contrîve
adhêsíve
offénsive
crêâtive
tålkatíve
imáginative
repétitive
arrîve
persuâsive
sénsitíve
môtíve
revîve
abòve
bird dòve
(BrE is regular dîved) AmE dive dôve
England Hôve = heave hôve
shòve
lòve
glòve
û move
groôve
rôve
grôve
stôve
trôve
strôve
nërve
sërve
.*prizërv presërve
Î’ve
wê’ve
yoû’ve
thèy’ve
Zimbàbwè
Lilóngwè
AmE áx - áxe
yê
me Î = sight eŷe
pig, eye stŷ = eye stŷe
plêase and frêeze rhyme with slêaze
fâze
gâze
ádze
free frêes = cold frêeze
trapêze
most words in -îse can also be spelt -îze: all exceptions are listed under -îse -îze
never -ise sêize
apart prîse = present prîze
never -ise sîze
dôze
búlldoze
Drûze
AmE; BrE ánalŷse, both -îze ánalŷze
AmE; BrE páralŷse, both -îze páralŷze
F
chìêf
míschíef
thìêf
belìêf
relìêf
stāff
whíff
táriff
óff
féoff
Géoff
blúff
stúff
íf
sérif
cf. reason môtíve - *mô-têef pattern môtìf
Álf
.*cāf cālf
.*hāf hālf
one word himsélf
one word hersélf
one word yoursélf
one word itsélf
one word mŷsélf
gôlf
= Rôlph - Rôlf
.*wùlf wolf
gúlf
Bêowùlf
No expressions with modal verbs followed by ‘of’ exist. What may sound like ‘of’ is the weak form of háve and so this or apostrophes should be written instead: woùld have, shoùld’ve, cān’t have, mîght’ve etc. - *óv óf
goôf
hoôf
roôf
G
fág
hág
nág
drág
ság
lég
pég
díg
jíg
píg
wíg
égg
sáng
âgeing
cf. sing sínging - -j- singe síngeing
.*âking âcheing
mâking
snooker, drama cûeing = line queûeing
rûeing
brínging
cf. singe síngeing -j- - sing sínging
thíng
Bèijíng
AmE lâbeling
fîling
BrE lâbelling
fílling
dúmpling
êvening
mîning
exámining
sound bŏing
.*dûíng doing
gôing
tûí- toíng and frôíng
bell, round ríng
bríng
squeeze wríng
síng
cf. râcing - râising
tàrgeting
intërpreting
gétting
forgétting
bétting
accrûing
flôwing
lápwing
léft-wíng
rîght-wíng
lóng
sóng
dúng
lúng
súng
bóg
dóg
hóg
lóg
cf. Jôe Blóggs - blóg
Stríndbërg
îcebërg
.*Hŷdlebërg Heîdelbërg
Bŏrg
Mágdebürg
Lúxemböurg
.*Shãrebŏrg Chérbourg
.*Strázbërg Strásböurg
búg
dúg
thúg
slúg
túg
H
or any number of à’s àh
mostly schwa -ah
cf. Marìa - Marîah
parîah
blàh
ayatóllah
Gôa rhymes with Nôah
hurràh
Ûtàh
êach
blêach
pêach
rêach
impêach
AmE *spínních; BrE *spínnídge spínach
tree = bêach sand - bêech
besêech
.*ték: abbreviation of téchnical; also hî-téch - téch
whích
-k Zûrich
cf. Åldwých -wích
and S- town; AmE -ch; BrE -dge sándwich
.*Woòlidge Woòlwich
.*Brómmidge Brómwich
.*Grénnidge Gréenwich
.*Hárrídge Hárwich
.*Nórrídge, rhyming with pórridge - though some say -rích Nórwich
-wích Ípswich
-wích Drŏitwich
-wích Nántwich
squélch
person Wélsh = Wales Wélch
fílch
zílch
drénch
sténch
wénch
ínch
sínch
wínch
cónch
búnch
húnch
púnch
down, wash sínk = together sýnch
-dóck Mürdoch
smoôch
àrch
sëarch
làrch
-k pâtriàrch
-ək mónarch
kítsch
pùtsch
bátch
cátch
hátch
nátch
ẁatch
étch
fétch
kétch
ítch
dítch
hítch
glítch
pítch
stítch
cf. Åldwých - what whích = wizard wítch
twítch
bótch
hótchpotch
Dútch
múch
-k eûnuch
còuch
toúch
vòuch
súch
cf. place names in -wích - Åldwých
Rìyadh
ð éth or édh
- ây èh
mostly silent gh
no nây = horse nèigh
kill slây = ride slèigh
cf. convèy, purvèy - invèigh
how wây = heavy wèigh
greeting hî = up hîgh
cf. voiced th in thŷ: vowel sound identical - unvoiced th in thîgh
.*sîe sîgh
.*Éddinbrə Édinburgh
.*Frâzerbrə Frâserburgh
.*Pítsbürg Píttsburgh
BrE *làf AmE *láf lāugh
-òw bòugh
-ô thôugh
-ôw fûrlôugh
.*slòu - England Slòugh = swamp slòugh
.*slúff skin sloúgh
.*rúff roúgh
-û - throw threŵ = preposition throûgh
AmE = búrrow ground - BrE *búrrə bòrough
.*Lúfbrə Loúghborough
.*Scàrbrə Scàrborough
.*Míddlzbrə Míddlesborough
BrE *thúrrə, AmE *thúrrôw thòrough
-óff trôugh
-úff toúgh
-úff enoúgh
letter Ô = exclamation ôh
-f -ph
Rálph
oòmph
trîumph
lýmph
nýmph
mŏrph
glýph
AmE -r, BrE silent -rrh
catàrrh
mÿrrh
ásh
básh
cásh
dásh
gásh
hásh
flásh
slásh
smásh
rásh
crásh
thrásh
stásh
qùash
ẁash
Bangladésh
mésh
frésh
thrésh
réddish
chîldish
gàrnish
tàrnish
vàrnish
Cŏrnish
bürnish
fürnish
person Ẁalsh
-sh - person Wélch = Wales Wélsh
bánish
Spánish
vánish
end fínish = Finland Fínnish
wísh
fíftyish
cósh
dósh
nósh
whoòsh
pósh
tósh
bùsh
lúsh
blúsh
flúsh
plúsh
pùsh
rúsh
thrúsh
mostly unvoiced -th
déath
hêath
bréath
wrêath
ôath
pāth
-drət + unvoiced th - húndredth
shibbóleth
