English spellings/Catalogs/P
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| Retroalphabetical list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common misspellings |
This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with P. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.
For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]
P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine
pâce speed
pàcè peace *pàhtchay
pâced = pâste
páchydërm *pákidërm
pácifist, cf. pássive
páct peace = pácked pack
paêan
paediatrícian BrE, AmE ped-
paêdophile BrE, AmE péd-
pâge
págeant: ea as schwa, *pádjənt
pâid pay *pâyed, *pâde, rhyming with regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc.
Pâignton Devon *Pâinton
pâin hurt = pâne window = Pâyne = Pâine
pâinstâking
pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails
Pakistān *Pàki-stàn, *Páki-stàn or *Páki-stán
pál friend, cf. pâll weary
pálatal palate
pálate mouth = pálette paint = pállet mattress
palâtial palace -shəl
pâle pallid = pâil bucket
Pálestîne
Palestínian
påll, cf. Páll Máll, pál, måll
pállet mattress = pálette paint = pálate mouth
Palmŷra (traditional), Palmỳra
Pámela
panáche *pənásh
Pánamà, -mə
Panamânian
páncake *pángcake
Páncho, cf. póncho
pánda animal = BrE pánder serve
pandemônium
panegýric, panegŷric
pánel, cf. chánnel
pánoply
panoràma
pàpa, Pàpa; archaic Papà, papà
paparázzi *pápərátsy
pâper-thín
páprika BrE; AmE paprìka
papŷrus
parábola
párachute -shû-
páradigm -dîme
Páraguay -gwî
párallel *párralel, cf. désiccate, a similar case, where one would expect double s
páralyse
parálysis
paralýtic
parámeter
paraphernâlia
pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit
pãrent
paréntheses -sêez, -síz brackets; parénthesis -síss aside. A typical example of incorrect usage from a Wikipedia edit summary: changed a bracket to a parentheses. See also their entries in the retroalphabetical list.
parenthétical
parîah
Páris rhymes with Hárris
párish = Párrish
paríshioner
Parísian -ízì-
párity, cf. párrot
pàrk = Pàrk
pàrliament *pàrləmənt
parliaméntary *parləméntry
parôle, cf. patrôl
párrot bird = Párrott person
pàrse -z
partícipate
partícularly BrE can sound like *partículy
partisán BrE -zán, AmE pàrtisan -zən
Pásschendâele *Pássiondale
pássè can have French accent: passé
pāssed pass = pāst time, tense, go
pāsser-bŷ, pāssers-bŷ, hyphenated
pássion *páshən
pássive, cf. pácifist
pāst = passed
pâste copy, glue = pâced pace
pástel *pástle (t pronounced)
pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field
pastìche -ìsh
pastìlle
pāstime hobby one s, one t, one word, stress on first syllable, cf. pàss tîme, even stress
pátè can have French accents: pâté
pâtent noun, adjective, also pátent noun
pàth
Pathé, with French accent, *Páthây
pathétic, cf. përfect
pathológical *páthə-lójikle
pathólogy
pâthós
pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients hospital
pátois *pátwà, cf. fátwà
pâtriàrch -k
Pátrick
Patrícia -ísha
pátriot or pâtriot, and in patriótic
patrôl, cf. pétrol, parôle
pátronise condescend
pâtronise patron
påuse stop = påws animal
påwnbrôker, cf. pornógrapher
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
Pêarson
Pêarce person = Pìêrce = Pêirce persons, pìêrce hole, cf. Pìêrs, -z person = pìêrs pier
pëarl stone = pürl knit, liquid
pêase pudding -z: = pêas pea
pêat bog = Pête Peter
pecàn, pecán (pê-, pí-), *pêcən, etc.
