English spellings
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Apostrophe
- The letter links above lead to alphabetically arranged selections of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside some regular ones for contrast; in addition, the present page features a 'retroalphabetical' list (see Contents) with words arranged alphabetically by their final letters
English is famous, even notorious, for its varied spellings. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of proper names, as, for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh', pronounced 'Chumley Fanshaw'. On a more prosaic level, however, there are dangers. An example of a common misspelling is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. And conversely, words may not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' you might expect to rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic' or even 'sayizmic' is in fact 'size-mic'. These lists are devoted to these things.
A few notes on how to read them: linguists conventionally signal an incorrect spelling by putting an asterisk before it, like *thiss, and here we also include accent marks to show stress and pronunciation, thús. A table of these (which are not part of the language[1]) 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. A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, retaining the e of disāster.
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. Examples of all three are grouped together 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.
An equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar-looking words are included after 'cf.' (from Latin conferre, 'compare').
Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may appear in English with accents from those languages. Such spellings are shown using bold italics: touchè may be written with a French accent: touché *tooshây.
The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet. Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: Ukrâine has -âine, not -âne. Words in italics are used to suggest meanings, 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.
Retroalphabetical list
- For the conventionally alphabetical list, see the links at the top of the page
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.
Throughout, 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
referénda[2]
.*îdêə idêa
.*flê flêa
.*plê plêa
-êə Crîmêa
-êə ãrêa
person Chélsy, etc. = place Chélsêa
.*Swónzy Sẁansêa
.*nåuzêə nåusêa
Ólga
broûhàhà
gèisha
clóss- claustrophôbìa
rhymes with milítia: -íshə -ícia
Alícia
Galìcia
Patrícia
Albânia
Tanzanìa
Armênia
.*skítzô-frêniə schizophrênia
Slovênia
insómnia
Wó- Wallônia
ària
malãria
Bavãria
Alexāndria
Lîbêria
hystêria
pìts- pizzerìa
Victŏria
trattorìa
.*Âyshə or *Âyzhə Âsia
-zhə amnêsia
-zhə Indonêsia
.*Toô-nìzhə AmE; BrE Chû-nízìə Tunisia
-zhə Maláysia
mostly -shə -tia
.*Crôw-âyshə Croâtia
-tìə Ossétia
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
Fontāna
Montána
-wàna iguàna
nì- nirvàna
Guyāna
vagîna
Regîna
Polyánna
hénna
anténna
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
climate clîme = up clîmb
.*côam cômb
còme, húm, súm rhyme with succúmb
.*dúm dúmb
.*thúm thúmb
fruit plúm = plumbing plúmb
.*núm númb
.*bóm bómb
.*côam cômb
.*toôm tomb
hóbnob
.*dŏrnób dŏorknob
AmE *érb hërb
vërb
ŏrb
súburb
blürb
pertürb
distürb
cúb
dúb
húb
clúb
C
mâniac
insómniac
.*afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac
lîlac
ålmanac
Quebéc
terrífic
horrífic
lógic
.*shêek chìc
pýrrhic
éthic
Góthic
mýthic
repúblic
seîsmic
irónic
Byrónic
herôíc
cf. Pátrick - Éric
ill síck = thus síc
-zíc 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
ae as schwa: *səbpênəd subpoênaed
-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
bare bãred
scãred
.*sâycríd sâcred
hámpered
cf. compãred - cómpéred
two syllables neûtered
revêred
sévered
mîred
cf. hâte - *hâtíd hâted
cf. hâte - *hâtríd hâtred
cf. kînd - *kíndríd kíndred
-rəd húndred
bar bàrred
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
stare stãry-eŷed