voiced th - wíth
héalth
stéalth
wéalth
plínth
nînth
bôth
dòth
lôth
slôth
ëarth
dëarth
heàrth
bïrth
gïrth
héncefŏrth
Fïrth of Fŏrth
gô fŏrth
nŏrth
wörth
4th fŏurth
noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced mòuth
ou as schwa, th unvoiced -mouth
-məth Bŏurnemouth
-məth Pŏrtsmouth
-məth Plýmouth
síxth
voiced th - casual blîthe = persons Blŷthe = Blŷth
voiced th - persons Smŷthe = Smŷth
or AmE schwa = BrE er - úh
I
-î or -ì
Dubaî
h sounded Shanghaî
Ábu Dhàbi
rábbî
álibî
Sàùdì
likewise other plurals of -us - nûclêî
Hawàìì
Isrâeli
Disrâeli
- sémmy - sémi
number = pîe eat pî
girls’ names tend to end in -i or -ie, boys’ in -y - Térrì
J, K
-zh Ràj
Mahal -zh Tàj
-dj hàjj
-que = -k
vegetable lêek = liquid lêak
blêak
spêak
car brâke = pieces breâk
strêak
têak
money, wood stâke = meat steâk
days wêek = feeble wêak
flák
ánorák
háck
sáck
déck
líck
gímmick
hŏick
bríck
síck
tíck
Pàrtick
cf. Éric - Pátrick
Bûíck
quíck
wíck
.*Wórrick Ẁarwick
.*Bérrick Bérwick
w sounded in Lërwick
.*Kézzíck Késwick
.*Smédhík Sméthwick
cf. Bangkók - cóck
dóck
lóck
wédlock
flóck
wårlock
.*nóck knóck
sóck
dúck
lúck
liquid lêak = vegetable lêek
mêek
rêek
sêek
feeble wêak = days wêek trék
cf. sqwåwk - -åwk -ålk
or båulk - -åwk bålk
-åwk chålk
cf. talcum powder tálc, l sounded - -åwk speak tålk
-åwk bird stŏrk BrE = plant, follow stålk
-åwk wålk
whélk
.*fôk fôlk
-fək Nŏrfolk
-fək Súffolk
bánk
sánk
tánk
thánk
dránk
person Fránk = honest fránk
thínk
rínk
drínk
shrínk
sínk
hónk
plónk
mònk
hónky-tónk
fúnk
Bángkók
noòk
spoôk
roòk
broòk
wók
pàrk
jërk
bersërk
smïrk
shïrk
kïrk
quïrk
wörk
lürk
Türk
āsk
bāsk
flāsk
tāsk
désk
record dísc = computer dísk
whísk
rísk
dúsk
músk
túsk
åuk
squåwk
L
lógical
mýthical
puritánical
histórical
hystérical
thêátrical
mûsical
práctical
scéptical
mýstical
nåutical
quízzical
fôcal
lôcal
vôcal
interfere méddle = coin médal
sell péddle = bicycle pédal
cf. cándle, hándle - scándal
sándal
concêal
repêal
squêal
vêal
revêal
lêgal
illêgal
rêgal
Bengål
.*commërshal commërcial
denîal
mênial
.*pàrshal pàrtial
ânal
AmE bânal - BrE banàl
canál
phenómenal
diágonal
hexágonal
-shənəl -tional
nátional
rátional
nôtional
hôle rhymes with gôal
shôal
cf. main, headteacher prínciple - basic, credo príncipal
quadriláteral
âmóral
immóral
-zəl apprâisal
cf. véssel - hássle rhymes with vással
ántênâtal
pôstnâtal
quality méttle = iron métal
.*péttle pétal
AmE inståll - BrE instål
-zhəl cásual
-kchəl áctual
evéntual
stomach nâvel = ship nâval
cf. êvil - *medêvəl or medìêval
- Mŷcle Mîchael
Ráphâél
a very common mistake is to write *Isreal - Ísrâel
cf. âble, tâble, stâble - Âbel
cf. bábble - Bâbel
lâbel
Mâbel
noun rébel
verb rebél
excél
módel
yôdel
êel
fêel
pêel
fálafel
air ãerial = person Ãriel
Mûriel
cf. lôcal, vôcal - yokel
cf. përsonal - personnél
repél
compél
dispél
expél
appárel
cóckerel
bárrel
mínstrel
wâstrel
êasel
wêasel
words in -éstle rhyme with véssel
- hô-tél hôtél
cf. módel - *mô-tél motél
cartél
-ûle rhymes with -ûel
two dûal = fight dûel
fûel
crûel
grûel
navy nâval = stomach nâvel
Ravél
unrável
trável
cf. drízzle - drível
swível
shòvel
nóvel
bòwel
tròwel
vòwel
píxel
TÉFL
fâil
avâil
prevâil
vèil
AmE fulfíll, BrE fulfíl
níl
fŏil
êvil
dévil
Brazíl
åll
båll
cåll
fåll
tåll
wåll
béll
déll
féll
héll
nútshell
péll-méll
séll
téll
quéll
wéll
fíll
píll
tíll
dóll
cf. parrot póll, elect pôll
part rôle = along rôll drôll
strôll
tôll
bùll
cúll
dúll
fùll
city Húll = boat húll
lúll
island Múll = over múll
and void núll
anúll
pùll
hê’ll
shê’ll
wê’ll
Î’ll
ít’ll
yoû’ll or yoù’ll or yŏu’ll
thèy’ll
prôtocol
álcohol
coôl
foôl
- skoôl schoôl
poôl
spoôl
toôl
woòl
AmE enróll - BrE enrôl
patrôl
pétrol
cf. rôll - contrôl
párasól
-təl pístol
whŏrl
hôpeful
cãreful
beaûtiful
dûtiful
noun spoônful
wònderful
àrtful
Gåul
måul
Påul
Såul
cáterwåul
bird fòwl = bad fòul
ghoûl
only sôle = Korea Seôul = spirit sôul
åwl
båwl
cråwl
all meanings bôwl
bird fòwl
hòwl
y as schwa - Síbyl
y as schwa - Béryl
M
glêam
rêam
drêam
appear sêem = thread, coal sêam
stêam
scrêam
strêam
hám
AmE; BrE h silent, a as schwa, -əm -hám
h silent, g not sounded separately Búckingham
h silent, g not sounded separately Bïrmingham
-nəm Twíckenham
-nəm Chéltenham
-nəm Tóttenham
