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; it is followed by a 'retroalphabetical' list, alphabetically arranged by final letter.

An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, maintaining the e of disāster. Here, the asterisk before it indicates an incorrect spelling, and the accents show stress and pronunciation. A table of the accent marks (which are not used in English) 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. 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 languges, in most cases French, may be written 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 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

abòut-türn

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, adrénaline

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, against both have é, but for some speakers there is a regular spelling pronunciation: agâin, 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

Âix France = âches ache

alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ friend, állêy way

aîsle walking space = 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 a name

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 permitted

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

Anguílla -gwí-

Anguíllan -gwí-

ánimus cf. ûnánimous

Ánkara

ánnals cf. ánalyst

annéx verb

ánnex or ánnexe noun

annîhilate *annîyílâte

anómaly

ánonýmity

anónymous anòther one word

ānswer w is 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

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

as wéll two words

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 mouth

Àùschwitz *Òwshvíts

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

Azerbaijàn Ázerbaî-jàn

Azéri

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

Bárenbŏim

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 located

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 listen

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 regularize to ‘Bélarəs’, with the u as schwa, but this hasn’t happened; the most common alternative is still Belarùs, and one even hears the plainly Russian-influenced *Byéla-rûs and *Byéla-rùs

Bélfāst

Bélgium *Béljəm

belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe

belìêve

béllicôse

bellígerent -j-

béllow shout, bellows cf. belôw under

Bénaud *Bénnô

bénefit

benévolent

Benìn

Beninêse

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

Bhutàn

Bhutanêse

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

boòkcase one word: extended k sound

boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound

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 with an s

Brazíl with a 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 Brien O'Brian)

brìêf

brîght -ît

Brísbane *Brízbən

Brítain country -tən; = Bríton citizen, Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain persons

Bríttany France ≈ Brítney person

Brno has a stressed schwa: *Brəno

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, cf. pólitburo

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

bùsh

búsing -ss-

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 bíz-

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

Býzantîne *Bŷ-zántîne

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 with French accent: café au lait) *cáfâyô-lây

cáffêine

Caîro *Kýro

Caìus Cambridge = kêys lock; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with Gaîus

Calcútta

cálendar is 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, law

cauliflòur *cóllyflower

cåuse reason -z = BrE Cŏrrs persons, cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós because *cóz

cause celébre can have French accents: 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- BrE, AmE cénter

centrífugal

centrípetal

céntrist s-

cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series

cérebral s- BrE; 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-; sh- where stated

chà tea - or chàr as other meanings

chà-chà or cha-cha-chà dance

Chádian *Cháddian

chãir sit = Chér person

chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng

chágrín sh- BrE; AmE *shəgrêen

chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl-, cf. camêlia, -n is the only extra sound (a minimal pair)

châmber tsh-, cf. Châmbers person

chámois *shámwà

champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)

chandelìêr sh-

Chandrasèkhar

chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Cahnnél persons

châós *kâyóss

chápel church = Cháppell person

cháperôn sh-

chàplain church = Cháplin person

chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng

charàde sh- BrE; 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

Chélsêa *Tshélsì

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 masticates

chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal

chŏrus k-

chòw miên

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

citâtion cf. situâtion

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-

clôse-up near, -ss-, cf. clôse up shut, -z-

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 (where French accent can be written: compère) host

cómparable or compárable

compárative

compárison

compàrtment

cómpensâte

compensâtion

cómpére - compère show, cf. compãre contrast

complâint complain

cómplement together = cómpliment praise

cómplex BrE; AmE compléx

compléxion not -ct-

complîant comply

cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss

cómrâde BrE; 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

cóps police = Kóp Liverpool

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 can have French accent: crème

créme de menthe can have French accent: crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt

Crêôle

crêosote

crèpe = crèpe

crescéndos -sh-

créscent *crézzənt

crévíce

crevásse

creŵ ship = Creŵe England

creŵ-cut

Crîchton *Crŷtən

crîme

Crîmêa -êə

Crôát *Crôwát

Croâtia *Crôw-âshə

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-

Cýpriot

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 day = Dâley person

daiquíri daî-

dãiry milk cf. dîary day

Dàlek

Dalmâtian not -on

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’

Darfùr

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 (as in 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

Deŵey

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 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, academic = Dón person

dòne do = dún colour = Dúnn person = Dònne poet

dóner kebab = Dónner person

dônor give

doômsday doom = Domesday Book

dŏorstép one word

dóppelganger, often with German umlaut: doppelgänger

dŏrmant

dóssièr silent French r - or e regularised to schwa: *dóssiər

Dostoyévsky, Dostoévsky

doúble rhymes with búbble

doûble entendre *dôôblon-tóndrə

dòubt *dòut, cf. dòughty

dôugh bake, money = dôe deer

dôughnút *dônut

dòughty *dòwty

Doúglas *Dúgləss

doûr serious, one syllable ≈ doer do, two syllables

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

drôll

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 AmE *éfrt, BrE *éfət

effròntery cf. affrònt

Èid = âid help

èight 8 = AmE âte eat, BrE *ét

eîther neither AmE êither voiced th, cf. êther sky, unvoiced th

élbôw

eléction

eléctoral

eléctric

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

émbryo *émbrio

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-

encoúrage BrE; AmE ü

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, usually written with a French accent to distinguish it from the previous, *ongázhây

éngine -jín

England = Íng-glənd

English = Íng-glísh

ennuì *ón-wê

enŏrmous

enoúgh *inúff

en pássant *ompásson - 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 = éxercise

expátriate -ət, cf. pâtriot, also ət

expêrience

expériment

expertìse -têez, cf. other words ending in -ise, mostly -îze

expôse

exposé normally has French accent to distinguish it from the above, *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

Faroêse

fàr-rêaching

Fàrquhar *Fàrker

fàrther further BrE = 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 AmE *Fébyuãry, BrE Fébyury

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

fjŏrd fyŏrd

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 arguably preferable to fôcussed and fôcussing as they do not distract one by invoking 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 (to the fŏre) = fŏur number

fŏrecast

fŏrecastle -səl: sailors traditionally say *fôksəl

fŏrehéad traditionally *fórrid, cf. hórrid, but now normally has the 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 initial g; BrE -àzh, -àj, AmE *gəràzh

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 insect = 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

gódsend one word

gŏitre Bre; 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

Gréig = Grég

Grenâda cf. Granàda

grenâde

grèy AmE grây = Grèy = Grây persons

grèyhòund one word

grìêf

Grìêg composer, cf. Gréig

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 warfare = 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

gùru

guŷ

gým gymnasium = Jím person

gynaecólogist hard g-: *gŷnəcólojist, AmE -nec-

gyrâte *jî-râte

gŷroscope j-

H

H = âitch

hà

ha hà laughter

hà-hà fence

hâbeas cŏrpus *hâbius

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, Tahìti

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 emphasized 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 firm

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 England

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

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 usual = Híllary Edmund, Clinton

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, where the a is 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

Íllinŏis *Íllinŏi

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

incîsor

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. Compare the less notorious but similar whose of whom and who's who is: the latter similarly incorrectly used for the former

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 = Gêne persons = 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 syllable stressed

Khmér Kəm-

Kìév *Kìyéff

kìlo

kílomêtre or kilómetre; AmE -er

kînd

kíndred -dríd

kíngly

Kíngsley cf. Mackínley

Kirkûdbright *Kəkûbry

kítsch *kítch

Kleîn = Clîne

kn- n-

knâve cad, cards = nâve church

knêad dough = nêed necessary = knêed knee

knêejerk one word, n-

knêel down = Nêil, etc. persons

Knésset - K sounded

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 = Knótt person

knôw acquaint = nô negative

knôw-hòw knowledge is 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 BrE; AmE Kôsovo, -ss-