star 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 or 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 used for countries suggests alienness, even lack of sovereignty -land
Díxielánd
Tŷ- Thaîland
blánd = Blánd
Åuckland
Hólland
a as schwa before nouns, e.g. Ínland Révenue, otherwise á - ínlánd
schwa possible in adjectival use - mâinlánd
Fínland
Pôland
Láplánd
Súnderland
mòtherlánd
hínterlánd
ôverlánd
Swítzerland
Quêensland
Scótland
heàrtland
Mãryland
demānd
Hélmand
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
hoòd
no y before -hoòd
lîkelihoòd
lîvelihoòd
moôd
broôd
woòd
apart from monosyllables, mostly -ə(r)d -ard
càrd
bêard
hëard
hàrd
.*Ríchərd Ríchard
shàrd
làrd
cf. wide brŏad - boring bŏred = wood, company bŏard
.*cúbbərd cúpboard
flŏorbŏard
.*lépərd 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
.*prâycêed prècis’d
ít’d
yoû’d
thèy’d
E
final e is mostly silent; for words often 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
chŏice
vŏice
hóspíce
thrîce
caprìce
trîce
pôultíce
láttíce
BrE verb práctíse = noun, AmE 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
coërce
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
Jŏyce
fâde
shâde
jâde
glâde
woman mâid = make mâde
grenâde
sh-; AmE charâde, BrE 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, never a separate word: 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
.*fôlìíj 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
person Béveridge = -íj drink 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
dódge
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 *məstàsh, AmE *mústásh moustāche
-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
surname Wílley = Wílly = 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 the pronunciation of the preceding consonant or the long sound of the preceding vowel -eable
-nsəble pronòunceable
-jəble mánageable
-jəble chângeable
-kəble unshâkeable
-ləble sâleable
gâble
cf. lâbel - avâilable
unwínnable
ádmirable
desîrable
sâble
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
fúmble
húmble
júmble
múmble
rúmble
crúmble
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, eat 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
person Súttle = obvious 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
person Mêe = you mê
cf. âim - câme
gâme
lâme
sâme
frâme
tâme
extrême
dîme
.*rèzhìme regìme
lîme
verse rhŷme = frost rîme
tîme
íncòme
òutcòme
dôme
hôme
gênome
Alaska Nôme = garden gnôme
sòme
səm -some
troúblesome
hándsome
thrêesome
h- whôlesome
wínsome
cf. hysteréctomy - epítomê
.*rizyûme resûme
.*rézumây, written with French accents avoids confusion with resûme: résumé
.*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
gángrêne
-ône colôgne
-îgn rhymes with -îne
person Germâine
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
intéstíne
K- Chrístìne
prístìne
magazìne
win wòn = number òne
cône
cf. Stône of Scone, *Scoôn - scóne
dòne
condône
góne
alône
anémonê
nòne
atône
stône
cf. Kíngston, both have o as schwa - Mâidstone
zône
ãirbŏrne
o as schwa in best Aus pronunciation Mélbourne
Êastbŏurne
- dí-mâin demèsne
= -ô, -ôw - -ôe
ôboe
dôe
fôe
-oô shoe
Jôe
-oô canoe
rôe
tôe
wôe
Zôê
grâpe
Penélopê
ántelôpe
or ón- énvelôpe
shãre
awãre
bewãre
prepãre
îronwãre
sóftwãre
-re as schwa - *âkər âcre
-re as schwa - -kər 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
-jər ínjure
-jər cònjure
përjure
lûre
-lyər fâilure
BrE əlyûə allûre
BrE Shåw = AmE sûre
-zhər -sure
pléasure
méasure
tréasure
léisure
clôsure
-sh- préssure
-sh- físsure
-chər -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, noun -ss decrêase
verb, noun -ss incrêase
-z têase
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
pronounced but never spelt -ize noun, verb éxercîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize mërchandîse
pronounced but never spelt -ize fránchîse
vërbalîse
rêalise
êqualîse
-êez valìse
fërtilîse
never spelt -ize because it is a noun and pronounced -íss prémíse
never spelt -ize because pronounced -íss noun, verb 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
