English spellings

English is famous, even notorious, for its varied spellings. This is a selection of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside regular ones for contrast. For example, *disāsterous is a common misspelling of disāstrous, with the e echoing that of disāster (the asterisk indicates an incorrect spelling, the accents stress and pronunciation: see English phonemes; where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed).

Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation. English is rich in homophones; it also has many homonyms, words with the same spelling and pronunciation, and homographs, words with the same spelling but different pronunciation. All three can be found here. In this alphabetical list, the most common word is placed first in the entry.

Also of special note are words that many writers incorrectly divide. ôver and dûe, for example, combine to form overdûe, without a space in the middle. Such examples are included with ‘one word’ alongside them: alongsîde one word.

The equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar words are included after 'cf.' (from Latin conferre, 'compare').

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, as a synonym for ône, as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: At lêast hê lêads ín â sét.

àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust more a´s may be added, ≈ àh response

àardvark

Ãaron - also Ãron or Áron and now some say Áaron = Árran Isle

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

abándoned - not -nned

Abbàs

ábdomen

abdóminal

Aberdêen

Aberýstwýth

aberrâtion

abét

abhŏr

abhórrent

âble capable = Âbel person

abòut *əbòut

ábscess

ábsèil cf. sâil

ábsence

abstâin

absténtion

ábstinence

abýsmal -zməl

abýss

ácadême

acádemy

académic

accélerate ax-, cf. excél, éxcellent

áccent áx-

accéntuate -x-

accépt receive cf. excépt exception

áccess *áxéss, cf. áxis, áxês

áccident áx-

accidéntally áx-

áccolade

accómmodate - two c’s and two m’s

accòmpany

accòmplíce person

accòmplísh achieve

Accrà

accrûe cf. acróss

acërbic

âche *âke

achìêve

ácmê

acquiésce *aquìéss, cf. quiéscent *kwìéssent, quîet *kwîət

acquîre *aquîre

acquít

âcreage *âkerage

acróss cf. accrûe

áctual *ákchəl

ácûmen cf. áccurate

ácupuncture

ádage

adàgio -jô

ádd more = ád advertisement

Áddis Ábaba

ádditive

addíctive

addréss BrE = a dréss; AmE áddress

adhêre (d and h pronounced separately)

adhêsive (d and h pronounced separately)

ád hóc

ádjective cf. ejécted

adjöurn

adjúst *ajúst

ád nåusêám

adôbê

adrénalín can be -íne

advānce

ádvent

advénture

ádversary -vəsrỳ or advërsary

ádvërt

ádvertise never -îze

advërtísement BrE; AmE ádvertîsement

advîce noun -ss

advîse verb pronounced but never spelt -îze

advîser = advîsor (alternatives)

Aêgêan *Êjêən

ãerial air = Ãriel person

ãerie bird = ãiry light and = variant spellings of bird: ãerie = éyrie = éyry

ãeroplane BrE; AmE ãirplane

Aêschylus BrE; AmE Êschylus *Êeskiləss

aêsthétics AmE ê-

afféct alter cf. efféct result í-

áffect emotion

afféctive emotional cf. efféctive resultant

áffidâvit

affrònt cf. effròntery

Afghánistān - either stressed

aficionàdo

afrâid

África

Afrikàans -ànce

Afrikàner

āfter

āfterwards

again é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâin

against é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâinst

agâpe gaping

ágapê eros

âge cf. édge: Francophones beware

âgeing *âging, *âjing

âgeist

agô

ágriculture

âid help = âide assistant; Âids or ÂIDS disease = âids, âides plurals

Âids or ÂIDS disease = âids, âides plurals ãir breathe = Ãyr Scotland = ére before = é’er ever = héir estate

ãiry light = all four spellings of éyrie = éyry = ãerie = ãery bird, cf. êerie strange

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

aîsle church = îsle island

Ajáccio *Azháxio

Àjax Amsterdam *Àyáx

Âjax person

Ál person cf. åll total

Alabáma - one m, cf. Montána, Louisiána

Álan = Àllen = Àllan

alás

Ålbany cf. Álbânia

Álbert

Albuquërquê *Albəkïrky

Åldwých

Álfred

álgaê *áljê or *álgy

álgorithm rhymes with rhýthm

Áli person = álley walk - except Muhámmad Àlì boxer

âlias *âlius

Álíce

alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ

Álistair = Álastair

âlias

álibî

âlien

alienâtion

alîgned *allîned, cf. állied

alîve

åll every = åwl tool, cf. Ál person

Alládin

allegâtions *allogations

allége cf. lédge, etc.

alléged *aléjd

allégedly *aléjidly

allelûia or allelûja or allelûya

állêy path = Áli person, cf. állŷ

álligâtor

allót assign = a lót much

åll-òut total before noun needs hyphen

allòwed permitted = alòud heard

álloy

állŷ friend cf. állêy, alîgn

állŷ noun

allŷ verb, cf. Álì person

ålmanac

ålmost

àlms gift = BrE àrms body, weapons

alóngside one word

alòud audible = allòwed allow

alréady before = åll réady ready

alrîght = åll rîght - same meaning, probably by analogy with alréady

Alsâtian

ålso

ålter change = åltar church

altërnate adjective

ålternâte verb

altërnative

althôugh *åldhô

alumínium BrE; AmE alûminum

alvêolar

ålways

ám be

âm ante meridian *â-ém

ámateur *ámətə; AmE can be amateûr

ambássador cf. émbassy

ámbergrìs BrE; AmE ámbergrís - s pronounced

ambítious *ámbíshəss

amén BrE à, AmE â

aménd cf. comménd

aménds make = eménds alters

âmìable cf. âim

ámícable

amòng

amòunt

an *ən: version of a before a consonant

anáchronism -nákr-

ánalŷse

análysês plural *ənáləssêez

análysis singular *ənáləssís

ánalýst

ánarchy *ánəkỳ

áncestor

ánchor -nk-

ánchovy -ntsh-

âncient

and *ənd, sometimes ánd for emphasis = &

andántè

Ándês

Andêan

Andórra AmE -ŏrr-, cf. Pandŏra

Ándreŵ

anémonê cf. an énemy

ângel *ânjəl, cf. ángle

ánger BrE *áng-gə

ángry *áng-gry

ángst

ánimus cf. ûnánimous

Ánkara

ánnals cf. ánalyst

annéx verb

ánnex or ánnexe noun

annîhilate *annîyílâte

anómaly

ánonýmity

anónymous anòther one word

ānswer - w silent: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr

Antàrctica first c can be silent

ántê- before = ántì-

Ánthony (usual) = Ántony Mark, -tə-

ántì- against = ántê-; AmE ántî-

ántidote

Antìgua -gə

antirrhînum *antirŷnum

antisémitism

anxîety *angzîety

ánxious *ánkshəss

any thing é-, cf. Ánnie person

anybody *énnybódy, one word

any mŏre two words

anyone *énnywún, one word

anyway despite one word, cf. where wây is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít

apâce fast = a pâce step

apàrtheîd -tîte

apéritìf - either stressed

aphêlion *áfêlian

apìêce each one word = a pìêce part

apócalypse

apólogîse verb

apólogíes plural noun

apóstasy

apóstrophê

appål - AmE can be appåll

appålling

apparátchik

ápparâtus BrE - either stressed (to children apparatus can sound plural, ‘apperators’); AmE apparátus

appárel

appárent

appêar

appêasement

appêaser

applåuse

approval -prû-

approve -prû-

âpricot

à priŏrî two words

àpriŏrísm one word

apropôs *ápropô

Aquãrius

Árab adjective, person

Arâbian adjective

Árabic language

àrc circle = Àrk Noah

archâíc *àrkâyíc

archeólogy àrk-

archipélago àrk-

àrchive *àrkîve

ãrêa space *ãrêə, cf. ària, êra

Argentìna Àrj-

àrgil clay - soft g

Argŷll Scotland = Argŷle Plymouth - hard g

àrgue

àrgument

ària opera cf. ãrea

árid

Ãries -ríz

árístocrat BrE á stressed, AmE í stressed

aristocrátic

Àrkansas BrE -såw, AmE -sà

arrést

arrhythmic

àrsenal *àrssnəl

arrhýthmic

àrtefact

artêsian well *àrtêzhən

artifícial -shəl

artisán art *àrtizán

àrtist art

artìste stage

ascént climb = assént agree

ascertâin

ÁSEAN or Ásean association *ássián, cf. Âsian Asia, *Âzhan

Âsia *Âsha or *Âzha

askānce

as oppôsed to ázəpôzt- ásphalt

áspirin -spr-, cf. aspîring

assássin four s’s

assént agree = ascént climb

ássét

assûme -syûme

assûre AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre

ásterisk

Ásterix

ásthma *ássma

asúnder

asŷlum

âte AmE; BrE *ét

âthêíst cf. aesthétic

atrôcious -shəss

atrócity

áttaboy one word

attáchè -áshè

attörney

Åuckland

auctionêer åuk-

augúst revered

Åugust month

āunt uncle AmE = ánt insect

au fâit *ô-fây

au fónd *ô-fón, French nasal -ón

au pãir ôp-

åural ear = ŏral voice

åuspices

Aussie Australasian = Óssy = Óssie persons

Austen Jane = Austin car, Texas Ó-

Austrâlia Ó-

Austria Ó-

åutarchy sovereignty = åutarky self-sufficiency

authóritative

authórity

àùtobàhn

åutomobìle

åutumn silent n, -m

autúmnal not silent n

ávalānche

ávant gàrde (gàrde = guàrd)

avocàdo

avoirdupŏis *ávədə-pŏiz

åwe

awêigh anchors = awây go

åwful

åwkward *åwquəd

åwl tool = åll total

ÂWOL

awrŷ

áxe chop BrE; AmE áx

áxes plural -íz

áxis spin -íss

áxês plural -êz, cf. áccess

áxle car = Áxel person

Áxminster

aŷe yes = eŷe see = Î me

Ãyr Scotland = ãir breathe

Ãyrshire

ázure -zh-

B

B = bê is, bêe insect

bàa sheep BrE = bàr drink, chocolate, soap

baboôn

Bàch music = bách Welsh

báchelor unmarried = Bátchelor person

báckbiting one word

báckhand tennis

back-hánded ambiguous

bácklash one word

backyàrd one word

bád evil = báde asked

Baghdád AmE Bághdad Bágd-

bâil law, cricket = bâle hay, parachute

bâilie magistrate = Bâiley person

bâit hook = bâte fury, restrain

bâize cloth = bâys bay

Bàli island = BrE bàrley beer

Bålkans cf. bálcony

båll game = båwl shout

ballerìna cf. pizzerìa

bállèt *bállây, cf. bállot

bàlm -àm

bàlmy sea = BrE bàrmy daft

Båltimore

báluster cf. bánister

banàl BrE; AmE bânal

banálity

banāna

bánd music = bánned ban

bándwagon one word

Bangkók cf. Háncóck - both -ngk-

bánish

Bàrbara

barbãrian

barbáric

bàrbecûe *bàrbeqûe

barcarólle or -óle

bàrd poet, bacon = bàrred bar

bãre naked = béãr animal, tolerate

bãrely

bàrgaín *bàrgin

bàrley

bàr mítzvah

bàrnacle

báron nobleman = bárren bare = Bárron person

baróque *bərók

bárrage -àzh BrE, AmE *bəràzh

bárrier

bàrtender

bâse basic = bâss treble, cf. báss fish = Báss person

bâses base -ssíz = bâsses music

bâsês basis -ssêez bâsic -ss-

bâsin -ss-

bâsis -ssíss

bāsk sun = Bāsque people

bāsketball one word

báss fish = Báss person

bâss treble = bâse basic

bassoôn -ssoô-

bâste pour, sew = bâsed base

batállion cf. báttle

bâte anger, breath = bâit lure

bāth = Bāth city cf. bâthe swim, final e signifying voiced th

bátón - one t, cf. Pátton, Hátton etc.

báttlefield one word

Báx person = bácks back

bazàar *bəzàr, cf. bizàrre, í

Bà’ath party BrE = bāth water

bê is = bêe insect

bêach sand = bêech tree

bêad string = Bêde person

bêan eat = bêen was

béãr tolerate, animal = bãre naked, cf. bêer drink, hêar hearing

bêat win, hit, rhythm = bêet sugar

bêater beat BrE = bêta Greek

bêátify saint cf. Sêáttle and beaûtify beauty

Bêatríce, Bêatrix a as schwa: Bêə-

beau boyfriend = Bô Diddley

beaûty *byûty

because ó Béchèt *Béshây bêe insect = bê is bêetle insect = Bêatle Beatles, cf. bêat rhythm bêech tree = beâch sand bêen was = bêan eat bêer drink = bìêr coffin bêet sugar = bêat hit Bèethôven *Bâitovən behêmoth Bèijíng - j not zh sound bêíng cf. Bíng Beirût *Bây-roôt Belarûs - one would expect this post-Soviet word (once literally rendered as ‘White Russia’) to regularise to ‘Bélarus’, with the u as schwa, but this hasn’t happened; the most common alternative is still Belarùs Bélfāst Bélgium *Béljəm belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe belìêve béllicôse bellígerent -j- béllow shout, bellows cf. belôw under Bénaud *Bénnô bénefit benévolent bérèt *bérrây bërk insult = Bürke person Bërkelêy California cf. Bàrclaỳ person = BrE Berkeley person Bërkshîre AmE; BrE *Bàkshə, as with bàrk dog, tree Bàrking town Berlín bérry fruit = bury ground bërth ship = bïrth born bêta AmE bèta Bétjeman *Bétcheman bewíldered BrE *biwíldəd, AmE *bêwíldərd

bezìque *bəzêek

Bhùtto (the BBC has taken to saying *Boôto)

bî- two = bŷ preposition = bŷ- extra = bŷe cricket, goodbye = buŷ sell = bî bisexual

bîas

bîased *bŷəst

bìdet *bêedây

bìêr corpse = bêer drink

bîght curve = bîte eat = bŷte computer

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 *blamónzh blãre noise = Blãir person bléssed *blést; but mostly as attributive adj: a *bléssíd thíng bleŵ blow = blûe colour blóc grouping = blóck prevent, wood, building blónd male person, male and female adjective = blónde female person blòodstained one word blòodthirsty one word blürred cf. cûred bŏar animal = bŏor rude = bŏre boring, carried bŏard wooden, directors = bŏred boring, cf. brŏad wide bôast bôat Boàteng Bwà- Bôeing person = bôwing music Boer *Bùer bôgey golf, ghost = bôgie trolley, truck = Bôgey Bogart bôld brave = bôwled bowl

Bóllywood bôlt metal = Bôlt = Bôult persons Bólton city, person = Bôulton person bómb *bóm Bombây bómbing *bómming bôna fîdê bonhomìê *bónə-mêe boôgie-woôgie boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound as if two boôst boôze drink = boôs boo Bŏrdeaux *Bŏrdô, cf. Bardôt, *Bardô bŏred boring = bŏard wooden, directors bŏredom *bŏrdum Bŏrgia *Bŏrjə bŏrn birth = bŏrne wind = bŏurn stream bòrough town BrE -rə, AmE = búrrow earth bosom *bùzəm bôth boûgainvillea *bûgənvília bòugh tree = bòw low, ship bôulder rock = bôlder bold Boulogne *Bəlŏin böurbon bŏurgeois bŏrzhwà bourgeoisìê bŏrzhwà-zêe bŏurne stream = bŏrn birth = bŏrne carried Bŏurnemouth *Bŏrnməth bòw low, ship = bòugh tree bôw knot bòwel bòwer tree = bàuer euchre bôwl all meanings bóxing sport = Bóxing Day búffalo animal = Búffalo America

brâin head cf. Brîan person brâinwash one word Brasília - s Brazíl - z bréad food = bréd breed breâk smash, interval = brâke car breâkaway adjective cf. breâk awây verb breâkdown noun cf. breâk dòwn verb breâkthroûgh noun *brâkethrû; cf. breâk throûgh verb bréakfast bréath noun unvoiced th, brêathe verb voiced th, cf. mòuth, same noun-verb distinction in pronunciation, but invariable spelling bréathtaking one word bréd breed = bréad food brêed animal cf. bréad food bréthren -dhrən Brîan = Brŷan cf. brâin, O’Brîen brìêf brîght -ît Brísbane *Brízbən Brítain country -tən; = Bríton citizen, Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain persons Bríttany France ≈ Brítney person brôach subject = broôch wear brŏad cf. bŏard bróccolì *bróckəlêy Brómwich *Brómmidge Bróntê brôoch pin BrE = brôach speak; AmE broôch broôm sweep = brûme mist bróthel unvoiced th bròther voiced th Bròúgh *Brúff broûgham carriage = broôm sweep - or gha as schwa, broôəm broûhàhà Brûges = Brûgge *Brûzh

brûise contusion *brûze = breŵs beer

Bruneî

Brunél

Brússels

Bucharést Bùka-

Budapést Bùda-

Bùddha -ùdə

Bùddhist -ùdi-

Buénos Aîres Argentina –ríz or Ãires *Ãríz, cf. Ãries Ram

bùffèt eat *bùffây

búffet hit, t sounded

buffoôn -ffoô-

buíld *bíld

buílding *bílding

Bulgãria

bùll

bùlletin búllshit one word buŏy sea = bŏy child buŏyant *bŏyant bürden load = Bürdon person bûreau *byûrô, plural bûreaux, *bûrôz bureaucracy *byûrócracy, *beaûrócracy bürger hamburger = bürgher business = Bërger person bürgeoning bürn fire = Bÿrne name bürqa búrrow ground = AmE bòrôugh town cf. Búrrôughs person bury ground = bérry tree, Bury town

bús transport = búss kiss

búsed driven or bússed = búst bosom, broke búses plural, verb *bússes búsing -ss- bùsh

business *bízniss, cf. bíz, busy-ness being busy

businessman one word, bíz-

bússed driven or búsed = búst bosom, broken

busy bíz-

busybódy bíz-; one word

busy-ness busy cf. business matter - both í

bútt head, joke, buttocks = bút however

bútterfly

buŷ sell = bŷ preposition = bŷ- incidental = bŷe cricket = bî- two = bî bisexual

bŷe-bye!

bŷ-election

bŷ-product

Bÿrd person = bïrd fly

bŷte computer = bîte food = bîght loop

Bŷzántîne or Býzantîne

C

C = sêe look

cabál cf. câble

cáche arms = cásh money

càdre *càder; AmE càdrê

cáddie golf = cáddy tea

cáfè (can be written as café)

cáfè au lâit (can be written as café au lait) *cáfâyô-lây

cáffêine

Caîro

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

Calcútta

cálendar not spelt -er, cf. còlander

Cálgary *Cálgəri

Califŏrnia -nyə

callígraphy -ll-

cállous uncaring = cállus skin ≈ Cállas Maria (or Cállás)

càlm -àm, BrE and AmE

Câmbridge

camêllia or caméllia cf. chamaêleon *camêliən

cameráderie

cámouflàge -àzh

campâign *campâin, cf. champâgne *shám-pâin, and words in -èign, all of which rhyme

