English spellings

Main Page A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

English is famous, even notorious, for its varied spellings. This is a selection of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside regular ones for contrast; it is followed by a 'retroalphabetical' list, alphabetically arranged by final letter.

An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, maintaining the e of disāster. Here, the asterisk before it indicates an incorrect spelling, and the accents show stress and pronunciation. A table of the accent marks (which are not used in English) can be found at the end of this article; there is also an IPA key at English phonemes. Where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed, and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling *Chŷ-kóffsky, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress.

Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation. English is rich in homophones; it also has many homonyms, words with the same spelling and pronunciation, and homographs, words with the same spelling but different pronunciation. Examples of all three are grouped together here.

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

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

Some words from other languges, in most cases French, may be written with accents from those languages. Such spellings are shown using bold italics: touchè may be written with a French accent: touché *tooshây.

The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it has its own place at the end of the alphabet. An asterisk is placed before incorrect respellings, thus: *thuss. Words in italics are used to suggest meanings, in the case of similar words. The word person (or persons after more than one) implies either a personal or family name. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones, for example a bank clerk might be named Clàrk or Clàrke, but most probably not 'Clerk' (which is pronounced identically in BrE). It may, of course, also be a commercial or place name, as this is a matter regarding individuals: the fact that one is more likely to meet a person, most probably male, called Maurice Mórris than one called Mórris Maurice, both words and hence both names being pronounced the same in BrE (Maurìce in AmE), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.

Alphabetical list

L

L = él railway

labŏrious

lâbour BrE; AmE -or, cf. Lâbor Pàrty Australia, etc.

lâbourer BrE; AmE -or-

lábyrinth

lackadâisical

lácklustre adjective one word

lácquer *lácker

láddies boys

lâdies women

làger beer hard g, cf. soft g in làrger bigger

lâid egg, table, trap *lâyed

lâin down = lâne traffic

lãir hideout ≈ lâyer covering: both are two syllables, but lâir is normally shorter

lâissèz-fãire has a silent z: *lây-sây-fãir

lámb -m

lambást or lambâste

lamént

lámentable or laméntable

lâne road = lâin lie = Lâne, Lâine persons

lánguorous -uorou-: -ərə-

Làos nation = lòuse bug

lápdog one word

lápse negative = láps lap

largésse or AmE largéss

làrva insect BrE = làva volcano

lâser -z-; rhymes with râzor

lasso *lássoô

Làs Vègas - many British speakers say *Lós Vègas probably because they would normally read Las with the á sound, the AmE Làs sounds to British ears like Lós, and by analogy with Lós Ángeles

lâter

làttè

látter

låud praise = BrE lŏrd master

låudanum

lāughter rhymes with āfter

laureate *lóriat

laurel *lórrel

làva volcano BrE = làrva insect

lávish cf. slâvish

låw legal = BrE lŏre folk: *lŏ, cf. lôw *ləù: Francophones beware

Lawrence Ló- or Laurence, w more common

låwyer *lŏyer

lây table, egg, snooker as a verb in its own right, or as past of lîe; = lâze lazy

lâybŷ

lâyer covering ≈ lãir hideout: both are two syllables, but lâyer is normally longer

lâze lazy = lâys table

lâzy

lêa grass = lêe shelter = Lêe = Lêigh persons

lêach percolate = leêch worm, sail

lêast cf. lést

lêaves leave, leaf

lêad first, guide

léad metal = léd took, past of lêad, cf. réad, past of rêad

lêader lead = lìêder songs

lêak liquid = lêek vegetable

lêague *lêeg

lêan

léant lean = lént lend = Lént season

lêap

léapt

lëarn past: lëarned or lëarnt

lëarned as attributive adj: a *lëarníd mán

lêast less cf. lést in case

Lébanon -ənən; AmE -ón

léd guided = léad metal

lée shelter = Lêe = Lêigh = Lêa persons = lêa grass

lêes dregs cf. lêase contract, unvoiced s

leêch worm, sail = lêach percolate

Lêeds city = lêads lead

lêek vegetable = lêak liquid

lêer look = Lêar person

léft hand, leave

léftie politics = léfty hand = Léfty = Léftie nicknames for lefty

légacy

lêgal

législâtor

législatûre

Léicester city = Léster person

Léinster

léisure BrE *lézher; AmE lêisure *lêzher; BrE rhyming with méasure, pléasure and tréasure

leîtmotìf

Lénnox

léns *lénze, plural lénses

lént lend = Lént season = léant lean

Lêô

Léominster *Lémstə

Léonard *Lénnəd = Lénnard

léopard animal = Léppard person *lépəd, cf. Léonard, jéopardy, also silent o

lêotàrd *lêətàd

léper *lépə, rhyming with pépper

Lêroy

Lésley female = Léslie male

Lesotho *Lesûtû

léss more

léssen less = lésson school

lést in case cf. lêast less

lêthal

léts let = lét’s let us

léttuce *léttis

Levánt

lévee dam = lévy tax

lêver BrE; AmE léver

lêverage BrE; AmE léverage cf. béverage in both

Lêvi

Lévis cf. Lêavis

lévy tax = lévee dam

leŵd cf. feûd

Leŵis Scotland, person *Loôwis = Leŵes England

Lhàsa

liâison lì-

lîable three syllables

lîar false = lŷre music

lîbel two syllables

líberal

libertãrian

líberty

libìdo

Lìbra

lîbrary

librãrian

Líbya

lîcence BrE or lîcense AmE; can be verb in BrE

lîcensêe *lîcencee

lîchen plant = lîken compare

lîe down, untrue cf. lŷing, lây

lìên *lêən

lìêder songs = lêader lead

lieuténant AmE lût-, BrE léft- or lût-

lîfestyle one word

lîfetime one word

lígament

lîght *lîte - but ‘lite’ can be seen commercially

lîghtning flash *lîtning ≈ lîghtening lighten

lîkelihood

lîkely

lîke-mînded

lîlac

Lilóngwè

líly-lívered

límb *lím, cf. clîmb up = clîme climate

lîme cf. Lŷme Rêgis

límô

limousìne *limmazêen

línchpín cf. lýnch

Líncoln *Língkən

Líndsay = Líndsey *Línzy

línêage *línêíj, cf. lîne

lingerie BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjerèy, è stressed

Línux

lîon animal = Lŷon person, cf. Lỳon France

líp-rêad

líquefy cf. líquid, líquidate

liqueûr chocolate *licûre

líquor whisky *líkker

Lîsa

Lísbon *Lízbən

líst column, sway = Líszt Franz

lísten *líssen

lístless *lístlíss

lîte - humorous or commercial spelling of lîght

líterary

líturgy

líve verb

lîve adjective cf. lîfe noun

Líverpool

Liverpúdlian

líves verb

lîves life plural of lîfe

Líz

Lìza – usually

Ljubljàna´ *Lyùblyàna

llàma animal = làma Buddhism

Llanélli - Welsh names featuring Ll- are pronounced by many English speakers as if they began Thl-, so: *Thlanéthly - though this does not apply to the very common...

Llŏyd *Lŏyd

lôan lend = lône alone

lôath unwilling unvoiced th; its variant lôth is perhaps preferable, to avoid confusion with the following, which is sometimes used incorrectly in its place

lôathe hate voiced th, *lôadh

lôathsome voiced th, no middle e

lóch Scottish ch, like Arabic kh, phonetic symbol χ, cf. lóck; Irish ones are lóugh, same pronunciation

lóckjaw one word

lôgo

Lòndon

lône only = lôan money

longévity -njé-

lónger long hard g sounded separately

longëur bore g not sounded separately

Lóngfellow

loô toilet = Loû person = lieû in

loòkalike noun one word

loôse insecure *lûce, cf. lose lost = loôs loo *lûze: writing loôse for lose is perhaps the second most common mistake in English after ít’s for íts

loôt spoils = lûte music

lŏre folk = BrE låw rule

lórry transport = Laurie person

lose lost *lûze = loôs toilets, cf. loôse insecure *lûce

loser lose *lûzer, cf. loôser more insecure

loses lû-, cf. lósses

lóss

lôth disinclined variant of lôath, and arguably preferable, as it is further from lôathe hate

loûche -sh

Loûìs silent s, or (particularly in St. Loûis) = Leŵís

Louìse

Louisiána Lûì-; one n

lòve cf. lôathe

lôw cf. låw

lûchre *lûker, AmE lûcher

lúggage

lúllabŷ

lúmbar back = lúmber wood

lûte music = loôt spoils

lúvvie, a satirical British word for an actor cf. lòve, lòvey-dòvey

Lúxemboürg

lŷing from lîe

lmph

lýnch = Lýnch person, cf. línchpin

lýnx animal = línks link

Lỳón France cf. lîon animal

lŷre harp = lîar cheat

M

M = ém print

macádam road comes from McÁdam person: names begin Mac- or Mc- with or without a following capital

macarôni cf. original Italian ‘macheroni’

MacGrégor or McGrégor

machétê *məshétty

machìne -sh-

machísmo mátch- or mətch-

mácho mátch-

Mácintyre = MácKintyre (c of ‘Mac’ is always hard, even before a vowel)

Macleod or MacLeod or McLeod *Məclòud

mádeleine cake = Mádeleine Paris, person

mâde-up adjective before noun

mádman or -mán; one word

Madràs

mâelstrom

màêstro *mŷstro

máfia BrE; AmE màfia

magazìne

Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge both silent g = måudlin sentimental

Mágdalene Mary *Mágdəlín

magistêrial cf. májesty

mágnâte power

mágnet magnetic

mâid servant = mâde make

mâil letters = mâle female

mâin principle = Mâine America = mâne horse

mâinstream one word

mâize crop = mâze labyrinth

Majŏrca *Məyŏrcə

majórity

malãria

Malâysia cf. Âsia etc.

Málcolm person *Málcum, cf. tálcum powder

mâle man = mâil post

måll shopping = måul violence; Páll Máll is an exception

mállêable

målt

Målta

Mámmon

mán male = Mánn = Mánne persons = Mán Manchester

mánakin - see mánnequin

Mánchester cf. Chéster

mânger cf. mánager

mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State

mándarin

mándatory

mandolíne or mandolín

mâne lion = mâin important = Mâine State

mângy -jy

mánhandle

mâniácal

máníkin, mánníkin - see mánnequin

mán-mâde

mánna heaven BrE = mánor house = mánner way

mánnequin dummy = máníkin dwarf, model, cf. mánakin bird

manoeûvre BrE or manœûvre; AmE maneûver

many *ménny, cf. pénny

Màori *Mòwry, rhymes with Lòwry

màrch walk = Màrch month

mãre horse = mãyor councillor

margarìne màrj-

Màrgot -gô

Marìa but: Bláck Marîa

Marîah Carey cf. parîah

marìne

máriner sailor = Márriner person

máritîme

Màrlboro ™ cigarette -bərə = Màrlborough person

Mårlborough town *Måwlbərə

Màrs Martian = màrs mar

Marsèille *Marssây

Mãry cf. márry

màrten animal = màrtin bird = Màrtin person

màrtyr -tər

māsk face = māsque ball

Massachûsetts

mássacre -ker

mássacring

mássàge -àzh AmE *məssàzh

massëuse -ëz; AmE -ûz

māsterstroke one word

matêrial -al, unlike in French

mátinèe *mátinây: matinée, French accent can be written in BrE but not in AmE

mátress

mâtrix

måudlin sentimental = Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge

måul lion = måll shops

Maurice person BrE = Mórrís name; AmE Maurìce; see -óris in Retroalphabetical List

mauve colour *môav, cf. move û movement

mây perhaps = Mây month, person

mâybe perhaps only meaning ‘perhaps’ is one word, cf. mây bê verbs: mâybe it’s trûe; ít mây bê trûe

mâyhém

mãyor councillor = mãre horse, cf. Mâyer person, mâjor

McEnroe *Máckenroe

McIlroy *Máckilroy

McGóugh *MəGóff

McKénzie = MacKénzie = Mackénzie Mək-

mê myself = Mêe person

mêaly-mòuthed

mêan intend, generous = mìên face

méant mean cf. -ment suffix

mêantime one word

méasure *mézher

mêat flesh = mêet up = mête appropriate

mêatball one word

médal medallion = méddle interfere

mêdia

mêdial

médical

médicine - the first i may be silent

medìêval or mediaêval *medì-êvəl or *medêvəl

Mediterrânean cf. ‘terra’, Latin for ‘earth’, so it is not spelt *Meditterânean

mêet encounter = mêat eat = mête suitable, out

megalomâniac

melanchôlia -nk-

mélancholy -nk-

Mélbourne *Mélbən, cf Mílburn, BrE *Mílbən

méltdown noun one word

meménto remember cf. môment, moméntous time

mémoir *mémwà (no final -e unlike in French original)

ménace rhymes with Dénnis and ténnis (-əss or -íss)

ménû *ményu

Ménuhin *Ményuwin

Ménzies Robert

Menzies Campbell *Míngiz

Méopham *Méppəm

mêre

meringue *məráng

mesméric

mésmerise

Méssrs Mister r as er, cf. mésser mess

Mésurier John le = méasurer measure

métal metallic = méttle quality

metamŏrphôsis - either stressed

meteorólogy mê-

mête suitable, out = mêet encounter = mêat animal

mêter measure = mêtre distance, rhythm BrE; all three meanings in AmE are mêter

mêthane

methínks one word

méthod

methódical

mètièr can have French accent métier *mâytiay

meŵs street, cat = mûse think, inspiration

mézzanine méts or -méz-

mézzo *métso

mì doh-re-mi = mê I

Mîámì

miaòw

mîca

Mîchael *Mŷcle, rhyming with cŷcle

mîcrô-ŏrganism hyphenated

míd does not require hyphen

middây

mídnight *mídnîte

mìên face = mêan intend, ungenerous

míffed rhymes with ríft etc.

mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid

mìgraine

mîke microphone = Mîke Michael

Milán Italy í, cf. Mìlán person

mîles mile = Mîles person

mílitary

milítia *milíshə

millénnium

minarét

mînd brain, care = mîned mining

mîndset noun one word

mîne me, bomb, coal

mînefield one word

mîner coal = mînor small, young, major

minestrônê

míni small = Mínnie person

míniature *mínitcher

mínímum

mínistry cf. mónastery

mínkê *mínky

mînus

mínuscule not míni-

mínute time *mínít

minûte tiny mî-

minûtiae *minûshî or *minûshìî

mîre

mís- not hyphenated

miscellâneous -səl-

miscéllany -sél-

míschíef

míschíevous

misconcéption

mislêad

misléd

misógynist

misquôte

míss aim = Míss female = mís- wrong

míssal prayers = AmE míssile hit, cf. BrE pronunciation míssîle

misshâpen *míss-shâpen

Mississíppì

Missoûrì *Mizoôry; some AmE speakers say *Mízoôrə

misspéll

místral wind cf. místrîal trial

misûse

mîte small, arachnid = mîght perhaps, power

mnemónic nem-

môbîle move

Môbìle Alabama

módel *móddle, cf. môtél

Mohámmed or Muhámmad *Məhámid

mŏisten *mŏissən

Mojàvê *Məhàvì

môld shape = môuld mouldy

mólecule

molécular

móllycoddled one word

Mólotov -f

Mólineûx *Móllyneŵ

môment cf. meménto

moméntous cf. meménto

mónarch BrE -nək, AmE -nàrk

mónestery *mónistry, cf. mínistry

mònetary

mòney

mónicker name = móniker name; BrE = Mónica person

mònk

Montána BrE and AmE, cf. AmE banána but BrE banàna, with the usual BrE pronunciation of this ending; also Alabáma and Louisiána are both BrE and AmE

mònth *múnth cf. mòunt *máùnt

Montgómery = Montgómerie

Montreål -ê-

moôn

mŏor land = mŏre plus = Mŏore = Mŏre names

moôt mention cf. mûte silent

môped mope

môpéd bike

móral virtuous

morāle confidence

mŏrès (-âyz)

mŏrning early = mŏurning death

mŏron

Mórris person BrE = Maurice person: see -óris in Retroalphabetical List

mŏrtgage *mŏrgij

mŏrtíce or mŏrtíse

mosâíc pattern = Mosâíc Jewish *môzâíc

Móscôw - some AmE speakers say Móscòw

mósque *mósk, cf. músk, màsk

mosquìto -skêeto

môte eye = môat castle

móthball one word

motìf pattern mô-, cf. môtive reason

moûe pout = moô cow

môuld mouldy = môld shape

mòuntaínous -tínəss

mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning

mòuse rodent, cf. moûsse

Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl

moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. môuse

moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh

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

mòuthpiece one word

move û

Môzart *Môatsart

Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used

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

mûesli *meŵzly

Mûïr name *meŵer

Mujahedìn

múltiplŷ verb

múltiplỳ adverb

múm quiet, mother BrE = AmE mòm mother

múmmy body, mother BrE = AmE mòmmy mother

múnch -ch cf. Édvàrd Múnch, *Mùnk

Mûnich -ík

Múrraỳ = Mòray Firth = Múrry, cf. húrry

mürky

múscle body = mússel shellfish

Múscovite

mústáche AmE *mústásh; BrE moustàche *məstàsh

mûse think, inspiration = meŵs street, cat

musêum mûz-

mûsic current = mûsick archaic

Mùslim or Móslem, -z-

múslin

mústn’t *mússənt

mûte silent cf. moôt mention

mŷ

mŷnah bird BrE = mînor lesser = mîner mines

mŷre

mýriad

mÿrtle

mýstery *mistry

mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke

mýth

myxomatôsis

N

N = én print

nâdír

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

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

nâked -íd

Náncy person, cf. Nàncy France

Nâomi

narcissístic

nárrative

narrâtor

NÁSA space = BrE Násser person

nâscent *nâysənt

Násh person = gnásh teeth

nāstiness

nāsty

Nâthan

nátional *náshnəl, cf. nâtion

nâtionwîde one word

nátural *nátchrəl

nåught nothing *nåwt = nŏught zero: thèy wíll stóp at nåught; hòw many nŏughts dòes a quadríllion hàve?