cf. dôze -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
cop cóps = wood cópse
hëarse
cf. revërse - rehëarse
tërse
vërse
avërse
ádverse
cf. rehëarse - revërse
gŏrse
voice hŏarse = animal hŏrse
wörse
bŏurse
vulgar cŏarse = run 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
person Spèight = rush spâte
séparate
-rət dísparate
-âte verb, -ət adjective delíberate
cf. ônerous - 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-; BrE fâvouríte
Trótskyîte
can be written 'Brontë' - Bróntê
ánecdote
ántidote
môte
nôte
vôte
fŏrtè
càste
hâste
châste
usually stressed -ét -étte
oô- oubliétte
serviétte
matress pállet = paint pálette
cf. hámlet - *ómlet ómelette
kitchenétte
tríbûte
cóntríbûte
dístríbûte
noun áttribûte
verb attríbute
.*mínít time mínute
.*mŷ-neŵt small minûte
repûte
compûte
cf. ínput - impûte
bŷte
nêophŷte
mostly silent -ue
bàrbecûe
âgûe
.*lêag lêague
persons Hãig = Hâigh = city, person Hâgue
.*plâig plâgue
.*Pràg Pràgue
.*sâygwây sèguè
-êeg noun íntrigue
-êeg verb intrìgue
-êeg fatìgue
.*meráng meringue
.*túng tòngue
-góg: all these words may, and in most cases must lose the final ue in American English -gógue
-óg sýnagogue
-óg dîalogue
àrgûe
blow bleŵ = colour blûe
clûe
glûe
final que is silent: many words end like this, but not bàrbecûe - que
-àk pláque
-âik opâque
.*Môzám-bêek Mozambìque
cf. reálpolitìk - critìque
-ésk burlésque
-ésk Pinterésque
-ésk picturésque
-ósk mósque
cf. brísk -oòsk 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
arrîve
contrîve
persuâsíve
adhêsíve
defénsíve
offénsíve
crêâtíve
tålkatíve
...but words which have secondary stressed AmE -âtive, two syllables after the main stress: AmE imáginâtive, BrE a as schwa: imáginatíve
sénsitíve
repétitíve
môtíve
revîve
abòve
bird dòve
(BrE is regular dîved) AmE dive dôve
England Hôve = heave hôve
shòve
lòve
glòve
.*moôve move
groôve
rôve
grôve
stôve
trôve
strôve
nërve
sërve
.*prizërv presërve
Î’ve
wê’ve
yoû’ve
thèy’ve
Zimbàbwè
Lilóngwè
AmE áx - BrE áxe
yê
me Î = sight eŷe
pig, eye stŷ = eye stŷe
plêase and frêeze rhyme with slêaze
period phâse = confuse 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
both pronounced -îze BrE ánalŷse, AmE ánalŷze
both pronounced -îze BrE páralŷse, AmE 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
cf. plural hoôves - hoôf
cf. plural roôfs *roôves roôf
G
fág
hág
nág
drág
ság
lég
pég
égg
díg
jíg
píg
ríg
wíg
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
often mispronounced 'Beizhing': 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
bétting
gétting
forgétting
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
silent after a vowel, combines to form consonant sounds with preceding consonant -h
can be several à’s: àh
mostly schwa -ah
cf. Marìa - Marîah
parîah
blàh
ayatóllah
Gôa rhymes with Nôah
hurràh
Ûtàh
êach
blêach
pêach
impêach
rêach
AmE *spínních; BrE *spínnídge spínach
sand bêach = tree bêech
besêech
.*ték: abbreviation of téchnical; also hî-téch - téch
whích
-k Zûrich
cf. same sound in 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
Wales Wélsh = person Wélch
fílch
zílch
drénch
sténch
wénch
ínch
wínch
cónch
búnch
húnch
púnch
lýnch -ch
cf. easy sínch, ch sound; down, wash sínk = together sýnch
-dóck Mürdoch
smoôch
àrch
sëarch
làrch
-k pâtriàrch
BrE -ək mónarch
kítsch
pùtsch
bátch
cátch
hátch
nátch
ẁatch
étch
fétch
kétch
ítch
dítch
hítch
glítch
pítch
stítch
cf. Åldwých - what whích BrE = wizard wítch
twítch
bótch
hótchpotch
Dútch
múch
-k eûnuch
còuch
gròuch
toúch
vòuch
súch
cf. place names in -wích - Åldwých
-d 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
.person Nŷe = near nîgh
.*sŷe 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
bánish
Spánish
vánish
end fínish = Finland Fínnish
astónish
gàrnish
tàrnish
vàrnish
Cŏrnish
bürnish
fürnish
púnish
wísh
fíftyish
person Wålsh
-sh - person Wélch = Wales Wélsh
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
schwa: BrE er = AmE uh
I
-î or -ì
Dubaî
h sounded Shanghaî
Ábu Dhàbì
rábbî
álibî
Sàùdì
likewise other plurals of -us - nûclêî
Hawàìì
Isrâeli
Disrâeli