peccadíllo
pédal foot = péddle sell
pédalo
péderasty, péderast AmE; BrE pêderasty, pêderast
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
Pekíng duck = pêa kíng, cf. pêaking peak
péll-méll, cf. Páll Máll
pén write = Pénn person
péncil
Penélopê
penicíllin
península noun = BrE penínsular adjective
Pennsylvânia *Pencilvânia
péntagon
Péntateûch -yoôk
Péntecóst
pénury
pêony *pêənỳ
pêople pêep-, cf. stêeple
Pêpys Samuel = pêeps looks
për normally weak, but when strong = pürr cat
per cént = percént
percéntage
perchānce one word
Përdita
përfect adjective
perféct verb
përfume BrE, AmE perfûme
périgêe -jì
perímeter
pêriod
përjury, cf. pejórative
përk up, perquisite
përmanent
permíssion
permít verb, përmit noun
Perôt -rô
përpetrate not perper-
për sè *persây, cf. sây
përson
persôna, plural -aê
personálity
persôna nón gràtis
personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private
persuâde -swâde
*persûe pursûe
përt
Perû
perûse
pervërse
përvërt noun, pervërt verb
pervërted
péssimistic usually péz-
Peshàwar
pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. patrôl
petrôleum
Pëugeôt ™ -zhô
peŵ church = Pûgh person
pH acidity *peeâitch
ph- = f-
phâeton
phálanx
phãraôh Egypt = Fãrôe Islands
pharaónic
phàrma chemical = BrE farmer agriculture
pharmacôpoêia BrE, AmE pharmacôpêia, rhyming with cornucôpia
phàrming chemicals = fàrming farm
phâse period = fâze puzzle
phênix ashes (AmE) *fêenix = Phoênix Arizona = BrE phoênix or phœnix
phenómena plural
phenómenal rhymes with nóminal
phenómenon singular
pheŵ relief = feŵ many
phîal liquid = fîle papers, nails
Phìlâe *Fêelay
philanthrópic, philánthropy
Phílip given name = fíllip stimulus; Phílips and Phíllips are both surnames, while Phíllip is an unusual given name
Philìppe
Phílippìnes
phíshing internet = físhing water
phlégm *flém
phlegmátic (g pronounced)
Phnóm Pénh *P(ə)nóm Pén
Phoêbê *Fêeby
Phoênix Arizona *Fêenix = phoênix or phœnix or (AmE) phênix ashes
phôney or phôny; phôneys or phônies
phôtograph
photógrapher
photógraphy
phrâse -âze
phút
phýsical -zí-, cf. físcal, -ss-
physiógnomy *fízzy-ónomy
pî number π, pious = pîe food
pìanist, piánist
piáno
píc picture = píck select
Piccadílly - cc, ll
píccolo
pícked = Píct
pídgin language = pígeon bird
pìêr jetty = pêer look, lord, cf. Pêter Pêars, péar
pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce, Pêirce persons (though some Pëirces = pürses)
piérrot *pyérrô
pígeonhole one word
píllage -íj
pîlot plane = Pîlate Pontius
pîneápple -eá-
pínnacle
Pínochèt usually -shây in English, though -tché in Spanish
pînt, cf. línt, mínt
pîonêer
pîous religious = Pîus Popes
pipétte BrE pí-, AmE pî-
pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek look
pîracy
pîrate
Pîscês *Pŷsêez
pìste, cf. píssed
píttance
píty
pívot
pìzza *pìtsa
pizzázz píz-
pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. ballerìna
pizzicàto píts-
plácard
placâte
plâce where = plâice fish
placêbo *pləssêebo
plácid
*pláck is spelt plāque
plâgiarise, -îze
pláid cloth rhymes with clád, not with plâyed play
Plaîd Cymru *Plîde Cúmry (approximation of Welsh pronunciation)
pláit hair = Plátt person, cf. plâte food
plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin straightforward
plánet rhymes with gánnet
plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic
pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher
pláteaux plural *pláttôze
plátinum
plátypus
plâyboy one word
plâywright
plêa
plêase thanks = plêas plea
pléasant
pléasure -ézher
Plêiadês, Pleîadês
plébíscîte
plêad rhymes with blêed
plêas plural = plêase permission
plîght *plîte
plòugh BrE = plòw
plòver
plòw AmE = plòugh
plúm fruit = plúmb vertical, depths, plumber