nåughty *nåwty

nåusea BrE *nåuzìa, AmE *nåusha

nåuseous -shəss

nâval navy = nâvel body

nâve church = knâve cad, cf. naìve, which can be written naïve innocent

nâvel stomach = nâval navy

nây see nèigh

Nàzi -tsì

Nàzísm *Nàtsízm; not *Nàtsìyízm

neánderthal - nê-

nécessary

nêe- = knêe; see also nì-

nêed require = knêad dough = knêed knee

negôtiate

negotiâtions

nèigh horse = nây no = nè, which can be written before a man's birth name = nèe, which can be written before a woman's birth name

nèighbour *nâber, rhymes with lâbour, sâbre, tâbor, câber and Fâber (AmE nèighbor)

Nêil = Nêill = Nêal = Nêale = Knêale persons = knêel down, cf. níl zero

neîther AmE nêither

némesis

nêô-

neólogism nê-

nét catch = nétt deductions

neûter

néver mînd is two words

Neŵ Ŏrleans is the local pronunciation

neŵbŏrn adjective, noun one word

newfángled one word

neŵ-fòund

Neŵfoundland BrE *Neŵfəndlənd

neŵly new = Neŵley person

neŵspaper -eŵss-; one word

neŵswörthy -eŵz-; one word

Ngaîo *Nŷô Màrsh

Nicarágua -gûa has given way to -gwə

nîce good cf. Nìce France, NYSE New York

nìche *nêesh

níck steal = Níck person = kníck -nack

Nicosìa

niêce nephew = Nìce France

Nîgel *Nîjəl

Nîger delta *Nîjə, cf. Nîgel

Nigér country *Nízhãiə, French style

Nigêria Nîj-

nîgh *nŷ

nîght dark *nîte; = kníght Sir, chess

nîghtmãre

nìhílíst - h can be as y

níl - one l

nìrvàna

nít creature, fool = knít wool

nítpick one word

nítwit one word

neŵ-born

néxt doôr two words

nô negative cf. nº number

nób rich = knób handle

Nôbél prize - either syllable stressed

nôble birth, elevated

noblésse

nóctürne cf. türn

nô-gô ãrea

noir BrE *nwà, AmE *nwàr

nóm de plûme *nómdəplûme

nón- not not a word in its own right except in persôna nón gràtis

nónchalant nónsh-

nòne zero = nún God, cf. knôwn knew, nô-one nobody

nònesuch

nonplússed no hyphen

nónsense

nonsénsical

nón séquitùr - or nôn; or -tə

noòk cf. knóck *nóck

noôn midday = Noône person

noôse cf. nòus

nô-òne nobody *nôwún - the hyphen seems the happy medium, but it can be two words and must be when òne is a numeral, as in nô òne síngle rêason

Nŏrfolk -fək

Nórwich rhymes with pórridge or, sometimes nowadays, Ípswich

nŏrthern voiced th, unlike nŏrth

nôse face = knôws know

nôsey or nôsy

nôtewörthy one word

nòthing

nôtice -íss

nôticeable

notorîety

notŏrious

nŏught zero *nåwt = nåught nothing

noúrish

nòus cf. noôse, hòuse

noûveau rìche *nûvô-rêesh

Nôva Scôtia *Nôvə Scôshə

nóvelist

novélla

nôwhere one word, cf. nô plâce

nth *énth

nûisance nyûss-

númb -m

númber 123

númber numb *númmer

nûmerous

nún God = nòne nought

nútcase one word

nutrítion nû-

nyctophôbia

nýmph *nímf

O

Ô letter = ôh exclamation equals owe debt

ŏar boat = ŏr alternative = ŏre metal

oâsis *ôwâyssís

obêdience

obèisance

obèy

oblìque -lêek

obscêne

obscénity

obsêquious

óbsolête

obsoléscence

óbstacle

occâsionally

occür

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

occúrrence BrE; AmE occürrence

ôcean *ôtion, *ôshən

óchê *ócky, cf. hóckey

ôchre *ôker; AmE -er

óctagon

óctopus

ôdious

ôdium

ôdorous

Oêdipus AmE Ê-

oêstrogen AmE ê-

öeuvre *ëvra

óf *óv

offénce BrE; AmE offénse

offénsive

óffspring one word

óften *óffen; though some pronounce the t

ÔK or ôkây

Oklahôma Ôak-

ôld normal = ôlde jocular, old-fashioned = Ôld person

ôld-fáshioned

Olýmpic

ómelette *ómlit, cf. hámlet

omérta

omnípotent

òne single = wòn game

òne-óff

ònes plural = òne´s possessive *wúnz

òneself one word, wú-

óngôing one word

ònion *únyon, cf. Cányon

onlîne connected one word

ónlooker one word

Ontãrio

ón to *óntû or *óntə: two words, even though ínto is one

ónyx or ônyx

oòps

óperate

ophthalmólogist ph-

opínion

opportûnity *óppərtyûnity

oppréss

oppûgn -ûne

optimístic

ópt-òut noun hyphenated

ŏr instead = ŏre metal = ŏar boat

ŏral voice = åural ear; sometimes, to distinguish it, the second is pronounced 'àùral'

órange *óringe

oráng-utan

orâte

órator BrE; AmE ŏr-

ŏrchestrate ŏrk-

ŏrchid *ŏrkid, cf. ŏrchard, ch sound

ŏrdnance weapons cf. ŏrdinance decree

ŏrient

órifíce AmE ŏrifíce

Orîon

.*ŏrtha- no words begin like this

ŏrthodox

ósprêy or ósprèy

òtherwise one word

Ouagadoûgou *Wágadûgu

ouìja-bŏard wì-

ŏught *åwt

òur us = hòur time

òut

outdo *òutdoô, one word

òutlåw one word

òutrîght one word

outsîde one word

ôva ovum = BrE ôver top, finish

òven

ôver

overbürdened one word

overcòme one word

overdûe one word

ôverload one word

overlôaded one word

overnîght *ôver-nîte, one word

overrâte rate ≈ overâte or *overét overeat

overreáct *ôverêáct, one word

overrîde one word

overrûle one word

overshádow one word

overthrôw one word

ovërt ô-

ôwe debt = ôh exclamation = Ô letter

óxbow

Óxford -əd

O’Brîen cf. Brîan

P

P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine

pâce speed

pàcè peace *pàtchè

páchydërm *pákidërm

pácifist cf. pássive

paêan

paediatrícian

paêdophile

pâge

págeant - ea as schwa, *pájənt

pâid pay *pâyed, *pâde, cf. regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc.

pâin hurt = pâne window

pâinstâking

pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails

Pākistān *Pàkistán

pálatal palate

palâtial palace -shəl

pâle pallid = pâil bucket

Pálestîne

Palestínian

påll cf. Páll Máll, måll

pállet mattress = pálette paint

Pámela

panáche *pənásh

Pánamà

páncake *pángcake

Pàncho AmE; BrE Páncho

pánda animal BrE = pánder serve

pandemônium

pánel cf. chánnel

panoràma

paparázzi pápərátsy

pâper-thín

páprika BrE; AmE paprìka

papŷrus

parábola

párachute -shû-

páradigm -îm

Páraguay -gwî

párallel *párralel, cf. désiccate, where one would expect double s

páralyse

parálysis

paralýtic

parámeter

pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit

pãrent

parîah

Parísian -ízì-

pàrliament *pàrləmənt

párrot bird = Párrott person

partisán -z- AmE pàrtisan -zən

pàrse -z

partícipate

pássè can have French accent: passé

pāssed pass = pāst time, tense

pássion *páshən

pássive cf. pácifist

pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field

pastìche -ìsh

pāstime

pátè can have French accents: pâté

pâtent

pàth

pathétic

pathológical á

pathólogy

pâthós

pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients hospital

pátois *pátwà cf. fátwà

pâtriàrch -k

pátriot or â

patriótic - á or â

patrôl cf. pétrol

pátronise condescend

pâtronise patron

påuse stop = påws animal

pâyback noun one word

pây-óff noun

pêa vegetable = pêe urine = P letter = p pence

pêal bell = pêel fruit = Pêel person

pêak summit = pêek cheat = pìque annoyance

péãr fruit = pãir two = pãre cut cf. Pêter Pêars

Pêarce person = Pìêrce = Pêirce persons, pìêrce hole, cf. Pìêrs, -z person = pìêrs pier

pëarl stone = pürl knit, liquid

pêase pudding -z: = pêas pea

pêat bog = Pête Peter

peccadíllo

pédal foot = péddle sell

pédestal

pédigree

pédlar or péddler seller

pêe urine = pêa vegetable = p pence = P letter

pêek cheat = pêak summit = pìque annoyance

pêer look, lord = pìêr jetty

pêeved

pejórative cf. përjury

péll-méll cf. Páll Máll

pén write = Pénn person

péncil

Penélopê

penicíllin

península noun = BrE penínsular adjective

Pennsylvânia

péntagon

pêony *pêənỳ

pêople pêep-, cf. stêeple

Pêpys Samuel = pêeps looks

për normally weak, but when strong = pürr cat

per cént two words

percéntage one word

përfect adjective

perféct verb

përjury cf. pejórative

permíssion

permít verb

përmit noun

përpetrate not perper-

për sè *persây, cf. sây

përson

persôna

personálity

persôna nón gràtis

personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private

persuâde -swâde

Perû

pervërse

përvërt

pervërted

péssimistic can be péz-

pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. patrôl

Pëugeôt ™ -zhô

ph- f-

phâeton

phálanx

phãraoh Egypt -rô; = Fãroe Islands

pharmacôpoêia BrE, AmE pharmacôpêia rhyming with cornucôpia

phàrming chemicals = fàrming farm

phâse period = fâze puzzle

phenómena plural

phenómenon singular

pheŵ relief = feŵ many

Phílip person = fíllip stimulus

Philìppe

phîal liquid = fîle papers, nails

phíshing email = físhing water

physiógnomy *fízzy-ónomy

phlégm

Phnóm Pénh *Pənóm Pén

Phoêbê *Fêeby

Phoênix Arizona *Fêenix = phoênix or phœnix ashes

phôney or phôny; phôneys or phônies

phôtograph

photógrapher

photógraphy

phrâse -âze

phýsical -zí-, cf. físcal, -ss-

pî number π, pious = pîe food

pìanist

piáno

píc picture = píck other meanings

Piccadílly - cc, ll

píccolo

pídgin language = pígeon bird

pìêr jetty = pêer look, lord cf. Pêter Pêars, péar

pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce, Pêirce persons

piérrot *pyérrô

pígeonhole one word

píllage -íj

pîlot plane = Pîlate Pontius

pîneápple -eá-

pínnacle

pînt cf. línt, mínt

pîonêer

pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek look

Pîscês *Pŷsêez

pìste cf. píssed

píttance

píty

pívot

pìzza *pìtsa

pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. ballerìna

pizzicàto píts-

plácard

plâce where = plâice fish

plâgiarise

pláid

pláit hair cf. plâte food

plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin straightforward

plánet rhymes with gánnet

plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic

pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher

plátinum

plátypus

plâyboy one word

plâywright

pléasure -ézher

plîght *plîte

plòw AmE

plòver

plòugh BrE = plòw

plúm fruit, exact = plúmb depths, plumber

plŷ

Plýmouth -məth

pm post meridian = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém

pneumátic neû-

pŏignant *pŏinyant

Polàris

Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll election

polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze

poliomyelîtis

pôliovirus one word

pólish shine

Pôlish Poland

pólitburo cf. bûreau

políticking

político

pólitics

pôker cards, fire

pôlka dance

pôll vote = pôle wood = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll

póll parrot

pólythene *póllithêen

polyéthylene -éthílêen

polyphónic

polýphony

pómegranate cf. gránite

poôl swim = Poôle place, person

pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (some say poôr)

pópulace noun = pópulous adjective

pŏring examining = pŏuring out

pŏrous

pornográphic

pornógraphy

Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person

Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce

Pŏrtugal, Portuguêse Pŏrch-

Poseîdon

posëur pseud cf. pôser puzzle

póssê

posséss *pozéss

pôst letter = pôst- after, which must be followed by a hyphen

postpône pôsp-

potâtoes cf. tornâdos, both -ôz

Potômac

poùffe

práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (neither -îse nor -îze) the American custom of using only the -íce spelling would seem the more sensible

Pràgue *Pràhg

prây prayer = prèy victim

prãyer *prãir, cf. plâyer

precêde before prí-, cf. procêed start *prəsêed

précedent before préss- *précident, cf. président head, préz-

précious *préshəss

prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe

prècìs’d past *prâycêed

precîse *precîce

prê-dâte

prédator

prêdecessor AmE pré-

prê-émpt hyphenated

prê-éminent hyphenated

préferable cf. prefër

prélude

prémìêr government, league, -er as schwa; AmE premìêr = premìêre

prémìére performance cf. thére; AmE premìêre = premìêr

prémíse

preóccupied - prê-

prepãre

présent gift, now préz-

presént give príz-

prestìge -êezh

prestígious -íjəss

preténce

preténd

preténsion

preténtious

pretty -í-

prevâil

prévalent

prêvious

prèy victim = prây prayer

prîce cost = prîce = Prŷce persons

prìma dónna *prê-madónna

prìma fâcìê

prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male cf. príncéss female - either stressed

príncipal main = prínciple reason

principálity

prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor persons

prívacy BrE; AmE prîvacy

prívilege

prîze present = prîse apart

prô- in favour

procêdure

procêed cf. precêde

procreâte

proféss

prófit money = próphet prophecy

prodûce verb

pródûce noun

pródúct

prodúctive

proféssional

prôgram computer, AmE

prôgramme BrE not computer

prôgress noun, BrE AmE prógress; verb progréss

próject activity - some say prôject

projéct stick out

prôle

prolóng one word

prómenàde AmE -âde

prómise -íss

prônòun

pronunciâtion ú: cf. pronòunce

proôf cf. prove *proôve

propagánda

própagate

próper

próphecỳ noun

próphesŷ verb

próphet religion = prófit gain

propônent

prôs pro = prôse verse

próspect future

prospéct gold

prôtêan

protéct

protéctor

prôtegè male can be written with a French accent: protegé *prôtezhây

protegèe female can be written with a French accent: protegée *prôtezhây

prôtest noun

protést verb

prótestant

protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor

prove *proôve, cf. proôf

prôven or *proôvən

próvenance

Provence *Provónce

Provençal *Provón-sàl

próvince

províncial -shl

provocâtion

provócative

provôke

pròwess

pròwl

prŷ

ps- s-

psàlm *sàm

pseûd

pseûdo-intelléctual

psilocŷbin

psst - p pronounced, any number of s’s

psŷch *sîke

psŷchê *sîky

psychîatrist

psychólogist cf. sýcophánt

psychólogy

psychométric

psŷchopáth

psychopáthic

psychópathy

pterodáctyl térə-

públicly cf. bâsically

púcker lips BrE = púkka real

pùdding

púddle

pûerile

Puerto Rìco BrE Pwãir-, AmE Pŏr-

pùll push cf. poôl water

pùllover clothing cf. pùll ôver car

púmíce

púnish

pûny -yû-

pûre -yû-

pürl knit, liquid = pëarl stone

pürr

pús yellow cf. pùss cat

pùsh

pùt place cf. pútt golf

pûtrid cf. hâtred, both -íd

pùtsch cf. pùsh

pùtting put

pútting putt

púzzle

pýgmy

pyjàmas AmE pajámas

pŷre

Pýrrhic

Q

Q = queûe up = cûe prompt

Qátàr or *Cátter, cf. catàrrh

qát drug or khát or kát; = cát animal

quáck

qùad

quadriplégic

quágmire or qùagmire

quàlm -àm

quángo

qùantity

quàrk

qùarrel

quartét å

quårtz mineral = quårts liquid

qùash

quaỳ harbour = kêỳ lock

quêasy -zêe, rhymes with êasy and slêazy, not with grêasy -sêe

Quebécker

quéll

quêry

quéstion *quéshchən

queûe line = cûe theatre, billiards

quìche *kêesh

quíd prô quô

quiéscent *kwìéssent

quîet silent two syllables, e as schwa: *kwîət

quít leave, stop

quîte moderate one syllable

Quìto *Kêeto

quíz

quŏits

Quràn = Qur’àn = Koràn

QWËRTY

R

R = àre be

rábbî

raccoôn or racoôn

râcehorse one word

râcism cf. fáscism *fáshism

ráck frame, stretch = wráck pain

rácket corruption, noise = rácquet sport

râdàr

râdìî

râdius

râid

râin water = rèign monarch = rèin horse

râise up = râze ground

râisin -zən

râison d’étre may have French accent: raison d´être

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

Rálph mostly, but some are Râlph, *Râfe

rámpâge noun

rampâge verb

Rámsey Isle of Man = Rámsay MacDonald

ráncour *rángkə BrE; AmE ráncor *rángkər

Rangoôn *Ráng-gûne

ránkle cf. wrínkle

ránsom money = Ránsome person

rappróchement *rápróshmó

rápt entranced = wrápped parcel

rárebit Welsh

rāspberry -spb- or -zb-

Rastafãrian

râtio *râyshôw

rátion -sh-

rátional -sh-

rationâle -sh-

ráttlesnake one word

råucous rhymes with cåucus

rây light = Rây = Râe = Wrây persons

râzor rhymes with lâser

rê concerning = rê- again prefix - in more common words, rê- sounds like rí-: compare revêal and rêdêal

rêad writing = rêed plant = Rêed = Rêid = Rêad persons

réad past, past participle = réd colour; cf. lêad present, léd past, past participle