.*sémmy sémi
eat pîe = number pî
girls’ names tend to end in -i or -ie, boys’ in -y - Térrì
.*paparatsy - paparázzi
J
-zh Ràj
-zh Mahal Tàj
-dj hàjj
K
-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 (voiced th sound) 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
ox yôke = egg yôlk
bánk
sánk
tánk
thánk
dránk
person Fránk = honest fránk
thínk
rínk
drínk
shrínk
sínk
hónk
plónk
mònk
hónky-tónk
dúnk
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
óbelisk
rísk
ásterisk
dúsk
músk
túsk
åuk
squåwk
L
lógical
mýthical
puritánical
histórical
hystérical
thê- theátrical
mûsical
práctical
scéptical
mýstical
nåutical
quízzical
fôcal
lôcal
vôcal
interfere méddle = coin médal
sell péddle = bicycle pédal
rhyming with cándle, hándle - scándal
rhyming with above 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
belly-button nâvel = ship nâval
cf. êvil - *medêvəl or medìêval
- Mŷcle Mîchael
Ráphâél
a common mistake is to write 'Isreal' - Ísrâel
= capable âble, cf. tâble, stâble - person 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- hotél
cf. módel - mô- motél
cartél
-ûle rhymes with -ûel
two dûal = fight dûel
fûel
crûel
grûel
navy nâval = stomach nâvel
Ravél
unrável
trável
cf. drízzle - drível
swível
hóvel
shòvel
nóvel
bòwel
tròwel
tòwel
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
O'Cónnell
O'Dónnell
séll
téll
quéll
wéll
fíll
píll
tíll
quíll
dóll
cf. parrot póll, elect pôll
part rôle = along rôll
drôll
strôll
tôll
bùll
cúll
dúll
but the suffix is -fùl - 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
gïrl
whïrl
twïrl
whŏrl
fürl
Gåul
måul
Påul
Såul cáterwåul
cf. word fùll suffix -fùl
hôpeful
cãreful
beaûtiful
dûtiful
noun spoônful
wònderful
stréssful
àrtful
jŏyful
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
drêam
strêam
hám
BrE h silent, a as schwa, -əm; AmE -hám
h silent, g not sounded separately Búckingham
h silent, g not sounded separately Bïrmingham
-nəm Twíckenham
-nəm Chéltenham
.*Tótnəm 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
sounding like -um thêorem
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
-kyûm - vácûum
-ûəm contínûum
gým
name -ným
syû- pseûdonym
hómonym
sýnonym
ántonym
Î’m
N
bán
ürban
türban
cán
Gŏrdon rhymes with Jŏrdan
-tion crustâcean
lôtion rhymes with ôcean
dêan
clêan
mêan
-ìən epicûrêan
fán
Ìan
-íshən -ícian
technícian
patrícian
.*Óstrâlìən in rapid speech ends like míllion etc., -lyən - Austrâlian
-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
Dalmâtian
nâtion rhymes with Crôâtian
Alsâtian
Títian
-bîzh- Azerbaijàn
mán
.*Îləv-Mán Îsle of Mán
mostly -mən -man
pâcemán
polìceman
hénchman
Omàn
Sûpermán
gásmán
ómbùdsman
Cóngressman
bátman
Bátmán
táxmán
Nŷman
-ən Kôfi Ànnan
môan
alone lône = lend lôan
grôan
god Pán = food pán
tán
Tîtan
Spàrtan
tàrtan
can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -stān
usually second syllable stressed Uzbékistan
Tajíkistan
Afghánistan
Manháttan
ván
ẁan
Tŷ- Taiwàn
ón =French en
letter én
dén
wîden
cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden
shêen
splêen
cf. gángrêne - grêen
sêen
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
.*líssən lísten
.*glíssən glísten
bird bíttërn ≈ bite bítten
íll-gótten
héaven
hâven
êven
eléven
séven
òven
còven
or prû- prôven
wôven
Ôwen
óxen
yén
Zén
-n -gn
campâign
vèin rhymes with dèign
would fâin = pretend fèign
wet râin = monarch rèign
.*sóvrin sóvereign
-lîne malîgn
-nîne benîgn
mathematics sîne = signal sîgn
-zîne desîgn
-zîne resîgn
-sîne énsîgn
-pyûne impûgn
pub ínn = out ín
Câin
disdâin
gâin
.*əgén; some regularise it to agâin - again
slâin
explâin
mâin
cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin
brâin
Bahrâin
trâin
retâin
person Bríton = country Brítain
-tín cáptain
dín
skèin
thín
detërmine rhymes with vërmin
pín
sín
bâsin
tín
-m -mn
condemn dám = water dámn
condémn
sólemn
cólumn
åutumn
man hím = church hýmn
out ín = pub ínn
ón
mostly schwa, as are Cámden, Màrsden, Hámpden, Hámpton -on
càrbon
university, clothing dón
Héndon
Lòndon
cŏrdon
cf. gàrden – Gŏrdon
curmúdgeon
pígeon
-njən dúngeon
-jən sürgeon
-jən stürgeon