Cámpbell *Cámble, rhyming with gámble

cán able, tin = Cánnes France

Cânaan *Câynən - aa as schwa

Cánada

Canâdian

canál

cánapè

canãry

canásta

Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cánborough

cáncer illness = Cáncer constellation

cándidate BrE -ət, AmE -âte

câne stick, sugar = Câin Abel

cánister - one n

cánnabis

cánnibal cf. Hánnibal

cannót - or cánnot for emphasis, but always one word when nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…

canoe -noô

cánon church, œuvre, music = cánnon war

cánt cliche = Kánt philosopher, AmE cán’t impossible

cantàta

cánvas paint, tent = cánvass election

cányon cf. ònion, both -yən

câpable

Câpe Tòwn - two words, *Câpetown

capíllary AmE cápillãry

cápital city = Cápitol Washington

capítulate

Cápricorn

càr vehicle = Càrr = Kàrr persons

càr-lôad noun

cárat gold = cárrot food

càrcass body cf. Carácas

cãre

cãrefree one word

carêer profession, speed BrE = Korêa country, cf. cárrier carry

cãrer

Cáríbbêan *Cárri-bêeən (some say Cəríbbêən)

cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-

Carlîsle city, person = Carlŷle person

Carnêgìê hard g

caròusal carouse *cəròuzəl

carousél round *carəssél

cárry bring = Cárrie person

càrt horse = kàrt race

cartél

càrton

cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, m only different sound

cásh money = cáche weapons

cáshmêre wool = Kashmìr Asia

cassàva

cāst drama, throw, eye = cāste India

Castílian cf. Castìlle

cāstle -ssl

cásual cf. cåusal

cásualty

Cátalan

Catalônia - ‘Catalunya’ is Catalan catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátàr catástrophê catastróphic cátchphrase one word Câte - although Kâte is the traditional abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine, etc. câter cáterpillar cáttle cows cf. kéttle boil cåucus rhymes with råucous cåught catch BrE = cŏurt tennis cauliflòur *cóllyflower cåuse reason -z = BrE Cŏrrs persons, cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós because *cóz cause celébre cause célèbre *côz-celébrə cavalìêr cávêát cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold cêasefîre cêde yield = sêed plant cèilidh *kâlêy cêiling floor = sêaling shutting centrífugal s- célebrâte celébrity célibate céll prison, biology = séll money céllar wine = séller sales céllo ch- Céltic or céltic civilisation K-, cf. Céltic, S- football club cémetery *sémətry, not -ary cénsor censorship = sénsor feel ≈ cénsure blame cént money = sént send = scént perfume céntral s- céntre s-, AmE cénter centrífugal centrípetal céntrist s- cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series cérebral s-; AmE cerêbral Ceres planet *Sírêez, cf. Sírius star, seríes string céremony s- cërvical s- or cervîcal cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s- césspit one word césspool one word ch- mostly tch-; ch- where stated chà tea - or chàr as other meanings chà chà Chádian *Cháddian chãir sit = Chér person chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng chágrin sh-; AmE *shəgrìn chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl-, cf. camêlia, only ending sounds different châmber tsh-, cf. Châmbers person chámois *shámwà champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink) chandelìêr sh- Chandrasèkhar chánnel rhymes with pánel châós *kâyóss chápel church = Cháppell person cháperône sh- chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng charàde sh-; AmE charâde cháracter k charivàri sh- chàrlatan sh- Chàrlotte Sh- chásm *kázzəm chássis *shássy châste virgin = châsed chase Chátham -təm chauffëur *shôfër chauvinist shô- chêap cost = chêep bird both tsh- chêapskâte one word chêat tsh- Chéchnya Tsh- chéckpoint one word chêetah tsh- chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound chéque money tsh-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch nationality Cherokêe Tsh- chérry-píck tsh- chévron sh- cheŵ tsh-; cf. words beginning tû- chèz *shây chìc sh- Chicàgo Shí-, à in both BrE and AmE chíck chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh- chihuàhua *tshiwàwa chîld singular tsh- chîldbïrth one word chíldren plural tsh- Chílê country tsh-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold Chílêan Tsh- chimêra kí- chímney tsh- chívalry sh- chívy or chívvy tsh- chlamýdia kl- Chlôê *Klôwie chlóroform kl- chóc chocolate tsh- = chóck wedge chóck-a-blóck choîr singers = quîre paper choléstorol k- choôse select = cheŵs chew chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal chŏrus k- Chrîst Kr- chrísten *kríssen Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal Chrístmas *Kríssməss Chrístopher *Krístəfə chrôme kr- chrónic kr- chrysánthemum kríz- chûte fall sh-; = shoôt gun chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur ci- s- Cícely person = Sícily Italy cîder cigàr cínema cínnamon cïrcle cïrcuit *sërkit circûítous s- cïrcumcîse sër- circumcísion s-; -zhən cïrcumstance s- císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon cíty s- cívil s- civílian s-; one l clándestîne; some say clandéstíne Clãir = Clãire = Clãre clámour - AmE clámor clánger normal ng sound, rhyming with hánger, cf. ánger, áng-ger, dânger, -njer Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them cláptrap one word clāssroom one word clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa claustrophôbia clós- clêan cléanliness cléanse -nz clërgy cléric clërk AmE; BrE = Clàrk = Clàrke persons clìchè *clêeshây clîmb up = clîme weather clìque *clêek, cf. clíck clóckwörk one word clôse shut = clôze test clôse near, cul-de-sac *clôce 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 cólumn *cóllum cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the n côma cf. cómma cômb hair -m, cf. còme here cómbat cómbatant or combátant cómedy còmeúppance ó; one word còmfortable -ft- cómfortably-óff cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious cómment commërcial commít commíttee commûnal cómmune noun commûne verb cómmunism commûnity còmpany compãre contrast cf. cómpére compère host cómparable or compárable compárative compárison compàrtment cómpensâte compensâtion cómpére - compère show, cf. compãre contrast complâint complain cómplement together = cómpliment praise cómplex AmE compléx compléxion not -ct- complîant comply cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss cómrâde AmE cómráde, cf. Cónrád concêde concentrâte cf. consént cóncrete concatenâtion - e, not i concentrâte cf. consént cóncept concéptual concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto concörd Cóncord condîgn -dîne cóndom cóndŏr condûcíve cóndûít or -dwít - BrE was *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised conféss conféssion -féshən cónfidant person -dónt cónfident adjective -dənt Confûcian -shən confûsion -zhən cónger hard g cóngeries soft g connéct Connécticut *Cənétikət connéction BrE can be connéxion connîve connoissëur - -oi- as schwa: *connəssür cónquer win = cónker nut cónquest cf. quést cónscious consénsus cf. cénsus consént cf. concentrâte consërvative conservâtion consigliérê *consíl-yãry cónsôle noun consôle comfort consólidate cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa consŏrt verb conspírator conspîre constábulary constítuency consûme -syû- contémptible cóntext contéxtual contínûùm -nyû- cóntrary opposed contrãry awkward cóntribûte or contríbûte contribûtion contríbutor contrôl contradíct contríbute cóntribûtion cóntrovërsy or contróversy - controvërsial? coòk kitchen = Coòk = Coòke persons Coômbs = Coômbes *Coûmz cooperâtion côwóp-, cf. cŏrporation coóperative côwóp- Copenhâgen Cô-; or -hàgen cóp-òut cóps police = cópse wood cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing córal cŏr ànglâis *cŏ-rónglây cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music cŏrdon cŏre apple = cŏrps army cŏrnerstône one word corôna córonary córoner cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following cŏrpse corràl córrugate AmE cörrugate cóst cf. côast Cósta Rìca cóttage -íj còuch còuchant couchétte cûsh- cóugh *cóff còuncil committee = còunsel advice còuncillor còunt còunty cf. coúntry còunterfeít còunter-productive hyphenated coúntry cf. còunty, còunt, which begin with the còw sound coûp d’état = coô bird coúple coúrage - AmE can be cöurage courâgeous cŏurse route, study = cŏarse crude, -ss, cf. cåuse, -z, cürse, -s cŏurt tennis, monarch, woo - BrE = cåught catch cöurteous cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow coúsin *cúzzen còver côvert cf. ovërt còvet -ít còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw Coŵper = Coôper, or Còwper cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat cráckpot noun one word crêak noise = crêek water crêam crêâte crêâtion -êâshən crêature -ch- créche *crésh, cf. crásh crêdence credéntials crédibílity crêed crêek water = crêak noise créme crème créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt Crêôle crêosote crèpe crèpe crescéndos -sh- créscent *crézzənt crévíce crevásse creŵ ship = Creŵe town creŵ-cut Crîchton *Crŷtən crîme Crîmêa -êə Crôát *Crôwát Croâtia *Crôwâshə cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet crócodîle croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón crône crôny cróss-examinâtion cròtch genitals = crútch support crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây crûcible crûcifíxion crûise -ûz crúx crýpt crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t cùckoô cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən cúl-de-sác cúlprit cúm with = còme here cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard curaçào *curassòw cûrate person curâte museum cürb stop, street = kërb street cûre-åll noun, adjective cûrious cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow currículum vìtaê cürse cf. cŏurse cürt blunt = Kürt person cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən cústard cústody BrE *cústardy cút-prîce cy- s- cýclamen s- cŷcle s- cýclical s- cŷclist s- cýgnet swan = sígnet ring cýlinder cýmbal drums = sýmbol sign cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher cŷpress tree = Cŷprus country s- cýst s- cýnic s- cýnicism Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash D = Dêe person Dail parliament = Dŏyle person dâily daîquíri dãiry milk cf. dîary day Dàlek Dalziél *Dêe-él dám river = dámn hell dámage dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound Dániel *Dányəl Dânish Dáphnê *Dáffney dãresây is one word in Î dãresay meaning ‘probably’ dàrtbŏard one word dāstardly cf. bāstard dâtabâse AmE dátabâse one word dåughter *dåwter Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis dávit dâys day = dâze dazzle de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right déad cf. dêed déadline one word déadlock one word dêal déalt dêar loved, expensive = dêer animal dëarth debàcle débris 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 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

cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow

coúsin *cúzzen

còver

côvert cf. ovërt

còvet -ít

còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw

Coŵper = Coôper, or Còwper

cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat

cráckpot noun one word

crêak noise = crêek water

crêam

crêâte

crêâtion -êâshən crêature -ch- créche *crésh, cf. crásh crêdence credéntials crédibílity crêed crêek water = crêak noise créme crème créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt Crêôle crêosote crèpe crèpe crescéndos -sh- créscent *crézzənt crévíce crevásse creŵ ship = Creŵe town creŵ-cut Crîchton *Crŷtən crîme Crîmêa -êə Crôát *Crôwát Croâtia *Crôwâshə cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet crócodîle croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón crône crôny cróss-examinâtion cròtch genitals = crútch support crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây crûcible crûcifíxion crûise -ûz crúx crýpt crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t cùckoô cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən cúl-de-sác cúlprit cúm with = còme here cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard curaçào *curassòw cûrate person curâte museum cürb stop, street = kërb street cûre-åll noun, adjective cûrious cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow currículum vìtaê cürse cf. cŏurse cürt blunt = Kürt person cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən cústard cústody BrE *cústardy cút-prîce cy- s- cýclamen s- cŷcle s- cýclical s- cŷclist s- cýgnet swan = sígnet ring cýlinder cýmbal drums = sýmbol sign cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher cŷpress tree = Cŷprus country s- cýst s- cýnic s- cýnicism Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash

D

D = Dêe person Dail parliament = Dŏyle person dâily daîquíri dãiry milk cf. dîary day Dàlek Dalziél *Dêe-él dám river = dámn hell dámage dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound Dániel *Dányəl Dânish Dáphnê *Dáffney dãresây is one word in Î dãresay meaning ‘probably’ dàrtbŏard one word dāstardly cf. bāstard dâtabâse AmE dátabâse one word dåughter *dåwter Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis dávit dâys day = dâze dazzle de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right déad cf. dêed déadline one word déadlock one word dêal déalt dêar loved, expensive = dêer animal dëarth debàcle débris 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 déclassé *dây-clássây décimate decîpher cf. cŷpher or cîpher Déclan dêed cf. déad dêer animal = dêar friend, expensive dè fácto two words, *dây-fácto defámatory defâme defër cf. díffer déficit définitely defûse problem dê-, -z, cf. diffûse, dí- degénerate dèign condescend = Dâne Denmark deipnósphist déjà vu *dèzhà-vû delây deletêrious Délhi India = déli delicatessen delínêâte delínquent delîght -ît Dêlius cf. Sibèlius delíver déluge -yû- delûsion cf. illûsion de lûxe or de lúxe démagogue -góg demānd démo demócracy cf. hypócrisy democrátic demür demûre dénguê fêver dénier weight, coin *dényə, cf. denîer deny Dénis = Dénnis Denìse -êez denŷ depéndant person = depéndent adjective dërby race = Dërby England AmE; BrE = Dàrby person de riguëur *dərigër - hard g desálinate descént down = dissént disagree descrîbe dís- désert sand desërt leave = dessërt meal désiccate - very commonly misspelt: -ss- would be expected after é, cf. párallel despãir désperate cf. dísparate, séparate desperâtion despícable dessërt meal -zërt = desërt leave dessërts just -zërts détail noun detâil verb detër detêriorate detërmíne detérrent detrîtus dévastate devastâtion devélop rhymes with envélop verb, cf. énvelôpe noun devîce -ss, cf. divîde devîse -z, cf. divîde devôte devotêe devòut deŵ morning = dûe owed, cf. do act *dû déxtrous or déxterous diabêtes *dîəbêtêez or -tíz diabétic diaérisis *dî-érisis, AmE diérisis dîálýsis dîamond dîáphanous dîaphragm -ám diarrhoêa BrE *dîre-rêar; AmE diarrhêa dîary cf. dãiry diáspora dictâte cf. díktát dîcy dodgy cf. Dícky, Díckie persons dîe death = dŷe colour dîehard one word dìêsel dîet *dîət díffer cf. defër diffûse various -ss, give out -z dígit díktát cf. dictâte dilémma dilettántê dímwit one word dínghy boat - no g sound, only ng sound díngy dark *dínjy dînosåur dîocese *dîəsíss diphthêria díphthong diplôma díplomat dîre cf. dêar dírham disassôciate - -sass- disarrây disāstrous -zā-, no e, cf. disāster; mürderous, cantánkerous, etc. dísc record, circular = dísk computer discòver discrêet careful = discrête separate discrétion -éshən discriminâtory díscus discúss disequilíbrium disgúst revulsion ≈ discússed talked disingénuous - -uou- Dísney *Díznì dispátch or despátch dispénsable disséction dissént disagree = descént down dissymétric dîssý- dístribûte or distríbûte -yû- divîne cf. Devìne divîsive cf. divîde, dêvious, devîse Djángo Reînhardt - unlike in French do *dû cf. dûe cause, time = deŵ morning *dyû doable *dûwable Dócherty or Dóherty same pronunciation: Celtic ch sound, same as Arabic kh as in Khàn dôcîle AmE *dóssle dòes do *dúz, cf. dôes female deer dóg-êat-dóg dógged verb *dógd: this próblem dógged us dógged attributive adjective *dóggíd: a dógged pursûer dôe animal = dôh music, exclamation dòes *dúz, cf. fãir do’s, *doôz dôle money = Dôle person dóll model dóllar domâin territory = demèsne estate, domâine vineyard dón clothes = Dón person dòne do = dún colour = Dúnn person = Dònne poet dóner kebab = Dónner person dônor give doômsday doom = Domesday Book dŏorstép one word dŏrmant dóssièr silent French r - or e regularised to schwa dotcóm or dot.cóm - but one dot is surely enough doúble rhymes with búbble doûble entendre - -en- as ón, twice dòubt *dòut, cf. dòughty dôugh bake, money = dôe deer dôughnút *dônut dòughty Doúglas *Dúgləss doûr serious, one syllable ≈ doer do, two dòve bird dôve dive - AmE for dîved dòvish dòwnfall one word downhíll one word dòwry dôze dôzed doze dòzen 12 dracônian drāft AmE all meanings, BrE outline, money, group, US conscription = drāught dràgon dràma drāught BrE cold, net, liquids, game, horse = drāft, cf. dròught *dròwt dråw design ≈ dråwer pull dråwback noun one word dreŵ draw = Dreŵ person dríll drîly or drŷly drível drízzle drómedary droôp down = drûpe fruit dròught *dròut, cf. drāught = drāft drúnkenness -nn- Drûze dûal two = dûel fight, cf. jeŵel stone dúchess cf. Dútch dûe owed = deŵ morning, cf. do act *dû dúmb-bell dún colour = Dúnn person = dòne do, cf. dón clothes = Dón person Dúncan rhymes with drúnken Dundêe dûne sand Dúrham *Dúrrəm dûring j- dúst dirt = dòst archaic do dústbin one word duúmvirate ûú dûvèt *doôvây Dvŏrak Dvořák *Dəvåwzhàk dŷe colour = dîe dead dŷeing dye = dŷing dîe 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 éclair *í-clãir eclát éclat *è-clá