plûmage
plúmbing *plúmming
Plûtarch -k
plŷ
Plýmouth -məth
pm afternoon, evening (post meridian) = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém
pneumátic neû-
póckmàrked, cf. póx
pŏignant *pŏinyant
pôker cards, fire, cf. pôlka dance
Polàris
Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll election
polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze
poliomyelîtis
pólish shine
Pôlish Poland
pólitburo, cf. bûreau
polîte
polítical
politícian
políticking
político
pólitics
pôlka dance, cf. pôker cards, fire
pôll vote = pôle wood = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll
póll, pólly parrot
Pólly person
pólythene *póllithêen
polyéthylene -éthílêen
pólýp
polyphónic
polýphony
polystŷrene
pómêgránate, cf. gránite
Pompèii ruins = Pompèi city
Pómpêy person
pontíficâte demand, cf. Pontíficate Pontiff -ət, minimal pair
Pontyprídd -ídh
poôl swim = Poôle place, person
pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (though some rhyme it with pûre: poôr)
póp-úp (first stressed) noun, cf. póp úp (second) verb
póplar tree, cf. pópular popularity
pópulace noun = pópulous adjective *pópulus
pŏring examining = pŏuring out
pŏrn pornography BrE = påwn pawnshop
pornográphic
pornógraphy
pŏrous
Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person or *Pŏrsh
Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce
Pŏrtugal Pŏrch-
Portuguêse *Pŏrchə-gêez: silent second u to harden g
Poseîdon
posëur pseud, cf. pôser puzzle
póssê
posséss *pozéss
pôst write, wood = pôst- after, which must be followed by a hyphen
pósthumous
postpône pôsp-
pôtable drink
potâtoes, cf. tornâdos, both -ôz
Potômac
pótsherd - sh sound
PÔTUS, acronym for Président of the Unîted Stâtes, cf. pôtentate
poùffe
Poughkeepsie *Pəkípsy
póverty
Pòwell
pòwer
póx, cf. póckmàrked
práctical
práctíce AmE noun, verb, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (í, not î, and with the first syllable stressed: *práctíss, never "práctîze") AmE using only the -íce spelling is more phonetic and logical
practítioner -tíshoner
Pràgue *Pràhg
prây prayer = prèy victim
prãyer *prãir, one syllable, cf. plâyer, lâyer, two
prêacher rhymes with crêature
precêde before ≈ procêed start *prə-sêed: in rapid speech they sound the same; in slow speech can be *prí-sêed and prô-sêed
précedent before préss- *précident, cf. président head, préz-, minimal pair
precêding, cf. procêeding
précious *préshəss, cf. prêvious
prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe
prècìs’d past *prâysêed
precîse *precîce
prê-dâte
prédator, prédatory
prêdecessor BrE; AmE pré-
predóminantly (not -ately)
prê-émpt hyphenated
prê-éminent hyphenated
prêféct
préferable, cf. prefër
prélude, AmE also prè-, prê-
prémier government, league, BrE; AmE premíer = premíere
prémiére performance BrE, cf. thére; AmE premíere = premíer
prémíse or prémíss
prémíses *prémisses
preóccupied - prê-
prepãre
preréquisíte
présent gift, now, here préz-
presént give príz-
prestìge -êezh
prestígious -íjəss
presûmably
presûme
presúmptive
preténce
preténd
preténsion
preténtious
pretty prí-
prevâil
prévalent
prevént
prêview
Prévín
prêvious, cf. précious
prèy victim = prây prayer
PRÌ = prê-
prîce cost = Prîce = Prŷce persons
prìma dónna *prê-madónna
prîma fâcìê *prîma-fâyshêe/fâycêe
prîmâte
prîme mínister *prymínister
prímitíve, cf. prîmâte
prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male, cf. príncéss female - second syllable stressed if required to contrast with prínce
príncipal main = prínciple reason
principálity
prìón
prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor persons
prívacy BrE; AmE prîvacy, cf. prîmacy in both
prîvate = Prîvate = BrE Pte. = AmE Pvt.
