English spellings: Difference between revisions

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'''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.  
'''[[English language|English]]''' is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular '''[[spelling]]s'''. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of [[English noun#Types of nouns|proper noun]]s—for example, simply adding  an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common [[misspelling]] is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'.  Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a '''[[A (letter)|cluster of articles]]''' devoted to these things.  


An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''', its superfluous e echoing that of '''disāster'''. 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<ref>Different accents, from French, are sometimes used, however; see [[French words in English]]. Also, some Hawaiian words have accents.[http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/o-pronunciation.html]</ref>) can be found at the end of this article; there is also an [[International Phonetic Alphabet|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.
To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added [[Accent (pronunciation)|accent]] marks, instead of relying on the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like '''thís''' *thíss.  The accent marks show pronunciation, '''thús'''. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language<ref>A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see [[French words in English]].</ref>) can be found below; there is also an [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] key at [[English phonemes]]. Where there is more than one accent, the first is [[stress (linguistics)|stressed]], and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling of '''Tchaikóvsky''', *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: '''Tchaî'''|'''kóvsky'''.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''', retaining the '''E''' of '''disāster'''." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]], where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''' is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character &ndash; the only one used &ndash; for [[schwa]]); or we can contrast [[British English]] *dizàstrus with [[American English|American]] *dizástrus.


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.  
Particular attention is given to [[homophones]], words with the same pronunciation but different meanings.  English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, '''cán''' ''able, tin'' (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations.


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.   
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').  
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.' (Latin ''conferre'', 'compare').  


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 [[British English|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 [[American English|AmE]]), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.
Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, such spellings are shown using bold italics: '''touchè''' may be written with a French accent: '''''touché''''' *tooshây.


{{TOC-right}}
The [[apostrophe]] is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet. 


==Alphabetical list==
Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: '''Ukrâine''' has -'''âine''', not -âne.
===[[A]]===
 ''letter'' = èh? ''what?'' (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text)


a ''article'' *ə: [[schwa]]. It can be a strong form â, like the name of the letter Â, but this can sound pompous, especially in private; it can however be used for emphasis, meaning 'one', as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: At lêast hê lêads ín â sét.
Words in ''italics'' are used to suggest meanings (e.g. '''sêa''' ''water'' = '''sêe''' ''vision'', where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation).  Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or  place names.  Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones:  a bank clerk might be named '''Clàrk''' or '''Clàrke''', but probably not 'Clerk' (though  [[British English|BrE]] '''clerk''' = '''Clàrk'''/'''Clàrke'''). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: '''Cloúgh''' = '''Clúff'''. An American called '''Maurìce Mŏrris''' could just as well be called '''Mórris Maurice''' ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where '''Maurice''' = '''Mórris''' (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name).


àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust more a´s may be added, ≈ àh response
==Links to letter articles and lists==
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the [[CZ:Article structure|cluster]]) the cells in each row link as follows:


àardvark
*Top row: '''''articles''''' on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on [[GH]], the [[apostrophe]] and the [[hyphen]].


Ãaron - also Ãron or Áron and now some say Áaron = Árran ''Isle''  
*Second row: '''''alphabetical''''' lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe|here]]). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd '''disbánd''' means that the word is 'disband'. (The ''bottom row'' is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
   
   
àh ''response'' ≈ àaah ''sentiment'' ≈ àaargh ''disgust'' (in the latter cases more a´s may be added)
*Third row: '''''retroalphabetical''''' lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it: 
::In the retroalphabetical lists 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.


abándoned - not -nned
::Some  suffixes are included separately; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -'''ãrian'''" means there is no other pronunciation of -'''ãrian''').


Abbàs
::Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after '''Z'''.  (Words ending in an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe#Final and medial|also here]].)


ábdomen
::For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
:::''woman'' '''mâid''' = ''make'' '''mâde'''


abdóminal
::Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
:::'''wêasel''' *wêasal


Aberdêen
*Bottom row: '''''common misspellings''''' including '''''typos''''' (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.


Aberýstwýth
Two main varieties are distinguished: [[British English]] (BrE), that of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and much of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] (see also [[Commonwealth English]]), and [[American English]] (AmE), that of the [[United States of America|USA]] and [[Canada]] (without the [[caught-cot merger|'''cåught''' = '''cót''']] merger that has occurred in some parts of North America).


aberrâtion
Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.


abét
==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 standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but '''á''' in American and other British and Commonwealth speech.
{|class="wikitable"
|rowspan=2|
|colspan=3 align=center|'''Front vowels
|colspan=5 align=center|'''Back vowels
|-
!e
!i       
!y<ref>When not accented, '''y''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''yoû''' and '''yés'''.</ref>
!a
!o
!u
!oo
!w<ref>When not accented, '''w''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''wê''' and '''wíll'''.</ref>
|-
|width=36%|The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent)
|width=8%|'''pét
|width=8%|'''pít
|width=8%|'''crýpt
|width=8%|'''cát
|width=8%|'''dóg'''<ref>In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer '''à''' in most positions, and by '''ŏ''' before '''r'''.</ref>
|width=8%|'''nút
|width=8%|
|width=8%|
|-
|The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent)
|'''sêe
|'''nîce
|'''mŷ
|'''nâme
|'''nôse
|'''rûle
|'''toô
|'''neŵ
|-
|Sounds shown with the grave accent ('''ẁ'''- and '''qù'''- indicate the [[British English|BrE]] '''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''' (= â)
|'''machìne''' (= ê)
|'''quaỳ''' ''water'' = '''kêỳ''' ''lock'' <br>(= ê)
|'''àre
|'''òther''', '''blòod''' <br>(= ú)
|'''fùll''' (= oò), '''qùantity''' (= w)
|'''foòt''' (= ù)
|'''ẁant''' (= wó)<ref>Grave accents on '''w''' and on a '''u''' following a '''q''' indicate the sound of the following '''a''': '''à''' in American English, but in British the extra sound '''ó''' as in the British pronunciation of '''hót'''.</ref>
|-
|The '''ër''' sound (umlaut accent)
|'''përson
|'''bïrd
|'''mÿrtle
|('''ëarth''')
|'''wörd
|'''pürr
|
|
|-
|The '''åw'''/'''ŏr''' sound (ring accent)<ref>'''å''' and '''ŏ''' show the same sound: ideally the '''o''' too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so '''ŏ''' is used instead.</ref>
|
|('''cŏin''')
|('''jŏy''')
|'''åll'''
|'''mŏre
|(for some BrE speakers) '''sůre
|
|
|-
|The '''ãir''' sound (tilde accent)
|('''thére''')
|('''ãir''' =
|'''Ãyr''')
|'''stãre
|
|
|
|
|-
|Irregular (respelling needed)
|'''sew''' (= '''sô''')
|'''meringue''' (*məráng)
|
|'''because''' (*bikóz)
|'''woman''' (*wùmən), '''women''' (*wímən)
|'''business''' (*bízníss)
|
|
|}


abhŏr
===Example sentences===
These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the [[schwa]] sound, a neutral grunt.


abhórrent
''The usual short sound, acute accent:''


âble ''capable'' = Âbel ''person''  
'''The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.


abòut *əbòut
''The usual long sound, circumflex accent:''


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


ábsèil cf. sâil
''The third sound, grave accent:''


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


abstâin
''The '''ër''' sound, umlaut:''


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


ábstinence
''The '''ŏr''' sound ('''sůre''' here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = '''Shåw'''), the ring, or half-ring:''


abýsmal -zməl
'''Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?


abýss
''Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:''


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


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


académic
Double consonant letters before suffixes are used (as often elsewhere) to preserve short vowel sounds, as in '''flípped''' (not *flîped), '''rebélled''' (not *rebêled) and '''pégged''' (not *pêged, which if regular would in any case be pronounced *pêjed).  Compare '''scrâped''', past of '''scrâpe''', and '''scrápped''', from '''scráp'''. In the case of '''t''', doubling it after an unstressed vowel and before a suffix may seem unnecessary, but in some cases it can be doubled before -'''ed''': either '''tàrgeted''' or '''tàrgetted''' (but always '''commítted''').


accélerate ax-, cf. excél, éxcellent
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]].
 
{|class="wikitable"
áccent áx-
|-
 
!letter
accéntuate -x-
!initial
!medial
!final
!final + silent e
|-
|'''A
|'''àardvark''' #<ref>'''àardvark''' and '''Transvàal''' are from '''[[Afrikaans|Afrikàans]]''', itself a further example.</ref>
|'''bazàar''' #
|'''bàa''' #
|
|-
|'''B
|
|'''ríbbon
|'''ébb''' #
|'''Crábbe''' (= '''cráb''')
|-
|'''C
|
|'''sóccer''' (*sócker), '''accépt''' (*əxépt)
|
|
|-
|'''D
|
|'''hídden
|'''ádd
|
|-
|'''E
|'''êel
|'''bêen
|'''sêe
|
|-
|'''F
|'''Ffoùlkes'''
|'''éffort
|'''óff'''
|'''Clíffe''' (= '''clíff''')
|-
|'''G
|
|'''aggréssion''' (-'''g'''-), '''exággerate''' (-j-)
|'''égg''' #
|'''Légge''' (= '''lég''')
|-
|'''H
|
|'''hítchhike''' # (accidental)
|
|
|-
|'''I
|
|'''skìíng''' #
|'''Hawàìi''' #
|
|-
|'''J
|
|
|'''hàjj''' # (also spelt '''hàdj''')
|
|-
|'''K
|
|'''púkka'''; '''boòkkeeper''' (accidental)<ref>With a pause to indicate both '''k'''’s are pronounced.</ref> #
|
|
|-
|'''L
|'''llàma'''<ref>Also representing a [[Welsh language|Welsh]] sound in place names like '''Llandudno''' (-dídno) and '''Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch'''.</ref> #
|'''fílling
|'''wéll'''
|'''bélle''' ''beauty'' (= '''béll''' ''ring'')


accépt ''receive'' cf. excépt ''exception''
|-
 
|'''M
áccess *áxéss, cf. áxis, áxês
|
 
|'''súmmer
áccident áx-
|'''Crámm''' (= '''crám''')
 
|'''grámme''' (= '''grám''')
accidéntally áx-
|-
|'''N
|
|'''dínner
|'''ínn''' # ''pub''
|'''Ánne''' (= '''Ánn''')
|-
|'''O
|'''oôze, oòmph''' #
|'''foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr'''
|'''toô
|'''Loôe''' (= '''loô''')
|-
|'''P
|
|'''flípped
|
|'''stéppe''' ''Asia'' # (= '''stép''' ''foot'')
|-
|'''Q
|
|'''Sadìqqi''' #
|
|
|-
|'''R
|
|'''érror
|'''pürr
|
|-
|'''S
|
|'''méssy
|'''lóss
|'''crevásse
|-
|'''T
|
|'''bétter
|'''ẁatt
|'''couchétte''' -sh-
|-
|'''U
|
|'''vácuum''' # (*vákyoôm)
|
|
|-
|'''V
|
|'''révved''' #
|
|
|-
|'''W
|
|'''Lawwell''' # (accidental)
|
|
|-
|'''X
|
|'''[[Exxon|Éxxon]]''' ™ #
|'''[[Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans|Bób B. Sóxx]]''' #
|
|-
|'''Y
|
|'''[[Omar Khayyam|Khayyàm]]''' #
|
|
|-
|'''Z
|
|'''fízzy
|'''búzz
|
|}