.*Méppəm Méopham
-səm Tópsham
-təm Stréatham
-təm Chátham
-təm Éltham
-təm Wåltham
unvoiced th sound Bôtham
unvoiced th sound Gótham
- Rûtəm Wrotham
Wést Hám
môdém
dêem
group têam = pour têem
hém
ahém
Béthlehém
stém
-ám dîaphragm
.*flém phlégm
-îm páradigm
rhýthm
âim
mâim
dím
dénim rhymes with Blénheim
whím
Kím
skím
dénim
mínim
BrE and AmE -àm bàlm
BrE and AmE -àm càlm
BrE and AmE -àm quàlm
tálcum rhymes with *Málcum Málcolm
dwell hôme = oak, islet hôlm
frêedom
bŏredom
kíngdom
slàlom
Tóm
árm
fàrm
hàrm
cf. wörm, wårn - wårm
pák- páchydërm
j- gërm
spërm
tërm
fïrm
fŏrm
nŏrm
cf. heat wårm - animal wörm
ŏrgasm
kázəm chásm
-zəm spásm
-ízəm; never stressed -ísm
âthêísm
Bùddhism
existéntialism
shôv- chauvinism
térrorism
mîcrocosm
tálcum
memorándum
referéndum
glúm
húm
válium
thállium
gerânium
aquãrium
delírium
drúm
húmdrúm
conúndrum
gymnâsium
fŏrum
vácûum
gỳm
name -ným
syû- pseûdonym
hómonym
sýnonym
ántonym
Î’m
N
bán
ürban
türban
cán
cf. Gŏrdon - Jŏrdan
-tion crustâcean
lôtion rhymes with ôcean
dêan
clêan
mêan
-ìən epicûrêan
fán
-íshən -ícian
technícian
patrícian
.*Óstrâlìən in rapid speech rhymes with míllion etc., -lyən - Austrâlian mán
Ìan
-íshən abstract -ítion = person -ícian
logícian
patrícian
politícian
mathematícian
reptílian
civílian
Brazílian
Gíllian
nonagenãrian
quinquagenãrian
septuagenãrian
sexagenãrian
octogenãrian
lîbrãrian
sectãrian
vegetãrian
libertãrian
no words end in *-erian
histŏrian
from -sia + n, = -sion, mostly -zh- -sian
-zh- Âsian
-zh- Caucâsian
-zh- Frêsian
AmE -izh-, BrE -ízì- Parísian
-shən = -tion -tian
nâtion rhymes with Crôâtian
Alsâtian
Títian
-bîzh- Azerbaijàn
mán
.*Îləv-Mán Îsle of Mán
mostly -mən -man
pâcemán
polìceman
hénchman
Omàn
Sûpermán
gásmán
ómbùdsman
bátman
Bátmán
táxmán
Nŷman
môan
alone lône = lend lôan
grôan
god Pán = food pán
tán
Tîtan
can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -stān
usually second syllable stressed Uzbékistan
Tajíkistan
Afghánistan
Manháttan
ván
ẁan
Tŷ- Taiwàn
= ón French en
letter én
dén
wîden
cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden
sêen
splêen
shêen
grêen
fén
hén
dh- thén
léngthen
stréngthen
âlien
tâken
wêaken
brôken
tôken
wôken
dàrken
heàrken
póllen
swôllen
mén
-mən in most words -men
Yémen
spŏrtsmen
spécimen
chíldren
bréthren
wörsen
léssen
delicatéssen
bêaten
.*sóffən sóften
.*fāssən fāsten
.*hâyssən hâsten
bird bíttern ≈ bite bítten
íll-gótten
héaven
hâven
êven
eléven
séven òven còven or prû- prôven wôven Ôwen óxen yén Zén -n -gn campâign vèin rhymes with dèign would fâin = pretend fèign
wet râin = monarch rèign
.*sóvrin sóvereign
-lîne malîgn
-nîne benîgn
signal = sîne maths - sîgn
-zîne desîgn
-zîne resîgn
-sîne énsîgn
-pyûne impûgn
pub ínn = out ín
Câin
disdâin
gâin
.*əgén; some regularise to agâin - again
slâin
explâin
mâin
cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin
brâin
Bahrâin
trâin
retâin
Bríton person = country Brítain
-tín cáptain
dín
skèin
thín
detërmine rhymes with vërmin
pín
sín
bâsin
tín
-m -mn
condemn dám = water dámn
condémn
sólemn
cólumn
åutumn
man hím = church hýmn
out ín = pub ínn
ón
mostly schwa, as are Cámden, Màrsden, Hámpden = Hámpton -on
càrbon
university, clothing dón Héndon
Lòndon
cŏrdon
cf. gàrden – Gŏrdon
curmúdgeon
pígeon
-njən dúngeon
-jən sürgeon
-jən stürgeon
-nchən trúncheon
bandôneon
Lêón
.*kəmêlêən; AmE -mê-; in fast speech -lyən, like míllion, Austrâlian - chamaêlêon
Napôleon
nêón
péntagon
bándwagon
pólygon
îon
-yən -ion
most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -cion
-sh- suspícion
-sh- côërcion
rêgion
lêgion
relígion
fáshion
cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion
vermílion
bíllion
míllion
tríllion
ònion
ûnion
Orîon
centûrion
-zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including another s and, in BrE, r -sion
lêsion
vísion
télevision
revísion
scánsion
expánsion
-éntion -énshən = -énsion
comprehénsion
pénsion
suspénsion
ténsion
preténsion
exténsion
avërsion
dîvërsion
convërsion
excürsion
dîgréssion
séssion
míssion
í- emíssion
ə- omíssion
-sh- percússion
fûsion
delûsion
illûsion
intrûsion
mostly -shən –tion
inundâtion
foundâtion
creâtion
nâtion
rátion
vî- vibrâtion
mî- migrâtion
-kshən -ction
áction
afféction