éctoplasm económical ecónomy ecólogy êcosystem écstasy éxt- ecstátic éxt- Écuador *Équador éczema *éxma éddy pool = Éddie = Éddy persons êdict édit êerie strange as in Lâke Êrie, cf. ãiry light = éyrie - and variant spellings - bird efféct result í- or ə-: when schwa = afféct cause effervésce -véss efficácity effícient -shənt éffort -or- as schwa effròntery cf. affrònt Èid èight 8 = AmE âte eat, BrE *ét eîther neither AmE êither voiced th, cf. êther sky, unvoiced th élbôw eléction eléctoral elegîac Eléktra élement eleméntary elévenses Élgàr - though it seems contemporary pronunciation was *Èlgə éligible cf. illégible elícit obtain = illícit illegal elìte íl- elìtist Elízabeth Queen = Elísabeth Éltham -təm elûsive elude = illûsive illusory élsewhere one word émanate embárrass cf. embrâce émbassy cf. ambássador embézzle émblem embódiment embrâce cf. embárrass embrŏidery eménds alters = aménds make, cf. imménse huge emërge émigrate cf. ímmigrâte émigrè émigré éminence grìse *éminónss-grêez éminent emôtion emphysêma émulate en French = ón English - en occurs in the following expressions taken from French: en attendant *onətóndón, en blóc, en clãir, en fáce, en famìlle *onfamì, en fête *onfét, en másse, en pássant *onpásson, en plein *onplán, en póste, en prìse, en rappŏrt, en roûte, en suìte *onswêet encéphalitis ens- encore ón- énclave encúmber cf. incúmbent endéavour endógenous cf. indíginous endûre cf. ínjure énergy - g as j energétic - g as j enfant terrìble *ónfóntérêebl enfŏrce require = ín fŏrce applicable engâge engagé *ongázhây éngine -jín England Íng-glənd English Íng-glísh ennuì *ón-wê enŏrmous enoúgh *inúff en pássant *ompássom - last syllable nasalised enquîre, enquîry or inquîre, inquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry ensemble *onsómble ensûe -syû ensůre certain = insůre insurance; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûre énter entîre *íntŷre, cf. MácIntyre etc. entîrety *entîrity entouràge *óntùràzh éntrance enter entrānce beguile entrèe 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 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 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 football Eùrope *Yùrəp Europêan euthanâsia -âzìyə eváporate êve before cf. êaves roof êven cf. Évan evént Évelyn usually female Êvelyn usually male éveryday adjective éveryday lîfe; wê gét úp évery dây êvil cf. dévil eŵe sheep = yoû me = yeŵ tree éx lover = éx- past exácerbate exággerate excél éxcellent excépt exception = accépt receive exclâim exécutive cf. éxecute éxercise exhíbit exhibítion exhílarating silent h, cf. hilãrious éxîle éxiting exit cf. excîting excite, both one t exónerâte éxŏrcise or = éxercise expátriate -ət, cf. pâtriot, also ət expêrience expériment expertìse -têez, cf. other words ending in -ise, mostly -îze expôse exposé *expôzây - either stressed extól or extôl éxtra *xtra extrávagant extravagánza extrêmist extraŏrdinary - the first a often is not heard: *extrŏrdinary eŷe see = Î am = aŷe yes eŷesîght one word, *îsîte eŷeẁash one word, *îwósh éyrie bird has variant spellings éyry, ãérie and ãéry = ãiry light; cf. Lâke Êrie = êerie weird

F

F *éff fábulous *fábyələss façàde *fəsàd facêtious *fəsêeshəss fáction *fácshən, cf. fáshion Fáhrenheît fãir justice, pretty, fun- = fãre fãiry cf. férry fait accomplì *fét-əcomplì fåll-òut noun Fålstaff fålcon Fålklands fámily *fámly fámíne fàraway adjective before noun, one word, cf. ít’s toô fàr awây fàrcical fãre travel, food = fãir farewéll Fãroe Islands = phãroah Egypt fàr-rêaching Fàrquhar *Fàrker fàrther further BrE and some AmE = fàther dad fáscist *fáshist, cf. râcist fáshion *fáshən, *fátion, cf. fáction fāst fāsten *fāssən Fátah Palestine = BrE fátter fat fâtal fatálity fáthéad as if two words fátwà fåucet tap = Fåwcett person fåulty fault = Fåwlty Towers fåun goat-god = fåwn fåuna faux *fô faux-pas *fô-pà fåwn grovel, colour, deer = fåun fâvourite -vr-; AmE fâvorite fáx machine = fácts truths Fây = Fâye persons = fèy whimsy fâze confuse = phâse period fêat achievement = fêet foot Fébruary fêed verb cf. féd past, foôd noun fèign pretend = fâin willing fèint sham, write = fâint unconscious feîsty Fêlix fêmur fermént chemical, excite cf. fomént water, disorder férry cf. fãiry *féəry fète garden, celebrate fête = fâte destiny fétid cf. fèted = fâted feûd argument cf. leŵd, foôd fèy whimsy = Fây = Fâye persons feŵ many = pheŵ relief fìat decree = Fìat ® car fìêrce fîery cf. fîre, wîry, feîsty fífth *fíth fíg-lêaf fígurehead *fíggerhéd, one word fîle nail, paper = phîal liquid fílet or fíllet - BrE t sounded, AmE *filây fíll up = Phíl Philip fíllip boost = Phílip person fín fish = Fínn Finland fînal finàlê fîne all meanings fínger *fíng-gər fínish stop = Fínnish Finland fïr tree = für animal fîreworks noun one word físcal finance -ss-, cf. phýsícal body, -zí- físsure break = físher fish, Físher person fláccid *fláxid flagellâtion flãir ability = flãre fire flák cf. bláck flãre fire = flãir ability flåutist flák abuse = Fláck person flåw error = BrE flŏor ground flêa insect = flêe escape Fléming flíck-knife flîer or flŷer flípside one word flôe ice = flôw water flòod flòur bake = flòwer plant floúrish flŏra flôw water = flôe ice, cf. flåw error flòwer plant = flòur bake flû influenza = flûe chimney flûgelhorn flúmmoxed *flúməxt fôcus, fôcused and fôcusing are preferable to fôcussed and fôcussing as they do not remind one of cússed and cússing foêtus AmE fêtus fôlìage has three syllables, cf. cárriage, márriage, each two fomént water, disorder cf. fermént chemical, excite foòt foôd eat cf. feûd quarrel fyoô- foôl foôlscap foòtnôte one word fŏr preposition usually schwa; stressed = fŏur 4, fŏre front fóray AmE = Fåurè Fauré forbád or forbâde forbíd fŏre front = fŏur number fŏrecast fŏrecastle -səl: sailors traditionally say *fôksəl fŏrehéad traditionally *fórrid, cf. hórrid, but now normally spelling pronunciation fóreign *fórrən fórest -íst = Fórrest person = Fórest Nottingham, person fŏrewörd book cf. fŏrward back fŏrmally formal BrE = fŏrmerly before fŏrmer cf. fàrmer fŏrmidable or formídable fŏrtè fŏrth forward = fŏurth four forthcòming one word fŏrtnight *fŏrtnîte fŏrty cf. fŏur, fŏurteen fŏrward forwards cf. rewård prize, fŏrewörd introduction fòul bad = fòwl birds fòund find, establish fŏur number = fŏre front = fŏr preposition fŏyèr *fŏyây frácàs *frácà frâmework one word fránc currency = fránk honest = Fránk person Frānces usually female Frāncís usually male fråught frêak frêe - as a suffix meaning ‘without’ it must be hyphenated: débt-frêe *dét-frêe frêer *frêeər frêest *frêeíst frêeze cold = frìêze wall Frêmantle frêquent adjective frequént verb fréshwåter adjective cf. thére ís nô frésh wåter frîed friénd frìêze wall, cloth = frêeze frîght *frîte frîghtened *frîtənd frólic frònt fròwzy frûit *frûte frŷ FTSE *foòtsìê fûchsia *fyoôsha fùll fundaméntalist für animal = fïr tree fürlôugh *fürlôw fürnace -níss fürnish furŏrê or as AmE fûrŏr fürther

G

G = gêe up gádfly one word Gâelic Irish Gáelic Scottish = Gállic French gáffe cf. gúff gág gâge is an AmE alternative to gâuge gâit walk = gâte garden Galápagos - identical Spanish accent may be written gâle storm = Gâil = Gâle persons = Gâel Gaelic Gålle Sri Lanka = Gåul France gállop horse = Gállup poll gámble money = gámbol frisky gánder Gándhi *Gándy, cf. cándy and gh- words gâol BrE old alternative spelling of, and pronounced, jâil gárage hard g; BrE -àzh, AmE *guəràzh Gáry hard G, cf. Gérry = Jérry; cf. Hárry, Cãry, Gáby gàrdener garden = Gàrdiner = Gàrdner persons gàrgoyle gàrner gather = Gàrner person; BrE = Ghàna country gáses noun = gásses verb gâte open = gâit walk gâuge *gâij, AmE can be gâge; cf. grêengage gåuze gécko gêese hard g: plural of goôse Geîger còunter hard G gèisha hard g gél *jél, cf. jélly Géminî Jé- gêne genetics = Jêan girl = Gêne Eugene; gênes = jêans trousers genealógical jê- géneral *jénral genéric j- gênes genetics = jêans trousers, cf. Jêan person - pronounced *Zhà with nasalised à if French genétics gênìê j- gênìî j- génitâlia j- gênius j- genre *zhónrə gentêel j-, cf. Géntîle géntle j- gênus j- Géoff = Jéff Géoffrey = Jéffrey geográphic jêə- geógraphy jóg- in rapid speech, cf. gêólogy Geŏrge Jŏr- Gërman J- germâne relevant = Germâine, Jermâin, etc. persons gërminate j- Gérry = Jérry cf. Gáry, hard G gétaway adjective and noun one word, cf. verb gét awây gêyser water = BrE gêezer man, AmE geŷser gh- = g- Ghàna Africa = BrE gàrner gather Ghanâian cf. Gándhi ghāstly ghåt or ghåut ghërkin ghétto ghôst gíbbet j- gíbbon hard g Gídêon hard G, *Gídêyən gíg hard g cf. jíg Gílbert hard G gíll fish hard g, as also in McGíll person gíll liquid = Jíll = Gíll = Gíl persons gín *jín giráffe j- glâcial glácier or glâcier glâde Gládys glámorise glámorous glámour glêam glêan Glóucester *Glóster glûtinous glútton Glŷndebŏurne gnàrled *nàrld gnásh teeth = Násh person gnát mosquito = Nát person gnåw chew = BrE nor neither gnócchì *nyócky gnôme garden = Nôme Alaska gô-ahéad noun, adjective hyphenated gôad gôalless - sustained l sound gôat cf. côat góbbledygoòk gŏitre AmE gŏiter gôlf cf. gúlf Gomórrah rhymes with BrE Andórra góner fatal gonna going to two schwas: *gənə goodsélf one word goôgle verb no capital goôgly goòseberry *gùzbry goôse *goôss Gorbachev -chóff gorílla ape = guerílla warfare gŏurmet *gŏrmây gòvern gòvernment first n silent in rapid speech Grâeme *Grâyəm = Grâham most common spelling = Grâhame Kenneth graffìti grámmar grammátical grə- grámophone ‘grammar phone’ has been seen grándad or gránddad - dd can be extended d sound; as name, G- gránddaughter *grándåwter grándchîld grándeûr *grándûre Grànd Prìx *gràm-prì gráphic cf. tráffic grâte cheese, fire, annoy = grêat important grâteful grâve serious, burial gràve accent grâvy grây is AmE for grèy grâze sheep = grèys grey, cf. gràss greât big = grâte cheese, fireplace, irritate grêase oil = Grêece Greek grêen colour = Grêen, Grêene persons Gréenwich *Grénnídge grêet Grêig composer Gréig English = Grég Grenâda cf. Granàda grenâde grèy AmE grây = Grèy = Grây persons grèyhòund one word grìêf gríll food, interrogate = grílle lattice grimâce AmE grímace grísly horrible = grízzly bear grôan pain = grôwn up grŏin body = grŏyne wood gròundswell one word grôwn-úp noun hyphenated grûel gu- followed by vowel, hard g, silent u, unless stated otherwise Guàm *Gwàm guarantêe gá-, cf. ẁarranty guàrd *gàrd = gàrde in ávant gàrde Guatemàla Gwà- guerílla war = gorílla animal guéss guést visit = guéssed guess gúff cf. gáffe guîde guíld society = gíld lily guílt guilty = gílt gild gúlf cf. gôlf gúng-hô gúnwale = gúnnell Guínêa country = guínêa money guíllotìne - either stressed gúng-hô hyphenated guŷ gým gymnasium = Jím person gynaecólogist hard g-: *gŷnəcólojist, AmE -nec- gyrâte *jîrâte gŷroscope j-

H

H âitch hà ha hà laughter hà-hà fence hâbeas cŏrpus háckneyed *hácknid haemoglôbin - haê- haemophília - haê- haémorrhage *hémmoridge, *hémerage haémorrhoid haêmostâsis Hâgue person, Netherlands = Hâig = Hâigh persons hâil stones, greeting = hâle hearty hãir head = hãre animal Hâiti *Hâtey, cf. hâte hàjj or hàdj hālf *hàf; AmE *háf hâlfpenny hâpəny håll building = håul pull, 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 ómlette 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 aeroplane = hánger clothes Hanŏi Hánover has one n in English, two in German Haràrê hárass *hárras, AmE haráss, cf. Hárrís person hãre animal = hãir fur = Hãre = Hãir persons hàrem or hãrem hàrk cf. heàrken hàrpsichord -kŏrd hàrt deer = heàrt beat = Hàrt person hássle cf. hústle, *hússle hâsten *hâyssən hâte love = Hâight Ashbury hâtred -íd cf. pûtríd håul robbery = håll building hautëur *ôat-ër háve can sound like *háff when emphasised before an unvoiced consonanat: 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 hêal cure = hêel foot héalth hêar sound = hêre there Hêar, hêar! agree hëard hear = hërd animals, cf. hàrd soft heàrken cf. hàrk hêarsay hëarse heàrt beat = hàrt deer = Hàrt person heàrtfélt one word heàrth hêath hêathen -dhən héather rhymes with wéather -dh- hêave héaven héavy héavywèight boxing *hévviwâit, one word, cf. héavy wèight literal hêed cf. héad hêe hêe laugh cf. hê him hêel foot = hêal cure hegémony - hard g or j Heîdelberg héifer cow = Héffer person heîght *hîte heîghten high = Huŷton place hèinous Heînz *Hŷnts: in the 1950s, with memories of the second world war still fresh, the company of this name pronounced itself Hînes *Hŷnze héir heiress = ãir breathe, etc. hélicopter cf. hêlium héllhole one word hellô or hallô or hullô hém but not many other words begin this way, haém- being more common hémidemisémiquaver hémisphêre hërd animals = hëard hear, cf. hàrd soft hêre there = hêar sound Héreford héretic herétical hêro héron hérôín drug = hérôíne hero cf. méscalíne heteroséxual cf. métro, rétro heŵ wood = hûe colour = Hûgh = Hûw persons hèydây one word he’s he is = hís belonging to him - but can be hê’s *hêez hîâtus *hîgh-èight-us híccúp can be spelt híccoúgh hídden hídeous *hídìəss hîdeòut hîeràrchy *hîeràrky hîgh height = hî hello hîghbròw one word, *hîbròw hilãrious Hílary = Híllary hînd hínder híndrance -drənss híppocratic cf. hypocrítical hîre rent ≈ hîgher high hís he *hízz, cf. híss snake, hê’s or he’s históric hítchhîke second h aspirated hŏar frost = whŏre prostitute = Hŏare person Hîte person = heîght high hŏard store = hŏrde gang hŏarse voice = hŏrse animal hôax hóbnób one word hóck as in ín hóck, cf. ád hóc hôe garden cf. hô hô laughter hôld hand = hôled golf hôle gap = whôle complete hóliday vacation = Hólliday person = Hóliday Billie hólly cf. hôly Hóllywoòd Hôlmes person = hômes living or Hólmes, with l pronounced or hinted at hôly sacred ≈ whôlly completely, which has the two l’s pronounced Hólyhéad Hôlyroôd hómage - unlike French, one m homêopáthic AmE; BrE homoêo- homêópathy AmE; BrE homoêó- hômewörk one word hómicide homógeneous -jenəss or hômôgêneous rhyming with gênius hómoným hômo sápiens homoséxual - hó- Hóng Kóng *Honkóng hône hónest *ónnist honoràrium ón- hónorary ón- honorífic ón- hónour *ónner, AmE hónor hónourable ón-, AmE hónorable hoòdwink hoòk hoòkah pipe *hùkə = BrE hoòker prostitute, rugby hoôver carpet is from Hoôver person hôping hope cf. hópping hop Hórace rhymes with Bóris, Dóris, Nórris and Mórris hŏrde gang = hŏard store horrífic hórror hŏrs d’oëuvre ŏr-dërvrə hŏrse animal = hŏarse croak hóspice -íss hóspital hóspitalised hôst hóstage hóthead as if two words hóthòuse as if two words hóugh leg = hóck pawn hòur time = òur us hôuse noun -s, verb -z Hoûston *Hoôston howéver one word hòwl wolf cf. òwl bird hûe colour = Hûgh person = hêw cut = Hûw Welsh Hûghes person = heŵs hew hullabaloô hûman hûmorist hûmorous humour = hûmerus bone hûmour AmE hûmor húndred Húngary country - three syllables ≈ húngry hunger - two syllables hústle *hússle, cf. hássle hýmn church = hím he hŷper- very hypercrítical critical hypócrisy cf. hýpocríte, demócracy, hippocrátic hypocrítical hypocrite hystêria hystérical

I

Î letter, me = eŷe sight = aŷe yes Ìan person cf. îron, silent r îceberg one word Îceland -lənd Icelándic îcon idêa *îdêə, cf. monosyllables pêa, têa, a not sounded separately ídeogram idêólogy - î or í idiosýncrasy îdle lazy = îdol god = AmE îdyll idyllic Idomenèo ídyll BrE; AmE îdyll = îdle = îdol ígnorance ignŏre íleum intestine = ílium bone illegálity illícit illegal = elícit get íll-thŏught-òut illûsive illusory = elûsive elude ímage -íj imaginâtion imágíne imàm imbróglio *imbrólyo immêdìately imménse cf. eménd ímmigrate cf. émigrate ímpact noun, affect impáct fix, wedge impâle impàla ímpasse impêach impéccable impêrial impéril ímpetus impŏrtance ímpotence impresàrio one s ímpress noun impréss verb improprîety ímprovîse improvisâtion BrE -əvî-, AmE -óví- ímpudent -yû- impûte ascribe cf. ínput put in *ímpùt ín abséntia inadvërtent íncense smoke incénse anger inchôâte ínk- íncident incidéntal incidéntally incrédible incúmbent cf. encúmber indepéndent cf. depéndent, depéndant ín-dépth adjective Índian - can be spelt without a capital when referring to American indians Indiána indîct *indîte indígenous indispénsable índustry indústrial inévitable infállible ínfamous cf. fâmous infátuâtion inflámmatory -mm- ín frònt of three words inhérit inítial *iníshəl inítiative *iníshətíve ínjure cf. endûre ínland adjective inlánd adverb ínn pub = ín preposition inóculate ínpùt put in *ímpùt, cf. impûte ascribe inquîre, inquîry or enquîre, enquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry ínroads insâtiable insístent ín sítu insoûciance inståll some AmE instål instålment AmE instållment instéad insůre insurance = ensůre verify; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûr insürgent cf. sürge intáct one word intégral íntegrate intélligent interáction interfêre interfêrence interlócutor intërnal internátional -áshnəl, cf. nâtion internêcîne intërpret ínterview intestînal or intéstinal íntimate adjective -ət íntimâte verb ínto *íntû or *íntə: one word - but ón to is still two íntricacy íntrìgue noun *íntrêeg intrìgue verb *ín-trêeg introspéction inválid valid ínvalid ill ínventory *ínvəntry, cf. ínfantry in-yer-fâce îón electron cf. îron metal, *îən, silent r Îôna îPód ® showing a trend towards internal capitalisation also seen in EastÉnders Irān cf. îron metal, silent r Irânian or Irànian Irāq -k Irāqi -kì irâte î- Îreland BrE Îələnd, cf. îsland *îlənd Irênê or silent final e iridéscent *írridéssant îron metal BrE *îyən, cf. îón electron, Ìan person, Iràn country irónic îrony *îrənỳ irresístible irréverent irrévocable írrigate cf. erádicate Îsaac *Îzək îsland *îlənd, cf. Îreland Íslám Íz- Islámic Îslay *Îlə îsle island *île = aîsle theatre Îsle of Wîght *Île of Whîte îsobar -ss-, cf. Ísobel = Ísabel, -z- Ísrâel *Ísreâl Isrâeli íssue *íshû or íssyû Istanbùl or to please the Turks Istánbul cf. old spelling in Graham Greene’s novel title Stamboul Train ísthmus íts belonging to it = ít’s it is - ít’s for íts is probably the most common mistake of all Îvan Îvor îvory îvy plant = Îvy person