Réading England = Rédding person, cf. rêading read

Reâgan Ronald cf. Rêgan Lear, Mégan

reáct - rê-

rêal genuine = rêel rotate

Reál Madríd *Rèy-ál Mədríd

reálpolitìk

rêalty

rêálity

réalm

rêam

rébel noun *rébble, cf. pébble

rebél verb

réccê *récky

recêde back *rísêed ≈ resêed plant, rê-

recêipt money -cêet, cf. concêit, decêit

recêive

rêcent lately cf. resént disapprove *rizént

rêcess

récipê food

recíprocal

réckon

récognise - g can be silent

recónnaíssance *recónissənss

récrêâtion fun, sport

rê-crêâtion forensics

recrûit redundant i

recür

recürred, recúrrence, recúrrent, recúrring - two r’s

réd colour = réad book

rédolent

Rêes = Rhỳs = Rêece = Rêese

refléct

refléction BrE can be refléxion

rêflex

rêed water = rêad book = Rêed = Rêad = Rêid persons

rêek smell = wrêak havoc

rêel round = rêal genuine

rê-énergise - rê- hyphenated before é

rê-éntry - rê- hyphenated before é

refër

réference

refŏrm

refûse no -z

réfuse rubbish -s

Rég *Rédge, rhyming with hédge

Rêgan Lear cf. Reâgan Ronald, Mégan

regìme *râizhìme

régister

rehëarse

Rêid person = rêad write = rêed water = Rêed person

rèign monarch = râin wet = rèin horse

rêígnîte

rêímbürse

rêínfŏrce cf. enfŏrce

rêíterate - not -tt-

rêjéct noun

rejéct verb

rejûvenate

relêase cf. rêalîse

rélevant

relìêf

relìêve

rêlíve

relŷ

remémber

remémbrance

reminíscent -ssent

Rénault ™ *Rénô

rendezvous *róndâyvoô

renège or renègue *rənâyg

Rêno

renòunce

renunciâtion -ú-

repéllent

rêpercússions

repétitive

rêplay noun

replây verb

replŷ

represént

represéntative

reprîsal

reprìse

repúblic

réputable

repûte

resëarch AmE rêsëarch

resémble *rizémble

resént *rizént dislike cf. rê-sént re-send, rêcent lately

réservoir *rézə(r)vwàr

rêshuffle noun

reshúffle verb

resîgn leave *rizîne, cf. rê-sîgn return *rê-sîne

resignâtion g sounded

resíst -zí-

resístance -zí-

resôlve *rízólve

resŏurce AmE rêsource

réspiratory

réspîte AmE réspíte

respónsible *respónsable (which is the French spelling)

réstaurant *réstrónt

resúlt *rizúlt

resûme again *ríz-yoôm

résumè CV - may be written résumé or resumé to distinguish it from resûme

resurréction réz-

resúscitate

retàrd verb

rêtard person

rétch vomit = wrétch 'poor

rethínk

rétina

reveillê *reválly

rével cf. revêal

revêre

réverence

revieŵ newspaper = revûe show

revísit

revôke cf. irrévocable

rewård

Réynolds

rhápsody -ədy

rhêa bird = Rhêa Saturn

rhétoric

rhetórical

rhodedéndron rô-

rhŷme

rhýthm *rídhəm

rhýthmic *rídhmic

ríbald *ríbbled, *ríbəld

ríbbon -bən

Ríchard BrE *Ríchəd

rídicule

ridículous *ridíkyələss

rîght side, correct = wrîte read = rîte ritual = wrîght artesan = Wrîght person

Rîley = Reîlly

rîme frost; also rare alternative, more regular, spelling of rhŷme

ríng round, noise = wríng neck

rísquè can have French accent: risqué *rískè

rîte ritual = wrîte read = rîght side, correct = wrîght artesan

ríven

ríver

Rìyadh - the only word with dh as the voiced sound of th in thís, and the only word with iy

rôad street = rôde ride

rôam wander = Rôme city

rób steal = Rób Robert

róbber

róbbery

róbin bird = Róbin = Róbyn persons

rôe fish = rôw line, in a, cf. ròw argue

Rôland cf. Rónald

rôle model rôle = rôll bread, rolling, call

roôfs roof *roôves, cf. hoôves hoof

roôm

Rôosevelt - first syllable rhymes with rôse

roôt plant = BrE roûte journey

rôse flower, rise = rôws boat, line

rôsè can have French accent: rosé wine

rôse-tínted

rôte learning = wrôte write

rótten

roûè can have French accent: roué

roúgh violent = rúff cards, neck, bird, fish

ròughage *rúffage, *rúffij

ròund

ròut victory

roûte journey BrE = roôt plant; AmE ròute = ròut victory

rôw boat, line = rôe fish

ròw argument

rúbble wreck cf. AmE rûble BrE roûble money

rûbric

rúcksack

Ruîslip *Rŷslip

rúmpus

rúnaway person cf. rún awây action

rúng ladder, ring = wrúng wring

Rûpert

rústle noise = Rússell person

Rŵánda Rûá-

S

S *éss

sác biology = sáck coal

sáccharine sácə-

sáchet bag = sáshay walk

sácrament

sâcred

sacrilegious -íjəss, from sácrilege, cf. relígious, which rhymes

Sagittãrius Sáj-

said *séd, cf. pâid, lâid etc.

Sàìd Port, person = Sàêed person

sâke for

sàkè Japan

sâle sell = Sâle England = sâil boat

Sålisbury *Sålzbry

sálivate

salîva

sálmon *sámmon

Sálomè

sálon

Samôa

Sámùel -myùl

sanctimônious

sándal rhymes with cándle

Sandinístas

sang-froid *sàm-frwà

San Josè , San José *Sán Hô-zè

Sánskrit cf. scrîbe

Sàra usually

Sãrah usually

Saskátchewan

sátellite - l is doubled, but not t

Sâtan

sátín

sátîre cf. sátyr

Sátürn

sátyr *sátter

Sàùdì

sàùerkràùt *sòurcròut

sàùna

såw see, wood, saying = BrE sŏre pain = BrE

sŏar up

sáx saxophone = Sáchs person

says *séz

sáy-sô noun one word

scándal *scándle, rhyming with cándle

scàr

scárab

scãre

scãrce

scàrf neck = Scàrfe person

scàrlet colour = Scàrlett person

sce- se-

scenàrio

scêne vista = sêen see

scént smell = cént money, sént send

scéptic AmE sképtic

schàdenfreude *shàdənfrŏyd

schédule BrE shé-, AmE ské-

schêma *skêemə

schemàta *skêem-àtə

schême *skêem

schérzo *skãirtso

schizophrênia , skítsəfrìnia

schizophrénic , skítsəfrénnic

schnítzel shn-

schtùm sht-

schoôl *skoôl

schoôlboy, schoôlgirl each one word

schoôner skoô-

schwà sh-

sciática sî-

scientífic sîən-

scíssors - ss as z

scóne cf. góne, dòne, cône

scöreboard one word

Scót Scotland = Scótt person

scòur

scöurge

scráp

scrâpe

scrâped

scrápped

scrêam

scrêen

scríbble

scúll oar = skúll head

scŷthe

sêa water = sêe vision

sêal shut, animal

sêaling = cêiling floor

Seån person = Shåun = BrE shŏrn shear

Sêáttle cf. bêátify

secêde cf. procêed, precêde, succêed, supersêde

secónd BrE military

sécond other meanings

sectãrian

sedán cf. Sudàn

sédentary cf. said, *séd

sêed plant = cêde yield

sêem appear = sêam coal, thread

sêer *sêe-er

segregâtion

seîsmic sîz-

seismólogist sîz-

sêize grab *sêez = sêes see, cf. cêase stop, sîze big, síeve filter

sélf-évident

séll buy = céll prison, biology

séll-bŷ dâte - I once saw ‘sell buy date’

sémblance cf. resemble

sêmen sperm = sêaman sailor = sêamen sailors

sénsor feel = cénsor censorship

séntence

Seôul Korea = sôle only, shoe = sôul spirit

séparate adjective, séparâte verb not -per-, cf. a in pãir, désperate

séptic infected cf. scéptic = AmE sképtic doubter

sépulchre *sépulker

sërf peasant = sürf sea

sergeant *sàrjent = Sergeant = Sàrgent persons

sêrial TV = cêreal breakfast

sêries *sêríz

sêrious cf. Sýria, Sírius

sërve cf. sürvèy noun, *sërvây; survèy verb

sërvíce *sërvíss, cf. sürface, -físs, only one sound different

sétback noun one word

séver cut

sevêre tough

sew thread = sô thus = sôw seed, cf. sòw pig

seŵer pipe

sewer sew

séxìêst -ìyíst most

séxíst sexism

sextét

Shâkespêare - variant spellings omitted one or both silent e’s in William Shakespeare’s time but this is the norm now; cf. shâke and spêar

shâky

shâman

shãreholder one word

shêar cut = shêer absolute

shèikh Arabia - kh sound, or = shâke rattle

Shêila

shéllfish cf. sélfish

shenánigans no double letters

shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons

shh any number of h’s

Shìa ≈ BrE shêer

shíbboleth

Shìîte - no apostrophe or hyphen

shoe foot = shoô away

shoô-in noun one word; *shoe-ín

shoôt bang = chûte fall

shôre sea BrE = Shåw person and often = sûre certain

shŏrn shear BrE = Shåun, Seån persons

shŏrtcoming one word

shŏrtlist finalists cf. a shŏrt líst

Shostakôvich

shoùld *shoòd, cf. shôulder, hoòd

shôwcase one word, cf. bàsket câse

Shreŵsbury *Shroôzbry or, more commonly, *Shrôzbry

shŷ

shŷlỳ

Siàn *Shàn

Sîbêria

síbyllîne - y as schwa

sìêge cf. sêize

síeve *sív, cf. sêize

Siérra Leône

Sierra Leônean

sîgh breath = Cŷ person

sîghed sigh = sîde beside

sîght see = sîte place = cîte quote

sîgn signal = sîne mathematics

sígnature

Sìkh religion = sêek find

símilê cf. símilar, smîle

simultâneous

Sînaî *Sînêî

Sinàtra

síng song = Síngh person

sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing

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

Singapŏre

Singapŏrean

singlemîndedly

sîphon or sŷphon

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

sîte place = cîte quote

sîting site

sítting sit

situâtion sí-, cf. citâtion cite

sîze cf. sêize

sîzeable or sîzable

skì snow, cf. skŷ above

skìêr ski

skîer sky

skìíng

skîve

skuldúggery

skúll head = scúll oar

skŷscrâper one word

slág cf. Glénda Slágg

slây kill = slèigh snow

slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase, which has the s hissing sound

slêeve, cf. lêave

sleîght-of-hand cf. slâte

sleŵ

slîght little, slur = sleîght-of-hand

slípshod no hyphen

slôth

slòugh swamp *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw not fast

sloúgh skin *slúff

slúg

slür

slŷ

slŷlỳ

smållpox one word

smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin

smôkescreen one word

Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th

snêeze

snóbbery

snoôze

snôwmobìle cf. môbîle

snôwstorm

sŏar up = sŏre hurt

sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber

sóccer *sócker

sôcial sôsh-

sôcialism

sociólogy sôsh-

sociológical

sóck cf. sóccer

sóften *sóffen

sóftwãre

sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt

sôle only, fish = sôul spirit = Seôul Korea

sólipsism

solitãire patience cf. sólitary alone

sôlo

Sólomon - all o’s

sómbre BrE; AmE sómber; cf. sôber

sòme any = súm total

sòmeone *súmwún, one word

sòmersåult cf. súmmer

Sòmerville cf. súmmer

sòmething cf. sòme thíngs

sòmetime former cf. sòme tîme

sòmeẁhat one word

sônàr

sóngwrîter one word

soôn

soòt

sŏre pain = sŏar rise, BrE = såw see

sŏught seek BrE = sŏrt type

sôul spirit = sôle only, fish = Seôul Korea

sòundbite one word

soûpçon *soûpsón

sŏurce origin BrE = såuce seasoning

sòuth unvoiced th, *sòwth

soúthern voiced th, *súdhern

Soúthwark voiced th, *Súdhək

soûvenìr *sûvenêer

sóvereign *sóvrin

sôw seed = sô therefore = sew cloth, cf. sòw

sòw pig

sŏya bean = Såwyer person = såwyer saw

spà town BrE = spàr fight

spâte flood, many = Spêight person

spây

spâceship one word

spêak cf. spêech

spêcíes *spêeshiz

spécimen

spéctre BrE; AmE spécter = Spéctor person

spêech cf. spêak

Spéncer usual = Spénser poet

spíllage -íj

spínach *spínij, *spínnage, cf. spíllage

spôkesperson one word

spótlîght -lîte, one word

spŷ

Srì Lánka

sqùander

sqùalor cf. dóctor, BrE còlour AmE còlor

squêamish

St. *Sənt: abbreviation of Sâint before a name as in St. Màrk; St. Jóhn secular may be *Sínjən

stâbilise

stâble stability, horse

stâgefright *stâjefrîte, one word

stâid old-fashioned = stâyed stay

stâin

stâir up = stâre look

stâke bet, wooden = steâk meat

ståll

stålwart

stànch flow

stàr sky, film = Stàrr person

stãre look = stãir climb

stãring stare

stàrring star

stâtionary motionless = stâtionery paper

stâtist

statístics

státistícian -shn

ståunch support

stây

stâyed stay = stâid old-fashioned

steâk meat = stâke bet, wooden, cf. strêak line

stêal thieve = stêel metal

stéalth

sténch

stép walk = stéppe plain

Stêphens = Stêvens -v-

stérilise

stërling currency = Stïrling Scotland = Stërling person

steŵard

Steŵart person = Stûart person: one is more likely to meet a Stûart Steŵart than the reverse

stíck

stîfle

stíll

stíng

stíngy -njy

stínk

stítch

St. Jóhn in most cases *Sənt-Jón, in a few *Sínjən

stôny

stópôver noun, adjective

stŏre shop = Stŏrr person

'stŏrey BrE floor = stŏry tale, AmE floor

stŏry-télling

Stŏrmont

strâight direct = strâit narrow

straightfŏrward adjective one word

Stranràer

stràta BrE; AmE strâta = BrE strâighter

stratêgic

strátegy

stràtum AmE strâtum

strénuous

Stréatham -təm

strýchnìne *strícknêen

Stûart person = Steŵart person - the Scottish royals were Stûarts but Stûart is more common as a given name, Steŵart more as a family name

stúcco

stûdent

stúdy

stûpid

stŷ pig = stŷ or stŷe eye

stŷle mode = stîle field

stŷmie cf. slîmy

Stýx river = stícks stick

suàve swà-

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

súb jûdicê

súbjugate

submarìne

submáriner

submít

subŏrn

subpoêna AmE -pê-

subsîdence

súbsídy

substántial -shəl

súbtitle

súbtle *súttle, cf. súpple

succêed -x-

succéss -x-

súccour help = súcker fool

succúmb -úm

Sudān cf. sedán

sûe law = Sûe Susan = Sioûx American; cf. diminutives Sûsie, Sûzy, etc. = Sioûxsie Banshees; words beginning soô- and soû- also have this sound

suède material = swâyed sway

Sûez *Soôwíz

suffîce

Súffolk -fək

sùgar shù-

sûit wear, cards *sût - or *syût (more common in inflected versions such as unsûitable), cf. soòt black

suìte rooms, music = swêet confection

súlphur BrE; AmE súlfur

súm arithmetic = sòme others

súmmary summarise = súmmery summer

sún star = sòn offspring

súnglasses one word

súnny sun = sònny son

súndae ice-cream = Súnday day

Sùnni Muslim cf. súnny weather - some AmE speakers say Sûnni *Soôny

sûper-rích is a good example of the usefulness of the hyphen: compare an apparent ‘supérrich’

supercílious

supërfluous

superflûity

supersêde cf. precêde, intercêde

súpper

súpple *súpəl, cf. súbtle, *sútəl

súpplement -pləmənt

supplŷ provide

súpplỳ supple

suppréss -pp-

sûre AmE *shûre; BrE sůre rhyming with Shåw

sûrety AmE *shûre, BrE *shůrety

sürf sea = sërf peasant

sürface -físs, cf. sërvíce, only one sound different

Surinám or -náme

surmòunt

súrrogacy

sürplíce clergy ≈ sürplus extra

surprîse -rpr-; not -ize

survèillance -ll-

sürvèy noun

survèy verb

Sûsan -z-, cf. Suzánne, etc.

suscéptible

suspénse AmE and BrE; but see retroalphabetical list for -ence and -ense

sustâin

sústenance

svélte

sẁallow throat, bird

sẁamp

sẁan bird = Sẁann person

Sẁansea *Swónzy

swårthy

sẁastika

sẁat fly = swót exam

sẁath

swâthe

swéar

swéat perspire

swêet eat = suìte music, hote

swêetheàrt

sweêt-talk verb hyphenated

swŏrd blade *sŏrd, cf. swård turf, swŏre, swŏrn swear, w pronounced in all three

swót exam = sẁat fly

sý- apart from the variant spelling of sîphon, sŷphon, and Sŷracûse

sybarític cf. síbyllîne

sýcamore

• sych- no words begin like this

sýcophánt

Sýdney Australia, person = Sídney person

sýllable

sýllabus

sýlph

sýmbol sign = cýmbal percussion

sýmmetry

symmétrical

sýmptom cf. Símpson

sýnagogue -góg

sýnch synchronisation = sínk lower, wash

sýndrome

synécdochê -kê

sýnod

syrínge

sýrup

sýstem

T

T = têa drink = têe golf

tábleau *táblô, plural tábleaux, *táblôze

tâilor clothes = Tâylor person

tâle ~story = tâil animal

Táliban or Táleban

Taîwàn

tålk -åk; more examples in retroalphabetical list

Tállíín -íí- as í

tálon

Tánzanìa

taoìseach *têeshək

táriff *tárrif

tárôt rhymes with árrôw

tāsk cf. túsk

Tâte = Tâit

tattoô

tåut firm = tåught teach

Tbilìsi *Təblêezy - neither spelt nor pronounced ‘Tibilisi’