conféction
BrE can be -éxion - refléction
colléction
BrE can be -éxion - connéction
eréction
diréction
contradíction
.*sángktchən sánction
.*úngktchən únction
.*fúngktchən fúnction
.*júngktchən júnction
.*cəmpúngkshən compúnction
complêtion
discrétion
definítion
competítion
frûítion
= -énsion, -énshən -éntion
méntion
deténtion
inténtion
atténtion
prevéntion
absŏrption
erúption
abŏrtion
contŏrtion
contribûtion
distribûtion
pollûtion
solûtion
except for compléxion, BrE only: other words end in -éction -éxion so AmE, BrE refléction = BrE only refléxion
cf. conféction - *compléction compléxion
cf. convíction - crucifíxion
nŷlón
dêmon
lémon
Sólomon
Lébanon
cánnon
Shánnon
moôn
buffoôn
balloôn
lampoôn
harpoôn
cf. càrton - càrtoôn
upón
person Bárron =lordbáron
person Sháron
person AmE Sharôn, BtE Sharón
sáffron
sh- chévrón
boy sòn
bîson
Áshton
Élton
Lýttelton
càrton
Nŏrton
east êastern BrE = person Êaston
west wéstern BrE = person Wéston
cf. Féatherstone, etc. Ålston
Màrston
Rŏyston
bútton
mútton
Sútton
wòn
cf. Jáckson, Híckson, etc. Díxon
Níxon
Ríxon
bàrn
dàrn
ëarn
lëarn
cf. wårm, wörm: wear wŏrn = person Wårne = warning wårn
yàrn
bird = türn direction tërn
stërn
astërn
persons Pátten = Pátton = BrE arrange páttern
bŏrn
cŏrn
cf. wriggly wörm - warning wårn = wear wŏrn ürn
bürn
chürn
round türn
fún
gún
nòun
shine sún
Whítsun
dåwn
påwn
spåwn
pråwn
heŵn
gòwn
blôwn
môwn
renòwn
.*nôan knôwn
cròwn
tòwn
O
mostly ô; never -ó -o
placêbô
usually *ənkô - & cô, and cô
stúccô
flaméncô
-û do
vídêo
Montevidèo
Lêo
Clìo = Clêo
Galilèo
gô
lumbâgo
dóggô
vërtigo
Djángo
lôgô
Tôgo
mácho
.*sŷko psŷcho
.*Tŷko Tŷcho
-shô braggadôcio
portfôlio
pôlio
-ss- impresàrio
-shô râtio
-shô Horâtio
nô
taboô
gôo
Wåterloô
Shampoô
kangaroô
woô
.*Búrə - it means Míddlesbrough, which doesn’t have the ò - ends in schwa - Bòro
prô
sô
Plâto
AmE tomâto - tomàto
potâto
f- phôto
Plûto
at to = also, many toô = 2 tŵo
émbrỳo
P
cáp
gáp
snáp
táp
stép
híp
friéndship
kíngship
crāftsmanship
shôwmanship
wörship
kíp
skíp
líp
clíp
flíp
slíp
whíp
gríp
tríp
stríp
whélp
kélp
cámp
dámp
lámp
rámp
crámp
trámp
hémp
ímp
skímp
límp
pímp
wímp
búmp
dúmp
thúmp
júmp
lúmp
slúmp
frúmp
trúmp
devélop
cf. noun énvelôpe - verb envélop
flóp
póp
sóp
désktóp
láptóp
hoôp
droôp
troôp
loôp
sloôp
stoôp
càrp
hàrp
wårp
bürp
slürp
cúsp
úp
cùp
bird coô = overthrow coûp
.*rêcoôp recoûp
.*groôp groûp
gåwp
Q, R
Iràq
where unstressed, schwa -ar
bazàar
bàr
càr
râdàr
cálendar
êar
cf. drink bêer - animal, tolerate béãr
cf. risk dãre - animal dêer = beloved, expensive dêar
fêar
gêar
there hêre = ear hêar
look lêer = person Lêar
clêar
unclêar
.*nûclêə(r) nûclear
smêar
yêar or yëar
cf. búgger - béggar
though contemporaries pronounced it ending in schwa - Élgàr
sh- sùgar
buŷer, flŷer and trîer rhyme with lîar
brîar
jàr
píllar
cáterpillar
hóller rhymes with dóllar
sk- schólar
cóllar
môlar
múscular
régular
grámmar
-z- quâsàr
púlsàr
Qátàr
néctar
sítàr
change ålter = church åltar
mŏrtar
stàr
BrE schwa = AmE uh - er
mostly schwa; stressed -ër in some words; AmE only in some words which are -re in BrE -er
câber
.*clîmer clîmber
tímber
encúmber
cûcumber
lúmber
.*plúmmer plúmber
cáncer
dāncer
cîder
glîder
spîder
person Rŷder = ride rîder
insîder
bold bôlder = rock bôulder
shôulder
propagánda rhymes with BrE gánder
Lêánder
mêánder
cf. sqùalor - sqùander
ẁander
wònder
enginêer
pîonêer
iléc- electionêer
cf. wither sêar, one diphthong syllable - *sêeər, two syllables see sêer
voluntêer
defër
confër
refër
prefër
óffer
próffer
cónifer
pílfer
hard g - làger
-j- mánager
cf. béggar - dágger
bígger
lógger
blógger
.*Nizhãir Nigér
hard g - tîger
hard g pronounced separately: áng-ger ánger
.*dânjer dânger coat g not pronounced separately from -ng-; = hángar aeroplane hánger
.*mânjer mânger
.*strânjer strânger
.*jínjer gínger
hard g sounded separately: líng-ger línger
no g sound sínger
no g sound wínger
hard g sounded separately *mòng-ger -mònger
físhmònger
warmonger
hard g sounded separately: *stróng-ger - strónger
àrcher
màrcher
cátcher
decîpher
gôpher
or cîpher - cŷpher
voiced th and schwa -ther
bâther
féather
héather
léather
climate wéather
BrE far fàrther = AmE as well as BrE dad fàther
cf. AmE fàther - AmE láther - lāther