áccolade
==Names of the letters==
The names of the letters of the alphabet are rarely written out in English (a simple capital being the normal usage: "with a C, not a K") so that, unlike in many other languages, most of their spellings have a rather unofficial status. But they can be shown as follows, using real words where possible:


accómmodate - two c’s and two m’s
'''A''': '''â''' (the indefinite article, when stressed), '''èh?''' ''what?


accòmpany
'''B''': '''bê''' ''exist'', '''bêe''' ''sting


accòmplíce ''person''
'''C''': occasionally '''cêe'''; '''sêe''' ''look'', '''sêa''' ''ship


accòmplísh ''achieve''
'''D''': [[River Dee|'''Dêe''' ''River]], ''surname''


Accrà
'''E''': '''ê''' as in '''êmail''', '''ê-mail


accrûe cf. acróss
'''F''': '''éff''' as in the euphemism '''éff óff


acërbic
'''G''': '''gêe''' ''up, exclamation'' *jêe


âche *âke
'''H''': '''âitch''' as in '''drópping your âitches


achìêve
'''I''': '''Î''' ''me'', '''eŷe''' ''vision


ácmê
'''J''': '''jây''' ''bird


acquiésce *aquìéss, cf. quiéscent *kwìéssent, quîet *kwîət
'''K''': '''Kây''' ''person


acquîre *aquîre
'''L''': '''él''' ''elevated railway'' ([[American English|AmE]])


acquít
'''M''': '''ém''' ''dash


âcreage *âkerage
'''N''': '''én''' ''dash


acróss cf. accrûe
'''O''': '''ôwe''' ''debt'', '''ôh!''' ''exclamation


áctual *ákchəl
'''P''': '''pêa''' ''pod'', '''pêe''' ''urine'', '''p''' ''pence'' ([[British English|BrE]])


ácûmen cf. áccurate
'''Q''': '''queûe''' ''line'', '''cûe''' ''ball'', ''prompt


ácupuncture
'''R''': '''àre''' ''be'', BrE '''àh''' ''exclamation


ádage
'''S''': occasionally '''éss


adàgio -jô
'''T''': '''têa''' ''drink'', '''têe''' ''golf'', '''tì''' ''do-re-mi


ádd ''more'' = ád ''advertisement''  
'''U''': '''yoû''' ''me'', '''eŵe''' ''sheep


Áddis Ábaba
'''V''': '''[[Bobby Vee|Vêe]]''' ''Bobby''


ádditive
'''W''': "'''doúble you'''" (*dúblyu; cf. '''vácûum''', which actually does have a '''doúble Û''')


addíctive
'''X''': '''éx-''' ''past


addréss BrE = a dréss; AmE áddress
'''Y''': '''whŷ''' ''reason'' (voiced '''w''', as in BrE)


adhêre (d and h pronounced separately)
'''Z''': BrE '''zéd''', AmE '''zêe


adhêsive (d and h pronounced separately)
==''The Chaos''==
by Gerard Nolst Trenité


ád hóc
This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current [[British English]] pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found [http://ncf.idallen.com/english.html here].


ádjective cf. ejécted


adjöurn
'''The Châós''' (*câyóss)


adjúst *ajúst


ád nåusêám
Dêarest crêature ín creâtion


adôbê
Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion,


adrénalín can be -íne
:Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse


advānce
:Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse.


ádvent
Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy),


advénture
Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;


ádversary -vəsrỳ or advërsary
:Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;


ádvërt
:Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer.


ádvertise never -îze
Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,


advërtísement BrE;  AmE ádvertîsement
Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít!   
:Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,


advîce noun -ss
:Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd.


advîse verb pronounced but never spelt -îze
Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain


advîser = advîsor (alternatives)
[Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten].


Aêgêan *Êjêən
:Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,


ãerial air = Ãriel person
:Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.
Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû


ãerie bird = ãiry light and = variant spellings of bird: ãerie = éyrie = éyry
Wíth súch wörds as vâgue and âgûe,


ãeroplane BrE;  AmE ãirplane
:Bút bê cãreful hòw yoû spêak,


Aêschylus BrE; AmE Êschylus *Êeskiləss
:Sây: gúsh, bùsh, steâk, strêak, breâk, blêak,


aêsthétics AmE ê-
Prêvious, précious, fûchsia (*feŵsha), vîa,   
 
Récipê, pîpe, stúdding-sâil, choîr (=quîre);


afféct ''alter'' cf. efféct ''result'' í-
:Wôven, óven, hòw and lôw,


áffect ''emotion''
:Scrípt, recêipt (*rissêet), shoe (=shoô), pôem, tôe.
Sây, expécting fråud and tríckerỳ:


afféctive ''emotional'' cf. efféctive ''resultant''
Dåughter (*dåwter), làughter (*làfter) ánd Terpsíchorê (*Terpsíckery),


áffidâvit
:Brànch, rànch, mêasles, tópsails, aîsles (*îles),


affrònt cf. effròntery
:Míssîles, símilês, revîles.
Whôlly (=hôly), hólly, sígnal, sîgning (*sîning),


Afghánistān - either stressed
Sâme, exámining, but mîning,
:Schólar (*scóllar), vícar, and cigàr,


aficionàdo
:Sôlar, mîca, wår and fàr.


afrâid
From "desîre": desîrable - ádmirable from "admîre",


África
Lúmber, plúmber, biêr, but brîer,
:Tópsham, broûgham (*breŵəm), renòwn, but knôwn,


Afrikàans -ànce
:Knówledge, dòne, lône, góne, nòne, tône,


Afrikàner
Òne (=wòn), anémonê, Balmóral,
Kítchen, lîchen (=lîken), låundry, laurel (lórrel).


āfter
:Gërtrude, Gërman (J-), wínd and wînd,


āfterwards
:Beau (=Bô), kînd, kíndred, queûe, mankînd,   
Tŏrtoise (*tŏrtus), türquŏise, chámois-léather (*shámwà-),


again é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâin
Rêading, Réading, hêathen, héather.


against é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâinst
:Thís phonétic lábyrínth


agâpe ''gaping''
:Gíves móss, grôss, broòk, brôoch, nînth, plínth.


ágapê ''eros''
Háve yoû éver yét endéavoured


âge cf. édge: Francophones beware
To (=toô)<ref>Strong form of '''to''', not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.</ref> pronòunce revêred and sévered,


âgeing *âging, *âjing
:Dêmon, lémon, ghoûl, fòul, sôul,  


âgeist
:Pêter, pétrol and patrôl?


agô
Bíllet dòes nót énd lîke bállèt (*bállây);


ágriculture
Boûquèt, ẁallet, mállet, chálèt.       
:Blòod and flòod are nót lîke foôd,
       
:Nŏr ís môuld lîke shoùld and woùld (=woòd).


âid ''help'' = âide ''assistant''; Âids or ÂIDS ''disease'' = âids, âides ''plurals''
Bánquet ís nót nêarly pàrquèt,  


Âids or ÂIDS ''disease'' = âids, âides ''plurals''
Whích exáctly rhŷmes wíth khàkì. ''—not usually nowadays''
ãir ''breathe'' = Ãyr ''Scotland'' = ére ''before'' = é’er ''ever'' = héir ''estate''
       
:Díscòunt, vîscòunt (*vîcòunt), lôad and brŏad,  
       
:Towård, to fŏrward, to (=toô) rewård,


ãiry ''light'' = all four spellings of éyrie = éyry = ãerie = ãery ''bird'', cf. êerie ''strange''
Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?


Âix ''France'' = âches ''ache''
Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.<ref>The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the '''K''' is normally the stressed syllable: '''okây'''.</ref>


alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ ''friend'', állêy ''way''
:Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
:Friénd and fiênd, alîve and líve.


aîsle ''church'' = îsle ''island''
Ís yŏur R corréct ín hîgher?


Ajáccio *Azháxio
Kêats assërts ít rhŷmes Thalîa.


Àjax ''Amsterdam'' *Àyáx
:Hûgh, but húg, and hoòd, but hoôt,
       
:Buŏyant, mínute, bút minûte.


Âjax ''person''
Sây abscíssion wíth precísion,


Ál person cf. åll total
Nòw: posítion ánd transítion;


Alabáma - one m, cf. Montána, Louisiána
:Woùld ít tálly wíth mŷ rhŷme
       
:Íf Î méntioned páradîgm?


Álan = Àllen = Àllan
Twòpence, thréepence, têase are êasy,


alás
But cêase, crêase, grêase and grêasy?
 
:Cŏrnice, nîce, valìse, revîse,


Ålbany cf. Álbânia
:Râbíes, but lúllabîes.  


Álbert
Óf súch púzzling wörds as nåuseous,


Albuquërquê *Albəkïrky
Rhŷming wéll wíth cåutious, tŏrtious,


Åldwých
:Yoû'll envélop lísts, Î hôpe,
       
:Ín a línen énvelôpe.


âle ''beer'' = âil ''ailing''
Woùld yoû lîke some mŏre? Yoû'll háve ít!


Álfred
Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.


álgaê *áljê or *álgy
:To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
:Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.   
Líberty, lîbrary, hêave and héaven,


álgorithm rhymes with rhýthm
Râchel, lóch, moustàche, eléven.


Áli ''person'' = álley ''walk'' - except Muhámmad Àlì ''boxer''
:Wê sây hállôwed, bút allòwed,


âlias *âlius
:Pêople, léopard, tôwed but vòwed.


Álíce
Màrk the dífference, moreôver,


alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ
Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver.  


Álistair = Álastair
:Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,


âlias
:Chálíce, bút polìce and lîce,


álibî
Cámel, cònstable, únstâble,


âlien
Prínciple, discîple, lâbel.
   
:Pétal, pênal, and canál,


alienâtion
:Wâit, surmîse, pláit, prómíse, pál,


alîgned *allîned, cf. állied
Sûit, suìte, rûín. Cïrcuít, cónduít


alîve
Rhŷme wíth "shïrk ít" and "beyónd ít". —''still?''