Tchaikóvsky has a redundant T: *Chŷ-kóffsky

têa drink = têe golf = tì do-re-mi

têam game = têem pour

téar paper

têar cry

têase provoke = têas tea

têenager one word

teetôtaller BrE; AmE teetôtaler

Tehràn - é or è; or Teheràn

Tél Avìv

télephône

teléphony

télevísion -ízhn

télly

ténant *ténnent

téndency

ténor sound = ténner money

tërn bird = türn round

Terpsíchore rhymes with híckory

Terpsichŏrean Tërpsik-

térrorism

testósterone

téther - no a

th- respelt as dh- where voiced

Thaî nationality = tîe knot, score

Thaîland *Tŷlənd

Thames *Témz

than - only thán at dictation speed

thát dh-; as a demonstrative it has the á sound, but when a conjunction or relative pronoun it normally has schwa *dhət: Î dôn’t thínk that thát was the sâme mán that câme befŏre

thåw freeze = BrE Thŏr god

the *dhə: the schwa sound before a following consonant, thê before a following vowel; in other circumstances thê sounds mannered, as with â for the indefinite article

thêatre - a as schwa: *thêəter; AmE -ter

théir them dh- = thére here = théy’re they are: *thãir

Thêodore

thêorem

thêory

thérefore dh-

thêse this -z

thêsês thesis -ssêez

thèy dh-

thìêf

thìêves

thínk

thís dh-

Thómas Tó-

Thómpson, Thómson Tó-

thŏrn rose, letter þ

thòrough exacting *thúrra, cf. throûgh

thòu you *dhòu

thôugh although *dhô

thŏught think *thåwt

thŏught-provôking hyphenated

thréat

thréepence or *thrùpence or *thrúppence

thréshold

threŵ throw

thrôes anguish = thrôws throw

thrône queen = thrôwn throw

throûgh preposition = threw throw = thrû informal American spelling of throûgh ; cf. thòrough

throughòut all over one word = threŵ òut throw out, w sounded

thrôw toss

thrôwn throw = thrône king

thúmb -m

thús dh-

thwårt

thŷme herb = tîme clock

tîde sea = tîed tie

tîe knot, level = Thaî nation, cf. tŷing

tìêr rank = têar cry, cf. téar rip

tîer tie

tíff

tîger cf. Nigér *Nizhãir

tîghten tight = tîtan giant = Tîtan Saturn

Tîgris

tíll until, field

tîme hours = thyme herb

tîmetable one word; cf. tîmes tâbles

Tìmor

tínpot adjective one word

Tintágel -j-

tîre tired, AmE car = tŷre BrE car = Tŷre Lebanon

tîtan giant = tîghten tight = Tîtan Saturn

títillate *títtilate

tîtle

títtle-tattle

tmêsis

to preposition *tə; when stressed, especially before a vowel = toô also, much, tŵo 2

tôad animal = tôwed tow

tôaster toast = Tôcester England

to-do fight = to do do *tədû

tôe foot = tôw pull

tóffee *tóffy

tôga’ed

tôld tell = tôlled toll, cf. åll tôld

tólerance

tôll

tómahawk cf. Tómmy

tomb *toôm

tòn avoirdupois = tònne metric = tún cask

Tónga - g sound optional

tòngue mouth *túng, cf. tóng tongs

toô much = to at' = tŵo number

tópple

tópsy-türvy

tŏrment noun = tormént verb

tornâdôs cf. potâtôes

tŏrturous torture

tŏrtûous twisting

Tóttenham *Tótnəm

toúch cf. pòuch

toúgh hard = túff rock

Touloûse France ≈ to lose lost

toûr

toûr de fŏrce

Toûr de Frànce

tòusle -zle

tòut

tôw rope = tôe digit

tòwel

tòwer building

tôwer tow

tráffic cf. gráphic

trâil cf. trîal

trâiler cf. tâilor

trâit character = trây flat

trajéctory

tranquíllity AmE -íli

transpárent cf. pãrent

transséxual -ss-

traumátic -åu-

trêat

trêatíse study = trêatíes treaty

tréspass -əss *trésspass

trîal cf. trâil

tríbûne

trîbûnal

trîénnial

trígger-háppy

tríptých -ík

trîumph

tróglodyte

trombône

troôp army = troûpe stage

troúble rhymes with búbble, doúble

tróugh -óff

tròunce

trûe

trûly *trûely

trûth unvoiced -th

trûths -dhz

trŷ

trýst

Tsàr or Czàr *Zàr

tsétsê, tsunàmi - it makes little difference whether or not one attempts to pronounce the initial t

Tsvángeraî, Tsvángiraî Cháng-

tubërculôsis

Tûcsón *Tûsón

tûne *cheŵn

Tûnis, Chûníss

Tunisia BrE Chû-níziə, AmE Toô-nêezhə

túnnel

türn round = tërn bird

túppence = twòpence

Türkêy country = türkêy bird

türmoil

Tutankhàmun

TV *têe-vêe

tẁaddle

twêezers cf. têaser *têezer

twërp

tŵo 2 *tû = to at = toô also, much

'tŷing from tîe

tyránnical

týranny

tŷrant

tŷre car AmE tîre car, tired = Tŷre Lebanon

U

Û = yoû person

UÈFA *yu-wâfə

uhúh

Uìghur *Wêeger

ukelèlê yû-

Ukrâine Yû-; -âine, not -âne

umbílical

ún- not hyphenated

úndergròund adjective before noun, one word; otherwise under gròund

underrâted -rr-

understánd one word

undertâke

únder wây two words

undo -û

ÛNICEF YÛ-

únidéntified

ûnîted yû-

unknôwn - silent k, so two n’s sounded

unnôticed - two n’s sounded

úprŏar

ür- original = ër pause

Urânus *Yərânəss: *Yùrənəss is a euphemism

ürban town

urbâne civilised

ürchin

Ürdu

ûríne yû-

urînal yû-

ürn ashes = ëarn money = ërne eagle

Ürquhart *Ürkət, Ürcàrt, *Ïrk-heàrt

Ùruguay Yù-

ÛS America *yû-wéss, cf. ús we

ûse noun *yoôss as in ẁhat ís the ûse? verb *yoôz as in ûse mîne

ûsed use *yoôzd as in ûsed cars; habituated *yoôst as in Î’m ûsed to thát and wê ûsed to gô thére

Ûtàh *yû-

Utôpia Yû- cf. eûlogy, also yû-

V

V = Vêe person

váccine *váxín, cf. tóxin

vácûous *vákyûwəss

vácûum *váckyûme

vâin proud = vâne weather = vèin blood

válue

válve

vápid

vâpour AmE vâpor

vãry cf. véry, é not followed by schwa

vàse BrE *vàz, AmE *vâyss, rhyming with bâse

Våughan = Våughn *Våwn

Vauxhall *Vóxåll

vêer

végetable -jt-

vêhicle - -hi- as schwa: *vìəcle

vèil face = vâle valley

vèin blood = vâin proud = vâne weather

Venêtian -êshən

Venezuèla *Venezwâyla

véngeance cf. vindíctive

Véníce *Vénnis, cf. ténnis

vénison - i can be silent; s can be z

vénûe

Vênus

verbâtim

vermílion -l-, cf. míllion

Vérsaîlles *Vãir-sŷe

vërsus against *vërssəss ≈ vërses verse *vërsíz

véry *vérry, cf. vãry, longer sound

véterinary *vétinary

véx

vîa

vicãrious

vîce-président - the hyphen differentiates from vîce président which would theoretically mean ‘president of vice’

vichyssoise *víshy-swàz

vícious *víshus, cf víscous

víctual *víttle

Vìénna

Vìênnêse

Vìêtnām one word *VietNām

vieŵ rendundant i: *vyû, *veŵ, cf. feŵ, etc.

vieŵpoint one word

vígorous

vígour BrE; AmE vígor

vîle nasty = Weîll Kurt

vílify

víllage -íj

víllain -an

vindaloô

vindíctive cf. véngeance

vîne

vínegar

víneyard

vînyl *vînəl

viôla music

vîola plant = Vîola person

vîolate

vîolent

vîolet

violín

Vïrgo

vïrtue good = Vërtue person

vis-a-vìs, or with French accent vis-à-vis *vizavêe

vísceral *vísseral

víscous -sk-, cf. vícious

vísible

vísion *vízhən

vítamin BrE; AmE vîtamin

Vívian = Vývyan = Vívien = Vývien = Vívienne

vódka

vólley

voluntêer

W

W *doúble-û

wácky cf. wháck

ẁad

ẁaffle

wág

wágon - ´waggon’ is French

wâil cry = BrE whâle sea

wâist body = wâste spend

wâit time = wèight heavy = Wâite person

wâive dismiss = wâve hand, sea

Wâles Welsh = BrE whâles sea

wålk -åk

wåll

Ẁallace = Ẁallis, rhyming with Hóllis

Wallônia Wó-

Walloôn Wó-

wålrus

Wåltham -təm

wåltz *wålse

ẁan pale *wón cf. wòn win

ẁander roam cf. wònder what?

wâne less = Wâyne person = wâin wagon

ẁannabê cf. ẁallabỳ

ẁant desire cf. wôn’t will not

wår battle = wŏre wear

wãrehouse cf. whŏrehouse h-

wãres market = weãrs clothes

wårhéad one word

wårm hot cf. wörm wriggle

wårn caution = wŏrn wear = Wårne person

wårt

ẁarrant *wórrənt

ẁarranty cf. guarantêe from same root

wårring

ẁarrior cf. wòrrier

Ẁarrington *Wórrington, cf. Dórrington, Nórrington

wårt

Ẁarwick *Wórrick

wãry

ẁas *wóz

ẁash

Ẁashington

ẁasp

wâste loss = wâist body

ẁatchtòwer one word

wåter cf. Wålter

ẁatt electricity = BrE ẁhat question

ẁattage *wóttij

wâvelength one word

wê us = wêe little, toilet

wêak feeble = wêek days

wêal mark = BrE whêel traffic

wéapon

Wêar River = Wêir person = wêir water, rhyming with êar, hêar and fêar

wéars clothes = wâres shop

wêary

wéather cloudy = wéther ram = BrE whéther if

wébsite one word

Wédnesday Wénz-

wèigh heavy = wây route, manner = BrE whèy curds

wèight heavy = wâit time

wêir water = Wêir person = wê’re are, cf. wìêld, fìêld

wêird odd cf. wìêld carry

wê’ll shall cf. wéll good

wén lump = BrE whén time

wëre was cf. whére place, wê’re we are

wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf

wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if

wê’re we are

wh- BrE w-, AmE hw-

wháck cf. wácky

whâle sea BrE = wâil cry

whám

ẁhat question BrE = wót jocular = ẁatt electric

whêedle

whêel round BrE = wêal mark

whén time BrE = wén tumour

whére place cf. wëre was

whereás one word, *wéəráz

whét appetite BrE = wét water

whéther if BrE = wéather rain = wéther ram

whèy curds BrE = wèigh weight = wây method

whîne moan BrE = wîne drink

whínge -nj, cf. wíng

whïrl

whïrlwind one word

whïrr noise BrE = wëre be

whísky or whískey (the former usually refers to Scotch, the latter to bourbon)

whísper

whístle *whíssle

whít small = Whít Whitsun BrE = wít humour

whîte colour BrE = Wîght Isle

whîteẁash one word

whíther where BrE = wíther decay

Whítsun -u-

who person *hoô, cf. WHO World Health Organisation *doúble-yoû-âitch-ô

whôle all = hôle gap

whôlesâle h-, one word

whôlly completely two l’s pronounced; ≈ hôly sacred – where only one l is heard

whoôping-cóugh hoô-

whoòps!

whoòsh rhymes with pùsh

whópping big BrE = Ẁapping London

whŏre prostitute = hŏar frost = Hŏare person

whose belonging = who’s who is/has *hoôz. There is similar potential confusion as with the more notorious ít's ít ís and íts of it

whŷ

wícked evil *wíckíd cf. wíki

wícked wick *wíct

Wíckham = Wýcombe

wìêld cf. wêir, wêird

Wikipêdia

wîles stratagems cf. whîle during

wílful in AmE can be wíllful, which is unusual: in most words it is the BrE spelling which has the double l before a suffix, as in dîalling

wíll verb = Wíll William

wílly-nílly

wîly

wînd round

wínd blow

wíndbag one word

wîne drink = BrE whîne moan

Wiscónsin

wísp

wít humour = BrE whít small = BrE Whít Whitsun

wítch-húnt

wíther decay = BrE whíther where

withhéld second h aspirated

withhôld second h aspirated

withín one word

withòut one word

Wodehouse PG = Woòdhouse Emma, etc.

wôe sad = BrE whôa horse

wók

wolf *wùlf = Woòlf person

woman *wùmən

women *wímmin

wòn game = òne only

wònder what? cf. ẁander roam

wòndrous

wónky

wôn’t will not = wônt habit, cf. ẁant require

woòd tree = woùld if

woòlly wool = Woòlley person

Worcester England = Woòster Bertie

wörd cf. wård

wörkingmán in AmE can be one word, BrE wörking mán

wörld

wŏrldwide one word

wörm

wòrry BrE; AmE wörry

wörship cf. wårship

Worcester *Wùster

wŏre wear = wår fight

wörse

wörsted worst

worsted cloth wû-

wörth

woùld if = woòd tree

would-be adjective hyphenated

woûnd injury

wòund wînd

wòw excitement cf. wôe depression

wráck pain = ráck frame, stretch

wráp parcel = ráp knock, speak

ẁrath anger = Róth person

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

wrêath noun unvoiced th as in bréath, different vowel sound

wrêathe verb voiced th, as in brêathe

wréck cf. réckless

wrést wrestle = rést repose

wrétch miserable = rétch vomit

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

wríng squeeze = ríng finger, bell

wrínkle cf. ránkle

wrîte written = wrîght etc.

wróngdoing one word, *róngdûing

wróng-foòt verb

wrôte write = rôte learning

wrúng wring = rúng ring, ladder

wrŷ humour = rŷe crop

wrŷlỳ wry = Rîley person

wùff

Wŷatt *Wŷət, cf. whîte

xénophobe z-

xenophôbia zé-

X

X = éx past

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

Xêrox z-

Xhôsa k-

Xinjiáng - as other words from Chinese, Sh-

X-ray *éxrây

xŷlophone z-

Y

Y = whŷ reason

yacht *yót

yê you

yeâ yes

yéah yes *yé

yêar or yëar

yëarn

Yeâts poet = Yâtes, more common spelling

yeôman

Yeôvil

yìêld

yôke oxen = yôlk egg

yŏre days = yŏur you

yoúng

your my = you’re I’m = yŏre past

yoû’ll or yŏu’ll or yoù’ll

Z

Z BrE zéd, AmE zêe

zêal

zéalot

zébra or zêbra

zeîtgeîst

zénith

Zeûs

Zìa

zígzág

Zimbàbwè

zíp

Zôê *Zôwỳ

zoô

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

zoôt

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

Zûlu

Zûrich -k

Apostrophe

Words that begin with an apostrophe are:

’em - them = um - hmmm *əm

’tís and ’tẁas - poetic use of initial apostrophe, replacing omitted initial í of ít ís and ít ẁas and shaped (in fonts where there are different shapes) like 9, not 6

Retroalphabetical list

This list is in alphabetical order beginning with the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it. The headword is on the right. In this way, suffixes and other word endings can be seen grouped together, just as prefixes can be seen in normal alphabetical order. So, instead of ádd båll coúsin, we have réplicA fláB plástiC; and so for mûsiC, see under -c, for mûsicaL, see under -l, for pàrticlE, see under -e, and so on.

Some suffixes are included separately with their pronunciation applying or not to following words.