J

J = jây bird Jáckie either sex = Jácqui female Jâin religion = Jâne person jalópy jámb door = jám bread, cf. lámb, also -m Jánet Jânus Japán jéalous *jélləss Jêan person = gêne genetics, cf. Jâne person jêans trousers = gênes genetics jéll shape = gél hair jélly jéopardy *jéppardy, cf. léopard, also silent o Jéricho -kô Jerôme Jérry = Gérry Jéssê = Jéssìê Jêsus -z- Jésûít -z- jéttison jétty Jeŵ cf. Jûdaism jeŵel stone cf. dûel fight = dûal two jeŵeller *jûəler jihád jínx bad luck = jínks high jinks Jô Josephine = Jôe Joseph Jôêy Joseph = jôey animal Jôan Jôánna Jôánne jób work Jôb person jöurnal jöurney Jûdâísm AmE *Jûdêísm júdgement or júdgment soft g jûice fruit *jûce, cf. deûce two, equal Jûlie Julŷ júmpstart one word jùnta or ú or h- jûry justice = Jeŵry Jew, cf. Dûry person, Neŵry town Jûvenal jûvenîle

K

K = Kây person Kàbul - some say Kabùl Kafkaésque *Káfkə-ésk: there may be a glottal stop before é kamikàzê kapùt unlike German kaputt karaôkê *kariôkêy, *cárry-ôkie Káren ancient Kàrin modern kàrma Kashmìr Asia = cashmêre wool Kathmandû Kátm- Kátz person = cáts cat kebáb kêen interested, sharp = Kêane = Kêene persons Kêighley *Kêithley Kêith kërb street = cürb lessen, street kërnel centre = colonel army kérosêne or kérosìne késtrel kétchup kéttle water cf. cáttle farm kêỳ door = quaỳ port kêyboard one word Kèynsham Khachatûrian *Kachachûrian khàkì - either stressed Khmér Kəm- Kìév *Kìyéff kìlo kílomêtre or kilómetre; AmE -er kînd kíndred -dríd kíngly Kíngsley cf. Mackínley Kirkûdbright *Kəkûbry kítsch *kítch Kleîn = Clîne knâve cad, cards = nâve church knêad dough = nêed necessary = knêed knee knêejerk one word, n- knêel down = Nêil, etc. persons kneŵ know = neŵ fresh kníck-knáck cf. Níck knîght chess, Sir *nîte = Knîght person = nîght dark knít wool = nít creature, fool knóck *nóck, cf. noòk knót tie = nót no knôw acquaint = nô negative knôw-hòw knowledge hyphenated = nôhòw anyhow knôw-nothing adjective one word knówledge *nólij knôwn cf. nòne knôws know = nôse face Knóx person = knócks knock, n- koòky eccentric = coòkie cake Koràn = Quràn = Qur’àn Korêa peninsula = BrE carêer job, fast Kósovô -ss- - although Kosovans say ‘Kóssôvə’ kòwtòw Kürt person = cürt abrupt Kuwâit Kÿrgyzstān

L

L = él railway labŏrious lâbour AmE -or, cf. Lâbor Pàrty Australia, etc. lâbourer AmE -or- lábyrinth lackadâisical lácklustre adjective one word lácquer *lácker láddies boys lâdies women làger beer hard g, cf. soft g in làrger bigger lâid egg, table, trap *lâyed lâin down = lâne traffic lãir hideout ≈ lâyer covering: both are two syllables, but lâir is normally shorter lâissèz-fãire silent z: *lây-sây-fãir lámb -m lambást or lambâste lamént lámentable or laméntable lâne road = lâin lie = Lâne, Lâine persons lánguorous -uorou-: -ərə- Làos nation = lòuse bug lápdog one word lápse negative = láps lap largésse or AmE largéss làrva insect BrE = làva volcano lâser -z-; rhymes with râzor lasso *lássoô Làs Vègas - many BrE speakers say *Lós Vègas probably because they would normally read Las with the á sound, the AmE Làs sounds to them like Lós, and by analogy with Lós Ángeles lâter làttè látter låud praise = BrE lŏrd master låudanum lāughter rhymes with āfter laureate *lóriat laurel *lórrel làva volcano BrE = làrva insect lávish cf. slâvish låw legal = BrE lŏre folk: *lŏ, cf. lôw *ləù: Francophones beware Lawrence Ló- or Laurence w more common låwyer *lŏyer lây table, egg, snooker as a verb in its own right, or as past of lîe; = lâze lazy lâybŷ lâyer covering ≈ lãir hideout: both are two syllables, but lâyer is normally longer lâze lazy = lâys table lâzy lêa grass = lêe shelter = Lêe = Lêigh persons lêach percolate = leêch worm, sail lêast cf. lést lêaves leave, leaf lêad first, guide léad metal = léd took, past of lêad, cf. réad, past of rêad lêader lead = lìêder songs lêak liquid = lêek vegetable lêague *lêeg léant lean = lént lend = Lént season léapt leap lëarn past: lëarned or lëarnt lëarned as attributive adj: a *lëarníd mán lêast less cf. lést in case Lébanon -ənən; AmE -ón léd guided = léad metal lée shelter = Lêe = Lêigh = Lêa persons = lêa grass lêes dregs cf. lêase contract, unvoiced s leêch worm, sail = lêach percolate Lêeds city = lêads lead lêek vegetable = lêak liquid lêer look = Lêar person léft hand, leave léftie politics = léfty hand légacy lêgal législâtor législatûre Léicester city = Léster person Léinster leisure BrE léisure *lézher; AmE lêisure *lêzher; BrE rhyming with méasure, pléasure and tréasure leîtmotìf Lénnox léns *lénze, plural lénses lént lend = Lént season = léant lean Lêô Léominster *Lémstə Léonard *Lénnəd = Lénnard léopard animal = Léppard person *lépəd, cf. Léonard, jéopardy, also silent o lêotàrd *lêətàd léper *lépə, rhyming with pépper Lêroy Lésley female = Léslie male Lesotho *Lesûtû léss more léssen less = lésson school lést in case cf. lêast less lêthal léts let = lét’s let us léttuce *léttis Levánt lévee dam = lévy tax lêver AmE léver lêverage AmE léverage cf. béverage in both Lêvi Lévis cf. Lêavis lévy tax = lévee dam leŵd cf. feûd Leŵis Scotland, person *Loôwis = Leŵes England liâison lì- lîable three syllables lîar lîbel two syllables líberal libertãrian líberty líbido Lìbra lîbrary lîbrãrian Líbya lîcence BrE or lîcense AmE; can be verb in BrE lîcensêe *lîcencee lîchen plant = lîken compare lîe down, untrue cf. lŷing, lây lìên *lêən lìêder songs = lêader lead lieuténant AmE lût-, BrE léft- or lût- lîfestyle one word lîfetime one word lígament lîght *lîte - but ‘lite’ can be seen commercially lîghtning flash *lîtning ≈ lîghtening lighten lîkelihood lîkely lîke-mînded lîlac Lilóngwè líly-lívered límb *lím, cf. clîmb up = clîme climate lîme cf. Lŷme Rêgis límô limousìne *limmazêen línchpín cf. lýnch Líncoln *Língkən Líndsay = Líndsey *Línzy línêage *línêíj, cf. lîne lingerie BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjerèy, è stressed lîon animal = Lŷon person, cf. Lỳon France líp-rêad líquefy cf. líquid líquidate liqueûr chocolate *licûre líquor whisky *líkker Lîsa - usually Lísbon *Lízbən líst column, sway = Líszt Franz lísten *líssen lístless *lístlíss lîte - humorous or commercial spelling of lîght líterary líturgy líve verb lîve adjective cf. lîfe noun líves verb lîves life plural of lîfe Líz Lìza – usually Ljubljàna´*Lyùblyàna llàma animal = làma Buddhism Llanélli - Welsh names beginning in Ll- are pronounced in English as if they began Thl-: *Thlanéthly - except for Llŏyd - L sound only lôan lend = lône alone lôath unwilling unvoiced th; its variant lôth is preferable, to avoid confusion with following, which is sometimes used incorrectly instead lôathe hate voiced th, *lôadh lôathsome voiced th, no middle e lóch Scottish ch like Arabic kh, phonetic symbol (, 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 - loôse for lose is perhaps the second most common mistake after ít’s for íts loôt spoils = lûte music lŏre folk BrE = låw rule lórry transport = Laurie person lose lost *lûze = loôs toilets, cf. loôse insecure *lûce loser unlucky *lûzer, cf. loôser more insecure loses lû-, cf. lósses lôth disinclined variant of lôath, and 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 actor cf. lòve, lòvey-dòvey Lúxemboürg lŷing from lîe lýmph lýnch = Lýnch person, cf. línchpin lýnx animal = línks link Lỳón France cf. lîon animal lŷre harp = lîar cheat

M

M = ém print macádam road comes from McÁdam person: names begin Mac- or Mc- with or without a following capital macarôni cf. original Italian ‘macheroni’ MacGrégor or McGrégor machétê *məshétty machìne -sh- machísmo mátch- or mətch- mácho mátch- Mácintyre = MácKintyre (c of ‘Mac’ is always hard, even before a vowel) Macleod or MacLeod or McLeod *Məclòud mádeleine cake = Mádeleine Paris, person mâde-up adjective before noun mádman or -mán; one word Madràs mâelstrom màêstro *mŷstro máfia AmE màfia magazìne Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge both silent g= måudlin sentimental Mágdalene Mary *Mágdəlín magistêrial cf. májesty mágnâte power mágnet magnetic mâid servant = mâde make mâil letters = mâle female mâin principle = Mâine America = mâne horse mâinstream one word mâize crop = mâze labyrinth Majŏrca *Məyŏrcə majórity malãria Malâysia cf. Âsia etc. Málcolm person *Málcum, cf. tálcum powder mâle man = mâil post måll shopping = måul violence; Páll Máll is an exception mállêable målt Målta Mámmon mán male = Mánn = Mánne persons = Mán Manchester mánakin bird cf. máníkin dwarf, model = mánnequin dummy Mánchester cf. Chéster mânger cf. mánager mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State mándarin mándatory mandolíne mâne lion = mâin important = Mâine state mângy -jy mánhandle mâniácal máníkin or mánníkin dwarf, model = mánnequin dummy, cf. mánakin bird mán-mâde mánna heaven BrE = mánor house = mánner way mánnequin dummy = máníkin dwarf, model, cf. mánakin bird manoeûvre BrE or manœûvre; AmE maneûver many *ménny, cf. pénny Màori *Mòwry, cf. Lòwry mãre horse = mãyor councillor margarìne màrj- Màrgot -gô Marìa but: Bláck Marîa marìne máriner sailor = Márriner person máritîme Màrlboro ™ cigarette -bərə = Màrlborough person Mårlborough town *Måwlbərə Màrs Martian = màrs mar Marsèille *Marssây Mãry cf. márry màrten animal = màrtin bird = Màrtin person màrtyr -tər māsk face = māsque ball Massachûsetts mássacre -ker mássacring mássàge -àzh AmE *məssàzh massëuse -ëz; AmE -ûz māsterstroke one word matêrial unlike in French mátinèe *mátinây: matinée, accent can be written in BrE but not in AmE mátress mâtrix måudlin sentimental = Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge måul lion = måll shops Maurice person BrE = Mórrís name; AmE Maurìce; see -óris in Retroalphabetical Word List mauve colour *môav, cf. move û movement mây perhaps = Mây month, person mâybe perhaps only meaning ‘perhaps’ is it one word, cf. mây bê verbs: mâybe it’s trûe; ít mây bê trûe mâyhém mãyor councillor = mãre horse, cf. Mâyer person, mâjor McEnroe *Máckenroe McIlroy *Máckilroy McGóugh *MəGóff McKénzie = MacKénzie = Mackénzie Mək- mêaly-mòuthed mêan intend, generous = mìên face méant mean cf. -ment suffix mêantime one word méasure *mézher mêat flesh = mêet up = mête appropriate mêatball one word médal medallion = méddle interfere mêdia mêdial médical médicine - the first i may be silent medìêval or mediaêval *medì-êvəl or *medêvəl Mediterrânean cf. ‘terra’, Latin for ‘earth’, so it is not *Meditterânean mêet encounter = mêat eat = mête suitable, out megalomâniac melanchôlia -nk- mélancholy -nk- Mélbourne *Mélbən, cf Mílburn, BrE *Mílbən méltdown noun one word meménto remember cf. môment, moméntous time mémoir *mémwà (no final -e unlike in French original) ménace rhymes with Dénnis and ténnis (-əss or -íss) ménû Ménzies Robert Menzies Campbell *Míngiz Méopham *Méppəm mêre meringue *məráng mesméric mésmerise Méssrs Mister r as er, cf. mésser mess Mésurier John le = méasurer measure métal metallic = méttle quality metamŏrphôsis - either stressed meteorólogy mê- mête suitable, out = mêet encounter, mêat animal mêter measure = mêtre distance, rhythm BrE; all three meanings in AmE are mêter mêthane methínks one word méthod methódical mètièr métier *mâytiay meŵs street, cat = mûse think, inspiration mézzanine méz- or méts- mézzo *métso mì doh-re-mi = mê I Mîámì miaòw mîca Mîchael *Mŷcle, rhyming with cŷcle mîcrô-ŏrganism hyphenated míd does not require hyphen middây mídnight *mídnîte mìên face = mêan intend, ungenerous míffed rhymes with ríft etc. mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid mìgraine mîke microphone = Mîke Michael Milán Italy í, cf. Mìlán person mîles mile = Mîles person mílitary milítia *milíshə millénnium minarét mînd brain, care = mîned mines mîndset noun one word mîne me, bomb, coal mînefield one word mîner coal = mînor small, young, major minestrônê míni small = Mínnie person míniature *mínitcher mínímum mínistry cf. mónastery mínkê *mínky mînus mínuscule mínute time *mínít mînûte tiny minûtiae *minûshî mîre mís- not hyphenated miscellâneous -səl- miscéllany -sél- míschíef míschíevous misconcéption mislêad misléd misógynist misquôte míss aim = Míss female = mís- wrong míssal prayers = AmE míssile hit, cf. BrE pronunciation míssîle misshâpen *míss-shâpen Mississíppì Missoûrì *Mizoôry; some AmE speakers say *Mízoôrə misspéll místral wind cf. místrîal trial misûse mîte small, arachnid = mîght perhaps, power mnemónic nem- môbîle move Môbìle Alabama módel *móddle, cf. môtél Mohámmed or Muhámmad *Məhámid mŏisten *mŏissən Mojàvê *Məhàvì môld shape = môuld mouldy mólecule molécular móllycoddled one word Mólotov -f Mólineûx *Móllyneŵ môment cf. meménto moméntous cf. meménto mónarch BrE -nək, AmE -nàrk mónestery *mónistry, cf. mínistry mònetary mòney mónicker name = móniker name; BrE = Mónica person mònk Montána BrE and AmE, cf. AmE banána but BrE banàna, with the usual BrE pronunciation of this ending; also Alabáma and Louisiána are both BrE and AmE mònth *múnth cf. mòunt *máùnt Montgómery = Montgómerie Montreål -ê- moôn mŏor land = mŏre plus = Mŏore = Mŏre names moôt mention cf. mûte silent môped mope môpéd bike móral virtuous morāle confidence mŏrès (-âyz) mŏrning early = mŏurning death mŏron Mórris person BrE = Maurice person: see -óris in Retroalphabetical Word List mŏrtgage *mŏrgij mŏrtíce or mŏrtíse mosâíc pattern = Mosâíc Jewish *môzâíc Móscôw - some AmE speakers say Móscòw mósque *mósk, cf. músk, màsk mosquìto -skêeto môte eye = môat castle móthball one word motìf pattern mô-, cf. môtive reason moûe pout = moô cow môuld mouldy = môld shape mòuntaínous -tínəs mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. mòuse rodent moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh mòuth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced, cf. bréath noun th unvoiced, brêathe verb th voiced mòuthpiece one word move û Môzart *Môatsart Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used Mrs *míssíz; abbreviation of míssis or míssus, full form rarely used; = mísses mistakes, girls mûesli *meŵzly Mûïr name *meŵer, cf. mŏre, etc. Mujahedìn múltiplŷ verb múltiplỳ adverb múm quiet, mother = AmE mòm mother múmmy body, mother = AmE mòmmy mother Mûnich -ík Múrraỳ = Mòray firth = Múrry, cf. húrry mürky múscle body = mússel shellfish Múscovite mústáche is AmE for moustàche mûse think, inspiration = meŵs street, cat musêum mûz- mûsic current = mûsick archaic Mùslim or Móslem, -z- múslin mústn’t *mússənt mûte silent cf. moôt mention mŷ mŷnah bird BrE = mînor lesser = mîner mines mŷre mýriad mÿrtle mýstery *mistry mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke mýth myxomatôsis