åll ''every'' = åwl ''tool'', cf. Ál ''person''
:Bút ít ís nót hàrd to téll


Alládin
:Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.


allegâtions *allogations
Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron,


allége cf. lédge, etc.
Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,  


alléged *aléjd
:Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir,


allégedly *aléjidly
:Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,


allelûia or allelûja or allelûya
Îvy, prívy, fâmous; clámour


állêy ''path'' = Áli ''person'', cf. állŷ
Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.  


álligâtor
:Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,


allót ''assign'' = a lót ''much''
:Désert, but desërt, addréss.


åll-òut ''total'' before noun needs hyphen
Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants
Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.


allòwed ''permitted'' = alòud ''heard''
:Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb,


álloy
:Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme.


állŷ ''friend'' cf. állêy, alîgn
"Sôlder, sôldier!  Blòod ís thícker",  


állŷ ''noun''
Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",   
:Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,


allŷ ''verb'', cf. Álì ''person''
:Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô).  


ålmanac
Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,


ålmost
Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —''neither does anger: *áng-gə''
:Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
:Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.


àlms ''gift'' = BrE àrms ''body, weapons''
Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,  


alóngside one word
Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.
:Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,


alòud ''audible'' = allòwed ''allow''
:Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.
Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,


alréady ''before'' = åll réady ''ready''
Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.


alrîght = åll rîght - same meaning, probably by analogy with alréady
:Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,  


Alsâtian
:Válentîne and mágazìne.


ålso
Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,


ålter ''change'' = åltar ''church''
Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny),


altërnate ''adjective''
:Whích ís wróng.  Sây râpier, pìêr,


ålternâte ''verb''
:Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.


altërnative
Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring


althôugh *åldhô
Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?   
:Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,


alumínium BrE; AmE alûminum
:Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,


alvêolar
Persevêrance, séverance.  Ríbald


ålways
Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.
       
:Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,
       
:Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.
Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,


ám ''be''
Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet; 
:Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,


âm ''ante meridian'' *â-ém
:Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn. 
Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling


ámateur *ámətə; AmE can be amateûr
Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling ''—yëar and yêarling are about as likely''


ambássador cf. émbassy
Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt,


ámbergrìs BrE; AmE ámbergrís - s pronounced
:Mînd the Z (zéd)!  (A géntle hínt.)


ambítious *ámbíshəss
Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion


amén BrE à, AmE â
To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion,  
:Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws,
       
:Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs;


aménd cf. comménd
Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded,


aménds ''make'' = eménds ''alters''
Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd,     
:Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn,
       
:Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —''nowadays regularised to *Strákhən


âmìable cf. âim
Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely,
Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley).  
       
:Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud


ámícable
:Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud).


amòng
But mînd trívial and vîal,


amòunt
Trîpod, mênial, denîal,
       
:Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam,
       
:Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême.
Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely


an *ən: version of a before a consonant
Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh,
       
:Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây


anáchronism -nákr-
:Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt.


ánalŷse
Hád thís ínvalid inválid


análysês ''plural'' *ənáləssêez
Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid,
       
:Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked,
       
:Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked!
Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê,


análysis ''singular'' *ənáləssís
Páramour, enámoured, flîghty, 
:Épisôdes, antípodês,
       
:Ácquiésce, and óbsequies.


ánalýst
Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser,


ánarchy *ánəkỳ
Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor,


áncestor
:Rāther sây ín áccents pûre:
       
:Nâture, státure ánd matûre.


ánchor -nk-
Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly,


ánchovy -ntsh-
Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly,
 
:Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán,
       
:Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan.
The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you


âncient
Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û)


and *ənd, sometimes ánd for emphasis = &
:Sây thén thêse phonétic géms:
       
:Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz).


andántè
Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham,


Ándês
Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em -
       
:Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony,
       
:Lîghten yŏur anxîety.


Andêan
Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít


Andórra AmE -ŏrr-, cf. Pandŏra
Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít; 
:Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice,
   
:Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice.  


Ándreŵ
Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger;
Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger.
       
:Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge,
       
:Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge,


anémonê cf. an énemy
Hêro, héron, quêry, véry,


ângel *ânjəl, cf. ángle
Párry, tárry, fûry, bury,
     
:Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth,
       
:Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath.  
Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners,


ánger BrE *áng-gə
Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners


ángry *áng-gry
:Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz),


ángst
:Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)?


Anguílla -gwí-
Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle,
Anguíllan -gwí-


ánimus cf. ûnánimous
Wê sây áctual, but víctual,


Ánkara
Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght,
       
:Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte.


ánnals cf. ánalyst
:Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer,


annéx verb
Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer.     
       
:Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte,
       
:Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte.


ánnex or ánnexe ''noun''
Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —''Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish


annîhilate *annîyílâte
Scîence, cónscience, scientífic;
       
:Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur,


anómaly
:Gás, alás, and Àrkansås.


ánonýmity
Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit,


anónymous
Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít
anòther one word


ānswer - w silent: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr
:Bôna fîdê, álibî


Antàrctica first c can be silent
:Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ.
   
Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa,


ántê- before = ántì-
Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria.


Ánthony (usual) = Ántony Mark, -tə-
:Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan,  


ántì- against = ántê-; AmE ántî-
:Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne.


ántidote
Compãre âlien wíth Itálian,


Antìgua -gə
Dándelîon wíth battálion,


antirrhînum *antirŷnum
:Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê,
 
:Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! ''—ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh


antisémitism
Sây avër, but éver, fêver,


anxîety *angzîety
Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver.     
:Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe,
     
:Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf.


ánxious *ánkshəss
Stàrry, gránary, canãry,


any ''thing'' é-, cf. Ánnie ''person''
Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie,
       
:Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce,  


anybody *énnybódy, one word
:Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss.


any mŏre two words
Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging,


anyone *énnywún, one word
Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging;


anyway ''despite'' one word, cf. where wây is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít
:Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar


apâce ''fast'' = a pâce ''step''
:Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir.       
Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften


apàrtheîd -tîte
Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, ''—scarcely heard nowadays
       
:Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce;


apéritìf - either stressed
:Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss.


aphêlion *áfêlian
Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting?


apìêce ''each'' one word = a pìêce ''part''
Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting.


apócalypse
:Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént.
       
:Lîable, but Pàrliament.


apólogîse ''verb''
Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven,


apólogíes ''plural noun''
Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen,     
       
:Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk,
       
:Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk.


apóstasy
 of válour, vápid vâpour,


apóstrophê
S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)),
       
:G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-),
       
:Î of ántichrîst and gríst,


appål - AmE can be appåll
Díffer like divërse and dîvers,


appålling
Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers.


apparátchik
:Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll,


ápparâtus BrE - either stressed (to children  apparatus can sound plural, ‘apperators’); AmE apparátus
:Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll.
 
appárel
Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! -
 
appárent
Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky.
 
       
appêar
:Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts
 
       
appêasement
:Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —''no longer
 
appêaser
 
applåuse
 
approval -prû-
 
approve -prû-
 
âpricot
 
à priŏrî two words
 
àpriŏrísm one word
 
apropôs *ápropô
 
Aquãrius
 
Árab ''adjective, person''
 
Arâbian ''adjective''


Árabic ''language''
Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel  
 
àrc ''circle'' = Àrk ''Noah''
 
archâíc *àrkâyíc
 
archeólogy àrk-
 
archipélago àrk-
 
àrchive *àrkîve
 
ãrêa ''space'' *ãrêə, cf. ària, êra
 
Argentìna Àrj-
 
àrgil ''clay'' - soft g
 
Argŷll ''Scotland'' = Argŷle ''Plymouth'' - hard g
 
àrgue
 
àrgument
 
ària ''opera'' cf. ãrea
 
árid
 
Ãries -ríz
 
árístocrat BrE á stressed, AmE í stressed
 
aristocrátic
 
Àrkansas BrE -såw, AmE -sà
 
arrést
 
arrhythmic
 
àrsenal *àrssnəl
 
arrhýthmic
 
àrtefact
 
artêsian ''well'' *àrtêzhən
 
artifícial -shəl
 
artisán ''art'' *àrtizán
 
àrtist ''art''
 
artìste ''stage''
 
ascént ''climb'' = assént ''agree''
 
ascertâin
 
ÁSEAN or Ásean ''association'' *ássián, cf. Âsian Asia, *Âzhan
 
Âsia *Âsha or *Âzha
 
askānce
 
as oppôsed to ázəpôzt-
ásphalt
 
áspirin -spr-, cf. aspîring
 
assássin four s’s
 
assént agree = ascént climb
 
ássét
 
assûme -syûme
 
assûre AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre
 
ásterisk
 
Ásterix
 
ásthma *ássma
 
asúnder
 
asŷlum
 
âte AmE; BrE *ét
 
âthêíst cf. aesthétic
 
atrôcious -shəss
 
atrócity
 
áttaboy one word
 
attáchè -áshè
 
attörney
 
Åuckland
 
auctionêer åuk-
 
augúst ''revered''
 
Åugust ''month''
 
āunt ''uncle'' AmE = ánt ''insect''
 
au fâit *ô-fây
 
au fónd *ô-fón, French nasal -ón
 
au pãir ôp-
 
åural ''ear'' = ŏral ''voice''
 
åuspices
 
Aussie ''Australasian'' = Óssy = Óssie ''persons''
 
Austen ''Jane'' = Austin ''car, Texas'' Ó-
 
Austrâlia Ó-
 
Austria Ó-
 
åutarchy ''sovereignty'' = åutarky ''self-sufficiency''
 
authóritative
 
authórity
 
àùtobàhn
 
åutomobìle
 
åutumn silent n, -m
 
autúmnal not silent n
 
ávalānche
 
ávant gàrde (gàrde = guàrd)
 
avocàdo
 
avoirdupŏis *ávədə-pŏiz
 
åwe
 
awêigh ''anchors'' = awây ''go''
 
åwful
 
åwkward *åwquəd
 
åwl ''tool'' = åll ''total''
 
ÂWOL
 
awrŷ
 
áxe ''chop'' BrE;  AmE áx
 
áxes plural -íz
 
áxis spin -íss
 
áxês plural -êz, cf. áccess
 
áxle ''car'' = Áxel ''person''
 
Áxminster
 
aŷe ''yes'' = eŷe ''see'' = Î ''me''
 
Ãyr ''Scotland'' = ãir ''breathe''
 
Ãyrshire
 
Azerbaijàn Ázerbaî-
 
Azéri
 
ázure -zh-
 
===[[B]]===
B = bê ''is'', bêe ''insect''
 
bàa ''sheep'' BrE = bàr ''drink, chocolate, soap''
 
baboôn
 
Bàch ''music'' = bách ''Welsh''
 
báchelor ''unmarried'' = Bátchelor ''person''
 
báckbiting one word
 
báckhand ''tennis''
 
back-hánded ''ambiguous''
 
bácklash one word
 
backyàrd one word
 
bád ''evil'' = báde ''asked''
 