Again, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after z. For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:

woman mâid = make mâde

A

mostly schwa -a

BrE barrier, drink bàr = sheep bàa

Ábba

Shêba

Cûba

Hécuba

scûba

tûba

Lŏrca

(but Nabokov's is Àda) Âda

Granàda

Grenâda

propagánda

referénda

.*îdêə idêa

.*flê flêa

.*plê plêa

-êə Crîmêa

-êə ãrêa

place = Chélsy person Chélsêa

.*Swónzy Sẁansêa

.*nåuzêə nåusêa

Ólga

broûhàhà

gèisha

clós- claustrophôbìa

-íshə Alícia

-ìssiə Galìcia

-íshə: rhymes with milítia - Patrícia

Albânia

Tanzanìa

Armênia

.*skítzô-frêniə schizophrênia

Slovênia

insómnia

Wó- Wallônia

ària

malãria

Bavãria

Lîbêria

hystêria

pìts- pizzerìa

Victŏria

trattorìa

.*Âyshə or *Âyzhə Âsia

-zhə amnêsia

-zhə Indonêsia

.*Toô-nìzhə AmE; BrE Chû-nízìə Tunisia

-zhə Maláysia

-shə -tia

• Crôw-âyshə Croâtia

Patrícia rhymes with milítia

inërtia

vîa

trŏika

là

Kampàla

Mandéla

-zwâyla Venezuèla

umbrélla

côla

scrófula

.*pé-nínssyələ península

Mà

Alabáma

Pánamà

dràma

or -mə cínemà

Émma

dilémma

diplôma

carcinôma

Victoriàna

.*Loû-êasy-Ánna Louisiána

banāna

Montána

nìrvàna

Guyána

vagîna

Regîna

Polyánna

hénna

anténna

tûna

bôa

Nôah rhymes with Gôa

môa

Pà

spà

brà

cf. Ôprah - ópera

Pandŏra

Andŏrra AmE; BrE Andórra

Sumàtra

Sinàtra

ork- ŏrchestra

strâta AmE ≈ BrE strâighter - stràta

táffeta

excrêta

-wə Manágua

-yûə or -wə Nicarágua

nôva

sŏya

Gàza

plàza

.*pêetsa pìzza

B

náb

jáb

Árab

stáb

ébb

fíb

níb

.*lám lámb

.*lím límb

up clîme = climate clîmb

.*côam cômb

còme, húm, súm rhyme with -cúm succúmb

.*dúm dúmb

.*thúm thúmb

fruit plúm = plumbing plúmb

.*núm númb

.*bóm bómb

.*côam cômb

.*toôm tomb

hóbnob

.*dŏrnób dŏorknob

AmE *érb hërb

vërb

súburb

blürb

pertürb

distürb

cúb

dúb

húb

C

mâniac

insómniac

.*afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac

lîlac

ålmanac

Quebéc

terrífic

horrífic

lógic

.*shêek chìc

pýrrhic

éthic

Góthic

mýthic

repúblic

seîsmic

herôíc

cf. Pátrick - Éric

ill síck = thus síc

mûsic

dramátic

tråumátic

fanátic

noun, verb státic

parasític

plástic

drástic

acoûstic

cf. adjective mýstical - noun mýstic

loft áttic = Greek Áttic

paralýtic

wood blóck = political blóc

súbfúsc

can be móllusk in American - móllusc

D

bád

dád

book Bêde = string bêad

déad

héad

knêad

bréad

dréad

spréad

instéad

fád

hád

Ílìád

Jeremîád

trîád

lád

mád

gôad

rôad

brŏad

abrŏad

tôad

sád

qùad rhymes with ẁad

ádd

ódd

-did -ded

woûnded

låuded

procêed

hêed

nêed

grêed

wêed

áct = -ácked

tactful táct = tack tácked

stácked

AmE tráveled

-ld fîled

-ld smîled

-ld pîled

l doubled after stressed syllable - BrE and AmE rebélled

BrE trávelled

abándoned

boôed

-pt stépped

réd

scãred

.*sâycríd sâcred

hámpered

cf. compãred - cómpéred

two syllables neûtered

revêred

sévered

mîred

cf. hâte - *hâtríd hâtred

cf. kînd - *kíndríd kíndred

-rəd húndred

food bâste = base bâsed

.*bîast bîased

-éssed mostly rhymes with -ést: conféssed

.*blést, but can be *bléssid before a noun bléssed

asséssed

obséssed

-tíd -ted

tàrgeted

.*rícoshâid rícochèted

intërpreted

excîted

éxited

ẁanted

bígoted

-vd shôved

-vd lòved

allòwed

hállowed

néxt rhymes with séxed

stãry-eŷed

stàrry-eŷed

person Bŏyd = buoy buŏyed

âid

lâid

make mâde = woman mâid

.*pâyed pâid

bray brâyed = hair brâid

.*séd said

bíd

díd

líd

sqùalid

válid

vŏid

rápid

vápid

flûíd

Réginald

Rónald

géld

héld

fìêld

wìêld

mèld

wéld

gíld

chîld

mîld

wîld

ôld

bôld

fôld

thrêefôld

gôld

hôld

x yêars ôld in the plural, but hyphens when it's an adjective, noun x-yêar-ôld

sôld

tôld

cf. gôld - Goûld

cf. coùld, shoùld and woùld, all -ùd - môuld

ánd

hánd

lánd

-lənd: mostly schwa in (place or people’s) names, where it conveys familiarity: -lánd suggests alienness, even lack of sovereignty -land

Tŷ- Thaîland

Blánd

Åuckland

Hólland

a as schwa before nouns, e.g. Ínland Révenue, otherwise á - ínlánd

mâinlánd

Fínland

Pôland

Láplánd

Súnderland

mòtherlánd

hínterlánd

ôverlánd

Swítzerland

Quêensland

Scótland

heàrtlánd

Mãryland

sánd

fìênd

friénd

blénd

pénd

rénd

sénd

ténd

wénd

bînd

crime fîned = discover fînd

hînd

one word hûmankînd

blînd

mînd

rînd

támarínd

blow wínd

round wînd

beyónd

ròund

woûnd

religion Gód = idol gód

clód

nód

pód

foôd

goòd

no y - lîkelihoòd

moôd

broôd

woòd

apart from monosyllables, mostly -ə(r)d -ard

càrd

bêard

hëard

hàrd

• Ríchə(r)d Ríchard

shàrd

làrd

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

.*cúbbə(r)d cúpboard

flŏorbŏard

.*lépə(r)d léopard

lêotàrd

bāstard

bústard

.*gàrd guàrd

wård

báckward

åwkward

except for Fránkie Hòwerd: Hòward

yàrd

házard

lízard

wízard

blízzard

búzzard

hear hëard = animals hërd

nërd

bïrd

tie chŏrd = vocal cörd

person Fŏrd = water fŏrd

name suffix, -fəd -ford

Brádford

Rédford

Blándford

Rétford

Óxford

rope cŏrd = music chörd

wörd

absürd

türd

applåud

Måud

fråud

Î’d

listen hêed = he hê’d

shê’d

plant wêed = we wê’d

.*prâycêed prècis’d

ít’d

yoû’d

thèy’d

E

Final e is mostly silent; for words normally italicised and ending in written -é see French words in English - e

AmE -ê -aê

nébulaê

fŏrmulaê

anténnaê

nôvaê

scrîbe

descrîbe

medicine prescrîbe ≈ illegal proscrîbe

zé- xénophobe

lôbe

fâce

.*préffis préface

.*ménnis ménace

Ẁallis = Ẁallace

.*Hórris, rhyming with words in -óris - Hórace

.*térris térrace

îce

sácrifîce

órifíce BrE; AmE ǒrifíce

sürplíce

nîce

Véníce

cŏrníce

hóspíce

thrîce

caprìce

trîce

pôultíce

láttíce

noun = práctíse BrE verb - práctíce

nôtíce

devîce

crévíce

véngeance

(sometimes written as in French) séance - sèànce

chānce

vígilance

románce

perfŏrmance

noun = verb either stressed fînánce

híndrance

forbéarance

enter éntrance

beguile entrānce

cf. exístence - stānce

cf. exístence - resístance

AmE lîcense, cf. BrE and AmE suspénse - lîcence

.*ákwêeyéssənss; cf. présence, -zənss - acquiéscence

câdence

décadence

transcéndence

subsîdence

évidence

próvidence

cf. dénse - fénce

AmE defénse - defénce

AmE offénse - offénce

hénce

scîence

-shənss cónscience

åudience

-âshence impâtience

cf. prevâil - prévalence

vîolence

përmanence

adhêrence

occúrrence

rêcúrrence

ábsence

cómpetence

séntence

insístence

cf. stānce - exístence

ínfluence

mint mínts ≈ meat mínce

print prínts ≈ royal prínce

fìêrce

pìêrce

enfŏrce

-êí- reinfŏrce

divŏrce

verbs -ésce

-éss acquiésce

.*côwaléss coalésce

-éss effervésce

BrE -dyoôss or -joôss, AmE doôss -dûce

redûce

indûce

verb prodûce

noun próduce

fâde

shâde

jâde

glâde

woman mâid = make mâde

granâde

sh-; AmE charâde - charàde

parâde

concêde

intercêde

supersêde

stressed in verbs, unstressed in nouns, but always pronounced -îde

régicide

sûicide

cŷanide

derîde

asîde

besîde

.*rizîde resîde

one word úpside

one word dòwnside

provîde

óxide

in some names -forde

íl- elûde

əl- allûde

lóngitude

látitude

áttitude

insect bêe

divorcêe

fêe

cóffee

banóffee

tóffee

Yánkee

glêe

referêe

as a suffix meaning ‘without’ -frêe should be at least hyphenated: cãrefrêe and commítment-frêe

degrêe

pédigree

sêe

.*lîcencêe licensêe

cf. députy - devotêe

payêe

-êe has main stress when in contrast to emplŏyer - emplŏyêe

gáffe

lîfe

.*nîfe knîfe

wîfe

âge

mostly -íj -age

-íj cábbage

-íj bándage

.*hémərij haémorrhage

fôlìage

.*cárríj cárriage

.*márríj márriage

-àzh fûselage

-àzh cámouflage

-íj víllage

-àzh cóllage

-íj dámage

-íj mánage

-àzh bádinage

BrE *gáràj; *gáríj is regarded by many as uneducated; AmE *gəràzh gáràge

-íj áverage

-íj béverage

-íj lêverage

-àzh míràge

-íj stŏrage

BrE *báràj, AmE *bəràzh bárràge

sâge

BrE *məssàj, AmE *məssàzh mássàge

-íj méssage

-àzh dréssàge

-íj ûsage

-àzh sábotàge

-íj cóttage

-íj wâstage

-íj hóstage

-íj lánguage

-íj sávage

bádge

édge

plédge

slédge

-íj knówledge

mídge

rídge

brídge

pórridge

stódge

fúdge

sácrilege

prívilege

cf. édge - allége

oblîge

-êezh prestìge

-íj véstíge

chânge

whínge

lòunge

scròunge

Dôge

bàrge

làrge

dïrge

fŏrge

ürge

scöurge

pürge

sürge

.*âke âche

BrE *məstásh, AmE *mústásh moustàche

-kê synécdochê

cf. trôphy, átrophy - catástrophê

apóstrophê

• dhə before consonants, *dhê before vowels - thê

lôathe rhymes with clôthe

colour dŷe = death dîe

bïrdìê

Chàrly = Chàrlie

Wílly = Wílley = Wíllie

Cónnie

Lónnie

Rónnie

pîe

soft g - menágerìê

côterìê

cálorìê

éyrìê

bâke

câke

Jâke

cf. bláck, Bláck - Blâke

mâke

snâke

sâke

tâke

eat steâk = hold stâke

mistâke

lîke

chîldlîke

gódlîke

wårlîke

cátlîke

pîke

chôke

brôke

broòk rhymes with Ládbroke

broòk rhymes with Bólingbroke

evôke

provôke

wôke

rebûke

dûke

cf. noun, adjective fînal - noun finàlê

cf. adjective rátional - noun rationàle

cf. Âbel, Bâbel, lâbel, Mâbel - âble

impertürbable

applícable

dis- despícable

it is normal to retain an e before -able to show either the palatalised pronunciation of the preceding consonant or the long sound of the preceding vowel -eable

-nsəble pronòunceable

-jəble mánageable

-jəble chângeable

-kəble unshâkeable

-ləble sâleable

gâble

cf. lâbel - avâilable

unwínnable

ádmirable

desîrable

advîsable

tâble

debâtable

insurmòuntable

stâble

cònstable

forgívable

dábble

rábble

cf. rébel - pébble

dríbble

cóbble

góbble

hóbble

nóbble

wóbble

Húbble

rúbble

stúbble

édible

tánj- tángible

fállible

térrible

hórrible

comprehénsible

apprehénsible

sénsible

-sable is French - respónsible

axé- accéssible

colléctible

suscéptible

contémptible irresístible ámble prê- preámble gámble rámble scrámble assémble dissémble

• rizémble resémble

.*onsómble ensemble nímble thímble búmble crúmble fúmble grúmble húmble júmble múmble rúmble grúmble túmble stúmble nôble doúble AmE rûble = BrE roûble troúble pínnacle bàrnacle téntacle óbstacle .*vêícle vêhicle véntricle pàrticle

• úngkəl úncle

càrbuncle tréadle crâdle páddle stráddle ẁaddle tẁaddle médal medallion = interfere méddle bicycle pédal = sell péddle díddle fíddle míddle píddle ríddle códdle cúddle fúddle befúddle húddle múddle cándle dándle hándle spíndle noôdle poôdle

gïrdle

cürdle

hürdle

kerfúffle

trúffle

strúggle

invêigle

g sounded separately from ng -ngle

ángle

bángle

dángle

spángle

wrángle

wángle

bürgle

bûgle

bîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl môbile

åutomobìle

fîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl frágile

Ánglophîle

mîle

símilê

.*fáx-íməly facsímilê

smîle

pîle

rîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl stérile

BrE -île, AmE -əl prayers míssal = war míssile

tîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl vólatile

mërcantîle

ínfantîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl hóstile

.*gîle, hard g - guîle

revîle

táckle

héckle

fréckle

píckle

tíckle

cóckle

búckle

ánkle

tínkle

wrínkle

wínkle

food gríll = screen grílle

fire côal = person Côle

dôle

hôle

môle

ballot pôll = Poland Pôle = wood pôle

over, eat rôll = play rôle partíciple

adjective, person príncipal = belief prínciple

discîple

sāmple

exāmple

dímple

símple

rúmple

crúmple

stêeple rhymes with pêople

nípple

rípple

típple

coúple

scrûple

vással and in AmE words in -āstle rhyme with hássle

-zle tòusle

.*súttle súbtle

chŏrtle

-səl -stle

cāstle

véssel rhymes with -éstle

néstle

tréstle

wréstle

whístle

grístle

Rússell rhymes with -ústle

bústle

hústle

rústle

líttle

cáttle

kéttle

gold métal = courage méttle

bóttle

súbtle rhymes with shúttle

-ûel rhymes with -ûle

módule

mûle

rûle

cápsule

dázzle

fízzle

cf. drível - drízzle

sízzle

púzzle

mê

cf. âim - câme

gâme

lâme

sâme

frâme

tâme

extrême

dîme

.*rèzhìme regìme

lîme

verse rhŷme = frost rîme

tîme

íncòme

òutcòme

dôme

hôme

gênome

Alaska Nôme = garden gnôme

sòme

səm -some

troúblesome

hándsome

thrêesome

h- whôlesome

wínsome

cf. hysteréctomy - epítomê

.*rizyûme resûme

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

.*prizyûme presûme

-syû- consûme

-syû- assûme

frost rîme = verse rhŷme

fruit lîme = England Lŷme

énzŷme

bâne

persons Câin = Câine = stick câne

urbâne

Dâne

mêthane

Jâne

lâne

cf. remâin - relevant germâne

scêne

obscêne

person Germâine

-ône colôgne

-îgn rhymes with -îne

mìgrâine

Ukrâine

.*Mádlin or *Mádlən - Mádeleíne

refîne

confîne

éngíne

cf. hérôín drug, hérôíne hero - méscalíne

declîne

reclîne

mîne

vërmín rhymes with ërmíne

detërmíne

sërpentîne

türpentîne

intéstíne

Chrístìne K-

prístìne

magazìne

win wòn = number òne

cône

cf. Stône of Scone, *Scoôn - scóne

dòne

condône

góne

alône

anémonê

nòne

atône

stône

cf. Kíngston, both schwa - Mâidstone

zône

ãirborne

Mélbourne

Êastbŏurne

• dí-mâin demèsne

= -ô, -ôw -ôe

ôboe

dôe

fôe

-oô shoe

-oô canoe

rôe

tôe

wôe

grâpe

Penélopê

ántelôpe

énvelôpe

shãre

prepãre

îronwãre

sóftwãre

-re as schwa - *âkə âcre

-re as schwa - -kə mássacre

ear hêar = this hêre

them théir = that thére

clothes wéãr = place whère

mêre

was wëre

sevêre

shîre

in England, schwa, -shə -shire

.*Glóstersher Glóucestershire

.*Léstersher Léicestershire

.*Wùstersher Worcestershire

-shîre in Scotland – though non-Scots may not comply Âyrshîre

hîre

mîre

AmE mêter = BrE length mêtre

cf. fŏr - befŏre

to the fŏre

thérefore

(and, for some, toûr guide) rock tŏr = téar tŏre

bizàrre

cf. grándeûr - cûre

endûre

pāstûre

abjûre

-jə ínjure

-jə cònjure

përjure

lûre

-lyə fâilure

BrE əlyûə allûre

BrE Shåw = AmE sûre

-zhə -sure

pléasure

méasure

tréasure

léisure

clôsure

-sh- préssure

-sh- físsure

-chə -ture

matûre

nâture

státure

fûture

sûture

wê’re

of you yŏur = days yŏre = you are yŏu’re

here thére = them théir = they thèy’re

chêese, slêaze and frêeze rhyme with êase

-ss lêase

êase rhymes with plea plêas = request plêase

-ss crêase

verb -ss decrêase

noun -ss dêcrêase

verb -ss incrêase

noun -ss íncrêase

âce rhymes with châse

confuse fâze = temporary phâse

-êez (no nationalities end in -ìse); usually stressed but can become unstressed before a noun as in Jápanese -êse

chêese

jöurnalêse

Nepalêse

Jápanêse

Chînêse

in all words apart from those specified below, -îse can be spelt -îze, for example críticize, and this is how -îse is pronounced in most verbs -îse

críticîse

noun, verb pronounced but never spelt -ize éxercîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize mërchandîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize fránchîse

vërbalîse

rêalise

êqualîse

valìse

fërtilîse

never spelt -ize because it is a noun and pronounced -íss prémíse

noun, verb never spelt -ize because pronounced -íss prómíse

pronounced but never spelt -ize cómpromîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize surmîse

.*pŏrpus pŏrpoise

.*tŏrtus tŏrtoise

pronounced but never spelt -ize despîse

glámorise

pronounced but never spelt -ize comprîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize surprîse

presh- pressurîse

émphasîse

práctíce = BrE verb práctíse

áppetîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize ádvertîse

.*éxpertêez expertìse

silent u; pronounced but never spelt -ize disguîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize advîse

cf. noun devîce - -z verb devîse

pronounced but never spelt *wîze wîse

pronounced but never spelt -wize -wîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize lîkewîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize clóckwîse