N

N = én print naìve naïve innocent nàì- *nŷêve, cf. nâve church naìvity *nà-ìvity - or naïveté, *nî-yeevitây nâked -íd Náncy person = Nàncy France Nâomi narcissístic nárrative narrâtor NÁSA space = BrE Násser person nâscent 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 nâve church = knâve cad, cf. naïve or naìve innocent nâvel stomach = nâval nây no = nèigh horse = nè né man = nèe née woman 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 né man = nèe née woman nèighbour *nâber, rhymes with lâbour, sâbre, tâbor, câber and Fâber 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 neŵbŏrn adjective, noun one word newfángled one word neŵ-fòund Neŵfoundland BrE *Neŵfəndlənd neŵly new = Neŵley person neŵspaper -eŵss-; one word neŵswörthy 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 Nîgel *Nîjəl Nîger delta *Nîjə, cf. Nîgel Nigér country *Nízhãiə, French style Nigêria Nîj- nîgh *nŷ nîght dark *nîte; = kníght Sir, chess nîghtmãre nìhílíst - h can be as y níl - one l nìrvàna nít creature, fool = knít wool nítpick one word nítwit one word neŵborn one word néxt doôr two words nô negative cf. nº number nób rich = knób handle Nôbél prize - either stressed nôble birth, elevated noblésse nóctürne cf. türn nô-gô ãrea noir BrE *nwà, AmE *nwàr nóm de plûme *nómdəplûme nón- not not a word in its own right except in persôna nón gràtis nónchalant nónsh- nòne zero = nún God, cf. knôwn knew, nô-one nobody nònesuch nonplússed no hyphen nónsense nonsénsical nón séquitùr - or nôn; or -tə noòk cf. knóck *nóck noôn midday = Noône person noôse cf. nòus nô-òne nobody - the hyphen seems the happy medium: one also sees nôòne - too redolent of noôn and Noône above - and nô òne, but the hyphenless version is best used only where òne is not a person but a quantifier: nô òne síngle fáctor Nŏrfolk -fək Nórwich rhymes with pórridge or Ípswich nŏrthern voiced th, unlike nŏrth nôse face = knôws know nôsey or nôsy nôtewörthy one word nòthing nôtice -íss nôticeable notorîety notŏrious nŏught zero *nåwt = nåught nothing noúrish nòus cf. noôse, hòuse noûveau rìche *nûvô-rêesh Nôva Scôtia *Nôvə Scôshə nóvelist novélla nôwhere one word, cf. nô plâce nth *énth nûisance nyûss- númb -m númber 123 númber numb *númmer nûmerous nún God = nòne nought nútcase one word nutrítion nû- nyctophôbia nýmph *nímf

O

Ô letter = ôh exclamation ŏar boat = ŏr alternative = ŏre metal oâsis *ôwâyssís obêdience obèisance obèy oblìque -lêek obscêne obscénity obsêquious óbsolête obsoléscence óbstacle occâsionally occür occürred (cf. cûred), occúrrence, occürring - two r’s ôcean *ôtion, *ôshən óchê *ócky, cf. hóckey ôchre *ôker; AmE -er óctagon óctopus ôdious ôdium ôdorous Oêdipus AmE Ê- oêstrogen AmE ê- öeuvre *ërvra óf *óv offénce BrE, AmE offénse offénsive óffspring one word óften *óffen; though some pronounce the t ÔK or ôkây Ôklahôma ôld normal = ôlde jocular, old-fashioned = Ôld person ôld-fáshioned ómelette *ómlit, cf. hámlet omérta omnípotent òne single = wòn game òne-óff ònes plural = òne´s possessive *wúnz òneself one word, wú- óngôing one word ònion *únyon, cf. Cányon onlîne connected one word ónlooker one word Ontãrio ón to *óntû or *óntə: two words, but ínto is one ónyx or ônyx oòps óperate ophthalmólogist ph opínion opportûnity *óppərtyûnity oppréss oppûgn -ûne optimístic ópt-òut noun hyphenated ŏr instead = ŏre metal = ŏar boat ŏral voice = åural ear órange *óringe oráng-utan orâte órator ŏrchestrate ŏrk- ŏrchid *ŏrkid, cf. ŏrchard, ch sound ŏrdnance weapons cf. ŏrdinance decree ŏrient órifíce AmE ŏrifíce Orîon .*ŏrtha- no words begin like this ŏrthodox ósprêy or ósprèy òtherwise one word Ouagadoûgou *Wágadûgu ouìja-bŏard wì- ŏught *åwt òur us = hòur time òut outdo *òutdoô, one word òutlåw one word òutrîght one word outsîde one word ôva ovum = BrE ôver top, finish òven ôver overbürdened one word overcòme one word overdûe one word ôverload one word overlôaded one word overnîght *ôver-nîte, one word overrâte rate ≈ overâte or *overét overeat overreáct *ôverêáct, one word overrîde one word overrûle one word overshádow one word overthrôw one word ovërt ô- ôwe debt = ôh exclamation = Ô letter óxbow Óxford -əd O’Brîen cf. Brîan

P

P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine pâce speed pàcè peace *pàchè páchydërm *pákidërm pácifist cf. pássive paêan paediatrícian paêdophile pâge págeant ea as schwa, *pájənt pâid pay *pâyed, *pâde, cf. regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc. pâil bucket = pâle pallid pâin hurt = pâne window pâinstâking pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails Pākistān but not Pàkistán pálatal palate palâtial palace -shəl pâle light = pâil bucket Pálestîne Palestínian påll cf. Páll Máll, måll pállet mattress = pálette paint Pámela panáche *pənásh Pánamà páncake *pángcake pánda animal BrE = pánder serve pandemônium pâne glass = pâin hurt pánel cf. chánnel panoràma paparázzi pápərátsy pâper-thín páprika AmE paprìka papŷrus parábola párachute -shû- páradigm -îm Páraguay -gwî párallel *párralel, cf. désiccate páralyse parálysis paralýtic paral parámeter pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit pãrent parîah Parísian -ízì- pàrliament *pàrləmənt párrot bird = Párrott person partisán -z- AmE pàrtisan -zən pàrse -z partícipate pássè passé pāssed pass = pāst time, tense pássion *páshən pássive cf. pácifist pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field pastìche -ìsh pāstime pāst ít old pátè pâté pâtent pàth pathétic pathológical á pathólogy pâthós pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients hospital pátois *pátwà cf. fátwà pâtriàrch -k pátriot or â patriótic - á or â patrôl cf. pétrol pátronise condescend pâtronise patron påuse stop = påws animal pâyback noun one word pây-óff noun pêa vegetable = pêe urine = P letter = p pence pêal bell = pêel fruit = Pêel person pêak summit = pêek cheat = pìque annoyance péãr fruit = pãir two = pãre cut cf. Pêter Pêars Pêarce person = Pìêrce person, pìêrce hole, cf. Pìêrs, -z person = pìêrs pier pëarl stone = pürl knit, liquid pêase pudding -z: = pêas pea pêat bog = Pête Peter peccadíllo pédal foot = péddle sell pédestal pédigree pédlar or péddler seller pêe urine = pêa vegetable = p pence = P letter pêek cheat = pêak summit = pìque annoyance pêer look, lord = pìêr jetty pêeved pejórative cf. përjury péll-méll cf. Páll Máll pén write = Pénn person péncil Penélopê penicíllin península noun = BrE penínsular adjective Pennsylvânia péntagon pêony *pêənỳ pêople pêep-, cf. stêeple Pêpys Samuel = pêeps looks për normally weak, but when strong = pürr cat per cént two words percéntage one word përfect adjective perféct verb përjury cf. pejórative permíssion permít verb përmit noun përpetrate not perper- për sè *persây, cf. sây përson persôna personálity persôna nón gràtis personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private persuâde -swâde Perû pervërse përvërt pervërted péssimistic péz- pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. patrôl Pëugeôt ™ -zhô ph- f- phâeton phálanx phãraoh Egypt -rô; = Fãroe Islands pharmacôpoêia 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, AmE Phêbê 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 = pîe food pìanist piáno píc picture = píck other meanings Piccadílly - cc, ll pídgin language = pígeon bird pìêr jetty = pêer look, lord cf. Pêter Pêars, péar pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce persons piérrot *pyérrô pígeonhole one word píllage -íj pîlot plane = Pîlate Pontius pîneápple -eá- pínnacle pînt cf. línt, mínt pîonêer pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek look Pîscês *Pŷsêez pìste cf. píssed píttance píty pívot pìzza *pìtsa pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. ballerìna pizzicàto píts- plácard plâce where = plâice fish plâgiarise pláid pláit hair cf. plâte food plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin straightforward plánet cf. gánnet plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher plátinum plátypus plâyboy one word plâywright pléasure -ézher plîght *plîte plòver plúm fruit, exact = plúmb depths, plumber plŷ Plýmouth -məth pm post meridian = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém pneumátic neû- pŏignant *pŏinyant Polàris Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll election polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze pólish shine Pôlish Poland políticking pólitics pôker cards, fire pôlka dance pôll vote = pôle wood = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll póll parrot pólythene *póllithêen polyéthylene -éthílêen polyphónic polýphony pómegranate cf. gránite poôl swim = Poôle place, person pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (some say poôr) pópulace noun = pópulous adjective pŏring examining = pŏuring out pŏrous pornográphic pornógraphy Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce Pŏrtugal, Portuguêse Pŏrch- Poseîdon posëur pseud cf. pôser puzzle póssê posséss *pozéss pôst letter = pôst- after, which must be hyphenated postpône pôsp- potâtoes cf. tornâdos, both -ôz Potômac poùffe práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (not -îse/-îze) the American custom of using only the -íce spelling would seem the more sensible Pràgue *Pràhg prây prayer = prèy victim prãyer *prãir, cf. plâyer precêde before prí-, cf. procêed start *prəsêed précedent before préss-, cf. président head, préz- précious *préshəss prècìs précis *prâycêe prècìs’d past *prâycêed precîse *precîce prê-dâte prédator prêdecessor AmE pré- prê-émpt hyphenated prê-éminent hyphenated préferable cf. prefër prélude prémìêr government, league, -er as schwa; AmE premìêr = premìêre prémìére performance cf. thére; AmE premìêre = premìêr prémíse preóccupied - prê- prepãre présent gift, now préz- presént give príz- prestìge -êezh prestígious -íjəss preténce preténd preténsion preténtious pretty -í- prevâil prévalent prêvious prèy victim = prây prayer prîce cost = prîce = Prŷce persons prìma dónna *prê-madónna prìma fâcìê prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male cf. príncéss female - either stressed príncipal main = prínciple reason principálity prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor persons prívacy AmE prîvacy prívilege prîze present = prîse apart prô- in favour procêdure procêed cf. precêde procreâte proféss prófit money = próphet prophecy prodûce verb pródûce noun pródúct prodúctive proféssional prôgram computer, AmE prôgramme BrE not computer prôgress noun, BrE AmE prógress; verb progréss próject activity - some say prôject projéct stick out prôle prolóng one word prómenàde AmE -âde prómise -íss prônòun pronunciâtion ú: cf. pronòunce proôf cf. prove *proôve propagánda própagate próper próphecỳ noun próphesŷ verb próphet religion = prófit gain propônent prôs pro = prôse verse próspect future prospéct gold prôtêan protéct protéctor prôtegè male protegé *prôtezhây protegèe female protegée *prôtezhây prôtest noun protést verb prótestant protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor prove *proôve, cf. proôf prôven or *proôvən próvenance Provence *Provónce Provençal *Provón-sàl próvince províncial -shl provocâtion provócative provôke pròwess pròwl prŷ ps- s- psàlm *sàm pseûd pseûdo-intelléctual psilocŷbin psst - p pronounced, any number of s’s psŷch *sîke psŷchê *sîky psychîatrist psychólogist cf. sýcophánt psychólogy psychométric psŷchopáth psychopáthic psychópathy pterodáctyl térə- públicly cf. bâsically púcker lips BrE = púkka real pùdding púddle pûerile pùll push cf. poôl water pùllover clothing cf. pùll ôver car púmíce púnish pûny yû pûre yû pürl knit, liquid = pëarl stone pürr pús yellow cf. pùss cat pùsh pùt place cf. pútt golf pûtrid cf. hâtred, both -íd pùtsch cf. pùsh pùtting put pútting putt púzzle pýgmy pyjàmas AmE pajámas pŷre Pýrrhic

Q

Q = queûe up = cûe prompt Qátàr or *Cátter, cf. catàrrh qát drug or khát or kát; = cát animal quáck qùad quadriplégic quágmire or qùagmire quàlm -àm quángo qùantity quàrk qùarrel quartét å quårtz mineral = quårts liquid qùash quaỳ harbour = kêỳ lock quêasy -zêe, rhymes with êasy and slêazy, not with grêasy -sêe Quebécker quéll quêry quéstion *quéshchən queûe line = cûe theatre, billiards quìche *kêesh quíd prô quô quiéscent *kwìéssent quîet silent two syllables, e as schwa: *kwîət quít stop quîte moderate one syllable Quìto *Kêeto quíz quŏits Quràn = Qur’àn = Koràn QWËRTY

R

R = àre be rábbî raccoôn or racoôn râcehorse one word râcism cf. fáscism *fáshism ráck frame, stretch = wráck pain rácket corruption, noise = rácquet sport râdàr râdìî râdius râid râin water = rèign monarch = rèin horse râise up = râze ground râisin -zən râison d’étre raison d´être Ráleigh person = rálly meeting, though officially Sir Wålter Råleigh rhymes with Råwley Rálph mostly, but some are Râlph, *Râfe rámpâge noun rampâge verb Rámsey Isle of Man = Rámsay MacDonald ráncour *rángkə; AmE ráncor *rángkər Rangoôn *Ráng-gûne ránkle cf. wrínkle ránsom money = Ránsome person rappróchement *rápróshmó rápt entranced = wrápped parcel rāspberry -spb- Rastafãrian râtio *râyshôw rátion -sh- rátional -sh- rationâle -sh- ráttlesnake one word råucous rhymes with cåucus rây light = Rây = Râe = Wrây persons râzor rhymes with lâser rê concerning = rê- again prefix - in more common words, rê- sounds like rí-: compare revêal and rêdêal rêad writing = rêed plant = Rêed = Rêid = Rêad persons réad past, past participle = réd colour; cf. lêad present, léd past, past participle Réading town = Rédding person, cf. rêading read Reâgan Ronald cf. Rêgan Lear, Mégan reáct - rê- rêal genuine = rêel rotate Reál Madríd *Rèy-ál Mədríd reálpolitìk rêalty rêálity réalm rêam rébel noun *rébble, cf. pébble rebél verb réccê *récky recêde back *rísêed ≈ resêed plant, rê- recêipt money -cêet, cf. concêit, decêit recêive rêcent lately cf. resént disapprove *rizént rêcess récipê food recíprocal réckon récognise - g can be silent recónnaíssance *recónissənss récrêâtion fun, sport rê-crêâtion forensics recrûit redundant i recür recürred, recúrrence, recúrrent, recúrring - two r’s réd colour = réad book rédolent Rêes = Rhỳs = Rêece = Rêese refléct refléction BrE can be refléxion rêflex rêed water = rêad book = Rêed = Rêad = Rêid persons rêek smell = wrêak havoc rêel round = rêal genuine rê-énergise - rê- hyphenated before é rê-éntry - rê- hyphenated before é refër réference refŏrm refûse no -z réfuse rubbish -s Rég *Rédge, rhyming with hédge Rêgan Lear cf.Reâgan Ronald, Mégan regìme *râizhìme régister rehëarse Rêid person = rêad write = rêed water = Rêed person rèign monarch = râin wet = rèin horse rêígnîte rêímbürse rêínfŏrce cf. enfŏrce rêíterate - not -tt- rêjéct noun rejéct verb rejûvenate relêase cf. rêalîse rélevant relìêf relìêve rêlíve relŷ remémber remémbrance reminíscent -ssent Rénault ™ *Rénô rendezvous *róndâyvoô renège or renègue *rənâyg Rêno renòunce renunciâtion ú repéllent rêpercússions repétitive rêplay noun replây verb replŷ represént represéntative reprîsal reprìse repúblic réputable repûte resëarch AmE rêsëarch resémble *rizémble resént *rizént cf. rê-sént re-send, rêcent lately réservoir *rézəvwàr rêshuffle noun reshúffle verb resîgn leave *rizîne, cf. rê-sîgn return *rê-sîne resignâtion g sounded resíst -zí- resístance -zí- resôlve *rízólve resŏurce AmE rêsource réspiratory réspîte AmE réspíte respónsible *respónsable réstaurant *réstrónt resúlt *rizúlt resûme again *ríz-yoôm résumè CV - may be written résumé to distinguish from resûme resurréction réz- resúscitate retàrd verb rêtard person rétch vomit = wrétch poor rethínk rétina reveillê *reválly rével cf. revêal revêre réverence revieŵ newspaper = revûe show revísit revôke cf. irrévocable rewård Réynolds rhápsody -ədy rhêa bird = Rhêa Saturn rhétoric rhetórical rhodedéndron rô- rhŷme rhýthm *rídhəm rhýthmic *rídhmic ríbald *ríbbled, *ríbəld ríbbon -bən Ríchard BrE *Ríchəd rídicule ridículous *ridíkyələss rîght side, correct = wrîte read = rîte ritual = wrîght artesan = Wrîght person Rîley = Reîlly rîme frost also alternative, more regular, spelling of rhŷme ríng round, noise = wríng neck rísquè risqué *rískè rîte ritual = wrîte read = rîght side, correct = wrîght artesan ríven ríver Rìyadh - the only word with dh as the voiced sound of th in thís, and the only word with iy rôad street = rôde ride rôam wander = Rôme city rób steal = Rób Robert róbber róbbery róbin bird = Róbin = Róbyn persons rôe fish = rôw line, in a, cf. ròw Rôland cf. Rónald rôle model rôle = rôll bread, rolling, call roôfs roof *roôves, cf. hoôves hoof roôm Rôosevelt first syllable rhyming with rôse roôt plant = BrE roûte journey rôse flower, rise = rôws boat, line rôsè rosé wine rôse-tínted rôte learning = wrôte write rótten roûè roué roúgh violent = rúff cards, neck, bird, fish ròughage *rúffage, *rúffij ròund ròut victory roûte journey BrE = roôt plant; AmE ròute = ròut victory rôw boat, line = rôe fish ròw argument rúbble wreck cf. AmE rûble BrE roûble money rûbric rúcksack Ruîslip *Rŷslip rúmpus rúnaway person cf. rún awây action rúng ladder, ring = wrúng wring Rûpert rústle noise = Rússell person Rŵánda Rûá-