Baghdád BrE; AmE Bághdad Bágd-
 
bâil ''law, cricket'' = bâle ''hay, parachute''
 
bâilie ''magistrate'' = Bâiley ''person'' (also [[Old Bailey|Ôld Bâiley]], London's law court)
 
bâit ''hook'' = bâte ''fury, restrain''
 
bâize ''cloth'' = bâys ''bay''
 
Bàli ''island'' = BrE bàrley ''beer''
 
Bålkans cf. bálcony
 
båll ''game'' = båwl ''shout''
 
ballerìna cf. pizzerìa
 
bállèt *bállây, cf. bállot
 
bàlm -àm
 
bàlmy ''sea'' = BrE bàrmy ''daft''
 
Båltimore
 
báluster cf. bánister
 
banàl BrE; AmE bânal
 
banálity
 
banāna
 
bánd ''music'' = bánned ''ban''
 
bándwagon one word
 
Bangkók cf. Háncóck - both -ngk-
 
bánish
 
Bàrbara
 
barbãrian
 
barbáric
 
bàrbecûe *bàrbeqûe
barcarólle or -óle
 
bàrd ''poet, bacon'' = bàrred ''bar''
 
bãre ''naked'' = béãr ''animal, tolerate''
 
bãrely
 
Bárenbŏim
 
bàrgaín *bàrgin
 
bàrley
 
bàr mítzvah
 
bàrnacle
 
báron ''nobleman'' = bárren ''bare'' = Bárron ''person''
 
baróque BrE *bərók, AmE *barôke
 
bárrage -àzh BrE, AmE *bəràzh
 
bárrier
 
bàrtender
 
bâse ''basic'' = bâss ''treble'', cf. báss ''fish'' = Báss ''person''
 
bâses ''base'' -ssíz = bâsses ''music''
 
bâsês ''basis'' -ssêez
bâsic -ss-
 
bâsin -ss-
 
bâsis -ssíss
 
bāsk ''sun'' = Bāsque ''people''
 
bāsketball one word
 
báss ''fish'' = Báss ''person''
 
bâss ''treble'' = bâse ''basic''
 
bassoôn -ssoô-
 
bâste ''pour, sew'' = bâsed ''base''
 
batállion cf. báttle
 
bâte ''anger, breath'' = bâit ''lure''
 
bāth = Bāth ''city'' cf. bâthe ''swim'', final e signifying voiced th
 
bátón - one t, cf. Pátton, Hátton etc.
 
báttlefield one word
 
Báx ''person'' = bácks ''back''
 
bazàar *bəzàr, cf. bizàrre, í
 
Bà’ath ''party'' BrE = bāth ''water''
 
bê ''is'' = bêe ''insect''
 
bêach ''sand'' = bêech ''tree''
 
bêad ''string'' = Bêde ''person''
 
bêan ''eat'' = bêen ''was''
 
béãr ''tolerate, animal'' = bãre naked, cf. bêer drink, hêar hearing
 
bêat win, hit, rhythm = bêet sugar
 
bêater ''beat'' BrE = ''bêta'' Greek
 
bêátify ''saint'' cf. Sêáttle and beaûtify ''beauty''
 
Bêatríce, Bêatrix a as schwa: Bêə-
 
beau ''boyfriend'' = Bô ''[[Bo Diddley|Diddley]]''
 
beaûty *byûty
 
because ó
 
Béchèt *Béshây
 
bêe ''insect'' = bê ''is''
 
bêetle ''insect'' = Bêatle ''[[The Beatles|Beatles]]'', cf. bêat ''rhythm''
 
bêech ''tree'' = beâch ''sand''
 
bêen ''was'' = bêan ''eat''
 
bêer ''drink'' = bìêr ''coffin''
 
bêet ''sugar'' = bêat ''hit''
 
Bèethôven *Bâitovən
 
behêmoth
 
Bèijíng - j not zh sound
 
bêíng cf. Bíng
 
Beirût *Bây-roôt
 
'''Belarûs''' - one would expect this post-Soviet word (once literally rendered as ‘White Russia’) to regularise to ‘Bélarəs’, with the '''u''' as schwa, but this hasn’t happened; the most common alternative is still '''Belarùs''', and one even hears the plainly Russian-influenced *Byéla-rûs and *Byéla-rùs
 
Bélfāst
 
Bélgium *Béljəm
 
belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe
 
belìêve
 
béllicôse
 
bellígerent -j-
 
béllow ''shout, bellows'' cf. belôw ''under''
 
Bénaud *Bénnô
 
bénefit
 
benévolent
 
'''Benìn'''
 
'''Beninêse'''
 
bérèt *bérrây
 
bërk ''insult'' = Bürke ''person''
 
Bërkelêy ''California'' cf. Bàrclaỳ ''person'' = BrE Berkeley ''person''
 
Bërkshîre AmE; BrE *Bàkshə, as with bàrk ''dog, tree'' Bàrking ''town''
 
Berlín
 
bérry ''fruit'' = bury ''ground'' = Bury ''town''
 
bërth ''ship'' = bïrth ''born
 
bêta BrE; AmE bèta
 
Bétjeman *Bétcheman
 
bewíldered BrE *biwíldəd, AmE *bêwíldərd
 
'''bezìque''' *bəzêek
 
'''Bhutàn'''
 
'''Bhutanêse'''
 
'''Bhùtto''' (not 'Boôto')
 
bî- ''two'' = bŷ ''preposition'' = bŷ- ''extra'' = bŷe ''cricket, goodbye'' = buŷ ''sell'' = bî ''bisexual''
 
bîas
 
bîased *bŷəst
 
bìdet *bêedây
 
bìêr ''corpse'' = bêer ''drink''
 
bígot
 
Bíllie ''female'' = Bílly ''male'' = bílly ''goat''
 
bîô-
 
biógraphy
 
biólogy
 
Bïrmingham *Bïrmingəm, g not sounded separately
 
bïrthplace one word
 
bíscuit *bísket, cf. bāsket
 
bîson cf. bâsin
 
bîte ''food'' = bŷte ''computer'' = bîght ''loop''
 
bizàrre *bízàr, cf. bazàar *bəzàr
 
bláckmail
 
blānch ''white'' = Blānche ''person''
 
blancmange *bləmónzh
 
blãre ''noise'' = Blãir ''person''
 
bléssed *blést; but mostly as attributive adj: a *bléssíd thíng
 
blóc ''grouping'' = blóck ''prevent, wood, building''
 
blónd ''male person, male and female adjective'' = blónde ''female person''
 
blòodstained one word
 
blòodthirsty one word
 
blûe ''colour'' = bleŵ ''blow''
 
blürred cf. cûred
 
bŏard ''wooden, directors'' = bŏred ''boring'', cf. brŏad ''wide''
 
bôast
 
bôat
 
Boàteng Bwà-
 
Bôeing ''person'' = bôwing ''music''
 
Boer *Bùer
 
bôgey ''golf, ghost'' = bôgie ''trolley, truck'' = Bôgey ''Bogart
 
'''bôld''' ''brave'' = '''bôwled''' ''bowl
 
'''Bóllywood'''
 
'''bôlt''' ''metal'' = '''Bôlt''' = '''Bôult''' ''persons
 
'''Bólton''' ''city, person'' = '''Bôulton''' ''person
 
'''bómb''' *bóm
 
'''Bombây'''
 
bómbing *bómming
 
bôna fîdê
 
bonhomìê *bónə-mêe
 
boôgie-woôgie
 
boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound as if two
 
boôst
 
boôze ''drink'' = boôs ''boo
 
Bŏrdeaux *Bŏrdô, cf. Bardôt, *Bardô
 
bŏre ''boring, carried'' bŏar ''animal'' = bŏor ''rude
 
bŏred ''boring'' = bŏard ''wooden, directors
 
bŏredom *bŏrdum
 
Bŏrgia *Bŏrjə
 
bŏrn ''birth'' = bŏrne ''wind'' = bŏurn ''stream
 
bòrough ''town'' BrE -rə, AmE = búrrow ''earth
 
bosom *bùzəm
 
bôth
 
boûgainvillea *bûgənvília
 
bòugh ''tree'' = bòw ''low, ship
 
bôulder ''rock'' = bôlder ''bold
 
Boulogne *Bəlŏin
 
böurbon
 
bŏurgeois bŏrzhwà
 
bourgeoisìê bŏrzhwà-zêe
 
bŏurne ''stream'' = bŏrn ''birth'' = bŏrne ''carried
 
Bŏurnemouth *Bŏrnməth
 
bòw ''low, ship'' = bòugh ''tree
bôw ''knot
 
bòwel
 
bòwer ''tree'' = bàuer ''euchre
 
bôwl all meanings
 
bóxing ''sport'' = Bóxing ''Day
 
búffalo ''animal'' = Búffalo ''America''
 
brâin ''head'' cf. Brîan ''person''
 
brâinwash one word
 
Brasília - s
 
Brazíl - z
 
bréad ''food'' = bréd ''breed''
 
breâk ''smash, interval'' = brâke ''car''
 
breâkaway ''adjective'' cf. breâk awây ''verb''
 
breâkdown ''noun'' cf. breâk dòwn ''verb''
 
breâkthroûgh ''noun'' *brâkethrû; cf. breâk throûgh ''verb''
 
bréakfast
 
bréath ''noun'' unvoiced th, brêathe ''verb'' voiced th, cf. mòuth, same noun-verb distinction in pronunciation of the th, but always the same spelling
 
bréathtaking one word
 
bréd ''breed'' = bréad ''food''
 
brêed ''animal'' cf. bréad ''food''
 
bréthren -dhrən
 
Brîan = Brŷan cf. brâin, O’Brîen (one is more likely to meet a Brian O'Brien than a Brian O'Brian)
 
brìêf
 
brîght -ît
 
Brísbane *Brízbən
 
Brítain ''country'' -tən; = Bríton ''citizen'', Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain ''persons''
 
Bríttany ''France'' ≈ Brítney ''person''
 
brŏad cf. bŏard
 
bróccolì *bróckəlêy
 
Brómwich *Brómmidge
 
Bróntê, sometimes written Brontë
 
broôch  ''pin'' AmE; BrE = brôach ''speak''
 
broôm ''sweep'' = brûme ''mist''
 
bróthel unvoiced th
 
bròther voiced th
 
Bròúgh *Brúff
 
broûgham ''carriage'' = broôm ''sweep'' - or gha as schwa, broôəm
 
broûhàhà
 
Brûges = Brûgge *Brûzh
 
brûise ''contusion'' *brûze = breŵs ''beer''
 