-nchən trúncheon
bandôneon
Lêón
.*kəmêlêən; AmE -mê-; in fast speech -lyən, like míllion, Austrâlian - chamaêlêon
Napôleon
nêón
péntagon
bándwagon
àrgón
BrE *pólygən, AmE pólygón
îón
-yən -ion
most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -cion
-sh- suspícion
Asunción
-sh- côërcion
rêgion
lêgion
relígion
fáshion
cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion
vermílion
gálleon rhymes with stállion
bíllion
míllion
tríllion
búllion
ònion
ûnion
Orîon
centûrion
-zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including after another s and, in BrE, after another r: -sion
lêsion
vísion
télevision
revísion
scánsion
expánsion
-éntion -énshən = -énsion
comprehénsion
pénsion
suspénsion
ténsion
preténsion
exténsion
avërsion
dîvërsion
convërsion
excürsion
dîgréssion
séssion
míssion
ím- emíssion
əm- omíssion
-sh- percússion
fûsion
delûsion
illûsion
intrûsion
mostly -shən –tion
inundâtion
foundâtion
creâtion
renunciâtion
pronunciâtion
installátion
constellátion
confirmâtion
formâtion
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
preposítion
proposítion
opposítion
competítion
frûítion
= -énsion, -énshən -éntion
méntion
deténtion
inténtion
atténtion
prevéntion
absŏrption
erúption
abŏrtion
contŏrtion
contribûtion
distribûtion
pollûtion
solûtion
-éxion is, 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 - cartoôn
upón
person Bárron = lord báron
person Sháron
person AmE Sharôn, BtE Sharón
sáffron
eléctrón
neûtrón
sh- chévrón
boy sòn
bîson
Áshton
Élton
Lýttelton
prôtón
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
direction türn = bird tërn
lántern
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
.*sône seed sewn
gòwn
blôwn
môwn
renòwn
.*nôan knôwn
bròwn
cròwn
grôwn
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
ígloô
Wåterloô
shampoô
kangaroô
woô
.*Búrə - it means Míddlesbrough, which doesn’t have the ò - ends in schwa - Bòro
prô
cf. bûreau - pólitburo
sô
Plâto
AmE tomâto BrE 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
clāsp
rāsp
grāsp
crísp
wísp
cúsp
úp
cùp
bird coô = overthrow coûp
.*rêcoôp recoûp
.*groôp groûp
gåwp
Q
Mùshtaq
Iràq
Sádiq
Táriq
R
where unstressed, schwa -ar
bazàar
bàr
càr
râdàr
cálendar
êar
cf. drink bêer - naked bãre = 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
símilar
píllar
cáterpillar
cóllar
hóller rhymes with dóllar
sk- schólar
môlar
múscular
régular
júgular
grámmar
-z- quâsàr
púlsàr
Qátàr
néctar
scímitàr
sítàr
change ålter = church åltar
mŏrtar
stàr
schwa: AmE uh = BrE er
mostly schwa; stressed -ër in some words; some AmE -er words are -re in BrE. -er
câber
silent b: *clîmer clîmber
tímber
encúmber
cûcumber
lúmber
silent b: *plúmmer plúmber
cáncer
dāncer
cîder
glîder
spîder
person Rŷder = ride, logic rîder
insîder
bold bôlder = rock bôulder
shôulder
propagánda rhymes with BrE gánder
Lê- Leánder
mê- meánder
cf. sqùalor - sqùander
ẁander
wònder
yónder
enginêer
pîonêer
iléc- electionêer
cf. wither sêar, one diphthong, one 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
g not pronounced separately from -ng-; aeroplane hángar = coat 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
cîpher or cŷpher
usually 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
unvoiced th - êther
togéther
if whéther
téther
for most speakers where whíther = decay wíther
òther
bóther
smòther
mòther
one word anòther
bròther
fàrther
fürther
idéntifîer
supplîer
ëarlier
person Crŷer = cry, town 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
hípster
bátter
fátter
hátter
mátter
pátter
bétter
bítter
lítter
hótter
tótter
bútter
stútter
commûter
compûter
.*lácker lácquer
avër
hâver
brâver
quâver
wâver
fêver
whichéver
AmE léver - BrE lêver
cléver
whenéver
.*hû-éver whoéver
wheréver
.*wót-éver whatéver
hòwéver
fîver
líver
ríver
arrow, shake quíver
ôver
còver
Dôver
hóver
lòver
plòver
art dråw ≈ desk dråwer
bòwer
flòwer
glòwer
pòwer
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 and -our; none of the words listed right here have the -our ending in British English, see -our for some other American English -or spellings: -or