kowtòw *kòw-tòw

Kürt person = cürt abrupt

Kuwâit

Kyrgyzstān Kýr- or Kÿr-

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 has a 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 British speakers say *Lós Vègas probably because they would normally read Las with the á sound, the AmE Làs sounds to British ears 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

lêan

léant lean = lént lend = Lént season

lêap

léapt

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 = Léfty = Léftie nicknames for lefty

légacy

lêgal

législâtor

législatûre

Léicester city = Léster person

Léinster

léisure BrE *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 false = lŷre music

lîbel two syllables

líberal

libertãrian

líberty

libìdo

Lìbra

lîbrary

librãrian

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

Línux

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

Líverpool

Liverpúdlian

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 - though this does not apply to 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 loôse 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 lose *lûzer, cf. loôser more insecure

loses lû-, cf. lósses

lóss

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

lmph

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 BrE; 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 - see mánnequin

Mánchester cf. Chéster

mânger cf. mánager

mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State

mándarin

mándatory

mandolíne or mandolín

mâne lion = mâin important = Mâine State

mângy -jy

mánhandle

mâniácal

máníkin, mánníkin - see mánnequin

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, rhymes with Lòwry

màrch walk = Màrch month

mãre horse = mãyor councillor

margarìne màrj-

Màrgot -gô

Marìa but: Bláck Marîa

Marîah Carey cf. parîah

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 -al, unlike in French

mátinèe *mátinây: matinée, French 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-

mê myself = Mêe person

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 *ményu

Ménuhin *Ményuwin

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 can have French accent métier *mâytiay

meŵs street, cat = mûse think, inspiration

mézzanine méts or -méz-

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 mining

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 not míni-

mínute time *mínít

minûte tiny mî-

minûtiae *minûshî or *minûshìî

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 List

mŏrtgage *mŏrgij

mŏrtíce or mŏrtíse

mosâíc pattern = Mosâíc Jewish *môzâíc

Móscôw - some AmE speakers say Móscòw

mósque *mósk, cf. músk, màsk

mosquìto -skêeto

môte eye = môat castle

móthball one word

motìf pattern mô-, cf. môtive reason

moûe pout = moô cow

môuld mouldy = môld shape

mòuntaínous -tínəss

mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning

mòuse rodent, cf. moûsse

Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl

moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. môuse

moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh

mòuth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced, same spelling, cf. bréath noun th unvoiced, brêathe adding an e when becoming a verb th also voiced

mòuthpiece one word

move û

Môzart *Môatsart

Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used

Mrs *míssíz; abbreviation of míssis or míssus, of which the full form is rarely used; = mísses mistakes, girls

mûesli *meŵzly

Mûïr name *meŵer

Mujahedìn

múltiplŷ verb

múltiplỳ adverb

múm quiet, mother BrE = AmE mòm mother

múmmy body, mother BrE = AmE mòmmy mother

múnch -ch cf. Édvàrd Múnch, *Mùnk

Mûnich -ík

Múrraỳ = Mòray Firth = Múrry, cf. húrry

mürky

múscle body = mússel shellfish

Múscovite

mústáche AmE *mústásh; BrE moustàche *məstàsh

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 innocent can be written naïve nàì- *nŷêve, cf. nâve church

naìvity *nà-ìvity - or naïveté, *nî-yeevitây

nâked -íd

Náncy person, cf. 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

niêce nephew = Nìce France

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

neŵ-born

néxt doôr two words

nô negative cf. nº number

nób rich = knób handle

Nôbél prize - either syllable 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 equals owe debt

ŏar boat = ŏr alternative = ŏre metal

oâsis *ôwâyssís

obêdience

obèisance

obèy

oblìque -lêek

obscêne

obscénity

obsêquious

óbsolête

obsoléscence

óbstacle

occâsionally

occür

occürred (cf. cûred), occürring - two r’s

occúrrence BrE; AmE occürrence

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

Oklahôma Ôak-

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, even though 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; sometimes, to distinguish it, the second is pronounced 'àùral'