-ss, as also hénce, fénce - dénse

sénse

nónsense

cf. defénce, lîcence, offénce where AmE has -ense, all -ss suspénse

-ss dôse

-z chôse

grandiôse

.*loôze lose

noun, adjective -s, verb -z clôse

-z nôse

-z choôse

.*lûce loôse

-z expôse

can have French accent: exposé *expôzây expôsè

-z rôse

ápse

lápse

noun rêlapse

verb relápse

collápse

trâipse

eclípse

wood = cóps cop cópse

hëarse

cf. revërse - rehëarse

tërse

vërse

avërse

ádverse

cf. rehëarse - revërse

gŏrse

hŏrse

wörse

bŏurse

cŏurse

-z ûse

no -z refûse

rubbish -ss réfuse

-z mûse

-ss spòuse

-îze ánalyse

-îze páralyse

lure bâit = anger, breath bâte

debâte

rêbâte

-âte verb, -ət noun prédicate

índicâte

víndicâte

-ət certíficate

BrE -ət, AmE -âte - cándidate

fâte

hâte

lâte

-âte verb, -ət adjective artículate

régulâte

mâte

-ít or -ət clîmate

-âte verb, -ət adjective éstimate

spâte

séparate

-rət dísparate

-âte verb, -ət adjective delíberate

exónerâte

-rət désperate

émigrate

ímmigrate

-âte verb, -ət adjective eláborate

máj- mágistrâte

démonstrâte

rémonstrâte

-âte verb, -ət adjective precípitate

áctivâte

effête

complête

.*sôshalîte sôcialîte

elìte

polîte

gráníte

fînîte

.*définət définite

.*ínfinət ínfinite

unîte

despîte

AmE réspíte - réspîte

hýpocríte

AmE -or- fâvouríte

Trótskyîte

can be written Brontë - Bróntê

ánecdote

ántidote

môte

nôte

vôte

fŏrtè

càste

hâste

châste

-étte

oô- oubliétte

serviétte

cf. hámlet - *ómlet ómelette

kitchenétte

tríbûte

cóntríbûte

dístríbûte

noun áttribûte

verb attríbute

.*mínít time mínute

.*mŷ-neŵt small mînûte

repûte

compûte

cf. ínput - impûte

bŷte

nêophŷte

silent unless shown with an accent -ue

âgûe

.*lêag lêague

persons Hãig = Hâigh = city, person Hâgue

.*plâig plâgue

.*Pràg Pràgue

-êeg noun íntrigue

-êeg verb intrìgue

-êeg fatìgue

.*meráng meringue

.*túng tòngue

-óg sýnagogue

-óg dîalogue

àrgûe

blow bleŵ = colour blûe

clûe

glûe

-àk pláque

-âik opâque

cf. reálpolitìk - critìque

-ésk burlésque

-ésk picturésque

-ósk mósque

cf. brísk -ùsk brùsque

Susan Sûe = law sûe

.*insyû ensûe

-syû pursûe

.*íshû íssue

.*tíshû tíssue

câve

Dâve

gâve

háve

cónclâve

pâve

râve

crâve

serious, dead grâve

accent gràve

sw- suàve

êve

slêeve

belìêve

relìêve

grìêve

síeve

sémibrêve

côërcíve

dîve

éndíve

recêive

concêive

fîve

cf. jîve dance - hard g in take gíve

hîve

líve

alîve

derîve

contrîve

adhêsíve

offénsive

crêâtive

tålkatíve

imáginative

repétitive

arrîve

persuâsive

sénsitíve

môtíve

revîve

abòve

bird dòve

(BrE is regular dîved) AmE dive dôve

England Hôve = heave hôve

shòve

lòve

glòve

û move

groôve

rôve

grôve

stôve

trôve

strôve

nërve

sërve

.*prizërv presërve

Î’ve

wê’ve

yoû’ve

thèy’ve

Zimbàbwè

Lilóngwè

AmE áx - áxe

yê

me Î = sight eŷe

pig, eye stŷ = eye stŷe

plêase and frêeze rhyme with slêaze

fâze

gâze

ádze

free frêes = cold frêeze

trapêze

most words in -îse can also be spelt -îze: all exceptions are listed under -îse -îze

never -ise sêize

apart prîse = present prîze

never -ise sîze

dôze

búlldoze

Drûze

AmE; BrE ánalŷse, both pronounced -îze ánalŷze

AmE; BrE páralŷse, both pronounced -îze páralŷze

F

chìêf

míschíef

thìêf

belìêf

relìêf

stāff

whíff

táriff

óff

féoff

Géoff

blúff

stúff

íf

sérif

cf. reason môtíve - *mô-têef pattern môtìf

Álf

.*cāf cālf

.*hāf hālf

one word himsélf

one word hersélf

one word yoursélf

one word itsélf

one word mŷsélf

gôlf

= Rôlph - Rôlf

.*wùlf wolf

gúlf

Bêowùlf

No expressions with modal verbs followed by ‘of’ exist. What may sound like ‘of’ is the weak form of háve and so this or apostrophes should be written instead: woùld have, shoùld’ve, cān’t have, mîght’ve etc. - *óv óf