bláther
cf. AmE fàther - AmE ráther - rāther
togéther
if whéther
téther
where whíther = decay wíther
òther
bóther
smòther
mòther
one word anòther
bròther
fàrther
fürther
idéntifîer
supplîer
ëarlier
cry, town = Crŷer person crîer
pìêr
silent French r - dóssièr
cry têar = level tìêr
jôker
hoòker
snoôker
pôker
bàrker
wörker
hándler
tóddler
jâiler
tåller
dóllar rhymes with hóller
rôller
stámmer
baseball hômer = person Hômer
wårmer
fŏrmer
góner
lôner
kêeper
léper
.*loôzer loser
câter
lâter
wåter
cf. áctor - k- cháracter
detër
cf. BrE mêtre AmE mêter distance, rhythm - parámeter
perímeter
thermómeter
Pêter
trúmpeter
.*dåwter dåughter
āfter rhymes with lāughter
.*slåwter slåughter
wâiter
church åltar = change ålter
fålter
Wålter
shélter
helter-skélter
wélter
promôter
hélicopter
stàrter
disāster
Chéster
Mánchester
Dŏrchester
or -or protéster
gángster
yoúngster
blíster
síster
bátter
fátter
hátter
mátter
bétter
bítter
lítter
hótter
tótter
bútter
stútter
commûter
compûter
.*lácker lácquer
avër
hâver
brâver
quâver
fêver
whichéver
AmE léver - BrE lêver
whenéver
.*hû-éver whoéver
wheréver
.*wót-éver whatéver
hòwéver
fîver
líver
ríver
arrow, shake quíver
ôver
còver
Dôver
hóver
lòver
plòver
art dråw ≈ chest dråwer
bòwer
flòwer
glòwer
tòwer
cf. lãir - *lãyə lâyer
.*plâyə(r) plâyer
.*prãir prãyer
.*fŏyây fŏyèr
låwyer rhymes with emplŏyer
buŷer
.*lŏyer låwyer
thére *thãir rhymes with ãir
hãir
despãir
fïr
-vwàr réservoir
tâpìr
stïr
bestïr
mostly schwa, as also -er, -our -or
ráncor
córridŏr
cóndŏr
fŏr
abhŏr
ultêrior
antêrior
postêrior
ánchor
cf. sqùander - sqùalor
person Tâylor = clothes tâilor pállor
chāncellor
trémor
gòvernor
dŏor
pŏor
térror
hórror
spónsor
téar tŏre = crag tŏr
álligâtor
flagellâtor
órator
colláborator
narrâtor
spectâtor
áctor
léctor
Selécter band = seléctor
colléctor
protéctor
véctor
dóctor
proprîetor
trâitor
méntŏr
protéster is much more common than protéstor
invéstor
resístor
transístor
impóstor
whïrr
Cŏrr
fürr
pürr
occür
incür
concür
.*gránjə grándeur
frottëur
longuëur
voyëur
für
AmE Darfùr BrE Darfůr
AmE súlfur BrE súlphur
demür
fêmur
lêmur
mürmur
when unstressed, schwa; -or in AmE -our
we òur = time hòur
doûr
AmE -or - hàrbour
scòur
preposition fŏr = 4 fŏur
cf. petal flòwer - dough flòur
BrE *cúlə; AmE -or - còlour
BrE *glámə; AmE -or - glámour
BrE *hûmə; AmE -or - hûmour
BrE *ónə; AmE -or - hónour
sòur
téar tŏre = hill tŏr = travel for some speakers toûr
nón séquitur
-ə -yr
zéphyr
màrtyr
S
.*áz ás
.*wéəráz whereás
.*ház hás
.*Cánzus Kánsas
-såw Årkansås
.*wóz ẁas
AmE *ërbs hërbs
thêátrics
-x athlétics
-x gymnástics
-x logístics
Nétherlands
-dz forwards
words from Greek, etc: -êz -ês
Ándês
antípodês
côdes
édges
lódges
Hódges
hew heŵs = person Hûghes
lúllabîes
râbíes
.*síəríz sêríes
BrE *wúrríz, AmE *würríz or *würrìz wòrríes
Lós = lóss lose; -íz Lós Ángeles
distance mîles = person Mîles
cf. shékels - sháckles
-z Hërculês
-nz Bàrnes
Jóhn Mâynard Kèynes
Mílton Kêynes
.*dúzz dòes
.*gôze gôes
hêroes
.*tôze tôes
-tôze potâtoes
plural of -sís in Greek-derived words (see English irregular nouns) -sês
parénthesês
cf. prîces *prîsíz - *crŷsêez crîsês
.*loôziz loses
glāsses
-zíz hòuses
-ssíz spòuses
Sócratês
hêaves
leave, leaf lêaves
have-nots háves
shâves
wâves
thief thìêves
Îves
gíves
-k- àrchîves
plural noun lîves
singular verb líves
knife knîves
arrîves
môtíves
wife wîves
calf càlves
valve válves
elf élves
delve délves
shelf shélves
self sélves
one word, as with following: *òursélvz oursélves
- yŏrsélvz yoursélves
- dhəmsélvz themsélves
cf. dòves - drôves
hoof hoôves
scarf scàrves
- yéss yés
hoôves rhymes with roôfs
-gz dógs
parîahs
big sîze = sigh sîghs
-āffs lāughs
-óffs cóughs
.*íz ís
.*híz hís
plurals, no apostrophes, -íz Bangladéshis
-íz Bengålis
-íz Nepålis
-íz Isrâelis
-əss pênis
-íz Sùnnis
-nŏy Íllinois
-íss Páris
Hórace and Mórris = BrE Maurice rhyme with Bóris and Dóris
Hárris
térrace rhymes with Férris
rhyming with Hórace, BrE Maurice = Mórris
Nórris
thêsis
Greek-derived words in -sís, *síss, have -sês, *sêez, for their plurals (see Irregular Plurals) sýnthesis
némesis
-íss Dâvis
-íss Mâvis
-íss Trávis
Élvis
pélvis
-íss áxis
léxis
- nóx knócks
loòks
spoôks
-z sélls
-z húms