prívet hedge
prívilege
prívy
prîze present = prîse apart, with prîce value a minimal pair
prô in favour, a word in its own right as for example in prôs and cóns, but prô and ánti are always hyphenated to the word they modify: prô-wår and ánti-wår
próbably
probóscis -skís
procêdure
procêed go ≈ precêde first; spelling pronunciations can distinguish them
prôcess BrE; AmE prócess
Prôcol Hàrum, cf. procul (Latin: "far away"), Bóko Haràm
procreâte
proféss
prófit money = próphet prophecy
prodûce verb
pródûce noun
pródúct
prodúctive
proféssional
próffer offer, cf. profër pronounce
prôgram - AmE uses this spelling for all meanings, while BrE only uses it with regard to computers, using prôgramme for all other meanings
progréss verb
prôgress noun BrE; AmE prógress
próject activity - some say prôject
projéct stick out
prôle
prolóng one word
prómenàde BrE, AmE -âde
próminent rhymes with dóminant
prómise -íss
prônòun
pronunciâtion -núnce-: cf. pronòunce ("pronounciation" is a common mispronunciation)
proôf noun, cf. prove verb *proôve (minimal pair)
propagánda
própagate
próper
próphecỳ noun
próphesŷ verb
próphet religion = prófit gain
prophyláctic, -áxis
propônent
prôs pro = prôse verse
próspect future
prospéct gold
próstate gland
prostrâte lie
prôtêa -êə
Prôtêa -êə South Africa
prôtêan -êə
protéct
protéctor
prôtegè male, prôtegèe female, can be written with a French accent: protegé, protegée *prôtezhây
prôtest noun
protést verb
prótestant
protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor
prôtocól
prove verb *proôve, cf. proôf noun (minimal pair)
prôven or *proôvən
próvenance
Provence *Provónce
Provençal *Provón-sàl
provîde
próvince
províncial -shl
provísion
provîso
provocatëur
provocâtion
provócative
provôke
pròwess
pròwl
prŷ
Prŷor person = prîor priory
ps- mostly with silent p: s-
psàlm *sàhm
pseûd person, adjective - but psêudo- is not a separate word and requires a hyphen:
pseûdo-intelléctual
pseûdo-scîence
psî Greek: optional to pronounce the p, or = sîgh breath
psilocŷbin *cŷlô-cŷbin
psorîasis, cf. cirrhôsis
psst, pssst etc., p pronounced, number of s’s to taste
psŷch *sîke
psŷchê *sîky
psychedélic
psychîatrist
psychólogist, cf. sýcophánt
psychólogy
psychométric
psŷchopáth
psychopáthic
psychópathy
ptàrmigan silent p
pterodáctyl térə-
públicly, cf. bâsically
púcker lips BrE = púkka real
pùdding
púddle
pûerile -yû-
Puerto Rìco BrE Pwãir-, AmE Pŏr-, cf. Pŏrto
Pûgh person = peŵ church
pugnácious
pùll push, cf. poôl water
pùllover clothing, cf. pùll ôver car
púlsàr
púmíce
púnchline one word
punctuâtion
púnish
pûnitive -yû-
pûny -yû-
Pürcell
pûre -yû-
pürgatory
pürge
pürl knit, liquid = pëarl stone
pürpose *pürpus
pürr
pürse, cf. pîerce, Pêarce, etc.
pursûe
Pürves = Pürvís
pús yellow, cf. pùss cat
pùsh
pùt place, cf. pútt golf
putâtive -yû-
pûtrefy, cf. pétrify
pûtrid -yû-, cf. hâtred, both -íd
pùtsch makes minimal pairs with poôch dog and pùsh pull
pùtting put
pútting putt
púzzle
pýgmy
pyjàmas BrE; AmE pajámas
pŷlon
Pyongyáng, two syllables
pŷre
Pýrrhic
pŷthon BrE, AmE also pŷthón