goôf

hoôf

roôf

G

fág

hág

nág

drág

ság

lég

pég

díg

jíg

píg

wíg

égg

sáng

âgeing

cf. sing sínging - -j- singe síngeing

.*âking âcheing

mâking

snooker, drama cûeing = line queûeing

rûeing

brínging

cf. singe síngeing -j- - sing sínging

thíng

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

AmE lâbeling

fîling

BrE lâbelling

fílling

dúmpling

êvening

mîning

exámining

sound bŏing

.*dûíng doing

gôing

tûí- toíng and frôíng

bell, round ríng

bríng

squeeze wríng

síng

cf. râcing - râising

tàrgeting

intërpreting

gétting

forgétting

bétting

accrûing

flôwing

lápwing

léft-wíng

rîght-wíng

lóng

sóng

dúng

lúng

súng

bóg

dóg

hóg

lóg

cf. Jôe Blóggs - blóg

Stríndbërg

îcebërg

.*Hŷdlebërg Heîdelbërg

Bŏrg

Mágdebürg

Lúxemböurg

.*Shãrebŏrg Chérbourg

.*Strázbërg Strásböurg

búg

dúg

thúg

slúg

túg

H

or any number of à’s àh

mostly schwa -ah

cf. Marìa - Marîah

parîah

blàh

ayatóllah

Gôa rhymes with Nôah

hurràh

Ûtàh

êach

blêach

pêach

rêach

impêach

AmE *spínních; BrE *spínnídge spínach

tree = bêach sand - bêech

besêech

.*ték: abbreviation of téchnical; also hî-téch - téch

whích

-k Zûrich

cf. Åldwých -wích

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

.*Woòlidge Woòlwich

.*Brómmidge Brómwich

.*Grénnidge Gréenwich

.*Hárrídge Hárwich

.*Nórrídge, rhyming with pórridge - though some say -rích Nórwich

-wích Ípswich

-wích Drŏitwich

-wích Nántwich

squélch

person Wélsh = Wales Wélch

fílch

zílch

drénch

sténch

wénch

ínch

sínch

wínch

cónch

búnch

húnch

púnch

lýnch -ch

down, wash sínk = together sýnch

-dóck Mürdoch

smoôch

àrch

sëarch

làrch

-k pâtriàrch

-ək mónarch

kítsch

pùtsch

bátch

cátch

hátch

nátch

ẁatch

étch

fétch

kétch

ítch

dítch

hítch

glítch

pítch

stítch

cf. Åldwých - what whích = wizard wítch

twítch

bótch

hótchpotch

Dútch

múch

-k eûnuch

còuch

toúch

vòuch

súch

cf. place names in -wích - Åldwých

Rìyadh

ð éth or édh

• ây èh

mostly silent gh

no nây = horse nèigh

kill slây = ride slèigh

cf. convèy, purvèy - invèigh

how wây = heavy wèigh

greeting hî = up hîgh

cf. voiced th in thŷ: vowel sound identical - unvoiced th in thîgh

.*sîe sîgh

.*Éddinbrə Édinburgh

.*Frâzerbrə Frâserburgh

.*Pítsbürg Píttsburgh

BrE *làf AmE *láf lāugh

-òw bòugh

-ô thôugh

-ôw fûrlôugh

.*slòu - England Slòugh = swamp slòugh

.*slúff skin sloúgh

.*rúff roúgh

-û - throw threŵ = preposition throûgh

AmE = búrrow ground - BrE *búrrə bòrough

.*Lúfbrə Loúghborough

.*Scàrbrə Scàrborough

.*Míddlzbrə Míddlesborough

BrE *thúrrə, AmE *thúrrôw thòrough

-óff trôugh

-úff toúgh

-úff enoúgh

letter Ô = exclamation ôh

-f -ph

Rálph

oòmph

trîumph

lýmph

nýmph

mŏrph

glýph

AmE -r, BrE silent -rrh

catàrrh

mÿrrh

ásh

básh

cásh

dásh

gásh

hásh

flásh

slásh

smásh

rásh

crásh

thrásh

stásh

qùash

ẁash

Bangladésh

mésh

frésh

thrésh

réddish

chîldish

gàrnish

tàrnish

vàrnish

Cŏrnish

bürnish

fürnish

person Ẁalsh

-sh - person Wélch = Wales Wélsh

bánish

Spánish

vánish

end fínish = Finland Fínnish

astónish

vàrnish

wísh

fíftyish

cósh

dósh

nósh

whoòsh

pósh

tósh

bùsh

lúsh

blúsh

flúsh

plúsh

pùsh

rúsh

thrúsh

mostly unvoiced -th

déath

hêath

bréath

wrêath

ôath

pāth

-drət + unvoiced th - húndredth

shibbóleth

voiced th - wíth

héalth

stéalth

wéalth

plínth

nînth

bôth

dòth

lôth

slôth

ëarth

dëarth

heàrth

bïrth

gïrth

héncefŏrth

Fïrth of Fŏrth

gô fŏrth

nŏrth

wörth

4th fŏurth

noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced mòuth

ou as schwa, th unvoiced -mouth

-məth Bŏurnemouth

-məth Pŏrtsmouth

-məth Plýmouth

síxth

voiced th - casual blîthe = persons Blŷthe = Blŷth

voiced th - persons Smŷthe = Smŷth

or AmE schwa = BrE er - úh

I

-î or -ì

Dubaî

h sounded Shanghaî

Ábu Dhàbi

rábbî

álibî

Sàùdì

likewise other plurals of -us - nûclêî

Hawàìì

Isrâeli

Disrâeli

• sémmy - sémi

number = pîe eat pî

girls’ names tend to end in -i or -ie, boys’ in -y - Térrì

J, K

-zh Ràj

Mahal -zh Tàj

-dj hàjj

-que = -k

vegetable lêek = liquid lêak

blêak

spêak

car brâke = pieces breâk

strêak

têak

money, wood stâke = meat steâk

days wêek = feeble wêak

flák

ánorák

háck

sáck

déck

líck

gímmick

hŏick

bríck

síck

tíck

Pàrtick

cf. Éric - Pátrick

Bûíck

quíck

wíck

.*Wórrick Ẁarwick

.*Bérrick Bérwick

w sounded in Lërwick

.*Kézzíck Késwick

.*Smédhík Sméthwick

cf. Bangkók - cóck

dóck

lóck

wédlock

flóck

wårlock

.*nóck knóck

sóck

dúck

lúck

liquid lêak = vegetable lêek

mêek

rêek

sêek

feeble wêak = days wêek trék

cf. sqwåwk - -åwk -ålk

or båulk - -åwk bålk

-åwk chålk

cf. talcum powder tálc, l sounded - -åwk speak tålk

-åwk bird stŏrk BrE = plant, follow stålk

-åwk wålk

whélk

.*fôk fôlk

-fək Nŏrfolk

-fək Súffolk

bánk

sánk

tánk

thánk

dránk

person Fránk = honest fránk

thínk

rínk

drínk

shrínk

sínk

hónk

plónk

mònk

hónky-tónk

fúnk

Bángkók

noòk

spoôk

roòk

broòk

wók

pàrk

jërk

bersërk

smïrk

shïrk

kïrk

quïrk

wörk

lürk

Türk

āsk

bāsk

flāsk

tāsk

désk

record dísc = computer dísk

whísk

óbelisk

rísk

ásterisk

dúsk

músk

túsk

åuk

squåwk

L

lógical

mýthical

puritánical

histórical

hystérical

thêátrical

mûsical

práctical

scéptical

mýstical

nåutical

quízzical

fôcal

lôcal

vôcal

interfere méddle = coin médal

sell péddle = bicycle pédal

cf. cándle, hándle - scándal

sándal

concêal

repêal

squêal

vêal

revêal

lêgal

illêgal

rêgal

Bengål

.*commërshal commërcial

denîal

mênial

.*pàrshal pàrtial

ânal

AmE bânal - BrE banàl

canál

phenómenal

diágonal

hexágonal

-shənəl -tional

nátional

rátional

nôtional

hôle rhymes with gôal

shôal

cf. main, headteacher prínciple - basic, credo príncipal

quadriláteral

âmóral

immóral

-zəl apprâisal

cf. véssel - hássle rhymes with vással

ántênâtal

pôstnâtal

quality méttle = iron métal

.*péttle pétal

AmE inståll - BrE instål

-zhəl cásual

-kchəl áctual

evéntual

stomach nâvel = ship nâval

cf. êvil - *medêvəl or medìêval

• Mŷcle Mîchael

Ráphâél

a common mistake is to write *Isreal - Ísrâel

cf. âble, tâble, stâble - Âbel

cf. bábble - Bâbel

lâbel

Mâbel

noun rébel

verb rebél

excél

módel

yôdel

êel

fêel

pêel

fálafel

air ãerial = person Ãriel

Mûriel

cf. lôcal, vôcal - yokel

cf. përsonal - personnél

repél

compél

dispél

expél

appárel

cóckerel

bárrel

mínstrel

wâstrel

êasel

wêasel

words in -éstle rhyme with véssel

• hô-tél hôtél

cf. módel - *mô-tél motél

cartél

-ûle rhymes with -ûel

two dûal = fight dûel

fûel

crûel

grûel

navy nâval = stomach nâvel

Ravél

unrável

trável

cf. drízzle - drível

swível

shòvel

nóvel

bòwel

tròwel

vòwel

píxel

TÉFL

fâil

avâil

prevâil

vèil

AmE fulfíll, BrE fulfíl

níl

fŏil

êvil

dévil

Brazíl

åll

båll

cåll

fåll

tåll

wåll

béll

déll

féll

héll

nútshell

péll-méll

séll

téll

quéll

wéll

fíll

píll

tíll

dóll

cf. parrot póll, elect pôll

part rôle = along rôll

drôll

strôll

tôll

bùll

cúll

dúll

but the suffix is -fùl - fùll

city Húll = boat húll

lúll

island Múll = over múll

and void núll

anúll

pùll

hê’ll

shê’ll

wê’ll

Î’ll

ít’ll

yoû’ll or yoù’ll or yŏu’ll

thèy’ll

prôtocol

álcohol

coôl

foôl

.*skoôl schoôl

poôl

spoôl

toôl

woòl

AmE enróll - BrE enrôl

patrôl

pétrol

cf. rôll - contrôl

párasól

-təl pístol

whŏrl

hôpeful

cãreful

beaûtiful

dûtiful

noun spoônful

wònderful

àrtful

Gåul

måul

Påul

Såul

cáterwåul

cf. word fùll suffix -fùl

hôpeful

stréssful

jŏyful

bird fòwl = bad fòul

ghoûl

only sôle = Korea Seôul = spirit sôul

åwl

båwl

cråwl

all meanings bôwl

bird fòwl

hòwl

y as schwa - Síbyl

y as schwa - Béryl

M

glêam

rêam

drêam

appear sêem = thread, coal sêam

stêam

scrêam

strêam

hám

AmE; BrE h silent, a as schwa, -əm -hám

h silent, g not sounded separately Búckingham

h silent, g not sounded separately Bïrmingham

-nəm Twíckenham

-nəm Chéltenham

-nəm Tóttenham

.*Méppəm Méopham

-səm Tópsham

-təm Stréatham

-təm Chátham

-təm Éltham

-təm Wåltham

unvoiced th sound Bôtham

unvoiced th sound Gótham

• Rûtəm Wrotham

Wést Hám

môdém

dêem

group têam = pour têem

hém

ahém

Béthlehém

stém

-ám dîaphragm

.*flém phlégm

-îm páradigm

rhýthm

âim

mâim

dím

dénim rhymes with Blénheim

whím

Kím

skím

dénim

mínim

BrE and AmE -àm bàlm

BrE and AmE -àm càlm

BrE and AmE -àm quàlm

tálcum rhymes with *Málcum Málcolm

dwell hôme = oak, islet hôlm

frêedom

bŏredom

kíngdom

slàlom

Tóm

árm

fàrm

hàrm

cf. wörm, wårn - wårm

pák- páchydërm

j- gërm

spërm

tërm

fïrm

fŏrm

nŏrm

cf. heat wårm - animal wörm

ŏrgasm

kázəm chásm

-zəm spásm

-ízəm; never stressed -ísm

âthêísm

Bùddhism

existéntialism

shôv- chauvinism

térrorism

mîcrocosm

tálcum

memorándum

referéndum

glúm

húm

válium

thállium

gerânium

aquãrium

delírium

drúm

húmdrúm

conúndrum

gymnâsium

fŏrum

vácûum

gỳm

name -ným

syû- pseûdonym

hómonym

sýnonym

ántonym

Î’m

N

bán

ürban

türban

cán

cf. Gŏrdon - Jŏrdan

-tion crustâcean

lôtion rhymes with ôcean

dêan

clêan

mêan

-ìən epicûrêan

fán

Ìan

-íshən -ícian

technícian

patrícian

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

-íshən abstract -ítion = person -ícian

logícian

patrícian

politícian

mathematícian

reptílian

civílian

Brazílian

Gíllian

nonagenãrian

quinquagenãrian

septuagenãrian

sexagenãrian

octogenãrian

lîbrãrian

sectãrian

vegetãrian

libertãrian

no words end in *-erian

histŏrian

from -sia + n, = -sion, mostly -zh- -sian

-zh- Âsian

-zh- Caucâsian

-zh- Frêsian

AmE -izh-, BrE -ízì- Parísian

-shən = -tion -tian

Dalmâtian

nâtion rhymes with Crôâtian

Alsâtian

Títian

-bîzh- Azerbaijàn

mán

.*Îləv-Mán Îsle of Mán

mostly -mən -man

pâcemán

polìceman

hénchman

Omàn

Sûpermán

gásmán

ómbùdsman

bátman

Bátmán

táxmán

Nŷman

-ən Kôfi Ànnan

môan

alone lône = lend lôan

grôan

god Pán = food pán

tán

Tîtan

can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -stān

usually second syllable stressed Uzbékistan

Tajíkistan

Afghánistan

Manháttan

ván

ẁan

Tŷ- Taiwàn

= ón French en

letter én

dén

wîden

cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden

sêen

splêen

shêen

grêen

fén

hén

dh- thén

léngthen

stréngthen

âlien

tâken

wêaken

brôken

tôken

wôken

dàrken

heàrken

póllen

swôllen

mén

-mən in most words -men

Yémen

spŏrtsmen

spécimen

chíldren

bréthren

wörsen

léssen

delicatéssen

bêaten

.*sóffən sóften

.*fāssən fāsten

.*hâyssən hâsten

bird bíttern ≈ bite bítten

íll-gótten

héaven

hâven

êven

eléven

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

wet râin = monarch rèign

.*sóvrin sóvereign

-lîne malîgn

-nîne benîgn

signal = sîne maths - sîgn

-zîne desîgn

-zîne resîgn

-sîne énsîgn

-pyûne impûgn

pub ínn = out ín

Câin

disdâin

gâin

.*əgén; some regularise to agâin - again

slâin

explâin

mâin

cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin

brâin

Bahrâin

trâin

retâin

Bríton person = country Brítain

-tín cáptain

dín

skèin

Elmer Bërnstêin

Leonard Bërnsteîn

thín

detërmine rhymes with vërmin

pín

sín

bâsin

tín

-m -mn

condemn dám = water dámn

condémn

sólemn

cólumn

åutumn

man hím = church hýmn

out ín = pub ínn

ón

mostly schwa, as are Cámden, Màrsden, Hámpden = Hámpton -on

càrbon

university, clothing dón

Héndon

Lòndon

cŏrdon

cf. gàrden – Gŏrdon

curmúdgeon

pígeon

-njən dúngeon

-jən sürgeon

-jən stürgeon

-nchən trúncheon

bandôneon

Lêón

.*kəmêlêən; AmE -mê-; in fast speech -lyən, like míllion, Austrâlian - chamaêlêon

Napôleon

nêón

péntagon

bándwagon

àrgón

pólygón AmE; BrE *pólygən

îón

-yən -ion

most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -cion

-sh- suspícion

Asunción

-sh- côërcion

rêgion

lêgion

relígion

fáshion

cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion

vermílion

bíllion

míllion

tríllion

ònion

ûnion

Orîon

centûrion

-zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including another s and, in BrE, r -sion

lêsion

vísion

télevision

revísion

scánsion

expánsion

-éntion -énshən = -énsion

comprehénsion

pénsion

suspénsion

ténsion

preténsion

exténsion

avërsion

dîvërsion

convërsion

excürsion

dîgréssion

séssion

míssion

í- emíssion

ə- omíssion

-sh- percússion

fûsion

delûsion

illûsion

intrûsion

mostly -shən –tion

inundâtion

foundâtion

creâtion

nâtion

rátion

vî- vibrâtion

mî- migrâtion

-kshən -ction

áction

afféction

conféction

BrE can be -éxion - refléction

colléction

BrE can be -éxion - connéction

eréction

diréction

contradíction

.*sángktchən sánction

.*úngktchən únction

.*fúngktchən fúnction

.*júngktchən júnction

.*cəmpúngkshən compúnction

complêtion

discrétion

definítion

preposítion

proposítion

opposítion

competítion

frûítion

= -énsion, -énshən -éntion

méntion

deténtion

inténtion

atténtion

prevéntion

absŏrption

erúption

abŏrtion

contŏrtion

contribûtion

distribûtion

pollûtion

solûtion

éxion is, except for compléxion, BrE only: other words end in -éction - éxion

so AmE, BrE refléction = BrE only refléxion

cf. conféction - *compléction compléxion

cf. convíction - crucifíxion

nŷlón

dêmon

lémon

Sólomon

Lébanon

cánnon

Shánnon

moôn

buffoôn

balloôn

lampoôn

harpoôn

cf. càrton - càrtoôn

upón

person Bárron = lord báron

person Sháron

person AmE Sharôn, BtE Sharón

sáffron

eléctrón

neûtrón

sh- chévrón

boy sòn

bîson

Áshton

Élton

Lýttelton

prôtón

càrton

Nŏrton

east êastern BrE = person Êaston

west wéstern BrE = person Wéston

cf. Féatherstone, etc. Ålston

Màrston

Rŏyston

bútton

mútton

Sútton

wòn

cf. Jáckson, Híckson, etc. Díxon

Níxon

Ríxon

bàrn

dàrn

ëarn

lëarn

cf. wårm, wörm: wear wŏrn = person Wårne = warning wårn

yàrn

bird = türn direction tërn

stërn

astërn

persons Pátten = Pátton = BrE arrange páttern

bŏrn

cŏrn

cf. wriggly wörm - warning wårn = wear wŏrn ürn

bürn

chürn

round türn

fún

gún

nòun

shine sún

Whítsun

dåwn

påwn

spåwn

pråwn

heŵn

gòwn

blôwn

môwn

renòwn

.*nôan knôwn

cròwn

tòwn

O

mostly ô; never -ó -o

placêbô

usually *ənkô - & cô, and cô

stúccô

flaméncô

-û do

vídêo

Montevidèo

Lêo

Clìo = Clêo

Galilèo

gô

lumbâgo

dóggô

vërtigo

Djángo

lôgô

Tôgo

mácho

.*sŷko psŷcho

.*Tŷko Tŷcho

-shô braggadôcio

portfôlio

pôlio

-ss- impresàrio

-shô râtio

-shô Horâtio

nô

taboô

gôo

Wåterloô

Shampoô

kangaroô

woô

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

prô

cf. bûreau - pólitburo

sô

Plâto

AmE tomâto - tomàto

potâto

f- phôto

Plûto

at to = also, many toô = 2 tŵo

émbrỳo

P

cáp

gáp

snáp

táp

stép

híp

friéndship

kíngship

crāftsmanship

shôwmanship

wörship

kíp

skíp

líp

clíp

flíp

slíp

whíp

gríp

tríp

stríp

whélp

kélp

cámp

dámp

lámp

rámp

crámp

trámp

hémp

ímp

skímp

límp

pímp

wímp

búmp

dúmp

thúmp

júmp

lúmp

slúmp

frúmp

trúmp

devélop

cf. noun énvelôpe - verb envélop

flóp

póp

sóp

désktóp

láptóp

hoôp

droôp

troôp

loôp

sloôp

stoôp

càrp

hàrp

wårp

bürp

slürp

cúsp

úp

cùp

bird coô = overthrow coûp

.*rêcoôp recoûp

.*groôp groûp

gåwp

Q, R

Iràq

where unstressed, schwa -ar

bazàar

bàr

càr

râdàr

cálendar

êar

cf. drink bêer - animal, tolerate béãr

cf. risk dãre - animal dêer = beloved, expensive dêar

fêar

gêar

there hêre = ear hêar

look lêer = person Lêar

clêar

unclêar

.*nûclêə(r) nûclear

smêar

yêar or yëar

cf. búgger - béggar

though contemporaries pronounced it ending in schwa - Élgàr

sh- sùgar

buŷer, flŷer and trîer rhyme with lîar

brîar

jàr

píllar

cáterpillar

hóller rhymes with dóllar

sk- schólar

cóllar

môlar

múscular

régular

grámmar

-z- quâsàr

púlsàr

Qátàr

néctar

sítàr

change ålter = church åltar

mŏrtar

stàr

BrE schwa = AmE uh - er

mostly schwa; stressed -ër in some words; AmE only in some words which are -re in BrE -er

câber

.*clîmer clîmber

tímber

encúmber

cûcumber

lúmber

.*plúmmer plúmber

cáncer

dāncer

cîder

glîder

spîder

person Rŷder = ride rîder

insîder

bold bôlder = rock bôulder

shôulder

propagánda rhymes with BrE gánder

Lêánder

mêánder

cf. sqùalor - sqùander

ẁander

wònder

yónder

enginêer

pîonêer

iléc- electionêer

cf. wither sêar, one diphthong syllable - *sêeər, two syllables see sêer

voluntêer

defër

confër

refër

prefër

óffer

próffer

cónifer

pílfer

hard g - làger

-j- mánager

cf. béggar - dágger

bígger

lógger

blógger

.*Nizhãir Nigér

hard g - tîger

hard g pronounced separately: áng-ger ánger

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

.*mânjer mânger

.*strânjer strânger

.*jínjer gínger

hard g sounded separately: líng-ger línger

no g sound sínger

no g sound wínger

hard g sounded separately *mòng-ger -mònger

físhmònger

warmonger

hard g sounded separately: *stróng-ger - strónger

àrcher

màrcher

cátcher

decîpher

gôpher

or cîpher - cŷpher

voiced th and schwa -ther

bâther

féather

héather

léather

climate wéather

BrE far fàrther = AmE as well as BrE dad fàther

cf. AmE fàther - AmE láther - lāther

bláther

cf. AmE fàther - AmE ráther - rāther

togéther

if whéther

téther

where whíther = decay wíther

òther

bóther

smòther

mòther

one word anòther

bròther

fàrther

fürther

idéntifîer

supplîer

ëarlier

cry, town = Crŷer person crîer

pìêr

silent French r - dóssièr

cry têar = level tìêr

jôker

hoòker

snoôker

pôker

bàrker

wörker

hándler

tóddler

jâiler

tåller

dóllar rhymes with hóller

rôller

stámmer

baseball hômer = person Hômer

wårmer

fŏrmer

góner

lôner

kêeper

léper

.*loôzer loser

câter

lâter

wåter

cf. áctor - k- cháracter

detër

cf. BrE mêtre AmE mêter distance, rhythm - parámeter

perímeter

thermómeter

Pêter

trúmpeter

.*dåwter dåughter

āfter rhymes with lāughter

.*slåwter slåughter

wâiter

church åltar = change ålter

fålter

Wålter

shélter

helter-skélter

wélter

promôter

hélicopter

stàrter

disāster

Chéster

Mánchester

Dŏrchester

or -or protéster

gángster

yoúngster

blíster

síster

bátter

fátter

hátter

mátter

bétter

bítter

lítter

hótter

tótter

bútter

stútter

commûter

compûter

.*lácker lácquer

avër

hâver

brâver

quâver

fêver

whichéver

AmE léver - BrE lêver

whenéver

.*hû-éver whoéver

wheréver

.*wót-éver whatéver

hòwéver

fîver

líver

ríver

arrow, shake quíver

ôver

còver

Dôver

hóver

lòver

plòver

art dråw ≈ chest dråwer

bòwer

flòwer

glòwer

tòwer

cf. lãir - *lãyə lâyer

.*plâyə(r) plâyer

.*prãir prãyer

.*fŏyây fŏyèr

låwyer rhymes with emplŏyer

buŷer

.*lŏyer låwyer

thére *thãir rhymes with ãir

hãir

despãir

fïr

-vwàr réservoir

tâpìr

stïr

bestïr

mostly schwa, as also -er, -our -or

ráncor

córridŏr

cóndŏr

fŏr

abhŏr

ultêrior

antêrior

postêrior

ánchor

cf. sqùander - sqùalor

person Tâylor = clothes tâilor pállor

chāncellor

trémor

gòvernor

dŏor

pŏor

térror

hórror

spónsor

téar tŏre = crag tŏr

álligâtor

flagellâtor

órator

colláborator

narrâtor

spectâtor

áctor

léctor

Selécter band = seléctor

colléctor

protéctor

véctor

dóctor

proprîetor

trâitor

méntŏr

protéster is much more common than protéstor

invéstor

resístor

transístor

impóstor

whïrr

Cŏrr

fürr

pürr

occür

incür

concür

.*gránjə grándeur

frottëur

longuëur

voyëur

für

AmE Darfùr BrE Darfůr

AmE súlfur BrE súlphur

demür

fêmur

lêmur

mürmur

when unstressed, schwa; -or in AmE -our

we òur = time hòur

doûr

AmE -or - hàrbour

scòur

preposition fŏr = 4 fŏur

cf. petal flòwer - dough flòur

BrE *cúlə; AmE -or - còlour

BrE *glámə; AmE -or - glámour

BrE *hûmə; AmE -or - hûmour

BrE *ónə; AmE -or - hónour

sòur

téar tŏre = hill tŏr = travel for some speakers toûr

nón séquitur

-ə -yr

zéphyr

màrtyr

S

.*áz ás

.*wéəráz whereás

.*ház hás

.*Cánzus Kánsas

-såw Årkansås

.*wóz ẁas

AmE *ërbs hërbs

thêátrics

-x athlétics

-x gymnástics

-x logístics

Nétherlands

-dz forwards

words from Greek, etc: -êz -ês

Ándês

antípodês

côdes

édges

lódges

Hódges

hew heŵs = person Hûghes

lúllabîes

râbíes

.*síəríz sêríes

BrE *wúrríz, AmE *würríz or *würrìz wòrríes

Lós = lóss lose; -íz Lós Ángeles

distance mîles = person Mîles

cf. shékels - sháckles

-z Hërculês

-nz Bàrnes

Jóhn Mâynard Kèynes

Mílton Kêynes

.*dúzz dòes

.*gôze gôes

hêroes

.*tôze tôes

-tôze potâtoes

plural of -sís in Greek-derived words (see English irregular nouns) -sês

parénthesês

cf. prîces *prîsíz - *crŷsêez crîsês

.*loôziz loses

glāsses

-zíz hòuses

-ssíz spòuses

Sócratês

hêaves

leave, leaf lêaves

have-nots háves

shâves

wâves

thief thìêves

Îves

gíves

-k- àrchîves

plural noun lîves

singular verb líves

knife knîves

arrîves

môtíves

wife wîves

calf càlves

valve válves

elf élves

delve délves

shelf shélves

self sélves

one word, as with following: *òursélvz oursélves

• yŏrsélvz yoursélves

• dhəmsélvz themsélves

• wùlvz wolves

cf. dòves - drôves

hoof hoôves

scarf scàrves

• yéss yés

hoôves rhymes with roôfs

-gz dógs

parîahs

big sîze = sigh sîghs

-āffs lāughs

-óffs cóughs

.*íz ís

.*híz hís

plurals, no apostrophes, -íz Bangladéshis

-íz Bengålis

-íz Nepålis

-íz Isrâelis

-əss pênis

-íz Sùnnis

-nŏy Íllinois

-íss Páris

Hórace and Mórris = BrE Maurice rhyme with Bóris and Dóris

Hárris

térrace rhymes with Férris

rhyming with Hórace, BrE Maurice = Mórris

Nórris

thêsis

Greek-derived words in -sís, *síss, have -sês, *sêez, for their plurals (see Irregular Plurals) sýnthesis

némesis

-íss Dâvis

-íss Mâvis

-íss Trávis

Élvis

pélvis

-íss áxis

léxis

• nóx knócks

loòks

spoôks

-z sélls

-z húms

words from Greek: -óss -ós

• kâyós châos

insect lòuse = nation Làos -dôz tornâdos

-pss hélps

schnápps

heart cŏre = army cŏrps

-z stàrs

lîars, trîers and buŷers rhyme with plîers

bôres, BrE påuse, and påws rhyme with dŏors

mostly -íss -ess

.*áxéss áccess

góddéss

cãreless

ûseless

hápless

hélpless

t can be silent lístless

t can be silent réstless

méss

goòdness

lîonéss

cléanliness

clúmsiness

nāstiness

no words end: *-yness

dréss

áctress

stréss

headmístress

cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss

silent u - guéss

kíss

prémíse rhymes with míss

lóss

grôss

cúss

-tss cáts

Kêats

Yâtes = Yeâts

-tss séts

it is ít’s = of it íts

-tss síts

-tss bútts

-tss cúts

mostly -əss -us

-ss bús

ábacus

fôcus

-oôz Híndûs

-kəss Bácchus

Sibèlius

Dêlius

Jûlius

j-; cf. adjective ingênious - noun gênius

ignorâmus

j- gênus

ménûs

for adjectives = -us mostly for nouns: -əss –ous

cåucus rhymes with råucous

-dəss - only found in the following five words -dous

treméndous

stûpendous

horréndous

jép- jéopardous

házardous

-jəss outrâgeous

-jəss gŏrgeous

simultâneous

-êsh- spêcious

-ésh- précious

-ísh- vícious

uncónscious

relígious rhymes with sacrilegious

cf. noun gênius - adjective ingênious

pîous

censŏrious

kyù- cùrious

-ísh- fictítious

óbvious

prêvious

.*ánkshus ánxious

jéalous

zéalous

màrvellous

ridículous

fâmous

ínfamous

ánimus cf. ûnánimous

cf. vërtigo, hard g - g as j in vertíginous

glûtinous

glúttonous

scábrous

wòndrous

slānderous

mürderous

nûmerous

from -our - -orous

vígorous

glámorous

hûmorous

díz- disàstrous

mónstrous

vácuous

fátuous

nërvous

.*Bélla-Roôse Belarûs

cf. prósperous - phósphorus

rhêsus

cénsus

consénsus

sánctus

ríctus

-z jåws

irregular: *séz says

regular: *stâze stâys

-âze sîdeways

never used to form plurals: either a singular possessive or an abbreviation of ís - ‘s