words from Greek: -óss -ós
- kâyós châos
insect lòuse = nation Làos -dôz tornâdos
-pss hélps
schnápps
heart cŏre = army cŏrps
-z stàrs
lîars, trîers and buŷers rhyme with plîers
bôres, BrE påuse, and påws rhyme with dŏors
mostly -íss -ess
.*áxéss áccess
góddéss
cãreless
ûseless
hápless
hélpless
t can be silent lístless
t can be silent réstless
méss
goòdness
lîonéss
cléanliness
clúmsiness
nāstiness
no words end: *-yness
cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss
áctress
silent u - guéss
kíss
prémíse rhymes with míss
lóss
grôss
cúss
-tss cáts
Kêats
Yâtes = Yeâts
-tss séts
it is ít’s = of it íts
-tss síts
-tss bútts
-tss cúts
mostly -əss -us
-ss bús
ábacus
fôcus
-oôz Híndûs
-kəss Bácchus
Sibèlius
Dêlius
Jûlius
j-; cf. adjective ingênious - noun gênius
ignorâmus
j- gênus
ménûs
for adjectives = -us mostly for nouns: -əss –ous
cåucus rhymes with råucous
-dəss - only found in the following five words -dous
treméndous
stûpendous
horréndous
jép- jéopardous
házardous
-jəss outrâgeous
-jəss gŏrgeous
simultâneous
-êsh- spêcious
-ésh- précious
-ísh- vícious
uncónscious
relígious rhymes with sacrilegious
cf. noun gênius - adjective ingênious
pîous
censŏrious
kyù- cùrious
-ísh- fictítious
óbvious
prêvious
.*ánkshus ánxious
jéalous
zéalous
màrvellous
ridículous
fâmous
ínfamous
ánimus cf. ûnánimous
cf. vërtigo, hard g - g as j in vertíginous
glûtinous
glúttonous
scábrous
wòndrous
slānderous
mürderous
nûmerous
from -our - -orous
vígorous
glámorous
hûmorous
díz- disàstrous
mónstrous
vácuous
fátuous
nërvous
.*Bélla-Roôse Belarûs
cf. prósperous - phósphorus
rhêsus
cénsus
consénsus
sánctus
ríctus
-z jåws
irregular: *séz says
regular: *stâze stâys
-âze sîdeways
never used to form plurals: either a singular possessive or an abbreviation of ís - ‘s
w-, plural ònes = possessive òne’s
or *híz hê’s
or *shíz shê’s
chíldren’s
of it íts = it is ít’s
T
át
cát
bêat
hêat
chêat
plêat
nêat
fát
voiced th - thát
slát
ash grâte = big greât
swéat
bôat
côat
flôat
glôat
môat
Crôát
thrôat
.*dét débt
.*dòut dòubt
touch afféct
emotion áffect
result í- efféct
përfect
thing óbject
disagree objéct
matter súbject
cruel subjéct
verb rejéct
noun rêjéct
colléct
connéct
áspect
respéct
person áddict
verb addíct
êdict
.*indîte indîct
vërdict
person cónvict
verb convíct
mostly -ít (-ət in Australasian English), but some have French -ây -et
BrE Hërbert rhymes with shërbet
t sounded hit búffet
.*bùffây food bùffèt
.*crôshây crôchet
rátchet
crótchet
thícket
pícket
crícket
wícket
màrket
-lây chálèt
cf. -létte - *boòklít, though these words are -lət in Australasian English - boòklet
píglet
.*bállây bállèt
mállet
ẁallet
bíllet
tríplet
BrE, u as schwa - qùadruplet, quíntuplet, séxtuplet, séptuplet, óctuplet
AmE - qùadrûplet, quíntûplet, séxtûplet, séptûplet, óctûplet stàrlet
Jánet
plánet
gánnet
cŏrnet
límpet
-rây bérèt
quårtét
bánquet
-kây crôquèt
-kây sóbriquèt
BrE *pàhkây, AmE *parkây pàrquèt
.*boô-kây bouquèt
déft
léft
míffed rhymes with ríft
dríft
shríft
lóft
.*yót yacht
mostly silent gh -ght
èight
heîght
frèight
wèight
fîght
lîght
delîght
plîght
cf. sleîght-of-hánd little slîght
nîght
rîght
frîght
tîght
correct, left rîght = maker -wrîght
.*plâywrîte plâywrîght
cópyrîght
any = ŏught should åught
cåught
drāft = drāught
fråught
any åught = should ŏught
bŏught
fŏught
nŏught
brŏught
dròught
wrŏught
ít
-ate rhymes with -âit
breath bâte = catch bâit
gâit
wâit
awâit
bít
inhábit
prohíbit
déficit
còunterfeít
fŏrfeít
sürfeít
Fáhrenheît
befít
fít
hít
kít
lít
admít
commít
ômít
vómit
sít
-kít cïrcuit
-skít bíscuit
cóndûít
quít
-roôt recrûit
.*froòt frûit
cf. soòt - *sût or *syût sûit
Jésûít
-syoôt pursûit
quít
wít
dímwit
outwít
côbålt
hålt
målt
bélt
K- Célt
n- knélt
félt
jílt
kílt
sílt
tílt
.*bílt buílt
wílt
fåult
cúlt
only word ending in -mt (cf. prómpt) - dréamt
ánt
AmE cannot cán’t = philosopher Kánt = words cánt
signíficant
descéndant
deféndant
adjective depéndent = person depéndant
clâimant
dŏrmant
còvenant
cf. próminent - dóminant
rámpant
árrant
érrant
now cúrrent = eat cúrrant
pléasant
incéssant
blâtant
hésitant
contéstant
resístant
rélevant
sërvant
ẁant
send sént = money cént
.*áxent áccent
dêcent
rêcent
magníficent
ascént
dént
précedent
