English spellings

Homophones are words that are pronounced the same. English, famous for its varied spellings, is rich in homophones, and they are here arranged alphabetically. The most common word is placed first in the entry.

The words in italics suggest meaning, the accents show pronunciation (see English phonemes) and the equals sign = (or approximately equals sign ≈) is placed between the homophones: in some cases other words are included for contrast (after cf.).

A

 letter = èh? what?

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

âble capable = Âbel person

ádd more = ád advertisement

advîser = advîsor (alternatives)

âid help = âide assistant; 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

åll every = åwl tool, cf. Ál person

allót assign = a lót much

állêy path = Áli person

alòud audible = allòwed allow

alréady before = åll réady ready

alrîght = åll rîght: the former is an informal variant, probably by analogy with alréady

ålter change = åltar church

aménds make = eménds alters

ántì- (BrE) against = ántê- before (AmE says ántî-)

apâce fast = a pâce step

àrc circle = Àrk Noah

Argŷll Scotland = Argŷle Plymouth, hard g

ascént climb = assént agree

āunt uncle AmE = ánt insect

åural ear = ŏral voice

Aussie Australian = Óssy = Óssie persons

Austen Jane = Austin car, Texas, Ó-

åutarchy sovereignty = åutarky self-sufficiency

awêigh anchors = awây go

áxle car = Áxel person