S

S *éss sáccharine sácə- sáchet bag = sáshay walk sácrament sâcred sacrilegious -íjəss, from sácrilege, cf. relígious, which rhymes Sagittãrius Sáj- said *séd sâke for sàkè Japan Saskátchewan said *séd, cf. pâid, lâid etc. Sàìd Port, person = Sàêed person 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 sátellite - l is doubled, but not t Sâtan sátín sátîre cf. sátyr Sátürn sátyr *sátter Sàùdì sàùerkràùt *sòurcròut sàùna såw see, wood, saying = BrE sŏre pain = BrE sŏar up sáx saxophone = Sáchs person says *séz sáy-sô noun one word scándal *scándle, rhyming with cándle scàr scárab scãre scãrce scàrf neck = Scàrfe person scàrlet colour = Scàrlett person scêne vista = sêen see scént smell = cént money, sént send scéptic AmE sképtic schàdenfreude *shàdənfrŏyd schédule BrE shé-, AmE ské- schêma *skêemə schemàta *skêem-àtə schême *skêem schérzo *skãirtso schizophrênia skítsəfrìnia schizophrénic skítsəfrénnic schnítzel shn- schtùm sht- schoôl *skoôl schoôlboy, schoôlgirl each one word schoôner skoô- schwà sh- sciática sî- scientífic sîən- scíssors - ss as z scóne cf. góne, dòne, cône scöreboard one word Scót Scotland = Scótt person scòur scöurge scráp scrâpe scrâped scrápped scrêam scrêen scríbble scúll oar = skúll head scŷthe sêa water = sêe vision sêal shut, animal sêaling = cêiling floor sêam thread, coal = sêem appear Seån person = Shåun = BrE shŏrn shear Sêáttle cf. bêátify secêde cf. procêed, precêde, succêed, supersêde secónd BrE military sécond other meanings sectãrian sedán cf. Sudàn sédentary cf. said, *séd sêed plant = cêde yield sêem appear = sêam coal, thread sêer *sêe-er segregâtion seîsmic sîz- seismólogist sîz- sêize grab *sêez = sêes see, cf. cêase stop, sîze big, síeve filter sélf-évident séll buy = céll prison, biology séll-bŷ dâte - I once saw ‘sell buy date’ sémblance cf. resemble sêmen sperm = sêaman sailor = sêamen sailors sénsor feel = cénsor censorship séntence Seôul Korea = sôle only, shoe = sôul spirit séparate adjective, séparâte verb not -per-, cf. a in pãir, désperate séptic infected cf. scéptic = AmE sképtic doubter sépulchre *sépulker sërf peasant = sürf sea sergeant *sàrjent = Sergeant = Sàrgent persons sêrial TV = cêreal breakfast sêries *sêríz sêrious cf. Sýria, Sírius sërve cf. sürvèy noun, *sërvây; survèy verb sërvíce *sërvíss, cf. sürface, -físs, only one sound diferent sétback noun one word séver cut sevêre tough sew thread = sô thus = sôw seed, cf. sòw pig seŵer pipe sewer sew séxìêst -ìyíst most séxíst sexism sextét Shâkespêare - variant spellings omitted one or both silent e’s in William Shakespeare’s time but this is the norm now; cf. shâke and spêar shâky shâman shãreholder one word shêar cut = shêer absolute shèikh Arabia - kh sound, or = shâke rattle Shêila shéllfish cf. sélfish shenánigans shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons shh any number of h’s Shìa ≈ BrE shêer shibbóleth Shìîte - no apostrophe or hyphen shoe foot = shoô away shoô-in noun one word; *shoe-ín shoôt bang = chûte fall shôre sea BrE = Shåw person and often sûre certain shŏrn shear BrE = Shåun, Seån persons shŏrtcoming one word shŏrtlist finalists cf. shŏrt líst Shostakôvich shoùld *shoòd, cf. shôulder, hoòd shôwcase one word, cf. bàsket câse Shreŵsbury *Shroôzbry or, more commonly, *Shrôzbry shŷ shŷlỳ Siàn *Shàn Sîbêria síbyllîne - y as schwa sìêge cf. sêize síeve *sív, cf. sêize sîgh breath = Cŷ person sîghed sigh = sîde beside sîght see = sîte place = cîte quote sîgn signal = sîne mathematics sígnature Sìkh religion = sêek find símilê cf. símilar, smîle simultâneous Sînaî or *Sînêî síng song = Síngh person sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing síngeing singe -jing, cf. sínging sing - hard g Singapŏre sîphon or sŷphon sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə Jóhn Fålstaff sîting site sítting sit sîze cf. sêize sîzeable or sîzable skì snow, cf. skŷ above skìêr ski skîer sky skìíng skîve skuldúggery skúll head = scúll oar skŷscrâper one word slág cf. Glénda Slágg slây kill = slèigh snow slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase, which has the s hissing sound slêeve, cf. lêave sleîght-of-hand cf. slâte sleŵ slîght little, slur = sleîght-of-hand slípshod no hyphen slôth slòugh swamp *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw fast sloúgh skin *slúff slúg slür slŷ slŷlỳ smållpox one word smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin smôkescreen one word Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th snêeze snóbbery snoôze snôwmobìle cf. môbîle snôwstorm sŏar up = sŏre hurt sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber sóccer *sócker sôcial sôsh- sôcialism sociólogy sôsh- sociológical sóck cf. sóccer sóften *sóffen sóftwãre sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt sôle only, fish = sôul spirit = Seôul Korea sólipsism solitãire patience cf. sólitary alone sôlo Sólomon - all o’s sómbre AmE sómber; cf. sôber sòme any = súm total sòmeone *súmwún, one word sòmersåult cf. súmmer Sòmerville cf. súmmer sòmething cf. sòme thíngs sòmetime former cf. sòme tîme sòmeẁhat one word sônàr sóngwrîter one word soôn soòt sŏre pain = sŏar rise, BrE = såw see sŏught seek BrE = sŏrt type sôul spirit = sôle only, fish = Seôul Korea sòundbite one word soûpçon *soûpsón sŏurce origin BrE = såuce seasoning sòuth unvoiced th, *sòwth soúthern voiced th, *súdhern Soúthwark voiced th, *Súdhək soûvenìr *sûvenêer sóvereign *sóvrin sôw seed = sô therefore = sew cloth, cf. sòw sòw pig cf. sôw seed sŏya bean = Såwyer person = såwyer saw spà town BrE = spàr fight spây spâceship one word spêak cf. spêech spêcíes *spêeshiz spécimen spéctre AmE spécter = Spéctor person spêech cf. spêak Spéncer usual = Spénser poet spíllage -íj spínach *spínij, *spínnage, cf. spíllage spôkesperson one word spótlîght -lîte, one word spŷ Srì Lánka sqùander sqùalor cf. dóctor, BrE còlour AmE còlor squêamish St. *Sənt: abbreviation of Sâint before a name as in St. Màrk; St. Jóhn secular may be *Sínjən stâbilise stâble stability, horse stâgefright *stâjefrîte, one word stâid old-fashioned = stâyed stay stâin stâir up = stâre look stâke bet, wooden = steâk meat ståll stålwart stànch flow stàr sky, film = Stàrr person stãre look = stãir climb stãring stare stàrring star stâtionary motionless = stâtionery paper stâtist statístics státistícian -shn ståunch support stây stâyed stay = stâid old-fashioned steâk meat = stâke bet, wooden, cf. strêak line stêal thieve = stêel metal stéalth sténch stép walk = stéppe plain Stêphens = Stêvens -v- stérilise stërling currency = Stïrling Scotland steŵard Steŵart person = Stûart person: one is more likely to meet a Stûart Steŵart than the reverse stíck stîfle stíll stíng stíngy -njy stínk stítch St. Jóhn in most cases *Sənt-Jón, in a few *Sínjən stôny stópôver noun, adjective stŏre shop = Stŏrr person stŏrey BrE floor = stŏry tale, AmE floor stŏry-télling Stŏrmont strâight direct = strâit narrow straightfŏrward adjective one word Stranràer stràta AmE strâta = BrE strâighter stratêgic strátegy stràtum AmE strâtum strénuous Stréatham -təm strýchnìne *strícknêen Stûart person = Steŵart person - the Scottish royals were Stûarts but Stûart is more common as a given name, Steŵart less so stúcco stûdent stúdy stûpid stŷ pig = stŷ or stŷe eye stŷle mode = stîle field stŷmie cf. slîmy Stýx river = stícks stick suàve swà- súb jûdicê súbjugate submarìne submáriner submít subŏrn subpoêna AmE -pê- subsîdence súbsídy substántial -shəl súbtle *súttle, cf. súpple succêed -x- succéss -x- súccour help = súcker fool succúmb -úm Sudān cf. sedán sûe law = Sûe Susan = Sioûx American; cf. diminutives Sûsie, Sûzy, etc. = Sioûxsie Banshees; words beginning soô- and soû- also have this sound suède material = swâyed sway Sûez *Soôwíz suffîce Súffolk -fək sùgar shù- sûit wear, cards *sût - or *syût (more common in inflected versions such as unsûitable), cf. soòt black suìte rooms, music = swêet confection súlphur AmE súlfur súm arithmetic = sòme others súmmary summarise = súmmery summer sún star = sòn offspring súnglasses one word súnny sun = sònny son súndae ice-cream = Súnday day Sùnni Muslim cf. súnny weather - some AmE speakers say Sûnni *Soôny sûper-rích is a good example of the usefulness of the hyphen: compare an apparent ‘supérrich’ supercílious supersêde cf. precêde, intercêde súpper súpple *súpəl, cf. súbtle, *sútəl súpplement -pləmənt supplŷ provide súpplỳ supple suppréss -pp- sûre AmE *shûre; BrE sůre rhyming with Shåw sûrety AmE *shûre, BrE *shůrety sürf sea = sërf peasant sürface -físs, cf. sërvíce, only one sound different Surinám or -náme surmòunt súrrogacy sürplíce clergy ≈ sürplus extra surprîse -rpr-; not -ize survèillance -ll- sürvèy noun survèy verb Sûsan -z-, cf. Suzánne, etc. suscéptible suspénse AmE and BrE; but see retroalphabetical list for -ence and -ense sustâin sústenance svélte sẁallow throat, bird sẁamp sẁan bird = Sẁann person Sẁansea *Swónzy swårthy sẁastika sẁat fly = swót exam swâth or swâthe swéar swéat perspire swêet eat = suìte music, hotel swêetheàrt sweêt-talk verb hyphenated swŏrd blade *sŏrd, cf. swård turf, swŏre, swŏrn swear, w pronounced in all three swót exam = sẁat fly sý- apart from the variant spelling of sîphon, sŷphon, and Sŷracûse sybarític cf. síbyllîne sýcamore

• sych- no words begin like this

sýcophánt Sýdney Australia, person = Sídney person sýllable sýllabus sýlph sýmbol sign = cýmbal percussion sýmmetry symmétrical sýmptom cf. Símpson sýnagogue -góg sýnch synchronisation = sínk lower, wash sýndrome synécdochê -kê sýnod syrínge sýrup sýstem

T

T = têa drink tábleau *táblô, plural tábleaux, *táblôze tâilor clothes = Tâylor person tâle story = tâil animal Táliban or Táleban Taîwàn tålk -åk; more examples in retroalphabetical list Tállíín -íí- as í tálon Tánzanìa taoìseach *têeshək táriff *tárrif tárôt rhymes with árrôw tāsk cf. túsk Tâte = Tâit tattoô tåut firm = tåught teach Tbilìsi *Təblêezy - neither spelt nor pronounced ‘Tibilisi’ Tchaikóvsky redundant T: *Chŷkóffsky têa drink = têe golf = tì do-re-mi têam game = têem pour téãr paper têar cry têase provoke = têas tea têenager one word teetôtaller 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 is normally 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 is mannered, as with â for the indefinite article thêatre - a as schwa: *thêəter; AmE -ter théir them dh- = thére here = théy’re are: *thãir Thêodore thêorem thêory thérefore dh- thêse this -z thêsês thesis -ssêez thèy dh- thìêf thìêves thínk thís dh- Thómas Tó- Thómpson, Thómson Tó- thŏrn rose, letter þ thòrough exacting *thúrra, cf. throûgh thòu you *dhòu thôugh although *dhô thŏught think *thåwt thŏught-provôking hyphenated thréat thréepence or *thrùpence or *thrúppence thréshold threŵ throw thrôes anguish = thrôws throw thrône queen = thrôwn throw throûgh preposition = threw throw = thrû informal American spelling of throûgh; cf. thòrough throughòut all over one word = threŵ òut throw out, w sounded thrôw toss thrôwn throw = thrône king thúmb -m thús dh- thwårt thŷme herb = tîme clock tîde sea = tîed tie tîe knot, level = Thaî nation, cf. tŷing tìêr rank = têar cry, cf. téar rip tîer tie tíff tîger cf. Nigér *Nizhãir tîghten tight = tîtan giant = Tîtan Saturn Tîgris tíll until, field tîme hours = thyme herb tîmetable one word; cf. tîmes tâbles Tìmor tínpot adjective 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 *túng, cf. tóng tongs toô much = to at, tŵo number tópple tópsy-türvy tŏrment noun = tormént verb tornâdos cf. potâtoes tŏrturous torture tŏrtûous twisting Tóttenham *Tótnəm toúch cf. pòuch toúgh hard = túff rock Touloûse France ≈ to lose lost toûr toûr de fŏrce Toûr de Frànce tòusle -zle tòut tôw rope = tôe digit tòwel tòwer building tôwer tow tráffic cf. gráphic trâil cf. trîal trâiler cf. tâilor trâit character = trây flat trajéctory tranquíllity AmE -íli transpárent cf. pãrent transséxual -ss- traumátic -åu- trêat trêatíse study = trêatíes treaty tréspass -əss *trésspass trîal cf. trâil tríbûne trîbûnal trîénnial trígger-háppy trîumph tróglodyte trombône troôp army = troûpe stage troôper army = troûper stage troúble rhymes with búbble, doúble tróugh -óff tròunce trûe trûly *trûely trûth unvoiced -th trûths -dhz trŷ trýst Tsàr or Czàr *Zàr tsétsê, tsunàmi - it makes little difference whether or not one attempts to pronounce the initial t Tûcsón *Tûsón tûne *cheŵn Tûnis Chûníss Tunisia BrE Chû-níziə, AmE Toô-nêezhə túnnel türn round = tërn bird túppence = twopence Türkêy country = türkêy bird türmoil Tutankhàmun TV *têevêe tẁaddle twêezers cf. têaser *têezer twërp tŵo 2 *tû = to at = toô also, much tŷing from tîe tyránnical týranny tŷrant tŷre car AmE tîre car, tired = Tŷre Lebanon

U

Û = yoû person UÈFA *yu-wâfə uhúh Uìghur *Wêeger ukelèlê yû- Ukrâine Yû-; -âine, not -âne umbílical ún- not hyphenated úndergròund adjective before noun, one word; otherwise under gròund underrâted -rr- understánd one word undertâke únder wây two words undo -û ÛNICEF YÛ- únidéntified ûnîted yû- unknôwn - silent k, so two n’s sounded unnôticed - two n’s sounded úprŏar ür- original = ër pause Urânus *Yərânəss: *Yùrənəss is a euphemism ürban town urbâne civilised ürchin Ürdu ûríne yû- urînal yû- ürn bury = ëarn money = ërne eagle Ürquhart *Ürkət, Ürcàrt, *Ïrk-heàrt Ùruguay Yù- ÛS America *yû-wéss, cf. ús we ûse noun *yoôss as in ẁhat ís the ûse? verb *yoôz as in ûse mîne ûsed use *yoôzd as in ûsed cars; habituated *yoôst as in Î’m ûsed to thát and wê ûsed to gô thére Ûtàh *yû- Utôpia Yû- cf. eûlogy, also yû-

V

V = Vêe person váccine *váxín, cf. tóxin vácûous *vákyûwəss vácûum *váckyûme vâin proud = vâne weather = vèin blood válue válve vápid vâpour AmE vâpor vãry cf. véry, é not followed by schwa vàse BrE *vàz, AmE *vâyss, rhyming with bâse Våughan = Våughn *Våwn Vauxhall *Vóxåll vêer végetable -jt- vêhicle - -hi- as schwa: *vìəcle vèil face = vâle valley vèin blood = vâin proud = vâne weather Venêtian -êshən Venezuèla *Venezwâyla véngeance cf. vindíctive Véníce *Vénnis, cf. ténnis vénison - i can be silent; s can be z vénûe Vênus verbâtim vermílion -l-, cf. míllion Vérsaîlles *Vãir-sŷe vërsus against *vërssəss ≈ vërses verse *vërsíz véry *vérry, cf. vãry, longer sound véterinary *vétinary véx vîa vicãrious vîce-président the hyphen differentiates from vîce président which would theoretically mean ‘president of vice’ vichyssoise *víshy-swàz vícious *víshus, cf víscous víctual *víttle Vìénna Vìênnêse Vìêtnām one word *VietNām vieŵ rendundant i: *vyû, *veŵ, cf. feŵ, etc. vieŵpoint one word vígorous vígour AmE vígor vîle vílify víllage -íj víllain -an vindaloô vindíctive cf. véngeance vîne vínegar víneyard vînyl *vînəl vîôla music vîola plant = Vîola person vîolate vîolent vîolet violín Vïrgo vïrtue good = Vërtue person vis-a-vìs vis-à-vis *vizavêe vísceral *vísseral víscous -sk-, cf. vícious vísible vísion *vízhən vítamin 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; more examples in retroalphabetical list 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. ẁallaby 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 wéar clothes = wâre shop Wêar River = Wêir person = wêir water, rhyming with êar, hêar and fêar wêary wéather cloudy = wéther ram = BrE whéther if wébsite one word Wédnesday Wénz- wèigh heavy = wây route, manner = BrE whèy curds wèight heavy = wâit time wêir water = Wêir person = wê’re are, cf. wìêld, fìêld wêird odd cf. wìêld carry wê’ll shall cf. wéll good wén lump = BrE whén time wëre was cf. whére place, wê’re are wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if wê’re are wh- BrE w-, AmE hw- wháck cf. wácky whâle sea BrE = wâil cry whám ẁhat question BrE = wót jocular = ẁatt electric whêedle whêel round BrE = wêal mark whén time BrE = wén tumour whére place cf. wëre was whereás one word, *wéəráz whét appetite BrE = wét water whéther if BrE = wéather rain = wéther ram whèy curds BrE = wèigh weight = wây method whîne moan BrE = wîne drink whínge -nj, cf. wíng whïrl whïrlwind one word whïrr noise BrE = wëre be whísky or whískey whísper whístle *whíssle whít small = Whít Whitsun BrE = wít humour whîte colour BrE = Wîght Isle whîteẁash one word whíther where BrE = wíther decay Whítsun *Wítson 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 pronounced whoôping-cóugh hoô- whoòps! whoòsh rhymes with pùsh whópping big = Ẁapping London whŏre prostitute = hŏar frost = Hŏare person whose belonging = who’s who is/has *hoôz whŷ wícked evil *wíckíd cf. wíki wícked wick *wíct Wíckham = Wýcombe wìêld cf. wêir, wêird Wikipêdia wîles stratagems cf. whîle during wílful AmE can be wíllful: 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 = whîne moan Wiscónsin wísp wít humour = BrE whít small = Whít Whitsun wítch-húnt wíther decay = whíther where withhéld second h aspirated withhôld second h aspirated withín one word withòut one word Wodehouse PG = Woòdhouse Emma, etc. wôe sad = 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 Wodehouse wörd cf. wård wörkingmán in AmE can be one word, BrE wörking mán wörld wŏrldwide one word wörm wòrry wörship cf. wårship Worcester *Wùster wŏre wear = wår fight wörse wörsted worst worsted cloth wû- wörth woùld if = woòd tree would-be adjective hyphenated woûnd injury wòund wînd wòw excitement cf. wôe depression wráck pain = ráck frame, stretch wráp parcel = ráp knock, speak ẁrath anger = Róth person wrêak make = rêek smell, cf. wréck collapse, réckless careless wrêath noun unvoiced th as in bréath - note different vowel sound wrêathe verb voiced th, as in brêathe wréck cf. réckless wrést wrestle = rést repose wrétch miserable = rétch sick wrîght artesan as in plâywright; = Wrîght person = wrîte letter = rîght side, correct = rîte ritual wríng squeeze = ríng finger, bell wrínkle cf. ránkle wrîte written = wrîght etc. wróngdoing one word, *róngdûing wróng-foòt verb wrôte write = rôte learning wrúng wring = rúng ring, ladder wrŷ humour = rŷe crop wrŷlỳ wry = Rîley person wùff Wŷatt *Wŷət, cf. whîte xénophobe z- xenophôbia zé-