córridŏr
cóndŏr
fŏr
abhŏr
ultêrior
antêrior
postêrior
ánk- ánchor
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
.*grándure, BrE *gránjə grándeur
on- entreprenëur
rapportëur
frottëur
longuëur
voyëur
für
AmE súlfur BrE súlphur
demür
fêmur
lêmur
mürmur
we òur = time hòur
doûr
AmE hàrbor BrE *hàrbə hàrbour
AmE ráncor BrE *ráncə ráncour
scòur
preposition fŏr = 4 fŏur
petal flòwer = dough flòur
AmE còlor BrE *cúlə còlour
cf. sqùander: AmE sqùalor BrE *skwólə sqùalour
AmE glámor BrE *glámə glámour
AmE hûmor BrE *hûmə hûmour
silent h: AmE hónor BrE *ónə hónour
sòur
téar tŏre = hill tŏr = for some speakers travel toûr
nón séquitur
-ə(r) -yr
zéphyr
màrtyr
S
.*áz ás
.*(h)w(é)əráz whereás
.*ház hás
.*Cánzus Kánsas
-såw Årkansås
.*wóz ẁas
AmE *ërbs hërbs
thê- theátrics
-x athlétics
-x gymnástics
-x logístics
Nétherlands
-dz fŏrwards
words from Greek, etc: -êz -ês
Ándês
antípodês
côdes
-íz édges
-íz lódges
-íz Hódges
hew heŵs = person Hûghes
lúllabîes
-íz râbíes
.*síəríz sêríes
-íz AmE wörríes, BrE wòrríes
Lós = lóss lose; -íz Lós Ángeles
distance mîles = person Mîles
minimal pair: 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
.*wùlvz wolves
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
-iz semifinals sémis
-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, to mark their plurals (see English Irregular Nouns) 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 áccéss
góddéss
cãreless
ûseless
hápless
hélpless
t can be silent in lístless
t can be silent in réstless
méss
goòdness
lîonéss
cf. clêan - cléanliness
clúmsiness
nāstiness
shŷness
dréss
áctress
stréss
headmístress
cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss
silent u - guéss
kíss
míss
lóss
grôss
cúss
-tss cáts
Kêats
Yâtes = Yeâts
it is ít’s = of it íts
mostly -əss -us
-ss bús
ábacus
fôcus
-oôz Híndûs
-kəss Bácchus
Sibèlius
Dêlius
Jûlius
j-; cf. adjective ingênious - noun gênius
ignorâmus
j- gênus
-yoôz 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
pugnâcious
-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
ínfə- ínfamous
ánimus cf. ûnánimous
cf. vërtigo, hard g - g as j in vertíginous
glûtinous
glúttonous
scábrous
wòndrous
slānderous
thúnderous
mürderous
nûmerous
from BrE -our (AmE -or) - -orous
rígorous
vígorous
glámorous
hûmorous
díz- disàstrous
mónstrous
vácûous
fátûous
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
adjective përfect
verb perféct
thing óbject
disagree objéct
matter súbject
cruel subjéct
verb rejéct
noun rêjéct
colléct
connéct
áspect
respéct
.*éxtradîte éxtradîct
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; these words are -lət in Australasian English - boòklet
píglet
.*bállây bállèt
mállet
ẁallet
bíllet
tríplet
AmE all stressed on medial û: -ûplet; BrE medial u as schwa - qùadruplet, quíntuplet, séxtuplet, séptuplet, óctuplet
stàrlet
Jánet
plánet
gánnet
cŏrnet
límpet
-rây bérèt
å - quartét
bánquet
-kây crôquèt
-kây sóbriquèt
BrE *pàhkây, AmE *parkây pàrquèt
.*boô-kây bouquèt
déft
héft
léft
beréft
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
person Wrîght = correct, left rîght = maker -wrîght
.*plâywrîte plâywrîght
cópyrîght
should ŏught = any åught
cåught
drāft = drāught
fråught
any åught = should ŏught
bŏught
fŏught
nŏught
brŏught
dròught
wrŏught
ít
-ate rhymes with -âit
breath bâte = catch bâit
door gâte = walk gâit
heavy wèight = linger 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
BrE *pànshàn, AmE pénchant
trénchant
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
antecêdent
áxi- áccident
óxi- óccident
résident
président
person depéndant = adjective depéndent
indepéndent
j- man (abbreviation of géntleman) gént
stríngent
púngent
hard G- Belgium Ghént
obêdient
Christian Lént = lend lént
éxcellent
repéllent
fråudulent
cf. mean méant - suffix -ment
engâgement
mánagement
séttlement
AmE´ádvertîsement, BrE -tíssm- advërtísement
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
prê-émpt
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
person Kürt = terse cürt
hürt
êast
bêast
fêast
lêast
bréast
yêast
fāst
lāst
māst
vāst