Bruneî
 
Brunél
 
Brússels
 
Bucharést Bùka-
 
Budapést Bùda-
 
Bùddha -ùdə
 
Bùddhist -ùdi-
 
Buénos Aîres ''Argentina'' –ríz or Ãires *Ãríz, cf. Ãries ''Ram''
 
bùffèt ''eat'' *bùffây
 
búffet ''hit'', t sounded
 
buffoôn -ffoô-
 
buíld *bíld
 
buílding *bílding
 
Bulgãria
 
bùll
 
bùlletin
 
búllshit one word
buŏy ''sea'' = bŏy ''child
 
buŏyant *bŏyant
 
bürden ''load'' = Bürdon ''person
 
bûreau *byûrô, plural bûreaux, *bûrôz, cf. pólitburo
 
bureaucracy *byûrócracy, *beaûrócracy
 
bürger ''hamburger'' = bürgher ''business'' = Bërger ''person''
 
bürgeoning
 
bürn ''fire'' = Bÿrne ''name''
 
bürqa
 
búrrow ''ground'' = AmE bòrôugh ''town'' cf. Búrrôughs ''person''
 
bús ''transport'' = búss ''kiss''
 
búsed ''driven'' or bússed = búst ''bosom, broke''
 
búses ''plural, verb'' *bússes
 
búsing -ss-
 
bùsh
 
business *bízniss, cf. bíz, busy-ness ''being busy''
 
businessman one word, bíz-
 
bússed ''driven'' or búsed = búst ''bosom, broken''
 
busy bíz-
 
busybódy bíz-; one word
 
busy-ness ''busy'' cf. business ''matter'' - both í
 
bútt ''head, joke, buttocks'' = bút ''however''
 
bútterfly
 
buŷ ''sell'' = bŷ ''preposition'' = bŷ- ''incidental'' = bŷe ''cricket'' = bî- ''two'' = bî ''bisexual''
 
bŷe-bye! 
 
bŷ-election
 
bŷ-product
 
Bÿrd ''person'' = bïrd ''fly''
 
Býzantîne or *Bŷ-zántîne
 
===[[C]]===
C = sêe ''look''
 
cabál cf. câble
 
cáche ''arms'' = cásh ''money''
 
càdre *càder; AmE càdrê
 
cáddie ''golf'' = cáddy ''tea''
 
cáfè (can be written as café)
 
cáfè au lâit (can be written as café au lait) *cáfâyô-lây
 
cáffêine
 
Caîro *Kýro
 
Caìus ''Cambridge'' = kêys ''lock''; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with Gaîus
 
Calcútta
 
cálendar is not spelt -er, cf. còlander
 
Cálgary *Cálgəri
 
Califŏrnia -nyə
 
callígraphy -ll-
 
cállous ''uncaring'' = cállus ''skin'' ≈ [[Maria Callas|Cállas ''Maria]]'' (or Cállás)
 
càlm -àm, BrE and AmE
 
Câmbridge
 
camêllia or caméllia cf. chamaêleon *camêliən
 
cameráderie
 
cámouflàge -àzh
 
campâign *campâin, cf. champâgne *shám-pâin, and words in -èign, all of which rhyme
 
Cámpbell *Cámble, rhyming with gámble
 
cán ''able, tin'' = Cánnes ''France
 
Cânaan *Câynən - aa as schwa
 
Cánada
 
Canâdian
 
canál
 
cánapè
 
canãry
 
canásta
 
Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cánborough
 
cáncer ''illness'' = Cáncer ''constellation''
 
cándidate BrE -ət, AmE -âte
 
câne ''stick, sugar'' = Câin ''Abel''
 
cánister - one n
 
cánnabis
 
cánnibal cf. Hánnibal
 
cannót - or cánnot for emphasis, but always one word when nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…
 
canoe -noô
 
cánon ''church, œuvre, music'' = cánnon ''war''
 
cánt ''cliche'' = Kánt ''philosopher'', AmE cán’t ''impossible''
 
cantàta
 
cánvas ''paint, tent'' = cánvass ''election''
 
cányon cf. ònion, both -yən
 
câpable
 
Câpe Tòwn - two words, *Câpetown
 
capíllary AmE cápillãry
 
cápital ''city'' = Cápitol ''Washington''
 
capítulate
 
Cápricorn
 
càr ''vehicle'' = Càrr = Kàrr ''persons''
 
càr-lôad ''noun''
 
cárat ''gold'' = cárrot ''food''
 
càrcass ''body'' cf. Carácas
 
cãre
 
cãrefree one word
 
carêer ''profession, speed'' BrE = Korêa ''country'', cf. cárrier ''carry''
 
cãrer
 
Cáríbbêan *Cárri-bêeən (some say Cəríbbêən)
 
cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-
 
Carlîsle ''city, person'' = Carlŷle ''person''
 
Carnêgìê hard g
 
caròusal ''carouse'' *cəròuzəl
 
carousél ''round'' *carəssél
 
cárry ''bring'' = Cárrie ''person''
 
càrt horse = kàrt race
 
cartél
 
càrton
 
cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, m only different sound
 
cásh ''money'' = cáche ''weapons''
 
cáshmêre ''wool'' = Kashmìr ''Asia''
 
cassàva
 
cāst ''drama, throw, eye'' = ''cāste'' India
 
Castílian cf. Castìlle
 
cāstle -ssl
 
cásual cf. cåusal
 
cásualty
 
Cátalan
 
Catalônia - ‘Catalunya’ is Catalan
 
catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátàr
 
catástrophê
 
catastróphic
 
cátchphrase one word 
 
Câte - although Kâte is the traditional abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine, etc.
 
câter
 
cáterpillar
 
cáttle ''cows'' cf. kéttle ''boil
 
cåucus rhymes with råucous
 
cåught ''catch'' = BrE cŏurt ''tennis, law
 
cauliflòur *cóllyflower
 
cåuse ''reason'' -z = BrE Cŏrrs ''persons'', cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós ''because'' *cóz
 
cause celébre can have French accents: cause célèbre *côz-celébrə
 
cavalìêr
 
cávêát
 
cêase ''stop'' *sêess, cf. sêize ''hold
 
cêasefîre
 
cêde ''yield'' = sêed ''plant
 
cèilidh *kâlêy
 
cêiling ''floor'' = sêaling ''shutting
 
centrífugal s-
 
célebrâte
 
celébrity
 
célibate
 
céll ''prison, biology'' = séll ''money
 
céllar ''wine'' = séller ''sales
 
céllo ch-
 
'''Céltic''' or '''céltic''' ''civilisation'' K-, cf. '''Céltic''', S- ''football club''
 
cémetery *sémətry, not -ary
 
cénsor ''censorship'' = sénsor ''feel'' ≈ cénsure ''blame
 
cént ''money'' = sént ''send'' = scént ''perfume
 
céntral s-
 
céntre s- BrE, AmE cénter
 
centrífugal
 
centrípetal
 
céntrist s-
 
cêreal ''cornflakes'' = sêrial ''series
 
cérebral s- BrE; AmE cerêbral
 
Ceres planet *Sírêez, cf. Sírius ''star'', seríes ''string
 
céremony s-
 
cërvical s- or cervîcal
 
cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s-
 
césspit one word
 
césspool one word
 
ch- mostly tch-; sh- where stated
 
chà ''tea'' - or chàr as other meanings
 
chà-chà or cha-cha-chà ''dance''
 
Chádian *Cháddian
 
chãir ''sit'' = Chér ''person
 
chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng
 
chágrín sh- BrE; AmE *shəgrêen
 
chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl-, cf. camêlia, -n is the only extra sound (a [[minimal pair]])
 
châmber tsh-, cf. Châmbers ''person
 
chámois *shámwà
 
champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)
 
chandelìêr sh-
 
Chandrasèkhar
 
'''chánnel''' rhymes with pánel, cf. '''Chanél''', '''Cahnnél''' ''persons''
 
'''châós''' *kâyóss
 
'''chápel''' ''church'' = '''Cháppell''' ''person
 
'''cháperôn''' sh-
 
chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng
 
charàde sh- BrE; AmE charâde
 
cháracter k
 
charivàri sh-
 
chàrlatan sh-
 
Chàrlotte Sh-
 
chásm *kázzəm
 
chássis *shássy
 
châste ''virgin'' = châsed ''chase''
Chátham -təm
 
chauffëur *shôfër
 
chauvinist shô-
 
chêap ''cost'' = chêep ''bird''  both tsh-
 
chêapskâte one word
 
chêat tsh-
 
Chéchnya Tsh-
 
chéckpoint one word
 
chêetah tsh-
 
chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound
 
chéque money tsh-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch
nationality
 
Cherokêe Tsh-
 
chérry-píck tsh-
 
chévron sh-
 
cheŵ tsh-; cf. words beginning tû-
 
chèz *shây
chìc sh-
Chicàgo Shí-, à in both BrE and AmE
chíck
chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh-
chihuàhua *tshiwàwa
chîld singular tsh-
chîldbïrth one word
chíldren plural tsh-
Chílê country tsh-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold
Chílêan Tsh-
chimêra kí-
chímney tsh-
chívalry sh-
chívy or chívvy tsh-
chlamýdia kl-
Chlôê *Klôwie
chlóroform kl-
chóc chocolate tsh- = chóck wedge
chóck-a-blóck
choîr singers = quîre paper
choléstorol k-
choôse select = cheŵs chew
chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal
chŏrus k-
Chrîst Kr-
chrísten *kríssen
Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal
Chrístmas *Kríssməss
Chrístopher *Krístəfə
chrôme kr-
chrónic kr-
chrysánthemum kríz-
chûte fall sh-; = shoôt gun
chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur
ci- s-
Cícely person = Sícily Italy
cîder
cigàr
cínema
cínnamon
cïrcle
cïrcuit *sërkit
circûítous s-
cïrcumcîse sër-
circumcísion s-; -zhən
cïrcumstance s-
císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak
cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place
Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon
cíty s-
cívil s-
civílian s-; one l
clándestîne; some say clandéstíne
Clãir = Clãire = Clãre
clámour - AmE clámor
clánger normal ng sound, rhyming with hánger, cf. ánger, áng-ger, dânger, -njer
Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them
cláptrap one word
clāssroom one word
clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa
claustrophôbia clós-
clêan
cléanliness
cléanse -nz
clërgy
cléric
clërk AmE; BrE = Clàrk = Clàrke persons
clìchè *clêeshây
 