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 *pàtchè

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 *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 can have French accent: passé

pāssed pass = pāst time, tense

pássion *páshən

pássive cf. pácifist

pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field

pastìche -ìsh

pāstime

pátè can have French accents: 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 = Pêirce persons, 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

píccolo

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 rhymes with gánnet

plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic

pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher

plátinum

plátypus

plâyboy one word

plâywright

pléasure -ézher

plîght *plîte

plòw AmE

plòver

plòugh BrE = plòw

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

poliomyelîtis

pôliovirus one word

pólish shine

Pôlish Poland

pólitburo cf. bûreau

políticking

político

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 followed by a hyphen

postpône pôsp-

potâtoes cf. tornâdos, both -ôz

Potômac

poùffe

práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (neither -îse nor -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 BrE; 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 can be written with a French accent: protegé *prôtezhây

protegèe female can be written with a French accent: 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 may have French accent: raison d´être

Ráleigh person = rálly meeting, though officially Sir Wålter Råleigh sounds like Råwley

Rálph mostly, but some are Râlph, *Râfe

rámpâge noun

rampâge verb

Rámsey Isle of Man = Rámsay MacDonald

ráncour *rángkə BrE; AmE ráncor *rángkər

Rangoôn *Ráng-gûne

ránkle cf. wrínkle

ránsom money = Ránsome person

rappróchement *rápróshmó

rápt entranced = wrápped parcel

rárebit Welsh

rāspberry -spb- or -zb-

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 England = 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 dislike cf. rê-sént re-send, rêcent lately

réservoir *rézə(r)vwàr

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 (which is the French spelling)

réstaurant *réstrónt

resúlt *rizúlt

resûme again *ríz-yoôm

résumè CV - may be written résumé or resumé to distinguish it 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 rare alternative, more regular, spelling of rhŷme

ríng round, noise = wríng neck

rísquè can have French accent: 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 argue

Rôland cf. Rónald

rôle model rôle = rôll bread, rolling, call

roôfs roof *roôves, cf. hoôves hoof

roôm

Rôosevelt - first syllable rhymes with rôse

roôt plant = BrE roûte journey

rôse flower, rise = rôws boat, line

rôsè can have French accent: rosé wine

rôse-tínted

rôte learning = wrôte write

rótten

roûè can have French accent: 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

sác biology = sáck coal

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

sce- se-

scenàrio

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 different

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 no double letters

shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons

shh any number of h’s

Shìa ≈ BrE shêer

shíbboleth

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. a 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

Siérra Leône

Sierra Leônean

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 *Sînêî

Sinàtra

síng song = Síngh person

sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing

síngeing singe -jing, cf. sínging sing - hard g

Singapŏre

Singapŏrean

singlemîndedly

sîphon or sŷphon

sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə Jóhn Fålstaff

sîte place = cîte quote

sîting site

sítting sit

situâtion sí-, cf. citâtion cite

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 not 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 BrE; 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

spâte flood, many = Spêight person

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 = Stërling person

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 BrE; 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 as an abbreviation, for example for sub-editor or submarine, sub-edit or substitute, is a word in its own right, but far more often it is attached to the following word, with or without a hyphen; there is also the expression:...

súb jûdicê

súbjugate

submarìne

submáriner

submít

subŏrn

subpoêna AmE -pê-

subsîdence

súbsídy

substántial -shəl

súbtitle

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 BrE; 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

supërfluous

superflûity

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

sẁath

swâthe

swéar

swéat perspire

swêet eat = suìte music, hote

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 = têe golf

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 they 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

tríptých -ík

trîumph

tróglodyte

trombône

troôp army = troûpe 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

Tsvángeraî, Tsvángiraî Cháng-

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 ashes = 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 nasty = Weîll Kurt

vílify

víllage -íj

víllain -an

vindaloô

vindíctive cf. véngeance

vîne

vínegar

víneyard

vînyl *vînəl

viôla 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 we are

wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf

wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if

wê’re we 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 (the former usually refers to Scotch, the latter to bourbon)