stréssed rhymes with -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
.*táblô tábleau
.*byoôrô bûreau
.*troôssô troûsseau
.*pláttô pláteau
silent u in Guinea; -ssòw Guínea Bíssàù
illness flû
.*êemyoô êmû
cáriboû
gùrû
V
-óff Gorbachev
-nyéff Brézhnev
along with many other such Slavonic names, -ov as -óff (such words were once spelt -off) Chékhov
-óff Mólotov
dërv
W
guffåw
jåw
låw
clåw
animal påw
dråw
see, wood såw
little feŵ = relief pheŵ
Jeŵ
neŵ
therefore sô = needle sew
dreŵ
me yoû = sheep eŵe = tree yeŵ
London Bôw = ribbon bôw
incline bòw
còw
(some say -òw) Móscôw
Dòw
wíndôw
hòw
lôw
belôw
flôw
allòw
-llôw
fállow
ẁallow
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
dúst flécks = cord fléx
rêflex
cïrcumflex
véx
fíx
míx
síx
high jínks = curse jínx
mínx
quíncunx
lýnx
phárynx
óx
bóx
person Cóx = boat cóx
páradóx
ŏrthodóx
flúmmox
dêtóx
plural -lôz tábleaux
plural -rôz bûreaux
flúx
crúx
Y
after a consonant, mostly -ỳ
as a suffix, may be pronounced -dỳ in days of the week such as Mònday, but normally: 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 - *Páragwŷ Páraguaŷ
.*Yûrəgwŷ 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
Dígby
rúgby
Dólby
lâybŷ
sight sêe = -sỳ = -cỳ
Mâcy
râcy
cf. hypócrisy - thêócracy
cf. hypócrisy - demócracy
.*byurócracy bureaucracy
áccuracy
cf. verb próphesŷ - noun próphecỳ
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
Hárringây = Háringèy
thèy
whèy
kêy
cf. lúcky, tácky - láckêy
hóckey
dónkêy
mònkêy
lèy
állêy
válley
trólley
fólly rhymes with vólley
jóckêy
dónkêy
mònkêy
cart drây = nest, cart drèy
Jéffrêy
AmE all meanings stŏry = BrE floor stŏrey
ósprêy or ósprèy
-zy Jërsêy
cf. invèigh, final syllable rhymes - convèy
purvèy
Hàrvêy
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
cf. jóckey - lúcky
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
prîmãrily
necessãrily
temporãrily
militãrily
momentãrily
-z- êasily
quíckly
cf,állêy - állŷ
cf. públicly - económically
tópically
bâsically
mûsically
illêgally
víscerally
incidéntally
tôtally
mostly female Bíllie = either Bílly
two l’s pronounced shrílly
sílly
minimal pair: 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
cf. Béntley - AmE evidéntly, BrE évidently
áptly
trûly
Âmy
astrónomy
gá- gastrónomy
autónomy
cf. epítomê - hysteréctomy
.*énny any
.*ménny many
zâny
prógeny
shîny
Plíny
cf. tin tínny - small tîny
whîny
Jénnie = Jénny
Kénny
Lénnie = Lénny
Pénny = 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
paper stâtionery = stop stâtionary
díctionary
.*lîbry, *lîbəry - though some pronounce both rs: lîbrary
nécessary
líterary
suppleméntary
documéntary
BrE *Jányəry, AmE *Jányûãry, Jánuary
BrE *Fébry, *Fébyəry, AmE *Fébyûãry, though some pronounce both rs - Fébruary
vãry
wãry
crŷ
gímmickry rhymes with mímicry
drŷ
tåwdry
mostly e as schwa: can sound like -ry in BrE: -ery
físhery
fîery
bâkery
coòkery
sh- chicânery
stop stâtionary = paper stâtionery
conféctionery
míz- mísery
cürsory rhymes with nürsery
cémetery
quêry
véry
brâvery
recòvery
discòvery
quêry
frŷ
bélfry
ángry
húngry
mímicry rhymes with gímmickry
gŏry
glŏry
compúlsory
nürsery rhymes with cürsory
Tŏry
usually pronounced -trỳ in BrE, ŏ pronounced in AmE: -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
AmE -bérry, BrE -brêe bláckberry
blûeberry
AmE rázb-, BrE ràzb- rāspberry
stråwberry
lórry
sórry
AmE wörry, BrE 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
léprosy
-sêe émbassy
-sêe fússy
dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy
-sêe jéalousy
-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy
-rity entîrety
cíty
felícity
stupídity
reálity
cf. spécialty - speciálity
mentálity
facílity
relîabílity
flexibílity
celébrity
iníquity
antíquity
fêalty
cf. speciálity - spécialty
lŏyalty
rŏyalty
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
cívvy
skívvy
deŵy
wáxy
fóxy
slêazy
dâzy
hâzy
lâzy
crâzy
whêezy
dízzy
Z
bíz
whízz or whíz
quíz
Óz
cat cáts = Kátz
get géts = Stan Gétz
-ts kibbùtz
Strâit of Hormùz
jázz
razzmatázz
pizzázz
fízz
búzz
fúzz
zzzz
Double letters
The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.