clîmb ''up'' = clîme ''weather
 
clìque *clêek, cf. clíck
 
clóckwörk one word
 
clôse ''shut'' = clôze ''test''
 
clôse ''near, cul-de-sac'' *clôce
 
clôser ''end'' -z-
 
clôser ''more'' -s-
 
'''clôse-up''' ''near'', -ss-, cf. '''clôse up''' ''shut'', -z-
 
clóth unvoiced th
 
clôthe voiced th
 
clôthes voiced th
 
côach ''transport, trainer
 
côalésce
 
cŏarse ''rough'' = cŏurse ''sport, eduation
 
côal ''mine'' = Côle ''person
 
côalman ''coal'' = Côleman ''person
 
cŏarse ''crude'' = cŏurse ''route, study
 
côast cf. cóst
 
côastguard one word
 
côax
 
cóbra or côbra
 
cóchineal
 
Côckburn = Côburn ''persons
 
cóck-up
 
côconut or côcoanut
 
cocoôn
 
côdêine
 
côdicil
 
coêlacanth sêel-, AmE cêlacanth
 
coërce
 
CofÊ ''Church of England'' *sêeyəvêe
 
cóffee *cóffy
 
cógnac *cónyák
 
Côhen *Côwen, rhymes with Ôwen
 
côíncidence no hyphen
 
côhêre
 
còlander cf. cálendar
 
Côle ''person'' = côal ''burn
 
Cólin
 
collápse
 
Cóllins
 
collóssal
 
collûde
 
Colôgne ''Germany'' = colôgne ''perfume'' *kəlôan
 
Colòmbia ''country'' = Colúmbia ''British'', company; or ó
 
Colòmbo
 
côlon
 
cölonel ''army'' = BrE kërnel ''nut''
 
colônial
 
colonnâde
 
cólonise
 
cólony
 
Coloràdo in both BrE and AmE
 
colorâtion or colourâtion cú-
 
cóloratùra
 
còlour ''tint'' cf. cóllar ''neck
 
Colúmbus
 
cólumn *cóllum
cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the n
côma cf. cómma
cômb hair -m, cf. còme here
cómbat
cómbatant or combátant
cómedy
còmeúppance ó; one word
còmfortable -ft-
cómfortably-óff
cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious
cómment
commërcial
commít
commíttee
commûnal
cómmune noun
commûne verb
cómmunism
commûnity
còmpany
compãre contrast cf. cómpére compère host
cómparable or compárable
compárative
compárison
compàrtment
cómpensâte
compensâtion
cómpére - compère show, cf. compãre contrast
complâint complain
cómplement together = cómpliment praise
cómplex AmE compléx
compléxion not -ct-
complîant comply
cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss
cómrâde AmE cómráde, cf. Cónrád
concêde
concentrâte cf. consént
cóncrete
concatenâtion - e, not i
concentrâte cf. consént
cóncept
concéptual
concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto
concörd
Cóncord
condîgn -dîne
cóndom
cóndŏr
condûcíve
cóndûít or -dwít - BrE was *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised
conféss
conféssion -féshən
cónfidant person -dónt
cónfident adjective -dənt
Confûcian -shən
confûsion -zhən
cónger hard g
cóngeries soft g
connéct
Connécticut *Cənétikət
connéction BrE can be connéxion
connîve
connoissëur - -oi- as schwa: *connəssür
cónquer win = cónker nut
cónquest cf. quést
cónscious
consénsus cf. cénsus
consént cf. concentrâte
consërvative
conservâtion
consigliérê *consíl-yãry
cónsôle noun
consôle comfort
consólidate
cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa
consŏrt verb
conspírator
conspîre
constábulary
constítuency
consûme -syû-
contémptible
cóntext
contéxtual
contínûùm -nyû-
cóntrary opposed
contrãry awkward
cóntribûte or contríbûte
contribûtion
contríbutor
contrôl
contradíct
contríbute
cóntribûtion
cóntrovërsy or contróversy - controvërsial?
coòk kitchen = Coòk = Coòke persons
Coômbs = Coômbes *Coûmz
cooperâtion côwóp-, cf. cŏrporation
coóperative côwóp-
 
Copenhâgen Cô-; or -hàgen
 
cóps ''police'' = Kóp ''Liverpool
 
cóp-òut
 
cóps ''police'' = cópse ''wood
 
cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing
córal
cŏr ànglâis *cŏ-rónglây
cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music
cŏrdon
cŏre apple = cŏrps army
cŏrnerstône one word
corôna
córonary
córoner
cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following
cŏrpse
corràl
córrugate AmE cörrugate
cóst cf. côast
Cósta Rìca
cóttage -íj
còuch
còuchant
couchétte cûsh-
cóugh *cóff
còuncil committee = còunsel advice
còuncillor
còunt
còunty cf. coúntry
còunterfeít
còunter-productive hyphenated
coúntry cf. còunty, còunt, which begin with the còw sound
coûp d’état = coô bird
coúple
coúrage - AmE can be cöurage
courâgeous
cŏurse route, study = cŏarse crude, -ss, cf. cåuse, -z, cürse, -s
cŏurt tennis, monarch, woo - BrE = cåught catch
cöurteous
cöurtesy ''politeness'' cf. cürtsey ''bow''
 
coúsin *cúzzen
 
còver
 
côvert cf. ovërt
 
còvet -ít
 
còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw
 
Coŵper = Coôper; or Còwper
 
cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat
 
cráckpot noun one word
 
cråwl ''ground'' = Kråll ''person''
 
crêak ''noise'' = crêek ''water''
 
crêam
crêâte
crêâtion -êâshən
crêature -ch-
créche *crésh, cf. crásh
crêdence
credéntials
crédibílity
crêed
crêek water = crêak noise
créme crème
créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt
Crêôle
crêosote
crèpe crèpe
crescéndos -sh-
créscent *crézzənt
crévíce
crevásse
creŵ ship = Creŵe town
creŵ-cut
Crîchton *Crŷtən
crîme
Crîmêa -êə
Crôát *Crôwát
Croâtia *Crôwâshə
cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old
crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet
crócodîle
croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón
crône
crôny
cróss-examinâtion
cròtch genitals = crútch support
crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây
crûcible
crûcifíxion
crûise -ûz
crúx
crýpt
crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t
cùckoô
cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line
cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən
cúl-de-sác
cúlprit
cúm with = còme here
cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard
 
'''curaçào''' *curassòw
 
cûrate person
curâte museum
cürb stop, street = kërb street
cûre-åll noun, adjective
cûrious
 
cúrrant ''eat'' = cúrrent ''now, flow'' BrE; AmE cü-
 
currículum vìtaê
 
cürse cf. cŏurse
 
cürt ''blunt'' = Kürt ''person
 
cürtsey ''bow'' cf. cöurtesy ''politeness
 
cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən
 
cústard
 
cústody BrE *cústardy
 
cút-prîce
 
cy- s-
 
cýclamen s-
 
cŷcle s-
 
cýclical s-
 
cŷclist s-
 
cýgnet ''swan'' = sígnet ''ring
 
cýlinder
 
cýmbal ''drums'' = sýmbol ''sign
 
cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher
 
cŷpress ''tree'' = Cŷprus ''country'' s-
 
Cýpriot
 
cýst s-
 
cýnic s-
 
cýnicism
 
Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr
 
Czéch ''nationality'' = chéck ''verify'' = BrE
chéque ''cash 
 
cöurtesy ''politeness'' cf. cürtsey ''bow''
 
coúsin *cúzzen
 
còver
 
côvert cf. ovërt
 
còvet -ít
 
còws ''animals'' = Còwes ''Isle of Wight''; cf. kowtòw
 
Coŵper = Coôper, or Còwper
 
cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat
 
cráckpot ''noun'' one word
 
crêak ''noise'' = crêek ''water''
 
crêam
 
crêâte
 
crêâtion -êâshən
 
crêature -ch-
 
créche *crésh, cf. crásh
crêdence
 
credéntials
 
crédibílity
 
crêed
 
crêek ''water'' = crêak ''noise
 
créme can have French accent: crème
 
créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt
 
Crêôle
 
crêosote
 
crèpe can have French accent: crèpe
 
crescéndos -sh-
 
créscent *crézzənt
 
crévíce
 
crevásse
 
creŵ ''ship'' = Creŵe ''England
 
creŵ-cut
 
Crîchton *Crŷtən
 
crîme
 
Crîmêa -êə
 
Crôát *Crôwát
 
Croâtia *Crôw-âshə
 
cróc ''crocodile'' = cróck ''pot, old
 
crôchet ''knit'' *crôshây, cf. crótchet
crócodîle
 
croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón
 
crône
 
crôny
 
cróss-examinâtion
 
cròtch ''genitals'' = crútch ''support
 
crótchet ''irritable, music'' regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây
 
crûcible
crûcifíxion
crûise -ûz
crúx
crýpt
crýstal - t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t
cùckoô
cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line
cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən
cúl-de-sác
cúlprit
cúm with = còme here
cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard
curaçào *curassòw
cûrate person
curâte museum
cürb stop, street = kërb street
cûre-åll noun, adjective
cûrious
cúrrant ''eat'' = cúrrent ''now, flow
 
currículum vìtaê
 
cürse cf. cŏurse
 
cürt ''blunt'' = Kürt ''person
 
cürtsey ''bow'' cf. cöurtesy ''politeness
 
cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən
 
cústard
 
cústody BrE *cústardy
 
cút-prîce
 
cy- s-
 
cýclamen s-
 
cŷcle s-
 
cýclical s-
 
cŷclist s-
 
cýgnet ''swan'' = sígnet ''ring
 
cýlinder
 
cýmbal ''drums'' = sýmbol ''sign
 
cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher
 
cŷpress ''tree'' = Cŷprus ''country'' s-
 
cýst s-
 
cýnic s-
 
cýnicism
 
Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr
 
Czéch ''nationality'' = chéck ''verify'' = BrE chéque ''cash
 
===[[D]]===
'''D''' = '''Dêe''' ''person''
 
'''Dail''' ''parliament'' = '''Dŏyle''' ''person''
 
'''dâily''' ''day'' = '''Dâley''' ''person
 
'''daiquíri''' daî-
 
'''dãiry''' ''milk'' cf. '''dîary''' ''day''
 
'''Dàlek'''
 
'''Dalmâtian''' not -on
 
'''Dalziél''' *Dêe-él
 
dám ''river'' = dámn ''hell''
 
dámage
 
dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound
 
Dániel *Dányəl
 
Dânish
 
Dáphnê *Dáffney
 
dãresây is one word in '''Î dãresay''' meaning ‘probably’
 