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. There is similar potential confusion as with the more notorious ít's ít ís and íts of it

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 BrE; AmE wörry

wörship cf. wårship

Worcester *Wùster

wŏre wear = wår fight

wörse

wörsted worst

worsted cloth wû-

wörth

woùld if = woòd tree

would-be adjective hyphenated

woûnd injury

wòund wînd

wòw excitement cf. wôe depression

wráck pain = ráck frame, stretch

wráp parcel = ráp knock, speak

ẁrath anger = Róth person

wrêak make = rêek smell, cf. wréck collapse, réckless careless

wrêath noun unvoiced th as in bréath, different vowel sound

wrêathe verb voiced th, as in brêathe

wréck cf. réckless

wrést wrestle = rést repose

wrétch miserable = rétch vomit

wrîght artesan as in plâywright; = Wrîght person = wrîte letter = rîght side, correct = rîte ritual

wríng squeeze = ríng finger, bell

wrínkle cf. ránkle

wrîte written = wrîght etc.

wróngdoing one word, *róngdûing

wróng-foòt verb

wrôte write = rôte learning

wrúng wring = rúng ring, ladder

wrŷ humour = rŷe crop

wrŷlỳ wry = Rîley person

wùff

Wŷatt *Wŷət, cf. whîte

xénophobe z-

xenophôbia zé-

X

X = éx - past

Xénophon - author Z-; ‘xénophône’ if it existed would mean a speaker of a foreign language

Xêrox - z-

Xhôsa - k-

Xinjiáng - as other words from Chinese Sh-

X-ray *éxrây

xŷlophone - z-

Y

Y = whŷ - reason

yacht *yót

yê - you

yeâ - yes

yéah - yes *yé

yêar or yëar

yëarn

Yeâts - poet = Yâtes - more common spelling

yeôman

Yeôvil

yìêld

yôke - oxen = yôlk - egg

yŏre - days = yŏur - you

yoúng

your - my = you’re - I’m = yŏre - past

yoû’ll or yŏu’ll or yoù’ll

Z

Z BrE zéd, AmE zêe

zêal

zéalot

zébra or zêbra

zeîtgeîst

zénith

Zeûs

Zìa

zígzág

Zimbàbwè

zíp

Zôê *Zôwỳ

zoô

zoólogy avoiding triple letter: *zoô-ólogy or *zuólogy or *zoôwology

zoôt

zúgzwáng, zúgschwáng, *tsuxvang, *zúgshwang, etc.

Zûlu

Zûrich -k

Apostrophe

Words that begin with an apostrophe are:

’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

referénda

.*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

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

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

vërb

súburb

blürb

pertürb

distürb

cúb

dúb

húb

C

mâniac

insómniac

.*afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac

lîlac

ålmanac

Quebéc

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

Quêensland

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

.*prâycêed prècis’d

ít’d

yoû’d

thèy’d

E

Final e is 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 the palatalised 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

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, 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

.*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

Alaska Nôme = garden gnôme

sòme

səm -some

troúblesome

hándsome

thrêesome

h- whôlesome

wínsome

cf. hysteréctomy - epítomê

.*rizyûme resûme

written with French accents avoids confusion with resûme: résumé .*rézumây résumè

.*prizyûme presûme

-syû- consûme

-syû- assûme

frost rîme = verse rhŷme

fruit lîme = England Lŷme

énzŷme

bâne

persons Câin = Câine = stick câne

urbâne

Dâne

mêthane

Jâne

lâne

cf. remâin - relevant germâne

scêne

obscêne

person Germâine

-ône colôgne

-îgn rhymes with -îne

mìgrâine

Ukrâine

.*Mádlin or *Mádlən - Mádeleíne

refîne

confîne

éngíne

cf. hérôín drug, hérôíne hero - méscalíne

declîne

reclîne

mîne

vërmín rhymes with ërmíne

detërmíne

sërpentîne

türpentîne

intéstíne

Chrístìne K-

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

can be written Brontë - Bróntê

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 pronounced -îze ánalŷze

AmE; BrE páralŷse, both pronounced -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

often mispronounced 'Beizhing': why did they change it from Pêking? 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

lýnch -ch

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

astónish

vàrnish

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

óbelisk

rísk

ásterisk

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 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