Double letters before suffixes are used to preserve short vowel sounds as in flípped (not *flîped), rebélled (not *rebêled) and pégged (not *pêged, which would probably in any case be pronounced *pêjed). Compare scrâped, past of scrâpe, and scrápped, from scráp. In the case of t, doubling it after an unstressed vowel and before a suffix may seem unnecessary, but in some cases it can be doubled before -ed: either tàrgeted or tàrgetted.
The sign # indicates a double letter that is rare in that position; capital-letter words indicate that the double letter in this position is only found in names. An asterisk (*) indicates a respelling to show pronunciation and an equals sign (=) introduces a homophone.
| letter | initial | medial | final | final + silent e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | àardvark #[3] | Transvàal # | bàa # | |
| b | ríbbon | ébb # | Crábbe | |
| c | sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt) | |||
| d | hídden | ádd | ||
| e | êel | bêen | sêe | |
| f | éffort | clíff | Clíffe | |
| g | aggréssion | égg # | Légge (= lég) | |
| h | hítchhike # (accidental) | |||
| i | skìíng # | Hawàìi # | ||
| j | hàjj # (also spelt hàdj) | |||
| k | púkka #[4] | |||
| l | llàma # | fílling | wéll | bélle |
| m | súmmer | Crámm | grámme | |
| n | dínner | ínn # pub | Ánne (= Ánn) | |
| o | oôze, oòmph # | foôd, foòt, flòod, BrE doŏr | toô | Loôe (= loô) |
| p | flípped | |||
| q | Sadìqqi # | |||
| r | érror | pürr | ||
| s | méssy | lóss | crevásse | |
| t | bétter | ẁatt | couchétte -sh- | |
| u | vácuum # (*vákyoôm) | |||
| v | flívver # | |||
| w | ||||
| x | Éxxon ™ # | Bób B. Sóxx # | ||
| y | Khayyàm # | |||
| z | fízzy | búzz |
Table of accents
These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on i and y show the same sound; similarly with u, oo and w. Accented vowels are stressed (ỳ is normally unstressed, as in háppy). ā, not in the table, means that the sound is à in British English and á in American.
| Front vowels | Back vowels | |||||||
| e | i | y[5] | a | o | u | oo | w[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The typical short sound: | pét | pít | crýpt | cát | dóg[7] | nút | ||
| The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U: | 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 | machìne | quaỳ water = keỳ (kêy) lock | àre | òther | fùll, qùantity | foòt | ẁant[8] |
| 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 | (for some BrE speakers) sůre | |||||
| The ãir sound, as in frésh ãir: | (thére) | stãre | ||||||
| Irregular (with respelling): | sęw (ô) | merįngue (á) | becąuse (ó) | wǫman (ù) | bųsiness (í) | |||
Example sentences
Words without accents have the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.
The usual short sound:
The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.
The usual long sound:
Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.
The third sound:
Christìna Grèy shoùld lòve her mòther and fàther (and dòes).
The ‘ër’ sound:
But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.
The ‘ŏr’ sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw):
Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?
Irregular, with respelling:
Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny *wímmin? *Énny *wùman!)
Notes
- ↑ Different accents, mostly from French, are sometimes used, however; see French words in English. Also, some Hawaiian words have accents.[1]
- ↑ Plural of referéndum: for more words like this, see English irregular nouns.
- ↑ àardvark and Transvàal are from Afrikàans, itself a further example.
- ↑ Also accidental in boòkkeeper, with a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.
- ↑ When not accented, y is usually the semi-consonant of yoû and yés.
- ↑ When not accented, w is usually the semi-consonant of wê and wíll.
- ↑ In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer à in most positions, and by ŏ before r.
- ↑ Grave accents on w and on a u following a q indicate the sound of the following a: à in American English, but in British the extra sound ó as in the British pronunciation of hót.