X

X = éx- past Xénophon author Z-; ‘xénophône’ if it existed would mean a speaker of a foreign language Xêrox z- Xhôsa k- X-ray *éxrây xŷlophone z-

Y

Y = whŷ reason yacht *yót yê you yeâ yes yéah yes *yé yêar or yëar yëarn Yeâts poet = Yâtes more common spelling yeôman Yeôvil yeŵ tree = yoû me = eŵe sheep yìêld yôke oxen = yôlk egg yŏre days = yŏur you yoúng your my = you’re I’m = yŏre past yoû’ll or yŏu’ll or yoù’ll

Z

Z BrE zéd, AmE zêe zêal zéalot zébra or zêbra zeîtgeîst zénith Zeûs Zìa zígzág zíp Zôê *Zôwỳ zoô zoólogy avoiding triple letter: *zoô-ólogy or *zuólogy or *zoôwology zoôt Zûlu Zûrich -k ’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 like 9, not 6

Retroalphabetical list

A

mostly schwa -a

BrE barrier, drink bàr = sheep bàa

Ábba

Shêba

Cûba

Hécuba

scûba

tûba

Lŏrca

(but Nabokov's is Àda) Âda

Granàda

Grenâda

propagánda

.*îdêə idêa

.*flê flêa

.*plê plêa

-êə Crîmêa

-êə ãrêa

place = Chélsy person Chélsêa

.*Swónzy Sẁansêa

.*nåuzêə nåusêa

Ólga

broûhàhà

gèisha

clós- claustrophôbìa

-íshə Alícia -ìssiə Galìcia -íshə: rhymes with milítia - Patrícia Albânia Tanzanìa Armênia

• skítzô-frêniə schizophrênia

Slovênia insómnia Wó- Wallônia ària malãria Bavãria Lîbêria hystêria pìts- pizzerìa Victŏria trattorìa

*Âyshə or *Âyzhə Âsia

-zhə amnêsia -zhə Indonêsia AmE *Toô-nìzhə, BrE Chû-nízìə Tunisia -zhə Maláysia -shə -tia

• Crôw-âyshə Croâtia

Patrícia rhymes with milítia inërtia vîa trŏika là Kampàla Mandéla -zwâyla Venezuèla umbrélla côla scrófula

• pé-nínssyələ península

Mà Alabáma Pánamà dràma or -mə cínemà Émma dilémma diplôma carcinôma Victoriàna

• Loû-êasy-Ánna Louisiána

banāna Montána nìrvàna Guyána vagîna Regîna Polyánna tûna bôa Nôah rhymes with Gôa môa Pà spà brà cf. Ôprah - ópera Pandŏra AmE Andŏrra - Andórra Sumàtra Sinàtra

ork- ŏrchestra

AmE strâta ≈ 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

plumbing = plúm fruit - plúmb

• núm númb
• bóm bómb
• côam cômb

*toôm tomb

hóbnob

• dŏrnób dŏorknob

AmE *érb hërb súburb blürb pertürb distürb

C

mâniac insómniac

• afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac

lîlac ålmanac terrífic horrífic lógic

*shêek chìc

pýrrhic éthic Góthic mýthic repúblic seîsmic herôíc cf. Pátrick - Éric

thus = síck ill síc

cf. adjective mûsical - noun 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 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 - ínland mâinlánd Fínland Pôland Láplánd Súnderland mòtherlánd hínterlánd ôverlánd Swítzerland

Scótland

heàrtlánd Mãryland sánd fìênd friénd blénd pénd rénd

sénd

ténd wénd bînd crime fîned = discover fînd hînd one word hûmankînd blînd mînd rînd támarínd blow wínd round wînd beyónd ròund woûnd gód clód nód pód foôd goòd no y - lîkelihoòd moôd broôd woòd apart from monosyllables, mostly -əd -ard càrd bêard hëard hàrd

• Ríchəd Ríchard

shàrd làrd cf. wide brŏad - boring bŏred = wood, company bŏard

*cúbbəd cúpboard

flŏorbŏard

• lépəd léopard

lêotàrd bāstard bústard

• gàrd guàrd

wård báckward åwkward but Fránkie Hòwerd - Hòward yàrd házard lízard wízard blízzard búzzard hërd nërd bïrd vocal, tie = chŏrd cörd water = Fŏrd person fŏrd name suffix, -fəd -ford Brádford Rédford Blándford Rétford Óxford music = cŏrd rope - chörd wörd absürd türd applåud Måud fråud Î’d hê’d shê’d wê’d ít’d yoû’d thèy’d

E

mostly silent; for words normally italicised and ending in written -é see section on   				French Words -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 sürplíce nîce Véníce cŏrníce hóspíce thrîce caprìce trîce pôultíce láttíce noun = práctíse BrE verb - práctíce nôtíce devîce crévíce véngeance 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 -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 death = dŷe colour - dîe bïrdìê Chàrly = Chàrlie Wílly = Wílley = Wíllie Cónnie Lónnie Rónnie pîe soft g - menágerìê côterìê cálorìê éyrìê bâke câke Jâke cf. bláck, Bláck - Blâke mâke snâke sâke tâke eat steâk = hold stâke mistâke lîke chîldlîke gódlîke wårlîke cátlîke pîke chôke brôke broòk rhymes with Ládbroke broòk rhymes with Bólingbroke evôke provôke wôke rebûke dûke

cf. noun, adjective fînal - noun finàlê
cf. adjective rátional - noun rationàle

cf. Âbel, Bâbel, lâbel, Mâbel - âble impertürbable applícable dis- despícable it is normal to retain an e before -able to show either palatalised pronunciation of preceding consonant or long sound of preceding vowel -eable -nsəble pronòunceable -jəble mánageable -jəble chângeable -kəble unshâkeable

-ləble sâleable

gâble cf. lâbel - avâilable unwínnable ádmirable desîrable advîsable tâble debâtable insurmòuntable stâble cònstable forgívable dábble rábble cf. rébel - pébble dríbble cóbble góbble hóbble nóbble wóbble Húbble rúbble stúbble édible tánj- tángible fállible térrible hórrible comprehénsible apprehénsible sénsible -sable is French - respónsible axé- accéssible colléctible suscéptible contémptible irresístible ámble prê- preámble gámble rámble scrámble assémble dissémble

• rizémble resémble
• onsómble ensemble

nímble thímble

búmble
crúmble
fúmble
grúmble
húmble

júmble

múmble

rúmble grúmble túmble

stúmble

nôble doúble AmE rûble = BrE roûble troúble pínnacle bàrnacle téntacle óbstacle

*vêícle vêhicle

véntricle pàrticle

• úngkəl úncle

càrbuncle tréadle crâdle páddle stráddle ẁaddle tẁaddle médal medallion = interfere méddle bicycle pédal = sell péddle díddle fíddle míddle píddle ríddle códdle cúddle fúddle befúddle húddle múddle cándle dándle hándle spíndle noôdle poôdle gïrdle cürdle hürdle kerfúffle trúffle strúggle invêigle g sounded separately from ng -ngle ángle bángle dángle spángle wrángle wángle bürgle bûgle bîle BrE -île, AmE -əl môbile åutomobìle fîle BrE -île, AmE -əl frágile Ánglophîle mîle símilê

• fáx-íməly facsímilê

smîle pîle rîle BrE -île, AmE -əl stérile BrE -île, AmE -əl prayers míssal = war míssile tîle BrE -île, AmE -əl vólatile mërcantîle ínfantîle BrE -île, AmE -əl hóstile

• gîle, hard g - guîle

revîle táckle héckle fréckle píckle tíckle cóckle búckle ánkle tínkle wrínkle wínkle food gríll = screen grílle fire côal = person Côle dôle hôle môle ballot pôll = Poland Pôle = wood pôle over rôll = play rôle partíciple adjective, person príncipal = belief prínciple discîple sāmple exāmple dímple símple rúmple crúmple stêeple rhymes with pêople nípple rípple típple coúple scrûple vással and in AmE words in -āstle rhyme with hássle -zle tòusle

• súttle súbtle

chŏrtle -səl -stle cāstle véssel rhymes with -éstle néstle tréstle wréstle whístle grístle Rússell rhymes with -ústle bústle hústle rústle líttle cáttle kéttle gold métal = courage méttle bóttle súbtle rhymes with shúttle -ûel rhymes with -ûle módule mûle rûle cápsule dázzle fízzle cf. drível - drízzle sízzle púzzle mê cf. âim - câme gâme lâme sâme frâme tâme extrême dîme

• rèzhìme regìme

lîme verse rhŷme = frost rîme tîme íncòme òutcòme dôme hôme gênome garden = Nôme Alaska - gnôme sòme schwa -some troúblesome hándsome thrêesome h- whôlesome wínsome cf. hysteréctomy - epítomê

• rizyûme resûme

résumé *rézumây résumè

• prizyûme presûme

-syû- consûme -syû- assûme frost rîme = verse rhŷme fruit lîme = England Lŷme énzŷme bâne persons Câin = Câine = stick câne urbâne Dâne mêthane Jâne lâne cf. remâin - germâne scêne obscêne

-ône colôgne

-îgn rhymes with -îne mìgrâine Ukrâine

• Mádlin or *Mádlən - Mádeleíne

refîne confîne éngíne cf. hérôín drug, hérôíne hero - méscalíne

declîne

reclîne mîne vërmín rhymes with ërmíne detërmíne sërpentîne türpentîne prístìne magazìne win wòn = number òne cône cf. Stône of Scone, *Scoôn - scóne dòne condône góne alône anémonê nòne atône stône cf. Kíngston - 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 téar = tŏr rock and, for some, toûr guide - 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 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 are 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 BrE verb = práctíce - 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 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 AmE ánalŷze; both -îze ánalyse AmE páralŷze; both -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 noun artículate régulâte mâte -ít or -ət clîmate -âte verb, -ət noun éstimate spâte -âte verb, -ət adjective séparate -rət dísparate -âte verb, -ət adjective delíberate exónerâte -rət désperate émigrate ímmigrate -âte verb, -ət adjective eláborate máj- mágistrâte démonstrâte rémonstrâte -âte verb, -ət adjective precípitate áctivâte effête complête

• sôshalîte sôcialîte

elìte polîte gráníte fînîte

*définət définite

• ínfinət ínfinite

unîte despîte AmE réspíte - réspîte hýpocríte AmE -or- fâvouríte Trótskyîte ánecdote ántidote môte nôte vôte fŏrtè càste hâste châste -étte

oô- oubliétte

serviétte cf. hámlet - *ómlet ómelette kitchenétte tríbûte cóntríbûte dístríbûte noun áttribûte verb attríbute

• mínít time mínute
• mŷ-neŵt small mînûte

repûte compûte cf. ínput - impûte bŷte nêophŷte silent unless shown with an accent -ue âgûe

• lêag lêague

persons Hãig = Hâigh = city, person Hâgue

• plâig plâgue
• Pràg Pràgue

-êeg noun íntrigue
-êeg verb intrìgue

-êeg fatìgue

*meráng meringue

• túng tòngue

-óg sýnagogue -óg dîalogue àrgûe blow bleŵ = colour blûe clûe glûe

-àk pláque

-âik opâque cf. reálpolitìk - critìque

-ésk burlésque
-ésk picturésque

-ósk mósque cf. brísk -ùsk brùsque Susan Sûe = law sûe

• insyû ensûe

-syû pursûe

• íshû íssue
• tíshû tíssue

câve Dâve gâve háve cónclâve pâve râve crâve serious, dead grâve accent gràve sw- suàve êve slêeve belìêve relìêve grìêve síeve sémibrêve côërcíve dîve éndíve recêive concêive fîve cf. jîve dance - hard g in take gíve hîve líve alîve derîve contrîve

adhêsíve

offénsive crêâtive tålkatíve imáginative repétitive arrîve persuâsive sénsitíve môtíve revîve abòve bird dòve (BrE is regular dîved) AmE dive dôve England Hôve = heave hôve shòve lòve glòve û move groôve rôve grôve stôve trôve strôve nërve sërve

• prizërv presërve

Î’ve wê’ve yoû’ve thèy’ve Zimbàbwè Lilóngwè AmE áx - áxe yê me Î = sight eŷe pig, eye stŷ = eye stŷe plêase and frêeze rhyme with slêaze fâze gâze ádze free frêes = cold frêeze trapêze

most words in -îse can also be spelt -îze: all exceptions are listed under -îse -îze
never -ise sêize

apart prîse = present prîze never -ise sîze dôze búlldoze Drûze AmE; BrE ánalŷse, both -îze ánalŷze AmE; BrE páralŷse, both -îze páralŷze

F

chìêf míschíef thìêf belìêf relìêf stāff whíff táriff óff féoff Géoff blúff stúff íf sérif cf. reason môtíve - *mô-têef pattern môtìf Álf

• cāf cālf
• hāf hālf

one word himsélf one word hersélf one word yoursélf one word itsélf one word mŷsélf gôlf = Rôlph - Rôlf

• wùlf wolf

gúlf Bêowùlf

*óv óf

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. - …*might of, *could of, *must of… goôf hoôf roôf

G

fág hág nág drág ság lég pég díg jíg píg wíg égg sáng mâking âgeing cf. sing sínging - -j- singe síngeing

• âking âcheing

snooker, drama cûeing = line queûeing rûeing brínging cf. singe síngeing -j- - sing sínging thíng Bèijíng AmE lâbeling fîling BrE lâbelling fílling dúmpling êvening mîning exámining sound bŏing

• dûíng doing

gôing tûí- toíng and frôíng bell, round ríng bríng squeeze wríng síng cf. râcing - râising tàrgeting intërpreting gétting forgétting bétting accrûing flôwing lápwing léft-wíng rîght-wíng lóng sóng dúng lúng súng bóg dóg hóg lóg cf. Jôe Blóggs - blóg Stríndbërg îcebërg

• Hŷdlebërg Heîdelbërg

Bŏrg Mágdebürg Lúxemböurg

• Shãrebŏrg Chérbourg
• Strázbërg Strásböurg

búg

dúg

thúg túg

H

or any number of à’s àh mostly schwa -ah cf. Marìa - Marîah parîah blàh ayatóllah Gôa rhymes with Nôah hurràh Ûtàh êach blêach pêach rêach impêach AmE *spínních; BrE *spínnídge spínach tree = bêach sand - bêech besêech

• ték: abbreviation of téchnical; also hî-téch - téch

whích -k Zûrich cf. Åldwých -wích

and S- town; AmE -ch; BrE -dge sándwich

• Woòlidge Woòlwich
• Brómmidge Brómwich
• Grénnidge Gréenwich
• Hárrídge Hárwich
• Nórrídge, rhyming with pórridge - though some say -rích Nórwich

-wích Ípswich -wích Drŏitwich -wích Nántwich squélch person = Wélsh Wales Wélch fílch

zílch

drénch sténch wénch ínch sínch wínch cónch búnch húnch púnch down, wash sínk = together sýnch -dóck Mürdoch smoôch àrch sëarch làrch -k pâtriàrch -ək mónarch kítsch pùtsch bátch cátch hátch nátch ẁatch étch fétch kétch ítch dítch hítch glítch pítch stítch cf. Åldwých - what whích = wizard wítch twítch bótch hótchpotch Dútch múch -k eûnuch còuch toúch vòuch súch cf. place names in -wích - Åldwých Rìyadh ð éth or édh

• ây èh

mostly silent gh no nây = horse nèigh kill slây = ride slèigh

cf. convèy, purvèy - invèigh

how wây = heavy wèigh greeting hî = up hîgh cf. voiced th in thŷ: vowel sound identical - unvoiced th in thîgh

• sîe sîgh

*Éddinbrə Édinburgh

• Frâzerbrə Frâserburgh
• Pítsbürg Píttsburgh

BrE *làf AmE *láf lāugh

-òw bòugh
-ô thôugh

-ôw fûrlôugh

• slòu - England Slòugh = swamp slòugh
• slúff skin sloúgh
• rúff roúgh

-û - throw threŵ = preposition throûgh

AmE = búrrow ground - BrE *búrrə bòrough

• Lúfbrə Loúghborough
• Scàrbrə Scàrborough
• Míddlzbrə Míddlesborough

BrE *thúrrə, AmE *thúrrôw thòrough

-óff trôugh

-úff toúgh

-úff enoúgh

letter Ô = exclamation ôh -f -ph

Rálph

oòmph trîumph lýmph nýmph mŏrph glýph AmE -r, BrE silent -rrh catàrrh mÿrrh ásh básh cásh dásh gásh hásh flásh slásh smásh rásh crásh thrásh stásh qùash ẁash Bangladésh mésh frésh thrésh réddish chîldish gàrnish tàrnish vàrnish Cŏrnish bürnish fürnish person Ẁalsh -sh - person Wélch = Wales Wélsh bánish Spánish vánish end fínish = Finland Fínnish wísh fíftyish cósh dósh nósh whoòsh pósh tósh bùsh lúsh blúsh flúsh plúsh pùsh rúsh thrúsh mostly unvoiced -th déath hêath bréath wrêath ôath pāth

-drət + unvoiced th - húndredth

shibbóleth

voiced th - wíth

héalth stéalth wéalth plínth nînth bôth dòth lôth slôth ëarth dëarth heàrth bïrth gïrth héncefŏrth Fïrth of Fŏrth gô fŏrth nŏrth wörth 4th fŏurth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced mòuth ou as schwa, th unvoiced -mouth -məth Bŏurnemouth -məth Pŏrtsmouth -məth Plýmouth síxth voiced th - casual blîthe = persons Blŷthe = Blŷth voiced th - persons Smŷthe = Smŷth or AmE schwa = BrE er - úh

I

-î or -ì Dubaî h sounded Shanghaî Ábu Dhàbi rábbî álibî Sàùdì likewise other plurals of -us - nûclêî Hawàìì Isrâeli Disrâeli

• sémmy - sémi

number = pîe eat pî girls’ names tend to end in -i or -ie, boys’ in -y - Térrì

J, K

-zh Ràj Mahal -zh Tàj -dj hàjj -que = -k vegetable lêek = liquid lêak blêak spêak car brâke = pieces breâk strêak têak money, wood stâke = meat steâk days wêek = feeble wêak flák ánorák háck sáck déck líck gímmick hŏick bríck síck tíck Pàrtick cf. Éric - Pátrick Bûíck quíck wíck

• Wórrick Ẁarwick
• Bérrick Bérwick

w sounded 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 BrE bird stork = -åwk plant, follow stålk

