English spellings

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

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 dotcóm or dot.cóm - but one dot is surely enough doúble rhymes with búbble doûble entendre - -en- as ón, twice 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

Ménzies Robert

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 -tínəs mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. mòuse rodent moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh mòuth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced, cf. bréath noun th unvoiced, brêathe verb th voiced mòuthpiece one word move û Môzart *Môatsart Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used Mrs *míssíz; abbreviation of míssis or míssus, full form rarely used; = mísses mistakes, girls mûesli *meŵzly Mûïr name *meŵer, cf. mŏre, etc. 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-

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

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 - en 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 pretend = fâin would - fèign monarch = râin wet - 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 country = Bríton person etc. Brítain -tín cáptain dín skèin Elmer Bërnstêin

Leonard Bërnsteîn

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	a	o	u	oo	w
The typical short sound:	pét	pít	crýpt	cát	dóg	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)