anticêdent
áxi- áccident
óxi- óccident
résident
président
person depéndant = adjective depéndent
indepéndent
j- man gént
stríngent
púngent
hard G- Belgium Ghént
obêdient
lént
éxcellent
repéllent
fråudulent
cf. mean méant - suffix -ment
engâgement
mánagement
séttlement
-tíssm- advërtisement
âilment
gòvernment
pâyment
përmanent
cf. dóminant - próminent
përtinent
oppônent
pãrent
appárent
transpárent
dífferent
inhérent
cohêrent
réverent
irréverent
eat cúrrant = now cúrrent
money cént = send sént
tént
cómpetent
inadvërtent
consístent
persístent
nón-exístent
vént
fërvent
línt
flínt
glínt
mínt
pînt
frònt
dåunt
gåunt
håunt
verb discòunt
noun díscount
vîc- vîscount
blúnt
rúnt
stúnt
gót
.*éscàr-gô escargôt
Màrgo = Màrgôt
hót
lót
no nót = tie knót
boôt
hoôt
foòt
loôt
roôt
soòt
pót
rót
árrow rhymes with tárôt
gold cárat = eat cárrot
párrot
tót
ápt
léapt
accépt
excépt
képt
slépt
wépt
unkémpt
exémpt
noun éxcërpt
íx- verb excërpt
àrt
pàrt
depàrt
impàrt
wårt
dïrt
flïrt
fŏrt
shŏrt
repŏrt
noun ímport
verb impŏrt
sŏrt
verb consŏrt
cf. cóncert - noun cónsŏrt
cürt
hürt
êast
bêast
fêast
lêast
bréast
yêast
fāst
lāst
māst
vāst
stréssed rhymes with stressed -est
bést
íncést
.*hŷíst hîghest
.*drŷíst drîest
priêst
jést
lést
nést
vést
wést
lôwest
ángst
râcist
.*fáshist fáscist
líst
sôshə- sôcialist
týpist
gríst
K- Chrîst
-k- Gílchríst
insíst
consíst
persíst
exíst
whîlst
cóst
dusty dúst = archaic do dòst
hôst
ghôst
lóst
fŏremôst
úppermôst
òutermôst
pôst
fïrst
thïrst
wörst
cürsed rhymes with bürst
hürst
búst
lôcust
lúst
trúst
cýst
ánalýst
cátalýst
more common in family names like Péttitt and Sénnett (= sénate house) than in ordinary words: -tt
ẁatt
head bútt
Àrgonaut
cóz- cósmonaut
ástronaut
júggernaut
however bút
cút
jút
glút
slút
nút
òut
gòut
clòut
pòut
tòut
.*impùt ínput
rút
neŵt
nòwt
séxed rhymes with néxt
téxt
cān’t
shān’t
hádn’t
nêedn’t
dídn’t
.*cùdənt coùldn’t
.*shùdənt shoùldn’t
.*wùdənt woùldn’t
àren’t
dãren’t
wëren’t
háven’t
âin’t
dôn’t
habit wônt = will wôn’t
.*házzənt hásn’t
.*wózzənt ẁasn’t
.*dúzzənt dòesn’t
.*ízzənt ísn’t
.*åwtənt ŏughtn’t
.*mússənt mústn’t
.*mîtənt mìghtn’t
U, V, W
.*táblô tábleau
.*byoôrô bûreau
.*troôssô troûsseau
.*pláttô pláteau
silent u in Guinea; -ssòw Guínea Bíssàù
illness flû
.*êemyoô êmû
cáriboû
gùrû
and many other such Slavonic names, v as f - Chékhov
guffåw
jåw
låw
clåw
animal påw
dråw
see, wood såw
feŵ
little feŵ = relief pheŵ
Jeŵ
neŵ
needle = sô therefore - sew
dreŵ
tree = yoû me = eŵe sheep - yeŵ
ribbon bôw
Street Bôw
incline bòw
còw
Móscôw
Dòw
wíndôw
hòw
lôw
belôw
flôw
allòw
-llôw
fállow
sẁallow
béllow
féllow
méllow
yéllow
bíllow
píllow
fóllow
hóllow
môw
nòw
negative nô = knowledge knôw
line rôw
argue ròw
grôw
thrôw
pròw
árrôw
bárrôw
fárrôw
hárrôw
nárrôw
spárrôw
needle sew = seeds sôw
pig sòw
foot tôe = pull tôw
stôw
bestôw
vòw
X
data fácts = machine fáx
hasn’t lácks = careless láx
côax
hôax
wáx
rêflex
cïrcumflex
véx
fíx
míx
síx
óx
bóx
cóx
páradox
ŏrthodox
flúmmox
plural -lôz tábleaux
plural -rôz bûreaux
flúx
crúx
Y
after consonant mostly ỳ -y
dây
bïrthday
hóliday
Frîday
wêekday
wörkday
Mònday
Súnday
todây
yésterday
Sáturday
doom doômsday = book Domesday
Wédnesday
Tûesday
Thürsday
Mâyday
hèyday
elf fèy = person Fây
gây
hây
clây
delây
plây
displây
verb Mây = month mây
sây
.*Línzy Líndsay
daresây
hêarsay
stây
cf. place names in -aî - *Páragwŷe Páraguaŷ
.*Yûrəgwŷe Ûruguaŷ
weight wèigh = how wây
awày
verb is two words breâkaway
verb is two words rúnaway
verb is two words gétaway
Gålway
cricket, farewell bŷe = 2 bî- = preposition bŷ
bâby
cábbie and words in -ábby rhyme with Gáby
lúllabŷ
abbot ábbey = persons Àbbey = Ábby
shábby
flábby
tábby
lóbby
lâybŷ
sêe sight = -sỳ = -cỳ
Mâcy
râcy
cf. hypócrisy - thêócracy
cf. hypócrisy - demócracy
.*byurócracy bureaucracy
áccuracy
-cỳ noun cf. próphesŷ verb - próphecy
nŏrmalcy
fáncy
chāncy
nécrománcy
person Náncy
France Nàncy
discrépancy
téndency
cúrrency
constítuency
shâdy
lâdy
trágedy
cómedy
përfidy
súbsidy
persons Àbbey = Ábby = abbot ábbey
obèy
person Fây = whimsy fèy thèy
whèy
kêy
láckêy
dónkêy
mònkêy
lèy
állêy
válley
trólley
fólly rhymes with vólley
jóckêy
dónkêy
mònkêy
nest, cart = drây cart drèy
Jéffrêy
ósprêy or ósprèy
cf. invèigh - convèy