w-, plural ònes = possessive òne’s

or *híz hê’s

or *shíz shê’s

chíldren’s

of it íts = it is ít’s

T

át

cát

bêat

hêat

chêat

plêat

nêat

fát

voiced th - thát

slát

ash grâte = big greât

swéat

bôat

côat

flôat

glôat

môat

Crôát

thrôat

.*dét débt

.*dòut dòubt

touch afféct

emotion áffect

result í- efféct

përfect

thing óbject

disagree objéct

matter súbject

cruel subjéct

verb rejéct

noun rêjéct

colléct

connéct

áspect

respéct

person áddict

verb addíct

êdict

.*indîte indîct

vërdict

person cónvict

verb convíct

mostly -ít (-ət in Australasian English), but some have French -ây -et

BrE Hërbert rhymes with shërbet

t sounded hit búffet

.*bùffây food bùffèt

.*crôshây crôchet

rátchet

crótchet

thícket

pícket

crícket

wícket

màrket

-lây chálèt

cf. -létte - *boòklít, though these words are -lət in Australasian English - boòklet

píglet

.*bállây bállèt

mállet

ẁallet

bíllet

tríplet

BrE, u as schwa - qùadruplet, quíntuplet, séxtuplet, séptuplet, óctuplet

AmE - qùadrûplet, quíntûplet, séxtûplet, séptûplet, óctûplet stàrlet

Jánet

plánet

gánnet

cŏrnet

límpet

-rây bérèt

quårtét

bánquet

-kây crôquèt

-kây sóbriquèt

BrE *pàhkây, AmE *parkây pàrquèt

.*boô-kây bouquèt

déft

héft

léft

beréft

míffed rhymes with ríft

dríft

shríft

lóft

.*yót yacht

mostly silent gh -ght

èight

heîght

frèight

wèight

fîght

lîght

delîght

plîght

cf. sleîght-of-hánd little slîght

nîght

rîght

frîght

tîght

correct, left rîght = maker -wrîght

.*plâywrîte plâywrîght

cópyrîght

any = ŏught should åught

cåught

drāft = drāught

fråught

any åught = should ŏught

bŏught

fŏught

nŏught

brŏught

dròught

wrŏught

ít

-ate rhymes with -âit

breath bâte = catch bâit

gâit

wâit

awâit

bít

inhábit

prohíbit

déficit

còunterfeít

fŏrfeít

sürfeít

Fáhrenheît

befít

fít

hít

kít

lít

admít

commít

ômít

vómit

sít

-kít cïrcuit

-skít bíscuit

cóndûít

quít

-roôt recrûit

.*froòt frûit

cf. soòt - *sût or *syût sûit

Jésûít

-syoôt pursûit

quít

wít

dímwit

outwít

côbålt

hålt

målt

bélt

K- Célt

n- knélt

félt

jílt

kílt

sílt

tílt

.*bílt buílt

wílt

fåult

cúlt

only word ending in -mt (cf. prómpt) - dréamt

ánt

AmE cannot cán’t = philosopher Kánt = words cánt

signíficant

descéndant

deféndant

adjective depéndent = person depéndant

clâimant

dŏrmant

còvenant

cf. próminent - dóminant

rámpant

árrant

érrant

now cúrrent = eat cúrrant

pléasant

incéssant

blâtant

hésitant

contéstant

resístant

rélevant

sërvant

ẁant

send sént = money cént

.*áxent áccent

dêcent

rêcent

magníficent

ascént

dént

précedent

anticêdent

áxi- áccident

óxi- óccident

résident

président

person depéndant = adjective depéndent

indepéndent

j- man gént

stríngent

púngent

hard G- Belgium Ghént

obêdient

lént

éxcellent

repéllent

fråudulent

cf. mean méant - suffix -ment

engâgement

mánagement

séttlement

-tíssm- advërtisement

âilment

gòvernment

pâyment

përmanent

cf. dóminant - próminent

përtinent

oppônent

pãrent

appárent

transpárent

dífferent

inhérent

cohêrent

réverent

irréverent

eat cúrrant = now cúrrent

money cént = send sént

tént

cómpetent

inadvërtent

consístent

persístent

nón-exístent

vént

fërvent

línt

flínt

glínt

mínt

pînt

frònt

dåunt

gåunt

håunt

verb discòunt

noun díscount

vîc- vîscount

blúnt

rúnt

stúnt

gót

.*éscàr-gô escargôt

Màrgo = Màrgôt

hót

lót

no nót = tie knót

boôt

hoôt

foòt

loôt

roôt

soòt

pót

rót

árrow rhymes with tárôt

gold cárat = eat cárrot

párrot

tót

ápt

léapt

accépt

excépt

képt

slépt

wépt

unkémpt

exémpt

noun éxcërpt

íx- verb excërpt

àrt

pàrt

depàrt

impàrt

wårt

dïrt

flïrt

fŏrt

shŏrt

repŏrt

noun ímport

verb impŏrt

sŏrt

verb consŏrt

cf. cóncert - noun cónsŏrt

cürt

hürt

êast

bêast

fêast

lêast

bréast

yêast

fāst

lāst

māst

vāst

stréssed rhymes with stressed -est

bést

íncést

.*hŷíst hîghest

.*drŷíst drîest

priêst

jést

lést

nést

vést

wést

lôwest

ángst

râcist

.*fáshist fáscist

líst

sôshə- sôcialist

týpist

gríst

K- Chrîst

-k- Gílchríst

insíst

consíst

persíst

exíst

whîlst

cóst

dusty dúst = archaic do dòst

hôst

ghôst

lóst

fŏremôst

úppermôst

òutermôst

pôst

fïrst

thïrst

wörst

cürsed rhymes with bürst

hürst

búst

lôcust

lúst

trúst

cýst

ánalýst

cátalýst

more common in family names like Péttitt and Sénnett (= sénate house) than in ordinary words: -tt

ẁatt

head bútt

Àrgonaut

cóz- cósmonaut

ástronaut

júggernaut

however bút

cút

jút

glút

slút

nút

òut

gòut

clòut

pòut

tòut

.*impùt ínput

rút

neŵt

nòwt

séxed rhymes with néxt

téxt

cān’t

shān’t

hádn’t

nêedn’t

dídn’t

.*cùdənt coùldn’t

.*shùdənt shoùldn’t

.*wùdənt woùldn’t

àren’t

dãren’t

wëren’t

háven’t

âin’t

dôn’t

habit wônt = will wôn’t

.*házzənt hásn’t

.*wózzənt ẁasn’t

.*dúzzənt dòesn’t

.*ízzənt ísn’t

.*åwtənt ŏughtn’t

.*mússənt mústn’t

.*mîtənt mìghtn’t

U, V, W

.*táblô tábleau

.*byoôrô bûreau

.*troôssô troûsseau

.*pláttô pláteau

silent u in Guinea; -ssòw Guínea Bíssàù

illness flû

.*êemyoô êmû

cáriboû

gùrû

and many other such Slavonic names, v as f - Chékhov

guffåw

jåw

låw

clåw

animal påw

dråw

see, wood såw

feŵ

little feŵ = relief pheŵ

Jeŵ

neŵ

needle = sô therefore - sew

dreŵ

tree = yoû me = eŵe sheep - yeŵ

ribbon bôw

Street Bôw

incline bòw

còw

Móscôw

Dòw

wíndôw

hòw

lôw

belôw

flôw

allòw

-llôw

fállow

sẁallow

béllow

féllow

méllow

yéllow

bíllow

píllow

fóllow

hóllow

môw

nòw

negative nô = knowledge knôw

line rôw

argue ròw

grôw

thrôw

pròw

árrôw

bárrôw

fárrôw

hárrôw

nárrôw

spárrôw

needle sew = seeds sôw

pig sòw

foot tôe = pull tôw

stôw

bestôw

vòw

X

data fácts = machine fáx

hasn’t lácks = careless láx

côax

hôax

wáx

rêflex

cïrcumflex

véx

fíx

míx

síx

jínx

mínx

quíncunx

lýnx

phárynx

óx

bóx

cóx

páradox

ŏrthodox

flúmmox

plural -lôz tábleaux

plural -rôz bûreaux

flúx

crúx

Y

after consonant mostly ỳ -y

dây

bïrthday

hóliday

Frîday

wêekday

wörkday

Mònday

Súnday

todây

yésterday

Sáturday

doom doômsday = book Domesday

Wédnesday

Tûesday

Thürsday

Mâyday

hèyday

elf fèy = person Fây

gây

hây

clây

delây

plây

displây

verb Mây = month mây

sây

.*Línzy Líndsay

daresây

hêarsay

stây

cf. place names in -aî - *Páragwŷe Páraguaŷ

.*Yûrəgwŷe Ûruguaŷ

weight wèigh = how wây

awày

verb is two words breâkaway

verb is two words rúnaway

verb is two words gétaway

Gålway

cricket, farewell bŷe = 2 bî- = preposition bŷ

bâby

cábbie and words in -ábby rhyme with Gáby

lúllabŷ

abbot ábbey = persons Àbbey = Ábby

shábby

flábby

tábby

lóbby

lâybŷ

sêe sight = -sỳ = -cỳ

Mâcy

râcy

cf. hypócrisy - thêócracy

cf. hypócrisy - demócracy

.*byurócracy bureaucracy

áccuracy

-cỳ noun cf. próphesŷ verb - próphecy

nŏrmalcy

fáncy

chāncy

nécrománcy

person Náncy

France Nàncy

discrépancy

téndency

cúrrency

constítuency

shâdy

lâdy

trágedy

cómedy

përfidy

súbsidy

persons Àbbey = Ábby = abbot ábbey

obèy

person Fây = whimsy fèy thèy

whèy

kêy

láckêy

dónkêy

mònkêy

lèy

állêy

válley

trólley

fólly rhymes with vólley

jóckêy

dónkêy

mònkêy

nest, cart = drây cart drèy

Jéffrêy

ósprêy or ósprèy

cf. invèigh - convèy

purvèy

Hàrvêy

-zy Jërsêy

íffy

jíffy

stúffy

símplifŷ

mágnifŷ

vérifŷ

goôfy

dódgy

pódgy

-jy strátegy

fóggy

-njỳ -ngy

-jy mângy

-jy díngy

-ləjỳ -logy

jêó- geólogy

sôsh- sociólogy

-jy astrólogỳ

-jy énergy

-jy sýnergy

-jy líturgy

.*díng-y dínghy

.*dôwy dôughy

jó- geógraphy

cf. catástrophê, apóstrophê - trôphy

átrophy

voiced th, cf thîgh, unvoiced, same vowel sound thŷ

telépathy

sýmpathy

lêaky

tácky

plúcky

pôky

âbly

próbably

regréttably

nó- knóbbly

fêebly

vísibly

respónsibly

dumb *dúmly dúmbly

crumble crúmbly

nôbly

cf. bâsically - públicly

admíttedly

lîkely

two ls pronounced - sôlely

delíberately

complêtely

or -érily -ãrily

prîmãrily

necessãrily

temporãrily

militãrily

momentãrily

-z- êasily

quíckly

állŷ

cf. públicly - económically

tópically

bâsically

mûsically

illêgally

víscerally

incidéntally

tôtally

mostly female Bíllie = either Bílly

two l’s pronounced shrílly

sílly

vólley rhymes with fólly

two l’s pronounced whôlly

two l’s pronounced coôlly

two l’s pronounced dúlly

fùlly

replŷ

ëarly

dêarly

nêarly

pëarly

cléverly

fãirly

bürly

vígorously

AmE evidéntly BrE évidently

áptly

trûly

Âmy

astrónomy

gástrónomy

autónomy

cf. epítomê - hysteréctomy

.*énny any

.*ménny many

zâny

prógeny

shîny

Plíny

cf. tínny - tîny

whîny

Jénnie = Jénny

Kénny

pénny

Jóhnnie = Jóhnny

Dónny

fúnny

súnny

BrE o as schwa, AmE -môny

BrE *hígémony (hard g), AmE *héjəmôny hegemony

îrony

pôny

Tôny

misógyny

bŏy

jŏy

tŏy

álloy

annŏy

háppy

AmE, when stressed syllable does not come immediately before it, -ãry or -éry, cf. -ery; BrE a as AmE or as schwa or silent; see also -ory - -ary

Cãry

Gáry

-shəry judíciary

vocábulary

canãry

gránary

díctionary

lîbrary

nécessary

líterary

suppleméntary

documéntary

Jánuary

Fébruary

vãry

wãry

crŷ

drŷ

tåwdry

mostly e as schwa: can sound like -ry in BrE -ery

físhery

fîery

bâkery

coòkery

sh- chicânery

paper stâtionary = stop stâtionery

conféctionery

míz- mísery

cürsory rhymes with nürsery

cémetery

quêry

véry

brâvery

recòvery

discòvery

quêry

frŷ

bélfry

ángry

húngry

gŏry

glŏry

compúlsory

nürsery rhymes with cürsory

Tŏry

usually pronounced -trỳ in BrE -tory

oblígatory

óratory

AmE láboratŏry, BrE labóratory

satisfáctory

réctory

diréctory

trajéctory

dŏrmitory

stŏry

hístory

prŷ

Bárry

person Cárrie = fetch cárry

Hárry

márry

earth burỳ = fruit bérry

as suffix, AmE -bérry, BrE -brêe bláckberry

blûeberry

AmE rázb-, BrE ràzb- rāspberry

stråwberry

lórry

sórry

wòrry

cúrry

fürry

húrry

trŷ

påltry

pléasantry

péasantry

bígotry

áncestry

sóphistry

ké- chémistry

fruit bérrỳ = earth bury

Dûry

Drûry

lúxury

mostly = -cỳ -sỳ

-zêe êasy

-sêe grêasy

-zêe quêasy

like demócracy, thêócracy all -ssy idiosýncrasy

-sêe écstasy

-zêe chêesy

cf. noun próphecỳ -sêe - verb próphesŷ

-sêe héresy

demócracy and thêócracy rhyme with hypócrisy

léprosy

-sêe émbassy

-sêe fússy

dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy

-sêe jéalousy

-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy

entîrety

cíty

felícity

stupídity

reálity

cf. spécialty - speciálity

mentálity

facílity

relîabílity

flexibílity

celébrity

iníquity

antíquity

fêalty

cf. speciálity - spécialty

lŏyalty

rŏyalty

crûelty

silent h - hónesty

thïrsty

Kïrsty

goodbye, cricket bŷe = preposition bŷ = money buŷ

nâvy

wâvy

bévy

cf. lévêe, Lêvî - Lêvy

îvy

prívy

ánchovy

scürvy

sávvy

deŵy

wáxy

fóxy

slêazy

dâzy

hâzy

lâzy

crâzy

whêezy

dízzy

Z

bíz

whízz or whíz

quíz

Óz

jázz

razzmatázz

pizzázz

fízz

búzz

fúzz

zzzz

Double letters

The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.

Double letters before suffixes are used to preserve short vowel sounds as in flípped (not *flîped), rebélled (not *rebêled) and pégged (not pêged, which would probably in any case be pronounced pêjed). Compare scrâped, past of scrâpe, and scrápped, from scráp. In the case of t, doubling it after an unstressed vowel and before a suffix seems unnecessary, but in some cases it doubles before -ed: either tàrgeted or tàrgetted.

The sign # indicates a double letter that is rare in that position; capital-letter words indicate that the double letter in this position is only found in names. An asterisk (*) indicates a respelling to show pronunciation and an equals sign (=) introduces a homophone.

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

Table of accents

These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on i and y show the same sound; similarly with u, oo and w. Accented vowels are stressed (ỳ is normally unstressed, as in háppy). ā, not in the table, means that the sound is à in British English and á in American.

	Front vowels			Back vowels
	e	i	y	a	o	u	oo	w
The typical short sound:	pét	pít	crýpt	cát	dóg	nút
The typical long sound:	sêe	nîce	mŷ	nâme	nôse	tûne	toô	neŵ
The 'third' sound (ẁ- and qù- indicate the ó sound of the following a, ẁad rhyming with qùad; òu and òw are diphthongs sounding like àù in àùtobahn: nòw has this sòund):	èight	machìne	quaỳ water = keỳ (kêy) lock	àre	òther	fùll, qùantity	foòt	ẁant
The ër sound, as in ër, Î dôn’t thínk sô:	përson	bïrd	mÿrtle		wörd	pürr
The ŏr sound, as in thís ŏr thát (also used for cŏin and jŏy):				såw	mŏre	(for some BrE speakers) sůre
The ãir sound, as in frésh ãir:	(thére)			stãre
Irregular (with respelling):	sęw (ô)	merįngue (á)		becąuse (ó)	wǫman (ù)	bųsiness (í)

Example sentences

Words without accents have the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.

The usual short sound:

The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.

The usual long sound:

Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.

The third sound:

Christìna Grèy shoùld lòve her mòther and fàther (and dòes).

The ‘ër’ sound:

But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.

The ‘ŏr’ sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw):

Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?

Irregular, with respelling:

Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny *wímmin? *Énny *wùman!)