-åwk wålk

whélk

• fôk fôlk

-fək Nŏrfolk -fək Súffolk bánk sánk tánk thánk dránk person Fránk = honest fránk thínk rínk drínk shrínk sínk hónk plónk mònk hónky-tónk fúnk Bángkók noòk spoôk roòk broòk wók pàrk jërk bersërk smïrk shïrk kïrk quïrk wörk lürk Türk āsk bāsk flāsk tāsk désk record dísc = computer dísk whísk rísk dúsk músk túsk åuk

squåwk

L

lógical mýthical puritánical histórical hystérical thêátrical mûsical práctical scéptical mýstical nåutical quízzical fôcal lôcal vôcal interfere méddle = coin médal sell péddle = bicycle pédal cf. cándle, hándle - scándal sándal concêal repêal squêal vêal revêal lêgal illêgal rêgal Bengål

• commërshal commërcial

denîal mênial

*pàrshal pàrtial

ânal AmE bânal - 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 - instål -zhəl cásual

-kchəl áctual

evéntual stomach nâvel = ship nâval cf. êvil - *medêvəl or medìêval

• Mŷcle Mîchael

Ráphâél a very common mistake is to write *Isreal - Ísrâel cf. âble, tâble, stâble - Âbel cf. bábble - Bâbel lâbel Mâbel noun rébel

verb rebél

excél módel yôdel êel fêel pêel fálafel air ãerial = person Ãriel Mûriel cf. lôcal, vôcal - yokel cf. përsonal - personnél repél compél dispél expél appárel cóckerel bárrel mínstrel wâstrel êasel wêasel words in -éstle rhyme with véssel hôtél cf. módel - môtél 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 - 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 parrot póll = elect pôll part rôle = along rôll drôll strôll tôll bùll cúll dúll fùll city Húll = boat húll lúll island Múll = over múll and void núll anúll pùll hê’ll shê’ll wê’ll Î’ll ít’ll yoû’ll or yoù’ll or yŏu’ll thèy’ll prôtocol álcohol coôl foôl

• skoôl schoôl

poôl spoôl toôl woòl AmE enróll - enrôl patrôl pétrol cf. rôll - contrôl párasól -təl pístol whŏrl hôpeful cãreful beaûtiful dûtiful

noun spoônful

wònderful àrtful Gåul måul

Påul

Såul cáterwåul bird fòwl = bad fòul ghoûl

 only sôle = Korea Seôul = spirit sôul

åwl båwl cråwl all meanings bôwl

bird fòwl

hòwl y as schwa - Síbyl y as schwa - Béryl

M

glêam rêam drêam appear sêem = thread, coal sêam stêam scrêam strêam hám AmE; BrE h silent, a as schwa, -əm -hám h silent, g not sounded separately Búckingham h silent, g not sounded separately Bïrmingham -nəm Twíckenham -nəm Chéltenham -nəm Tóttenham

• Méppəm Méopham

-səm Tópsham -təm Stréatham -təm Chátham -təm Éltham -təm Wåltham unvoiced th sound Bôtham unvoiced th sound Gótham

• Rûtəm Wrotham

Wést Hám môdém dêem group têam = pour têem hém ahém Béthlehém stém

-ám dîaphragm

• flém phlégm

-îm páradigm

rhýthm âim mâim dím dénim rhymes with Blénheim whím Kím skím dénim mínim

BrE and AmE -àm bàlm

BrE and AmE -àm càlm BrE and AmE -àm quàlm tálcum rhymes with *Málcum Málcolm dwell hôme = oak, islet hôlm frêedom bŏredom kíngdom slàlom Tóm árm fàrm hàrm cf. wörm, wårn - wårm pák- páchydërm j- gërm spërm tërm fïrm fŏrm nŏrm cf. heat wårm - animal wörm ŏrgasm

kázəm chásm
-zəm spásm
-ízəm; never stressed -ísm

âthêísm Bùddhism existéntialism shôv- chauvinism térrorism mîcrocosm tálcum memorándum referéndum glúm húm válium thállium gerânium aquãrium delírium drúm húmdrúm conúndrum gymnâsium fŏrum vácûum gỳm name -ným syû- pseûdonym hómonym sýnonym ántonym Î’m

N

bán ürban türban cán cf. Gŏrdon - Jŏrdan -tion crustâcean lôtion rhymes with ôcean dêan clêan mêan -ìən epicûrêan fán -íshən -ícian technícian patrícian .*Óstrâlìən in rapid speech rhymes with míllion etc., -lyən - Austrâlian mán Ìan person = -ítion, -íshən -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 -ízì- Parísian -shən = -tion -tian nâtion rhymes with Crôâtian Alsâtian Títian -bîzh- Azerbaijàn mán .*Îləv-Mán Îsle of Mán mostly -mən -man pâcemán polìceman hénchman Omàn Sûpermán gásmán ómbùdsman bátman Bátmán táxmán Nŷman môan alone lône = lend lôan grôan god Pán = food pán tán Tîtan can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -stān usually second syllable stressed Uzbékistan Tajíkistan Afghánistan Manháttan ván ẁan Tŷ- Taiwàn = ón - en dén wîden cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden sêen splêen shêen grêen fén hén dh- thén léngthen stréngthen âlien tâken wêaken brôken tôken wôken dàrken heàrken póllen swôllen mén -mən in most words -men Yémen spŏrtsmen spécimen chíldren bréthren wörsen léssen delicatéssen bêaten .*sóffən sóften .*fāssən fāsten .*hâyssən hâsten bird bíttern ≈ bite bítten íll-gótten héaven hâven êven eléven séven òven còven or prû- prôven wôven Ôwen óxen yén Zén -n -gn campâign vèin rhymes with dèign pretend = fâin would - fèign monarch = râin wet - rèign .*sóvrin sóvereign -lîne malîgn -nîne benîgn signal = sîne maths - sîgn -zîne desîgn -zîne resîgn -sîne énsîgn -pyûne impûgn pub ínn = out ín Câin disdâin gâin .*əgén; some regularise to agâin - again slâin explâin mâin cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin brâin Bahrâin trâin retâin country = Bríton person etc. Brítain -tín cáptain dín skèin Elmer Bërnstêin Leonard Bërnsteîn thín detërmine rhymes with vërmin pín sín bâsin tín -m -mn condemn = dám water - dámn condémn sólemn cólumn åutumn church = hím man - 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 bandoneon Lêón .*kəmêlêən; AmE -mê-; in fast speech -lyən, like míllion, Austrâlian - chamaêlêon Napôleon nêón péntagon bándwagon pólygon îon -yən -ion most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -cion -sh- suspícion -sh- côërcion rêgion lêgion relígion fáshion cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion vermílion bíllion míllion tríllion ònion ûnion Orîon centûrion -zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including another s and, in BrE, r -sion lêsion vísion télevision revísion scánsion expánsion -éntion -énshən = -énsion comprehénsion pénsion suspénsion ténsion preténsion exténsion avërsion dîvërsion convërsion excürsion dîgréssion séssion míssion í- emíssion ə- omíssion -sh- percússion fûsion delûsion illûsion intrûsion mostly -shən –tion inundâtion foundâtion creâtion nâtion rátion vî- vibrâtion mî- migrâtion -kshən -ction áction afféction conféction BrE can be -éxion - refléction colléction BrE can be -éxion - connéction eréction diréction contradíction .*sángktchən sánction .*úngktchən únction .*fúngktchən fúnction .*júngktchən júnction .*cəmpúngkshən compúnction complêtion discrétion definítion competítion frûítion = -énsion, -énshən -éntion méntion deténtion inténtion atténtion prevéntion absŏrption erúption abŏrtion contŏrtion contribûtion distribûtion pollûtion solûtion except for compléxion, BrE only: other words end in -éction -éxion so AmE, BrE refléction = BrE only refléxion cf. conféction - *compléction compléxion cf. convíction - crucifíxion nŷlón dêmon lémon Sólomon Lébanon cánnon Shánnon moôn buffoôn balloôn lampoôn harpoôn cf. càrton - càrtoôn upón lord = Bárron person - báron person Sháron person AmE Sharôn - Sharón sáffron sh- chévrón boy sòn bîson Áshton Élton Lýttelton càrton Nŏrton person = BrE êastern east - Êaston person = BrE wéstern west - Wéston cf. Féatherstone, etc. Ålston Màrston Rŏyston bútton mútton Sútton wòn cf. Jáckson, Híckson, etc. Díxon Níxon Ríxon bàrn dàrn ëarn lëarn warning = wŏrn wear, Wårne person, cf. wårm, wörm - 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 and cô stúccô flaméncô -û do vídêo Montevidèo Lêo Clìo = Clêo Galilèo gô lumbâgo dóggô vërtigo Djángo lôgô Tôgo mácho

• sŷko psŷcho
• Tŷko Tŷcho

-shô braggadôcio portfôlio pôlio -ss- impresàrio -shô râtio -shô Horâtio nô taboô gôo Wåterloô Shampoô kangaroô woô

• Búrə - it means Míddlesbrough, which doesn’t have the ò - ends in schwa - Bòro

prô sô

*tû - many, also toô = number tŵo = preposition to

Plâto

AmE tomâto - tomàto

potâto f- phôto Plûto also, many = to at 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 nûclear smêar yêar or yëar cf. búgger - béggar though contemporaries pronounced it ending in schwa - Élgàr sh-) sùgar buŷer, flŷer and trîer rhyme with lîar brîar jàr píllar cáterpillar hóller rhymes with dóllar sk- schólar cóllar môlar múscular régular grámmar -z- quâsàr púlsàr Qátàr néctar sítàr change ålter = church åltar mŏrtar stàr BrE schwa = AmE uh - er mostly schwa; stressed -ër in some words; AmE only in some words which are -re in BrE -er câber .*clîmer clîmber tímber encúmber cûcumber lúmber .*plúmmer plúmber cáncer dāncer cîder glîder spîder person Rŷder = ride rîder insîder bold bôlder = rock bôulder shôulder propagánda rhymes with BrE gánder Lêánder mêánder cf. sqùalor - sqùander ẁander wònder enginêer pîonêer iléc- electionêer cf. wither sêar, one diphthong syllable - *sêeər, two syllables see sêer voluntêer defër confër refër prefër óffer próffer cónifer pílfer hard g - làger -j- mánager cf. béggar - dágger bígger lógger blógger

.*Nizhãir Nigér hard g - tîger hard g pronounced separately: áng-ger ánger

.*dânjer dânger coat g not pronounced separately from -ng-; = hángar aeroplane hánger

.*mânjer mânger

.*strânjer strânger

.*jínjer gínger

hard g sounded separately: líng-ger línger no g sound sínger no g sound wínger hard g sounded separately mòng-ger -mònger físhmònger warmonger hard g sounded separately: stróng-ger - strónger àrcher màrcher cátcher decîpher gôpher or cîpher - cŷpher voiced th and schwa -ther bâther féather héather léather climate wéather BrE far fàrther = AmE as well as BrE dad fàther cf. AmE fàther - AmE láther - lāther bláther cf. AmE fàther - AmE ráther - rāther togéther if whéther téther where whíther = decay wíther òther bóther smòther mòther one word anòther bròther fàrther fürther idéntifîer supplîer ëarlier cry, town = Crŷer person crîer pìêr silent French r - dóssièr cry têar = level tìêr jôker hoòker snoôker pôker bàrker wörker hándler tóddler jâiler tåller dóllar rhymes with hóller rôller stámmer baseball hômer = person Hômer wårmer fŏrmer góner lôner kêeper léper

.*loôzer loser câter lâter wåter cf. áctor - k- cháracter detër cf. BrE mêtre AmE mêter distance, rhythm - parámeter perímeter thermómeter Pêter trúmpeter

.*dåwter dåughter āfter rhymes with lāughter

.*slåwter slåughter wâiter church åltar = change ålter fålter Wålter shélter helter-skélter wélter promôter hélicopter stàrter disāster Chéster Mánchester Dŏrchester or -or protéster gángster yoúngster blíster síster bátter fátter hátter mátter bétter bítter lítter hótter tótter bútter stútter commûter compûter .*lácker lácquer avër hâver brâver quâver fêver whichéver AmE léver - 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 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

*dúzz dòes
*gôze gôes

hêroes

• tôze tôes

-tôze potâtoes plural of -sís in Greek-derived words (see Irregular Nouns) -sês cf. prîces *prîsíz - *crŷsêez crîsês

*loôziz loses

glāsses -zíz hòuses -ssíz spòuses Sócratês hêaves leave, leaf lêaves have-nots háves shâves wâves thief thìêves Îves gíves -k- àrchîves plural noun lîves singular verb líves knife knîves arrîves môtíves wife wîves calf càlves valve válves elf élves delve délves shelf shélves self sélves one word, as with following: *òursélvz oursélves

• yŏrsélvz yoursélves
• dhəmsélvz themsélves

cf. dòves - drôves hoof hoôves scarf scàrves 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 = Dâvies, -íss Dâvis -íss Mâvis -íss Trávis Élvis pélvis -íss áxis léxis

• nóx knócks

loòks spoôks -z sélls -z húms words from Greek: -óss -ós

• kâyós châos

insect lòuse = nation Làos -dôz tornâdos -pss hélps schnápps heart cŏre = army cŏrps -z stàrs lîars, trîers and buŷers rhyme with plîers bôres, BrE påuse, and påws rhyme with dŏors mostly -íss -ess

• áxéss áccess

góddéss cãreless ûseless hápless hélpless t can be silent lístless t can be silent réstless méss goòdness lîonéss cléanliness clúmsiness nāstiness no words end: *-yness cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss áctress silent u - guéss kíss prémíse rhymes with míss lóss grôss cúss -tss cáts Kêats Yâtes = Yeâts -tss séts it is ít’s = of it íts -tss síts -tss bútts -tss cúts mostly -əss -us -ss bús ábacus fôcus -z 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 following -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 parénthesês chíldren’s of it íts = it is ít’s

T

át cát fát slát voiced th - thát bêat hêat chêat plêat nêat

ash grâte = big greât

swéat bôat côat flôat glôat môat Crôát thrôat

• dét débt
• dòut dòubt

touch afféct emotion áffect result í- efféct përfect thing óbject disagree objéct matter súbject

cruel subjéct
verb rejéct
noun rêjéct

colléct connéct áspect respéct person áddict verb addíct êdict

• indîte indîct

vërdict person cónvict verb convíct mostly -ít (-ət in Australasian English), but some have French -ây -et BrE Hërbert rhymes with shërbet t sounded hit búffet

• bùffây food bùffèt
• crôshây crôchet

rátchet crótchet thícket pícket crícket wícket màrket -lây chálèt cf. -létte - *boòklít, though these words are -lət in Australasian English - boòklet píglet

• bállây bállèt

mállet ẁallet bíllet tríplet BrE, u as schwa - qùadruplet, quíntuplet, séxtuplet, séptuplet, óctuplet AmE - qùadrûplet, quíntûplet, séxtûplet, séptûplet, óctûplet stàrlet Jánet plánet gánnet cŏrnet límpet -rây bérèt quårtét bánquet -kây crôquèt -kây sóbriquèt BrE *pàhkây, AmE *parkây pàrquèt

• boô-kây bouquèt

déft léft míffed rhymes with ríft dríft shríft lóft

• yót yacht

mostly silent gh -ght èight heîght frèight wèight fîght lîght delîght plîght cf. sleîght-of-hánd little slîght nîght rîght frîght tîght maker = rîght correct, left -wrîght

• plâywrîte plâywrîght

cópyrîght words in -åught and -ŏught are -àt or -ót in AmE any = ŏught should åught cåught drāft = drāught fråught should = åught any ŏught bŏught fŏught nŏught brŏught dròught wrŏught words in -åught and -ŏught are -àt or -ót in AmE 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 money = sént send – 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 will = wônt habit 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 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 knowledge = nô negative - knôw

line rôw
argue ròw

grôw thrôw pròw árrôw bárrôw fárrôw hárrôw nárrôw spárrôw needle sew = seeds sôw

pig sòw

pull = tôe foot tôw stôw bestôw vòw

X

data fácts = machine fáx hasn’t lácks = careless láx côax hôax wáx rêflex cïrcumflex véx fíx míx síx óx bóx cóx páradox ŏrthodox flúmmox

pl; -lôz tábleaux
pl; -rôz bûreaux

flúx crúx

Y

after consonant mostly ỳ -y dây bïrthday

hóliday

Frîday wêekday wörkday Mònday Súnday todây yésterday Sáturday book = doômsday doom Domesday Wédnesday Tûesday doom doômsday Thürsday Mâyday hèyday person = fèy elf - 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 Náncy 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 évidently áptly trûly Âmy astrónomy gástrónomy autónomy cf. epítomê - hysteréctomy

• énny any
• ménny many

zâny prógeny shîny Plíny

cf. tínny - tîny

whîny Jénny Kénny pénny Jóhnnie = Jóhnny Dónny fúnny súnny BrE o as schwa, AmE -môny BrE *hígémony (hard g), AmE *héjəmôny hegemony îrony pôny Tôny misógyny bŏy jŏy tŏy álloy annŏy háppy AmE, when stressed syllable does not come immediately before it, -ãry or -éry, cf. -ery; BrE a as AmE or as schwa or silent; see also -ory - -ary Cãry Gáry -shəry judíciary vocábulary canãry gránary díctionary lîbrary nécessary líterary suppleméntary documéntary Jánuary Fébruary vãry wãry crŷ drŷ tåwdry mostly e as schwa: can sound like -ry in BrE -ery físhery fîery bâkery coòkery sh- chicânery paper stâtionary = stop stâtionery conféctionery cürsory rhymes with nürsery cémetery quêry véry brâvery recòvery discòvery quêry frŷ ángry húngry gŏry glŏry compúlsory nürsery rhymes with cürsory Tŏry

usually pronounced -trỳ in BrE -tory

oblígatory óratory AmE láboratŏry - 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 lúxury mostly = -cỳ -sỳ -zêe êasy -sêe grêasy -zêe quêasy like demócracy, thêócracy all -ssy idiosýncrasy -sêe écstasy -zêe chêesy cf. noun próphecỳ -sêe - verb próphesŷ -sêe héresy demócracy and thêócracy rhyme with hypócrisy -sêe émbassy -sêe fússy dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy -sêe jéalousy -zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy entîrety cíty

felícity

stupídity mentálity facílity iníquity relîabílity flexibílity celébrity antíquity crûelty

silent h - hónesty

thïrsty Kïrsty goodbye, cricket bŷe = preposition bŷ = money buŷ nâvy wâvy bévy cf. lévêe, Lêvî - Lêvy îvy prívy ánchovy scürvy sávvy deŵy wáxy fóxy slêazy dâzy hâzy lâzy crâzy whêezy dízzy

Z

bíz

whízz or whíz

quíz

jázz

razzmatázz

pizzázz

fízz

búzz

fúzz

zzzz