purvèy
Hàrvêy
-zy Jërsêy
íffy
jíffy
stúffy
símplifŷ
mágnifŷ
vérifŷ
goôfy
dódgy
pódgy
-jy strátegy
fóggy
-njỳ -ngy
-jy mângy
-jy díngy
-ləjỳ -logy
jêó- geólogy
sôsh- sociólogy
-jy astrólogỳ
-jy énergy
-jy sýnergy
-jy líturgy
.*díng-y dínghy
.*dôwy dôughy
jó- geógraphy
cf. catástrophê, apóstrophê - trôphy
átrophy
voiced th, cf thîgh, unvoiced, same vowel sound thŷ
telépathy
sýmpathy
lêaky
tácky
plúcky
pôky
âbly
próbably
regréttably
nó- knóbbly
fêebly
vísibly
respónsibly
dumb *dúmly dúmbly
crumble crúmbly
nôbly
cf. bâsically - públicly
admíttedly
lîkely
two ls pronounced - sôlely
delíberately
complêtely
or -érily -ãrily
prîmãrily
necessãrily
temporãrily
militãrily
momentãrily
-z- êasily
quíckly
állŷ
cf. públicly - económically
tópically
bâsically
mûsically
illêgally
víscerally
incidéntally
tôtally
mostly female Bíllie = either Bílly
two l’s pronounced shrílly
sílly
vólley rhymes with fólly
two l’s pronounced whôlly
two l’s pronounced coôlly
two l’s pronounced dúlly
fùlly
replŷ
ëarly
dêarly
nêarly
pëarly
cléverly
fãirly
bürly
vígorously
AmE evidéntly BrE évidently
áptly
trûly
Âmy
astrónomy
gástrónomy
autónomy
cf. epítomê - hysteréctomy
.*énny any
.*ménny many
zâny
prógeny
shîny
Plíny
cf. tínny - tîny
whîny
Jénnie = Jénny
Kénny
pénny
Jóhnnie = Jóhnny
Dónny
fúnny
súnny
BrE o as schwa, AmE -môny
BrE *hígémony (hard g), AmE *héjəmôny hegemony
îrony
pôny
Tôny
misógyny
bŏy
jŏy
tŏy
álloy
annŏy
háppy AmE, when stressed syllable does not come immediately before it, -ãry or -éry, cf. -ery; BrE a as AmE or as schwa or silent; see also -ory - -ary
Cãry
Gáry
-shəry judíciary
vocábulary
canãry
gránary
díctionary
lîbrary
nécessary
líterary
suppleméntary
documéntary
Jánuary
Fébruary
vãry
wãry
crŷ
drŷ
tåwdry
mostly e as schwa: can sound like -ry in BrE -ery
físhery
fîery
bâkery
coòkery
sh- chicânery
paper stâtionary = stop stâtionery
conféctionery
cürsory rhymes with nürsery
cémetery
quêry
véry
brâvery
recòvery
discòvery
quêry
frŷ
bélfry
ángry
húngry
gŏry
glŏry
compúlsory
nürsery rhymes with cürsory
Tŏry
usually pronounced -trỳ in BrE -tory
oblígatory
óratory
AmE láboratŏry, BrE labóratory
satisfáctory
réctory
diréctory
trajéctory
dŏrmitory
stŏry
hístory
prŷ
Bárry
person Cárrie = fetch cárry
Hárry
márry
earth burỳ = fruit bérry
as suffix, AmE -bérry, BrE -brêe bláckberry
blûeberry
AmE rázb-, BrE ràzb- rāspberry
stråwberry
lórry
sórry
wòrry
cúrry
fürry
húrry
trŷ
påltry
pléasantry
péasantry
bígotry
áncestry
sóphistry
ké- chémistry
fruit bérrỳ = earth bury
Dûry
Drûry
lúxury
mostly = -cỳ -sỳ
-zêe êasy
-sêe grêasy
-zêe quêasy
like demócracy, thêócracy all -ssy idiosýncrasy
-sêe écstasy
-zêe chêesy
cf. noun próphecỳ -sêe - verb próphesŷ
-sêe héresy
demócracy and thêócracy rhyme with hypócrisy
-sêe émbassy
-sêe fússy
dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy
-sêe jéalousy
-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy
entîrety
cíty
felícity
stupídity
mentálity
facílity
iníquity
relîabílity
flexibílity
celébrity
antíquity
crûelty
silent h - hónesty
thïrsty
Kïrsty
goodbye, cricket bŷe = preposition bŷ = money buŷ
nâvy
wâvy
bévy
cf. lévêe, Lêvî - Lêvy
îvy
prívy
ánchovy
scürvy
sávvy
deŵy
wáxy
fóxy
slêazy
dâzy
hâzy
lâzy
crâzy
whêezy
dízzy
Z
bíz
whízz or whíz
quíz
Óz
jázz
razzmatázz
pizzázz
fízz
búzz
fúzz
zzzz
Table of accents
Accents on i and y show the same sound, and 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.
Front vowels | Back vowels | |||||||
e | i | y[1] | a | o | u | oo | w[2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The typical short sound: | pét | pít | crýpt | cát | dóg[3] | nút | ||
The typical long sound: | sêe | nîce | mŷ | nâme | nôse | tûne | toô | neŵ |
The 'third' sound (ẁ- and qù- indicate the 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 | elìte | quaỳ water = keỳ (kêy) lock | àre | òther | fùll | foòt | ẁant |
The ër sound, as in ër, Î dôn’t thínk sô: | përson | bïrd | mÿrtle | wörd | pürr | |||
The ŏr sound, as in thís ŏr thát (also used for cŏin and jŏy): | såw | mŏre | some BrE: sůre | |||||
The ãir sound, as in frésh ãir: | (thére) | stãre | ||||||
Irregular (with respelling): | sęw (ô) | merįngue (á) | becąuse (ó) | wǫmen (í) | bųsiness (í) |