'''Darfùr'''
 
dàrtbŏard one word
 
dāstardly cf. bāstard
 
dâtabâse BrE; AmE dátabâse one word
 
dåughter *dåwter
 
Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis
 
dávit
 
dâze ''dazzle'' = dâys ''day''
 
de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right
 
déad cf. dêed
 
déadline one word
 
déadlock one word
 
dêal
 
déalt
 
dêar ''loved, expensive'' = dêer ''animal''
 
dëarth
 
debàcle
 
débris can be written with the French accent: débris; BrE *débrêe or dâybree; AmE *dəbrêe
 
débt *dét; silent b
 
dèbut début *dâybyû - or dé-
 
dèbuted débuted *dâybyûd - or dé-
 
décade ''years'' cf. decâyed ''decay'' - though some do rhyme them
 
Decémber
 
dêcent
 
decídûous -yû
 
déckchair one word
 
declássè can be written as in French déclassé *dây-clássây
 
décimate
 
decîpher cf. cŷpher or cîpher
 
Déclan
 
dêed cf. déad
 
dêer ''animal'' = dêar ''friend, expensive
 
dè fácto two words, *dây-fácto
 
defámatory
 
defâme
 
defër cf. díffer
 
déficit
 
définitely
 
defûse problem dê-, -z, cf. diffûse, dí-
 
degénerate
 
dèign ''condescend'' = Dâne ''Denmark
 
deipnósphist
 
déjà vu *dèzhà-vû
 
delây
 
deletêrious
 
Délhi ''India'' = déli ''delicatessen
 
delínêâte
 
delínquent
 
delîght -ît
 
Dêlius cf. Sibèlius
 
delíver
 
déluge -yû-
 
delûsion cf. illûsion
 
de lûxe or de lúxe
 
démagogue -góg
 
demānd
 
démo
 
demócracy cf. hypócrisy
 
democrátic
 
demür
 
demûre
 
dénguê fêver
 
dénier ''weight, coin'' *dényə, cf. denîer ''deny
 
Dénis = Dénnis
Denìse -êez
denŷ
depéndant person = depéndent adjective
dërby ''race'' = Dërby ''England'' AmE; BrE = Dàrby ''person''
 
de riguëur *dərigër - hard g
 
desálinate
 
descént ''down'' = dissént ''disagree
 
descrîbe dís-
désert sand 
desërt leave = dessërt meal
désiccate - very commonly misspelt: -ss- would be expected after é, cf. párallel
despãir
désperate cf. dísparate, séparate
desperâtion
despícable
dessërt meal -zërt = desërt leave
dessërts just -zërts
détail noun
detâil verb
detër
detêriorate
detërmíne
detérrent
detrîtus
dévastate
 
devastâtion
 
devélop rhymes with envélop ''verb'', cf. énvelôpe ''noun
 
devîce -ss, cf. divîde
 
devîse -z, cf. divîde
 
devôte
 
devotêe
 
devòut
 
deŵ ''morning'' = dûe ''owed'', cf. do ''act *dû
 
Deŵey
 
déxtrous or déxterous
 
diabêtes *dîəbêtêez or -tíz
 
diabétic
 
diaérisis *dî-érisis, AmE diérisis
 
dîálýsis
 
dîamond
 
dîáphanous
 
dîaphragm -ám
 
diarrhoêa BrE *dîre-rêar; AmE diarrhêa
 
dîary cf. dãiry
 
diáspora
 
dictâte cf. díktát
 
dîcy ''dodgy'' cf. Dícky, Díckie ''persons
 
dîe ''death'' = dŷe ''colour
 
dîehard one word
 
dìêsel
 
dîet *dîət
 
díffer cf. defër
 
diffûse various -ss, give out -z
 
dígit
 
díktát cf. dictâte
 
dilémma
 
dilettántê
 
dímwit one word
 
dínghy ''boat'' - no g sound, only ng sound
 
díngy ''dark'' *dínjy 
 
dînosåur
 
dîocese *dîəsíss
 
diphthêria
 
díphthong
 
diplôma
 
díplomat
 
dîre cf. dêar
 
dírham
 
disassôciate - -sass-
 
disarrây
 
disāstrous -zā-, no e, cf. disāster; mürderous, cantánkerous, etc.
 
dísc ''record, circular'' = dísk ''computer
 
discòver
 
discrêet ''careful'' = discrête ''separate
 
discrétion -éshən
 
discriminâtory
 
díscus
 
discúss
 
disequilíbrium
 
disgúst revulsion ≈ discússed talked
disingénuous - -uou-
Dísney *Díznì
dispátch or despátch
dispénsable
disséction
dissént disagree = descént down
dissymétric dîssý-
dístribûte or distríbûte -yû-
divîne cf. Devìne
divîsive cf. divîde, dêvious, devîse
Djángo Reînhardt - unlike in French
 
do *dû cf. dûe cause, time = deŵ morning *dyû
doable *dûwable
 
Dócherty or Dóherty same pronunciation: Celtic ch sound, same as Arabic kh as in Khàn
 
dôcîle AmE *dóssle
 
dòes ''do'' *dúz, cf. dôes ''female deer
 
dóg-êat-dóg
 
dógged ''verb'' *dógd: this próblem dógged us
 
dógged ''adjective'' *dóggíd: a dógged pursûer
 
dôe ''animal'' = dôh ''music, exclamation
 
dòes *dúz, cf. fãir do’s, *doôz
 
dôle ''money'' = Dôle ''person
 
dóll ''model
 
dóllar
 
domâin ''territory'' = demèsne ''estate'', domâine ''vineyard
 
dón ''clothes, academic'' = Dón ''person
 
dòne ''do'' = dún ''colour'' = Dúnn ''person'' = Dònne ''poet
 
dóner ''kebab'' = Dónner ''person
 
dônor ''give
 
doômsday ''doom'' = Domesday ''Book
 
'''dŏorstép''' one word
 
'''dóppelganger''', often with German umlaut: '''doppelgänger'''
 
'''dŏrmant'''
 
dóssièr silent French r - or e regularised to schwa
 
doúble rhymes with búbble
 
doûble entendre *dôôblon-tóndrə
 
dòubt *dòut, cf. dòughty
 
dôugh ''bake, money'' = dôe ''deer
dôughnút *dônut
 
dòughty
 
Doúglas *Dúgləss
 
doûr ''serious'', one syllable ≈ doer do, two
 
dòve bird
 
dôve ''dive'' - AmE for dîved
 
dòvish
 
dòwnfall one word
 
downhíll one word
 
dòwry
 
dôze
 
dôzed ''doze''
 
dòzen ''12''
 
dracônian
 
drāft ''AmE all meanings, BrE outline, money, group, US conscription'' = drāught
 
dràgon
 
dràma
 
drāught BrE cold, net, liquids, game, horse = drāft, cf. dròught *dròwt
 
dråw ''design'' ≈ dråwer ''pull''
 
dråwback ''noun'' one word
 
dreŵ ''draw'' = Dreŵ ''person''
 
dríll
 
drîly or drŷly
 
drível
 
drízzle
 
drómedary
 
droôp down = drûpe fruit
 
dròught *dròut, cf. drāught = drāft
 
drúnkenness -nn-
 
Drûze
 
dûal ''two'' = dûel ''fight'' ≈ jeŵel ''stone''
 
dúchess cf. Dútch
 
dûe ''owed'' = deŵ ''morning'' *dyû, cf. do ''act'' *dû
 
dúmb-bell
 
dún ''colour'' = Dúnn ''person'' = dòne ''do'', cf. dón ''clothes, academic'' = Dón ''Donald''
 
Dúncan rhymes with drúnken
 
Dundêe
 
dûne ''sand''
 
Dúrham *Dúrrəm
 
dûring j-
 
dúst ''dirt'' = dòst ''archaic do''
 
dústbin one word
 
duúmvirate ûú
 
dûvèt *doôvây
 
Dvŏrak, in Czech Dvořák, *Dəvåwzhàk
 
dŷe ''colour'' = dîe ''dead''
 
dŷeing ''dye'' = dŷing ''die''
dynámic
dŷnamísm
dŷnamîte
dýs- bad = dís- negative
dýsentery
dysfúnctional
dysléxic
 
===[[E]]===
Ê
êar cf. ërr
 
ëarl
 
Ëarl Grây ''tea'' cf. ''colour'' BrE grèy, AmE grây
 
ëarly
 
ëarn ''money'' = ürn ''bury'' = ërne ''eagle''
 
ëarnest ''serious'' = Ërnest ''person'', cf. Thê Impŏrtance of Bêing Ëarnest
 
ëarth
 
Eâster
 
eâstern ''east'' BrE = Êaston ''person''
 
êasy-gôing
 
êaten ''eat'' = Êton ''school''
 
êaves ''roof'' cf. êve ''before''
 
êavesdróp one word
 
eccéntric exé-
 
échelon ésh-
 
eclãir sometimes with French accent éclair *í-clãir
 
eclát sometimes with French accent éclat *è-clá
 
éctoplasm
 
económic, -al, -s AmE éc-, BrE êc-
 
ecónomy
 
ecólogy
 
êcosystem
 
écstasy éxt-
 
ecstátic éxt-
 
Écuador *Équador
 
éczema *éxma
éddy ''pool'' = Éddie = Éddy ''persons''
 
êdict
 
édit
 
êerie ''strange'' as in Lâke Êrie, cf. ãiry ''light'' = éyrie - and variant spellings - ''bird''
 
efféct ''result'' í- or ə-: when schwa = afféct ''cause''
effervésce -véss
 
efficácity
 
effícient -shənt
 
éffort -or- as schwa
 
effròntery cf. affrònt
 
Èid
 
èight ''8'' = AmE âte ''eat'', BrE *ét
 
eîther neither AmE êither voiced th, cf. êther sky, unvoiced th
 
élbôw
 
eléction
 
eléctoral
 
eléctric
 
elegîac
 
Eléktra
 
élement
 
eleméntary
 
elévenses
 
Élgàr - though it seems contemporary pronunciation was *Èlgə
 
éligible cf. illégible
 
elícit ''obtain'' = illícit ''illegal''
elìte íl-
 
elìtist
 
Elízabeth ''Queen'' = Elísabeth
 
Éltham -təm
 
elûsive ''elude'' = illûsive ''illusory''
 