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

whŏrl

hôpeful

cãreful

beaûtiful

dûtiful

noun spoônful

wònderful

àrtful

Gåul

måul

Påul

Såul

cáterwåul

cf. word fùll suffix -fùl

hôpeful

stréssful

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

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

Ìan

-íshən -ícian

technícian

patrícian

.*Óstrâlìən in rapid speech rhymes with míllion etc., -lyən - Austrâlian mán

-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

bátman

Bátmán

táxmán

Nŷman

-ən Kôfi Ànnan

môan

alone lône = lend lôan

grôan

god Pán = food pán

tán

Tîtan

can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -stān

usually second syllable stressed Uzbékistan

Tajíkistan

Afghánistan

Manháttan

ván

ẁan

Tŷ- Taiwàn

= ón French en

letter én

dén

wîden

cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden

sêen

splêen

shêen

grêen

fén

hén

dh- thén

léngthen

stréngthen

âlien

tâken

wêaken

brôken

tôken

wôken

dàrken

heàrken

póllen

swôllen

mén

-mən in most words -men

Yémen

spŏrtsmen

spécimen

chíldren

bréthren

wörsen

léssen

delicatéssen

bêaten

.*sóffən sóften

.*fāssən fāsten

.*hâyssən hâsten

bird bíttern ≈ bite bítten

íll-gótten

héaven

hâven

êven

eléven

séven òven còven or prû- prôven wôven Ôwen óxen yén Zén -n -gn campâign vèin rhymes with dèign would fâin = pretend fèign

wet râin = monarch rèign

.*sóvrin sóvereign

-lîne malîgn

-nîne benîgn

signal = sîne maths - sîgn

-zîne desîgn

-zîne resîgn

-sîne énsîgn

-pyûne impûgn

pub ínn = out ín

Câin

disdâin

gâin

.*əgén; some regularise to agâin - again

slâin

explâin

mâin

cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin

brâin

Bahrâin

trâin

retâin

Bríton person = country Brítain

-tín cáptain

dín

skèin

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

àrgón

pólygón AmE; BrE *pólygən

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

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

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 - càrtoôn

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

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

cf. bûreau - pólitburo

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

yónder

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

• 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

-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

dréss

áctress

stréss

headmístress

cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss

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

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

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

jínx

mínx

quíncunx

lýnx

phárynx

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

míz- mísery

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

léprosy

-sêe émbassy

-sêe fússy

dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy

-sêe jéalousy

-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy

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

deŵy

wáxy

fóxy

slêazy

dâzy

hâzy

lâzy

crâzy

whêezy

dízzy

Z

bíz

whízz or whíz

quíz

Óz

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 seems unnecessary, but in some cases it doubles 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.

initial	medial	final	final + silent e
àardvark #	Transvàal #	bàa #
	ríbbon	ébb #	Crábbe
	sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt)
	hídden	ádd
êel	bêen	sêe
	éffort	clíff	Clíffe
	aggréssion	égg #	Légge (= lég)
	hítchhike # (accidental)
	skìíng #	Hawàìi #
		hàjj # (also spelt hàdj)
	púkka #
llàma #	fílling	wéll	bélle
	súmmer	Crámm	grámme
	dínner	ínn # pub	Ánne (= Ánn)
oôze, oòmph #	foôd, foòt, flòod, BrE doŏr	toô	Loôe (= loô)
		flípped
	Sadìqqi #
	érror	pürr
	méssy	lóss	crevásse
	bétter	ẁatt	couchétte -sh-
	vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
	flívver #
	Éxxon ™ #	Bób B. Sóxx #
	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	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	machìne	quaỳ water = keỳ (kêy) lock	àre	òther	fùll, qùantity	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	(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!)