élsewhere one word
 
émanate
 
embárrass cf. embrâce
 
émbassy cf. ambássador
 
embézzle
 
émblem
 
embódiment
 
embrâce cf. embárrass
 
embrŏidery
 
eménds alters = aménds make, cf. imménse huge
 
emërge
 
émigrate cf. ímmigrâte
 
émigrè émigré
 
éminence grìse *éminónss-grêez
 
éminent
 
emôtion
 
emphysêma
 
émulate
 
en ''French'' = ón ''English'' - en occurs in the following expressions taken from French: en attendant *onətóndón, en blóc, en clãir, en fáce, en famìlle *onfamì, en fête *onfét, en másse, en pássant *onpásson, en plein *onplán, en póste, en prìse, en rappŏrt, en roûte, en suìte *onswêet
 
encéphalitis ens-
 
encore ón-
 
énclave - some say ón-
 
encúmber cf. incúmbent
 
endéavour
 
endógenous cf. indíginous
 
endûre cf. ínjure
 
énergy - g as j
 
energétic - g as j
 
enfant terrìble *ónfóntérêebl
 
enfŏrce ''require'' = ín fŏrce ''applicable''
 
engâge
 
engagé *ongázhây
 
éngine -jín
 
England Íng-glənd
 
English Íng-glísh
 
ennuì *ón-wê
 
enŏrmous
 
enoúgh *inúff
 
en pássant *ompásson - last syllable nasalised
 
enquîre, enquîry or inquîre, inquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry
 
ensemble *onsómble
 
ensûe -syû
 
ensůre ''certain'' = insůre ''insurance''; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûre
 
énter
 
entîre *íntŷre, cf. MácIntyre etc.
 
entîrety *entîrity
 
entouràge *óntùràzh
 
éntrance ''enter''
 
entrānce ''beguile''
 
entrèe in French entrée *óntrây
 
entrepôt *óntrəpô
 
entreprenëur ón-; AmE -neûr
 
enúnciate´
 
envélop ''verb''
 
énvelôpe ''noun''
 
envîronment - nm
 
environméntalist - nm
 
epicûrêan
 
épitāph
 
êqual
 
eqùality
 
equâte
 
équitable
 
ër ''hesitation'' = BrE ërr error
 
êra BrE; AmE éra ''time'' = BrE érror ''mistake''; cf. ãrea, ària
 
erádicate cf. írrigate
 
ére ''before'' = ãir ''oxygen'' = héir ''estate''
 
ërne ''eagle'' = ëarn ''money'' = ürn ''pot''
 
ërr BrE; AmE érr cf. êar
 
érror
 
eschêat - s and ch pronounced separately: rhymes with chêat
 
escheŵ - s and ch pronounced separately
 
ÉTA ''Basque'' = Étta ''person''
 
ét ál
 
etc. = ét cétera - the pronunciation ‘ixetra’ is frowned upon
 
éthnocéntric one word
 
ethnógraphy
 
êthŷl
 
Êton ''school'' = êaten ''eat'' = Êton = Êaton ''persons''
 
eû- ''well'' = yoû ''pronoun''
 
Eûcharist Yûkə-
 
eûchre *yûker
 
Eûgêne = yoû, Jêan
 
eûlogy
 
eùro ''currency'' = Eùro ''championship''
 
Eùrope *Yùrəp
 
Europêan
 
euthanâsia -âzìyə
 
eváporate
 
êve ''before'' cf. êaves ''roof''
 
êven cf. Évan
 
evént
 
Évelyn ''usually female''
 
Êvelyn ''usually male''
 
éveryday ''adjective'' as in éveryday lîfe; cf. wê gét úp évery dây
 
êvil cf. dévil
 
eŵe ''sheep'' = yoû ''me'' = yeŵ ''tree''
 
éx ''lover'' = éx- ''past''
exácerbate
 
exággerate
 
excél
 
éxcellent
 
excépt ''exception'' = accépt ''receive''
 
exclâim
 
exécutive cf. éxecute
 
éxercise
 
exhíbit
 
exhibítion
 
exhílarating silent h, cf. hilãrious
 
éxîle
 
éxiting ''exit'' cf. excîting ''excite'', both one t
 
exónerâte
éxŏrcise or = éxercise
 
expátriate -ət, cf. pâtriot, also ət
 
expêrience
 
expériment
 
expertìse -têez, cf. other words ending in -ise, mostly -îze
 
expôse
 
exposé *expôzây - either stressed
 
extól or extôl
 
éxtra *xtra
 
extrávagant
 
extravagánza
 
extrêmist
 
extraŏrdinary - the first a often is not heard: *extrŏrdinary
 
eŷe ''see'' = Î ''am'' = aŷe ''yes''
 
eŷesîght one word, *îsîte
 
eŷeẁash one word, *îwósh
 
éyrie ''bird'' has variant spellings éyry, ãérie and ãéry = ãiry light; cf. Lâke Êrie = êerie ''weird''
 
===[[F]]===
F *éff
 
fábulous *fábyələss
 
façàde *fəsàd
 
facêtious *fəsêeshəss
 
fáction *fácshən, cf. fáshion
 
Fáhrenheît
 
fãir ''justice, pretty, fun-'' = fãre
 
fãiry cf. férry
 
fait accomplì *fét-əcomplì
 
fåll-òut noun
 
Fålstaff
 
fålcon
 
Fålklands
 
fámily *fámly
 
fámíne
 
fàraway ''adjective before noun'', one word, cf. ít’s toô fàr awây
 
fàrcical
 
fãre ''travel, food'' = fãir
 
farewéll
 
Fãroe ''Islands'' = phãroah ''Egypt
 
Faroêse
 
fàr-rêaching
 
Fàrquhar *Fàrker
 
fàrther ''further'' BrE = fàther ''dad
 
fáscist *fáshist, cf. râcist
 
fáshion  *fáshən, *fátion, cf. fáction
 
fāst
 
fāsten *fāssən
 
Fátah ''Palestine'' = BrE fátter ''fat
 
fâtal
 
fatálity
 
fáthéad as if two words
 
fátwà
 
fåucet ''tap'' = Fåwcett ''person
 
fåulty ''fault'' = Fåwlty ''Towers
 
fåun ''goat-god'' = fåwn
 
fåuna
 
faux *fô
 
faux-pas *fô-pà
 
fåwn ''grovel, colour, deer'' = fåun
 
fâvourite -vr-; AmE fâvorite
 
fáx ''machine'' = fácts ''truths''
 
Fây = Fâye ''persons'' = fèy ''whimsy
 
fâze ''confuse'' = phâse ''period
 
fêat ''achievement'' = fêet ''foot
 
Fébruary AmE *Fébyuãry, BrE Fébyury
 
fêed ''verb'' cf. féd ''past'', foôd ''noun
 
fèign ''pretend'' = fâin ''willing
 
fèint ''sham, write'' = fâint ''unconscious
 
feîsty
 
Fêlix
 
fêmur
 
fermént ''chemical, excite'' cf. fomént ''water, disorder
 
férry cf. fãiry *féəry
 
fète ''garden, celebrate'' fête = fâte ''destiny
 
fétid cf. fèted = fâted
 
feûd ''argument'' cf. leŵd, foôd
 
fèy ''whimsy'' = Fây = Fâye ''persons
 
feŵ ''many'' = pheŵ ''relief
 
fìat ''decree'' = Fìat ® ''car
 
fìêrce
 
fîery cf. fîre, wîry, feîsty
 
fífth *fíth
 
fíg-lêaf
 
fígurehead *fíggerhéd, one word
 
fîle ''nail, paper'' = phîal ''liquid
 
fílet or fíllet - BrE t sounded, AmE *filây
 
fíll ''up'' = Phíl ''Philip
 
fíllip ''boost'' = Phílip ''person
 
fín ''fish'' = Fínn ''Finland
 
fînal
 
finàlê
 
fîne all meanings
 
fínger *fíng-gər
 
fínish ''stop'' = Fínnish ''Finland
 
fïr ''tree'' = für ''animal
 
fîreworks noun one word
 
físcal finance -ss-, cf. phýsícal body, -zí-
 
físsure ''break'' = físher ''fish'', Físher ''person
 
fláccid *fláxid
 
flagellâtion
 
flãir ''ability'' = flãre ''fire
 
flák cf. bláck
 
flãre ''fire'' = flãir ''ability
 
flåutist
 
flák ''abuse'' = Fláck ''person
 
flåw ''error'' = BrE flŏor ''ground
 
flêa ''insect'' = flêe ''escape
 
Fléming
 
flíck-knife
flîer or flŷer
 
flípside one word
 
flôe ''ice'' = flôw ''water
 
flòod
 
flòur ''bake'' = flòwer ''plant
 
floúrish
flŏra
flôw ''water'' = flôe ''ice'', cf. flåw ''error''
 
flòwer ''plant'' = flòur ''bake
 
flû ''influenza'' = flûe ''chimney
 
flûgelhorn
 
flúmmoxed *flúməxt
 
fôcus, fôcused and fôcusing are arguably preferable to fôcussed and fôcussing as they do not distract one by invoking cússed and cússing
 
foêtus AmE fêtus
 
fôlìage has three syllables, cf. cárriage, márriage, each two
 
fomént water, disorder cf. fermént chemical, excite
 
foòt
 
foôd ''eat'' cf. feûd ''quarrel'' fyoô-
 
foôl
 
foôlscap
 
foòtnôte one word
 
fŏr preposition usually schwa; stressed = fŏur 4, fŏre ''front''
 
fóray AmE = Fåurè Fauré
 
forbád or forbâde
 
forbíd
 
fŏre ''front'' (to the fŏre) = fŏur ''number
 
fŏrecast
 
fŏrecastle -səl: sailors traditionally say *fôksəl
 
fŏrehéad traditionally *fórrid, cf. hórrid, but now normally has the spelling pronunciation
 
fóreign *fórrən
 
fórest -íst = Fórrest ''person'' = Fórest ''Nottingham, person''
 
fŏrewörd ''book'' cf. fŏrward ''back
 
fŏrmally ''formal'' BrE = fŏrmerly ''before
 
fŏrmer cf. fàrmer
 
fŏrmidable or formídable
 
fŏrtè
fŏrth ''forward = fŏurth ''four
 
forthcòming one word
 
fŏrtnight *fŏrtnîte
 
fŏrty cf. fŏur, fŏurteen
fŏrward forwards cf. rewård prize, fŏrewörd introduction
fòul bad = fòwl birds
fòund find, establish
fŏur number = fŏre front = fŏr preposition
fŏyèr *fŏyây
frácàs *frácà
frâmework one word
fránc currency = fránk honest = Fránk person
Frānces usually female
Frāncís usually male
fråught
frêak
frêe - as a suffix meaning ‘without’ it must be hyphenated: débt-frêe *dét-frêe
frêer *frêeər
frêest *frêeíst
frêeze cold = frìêze wall
Frêmantle
frêquent adjective
frequént verb
fréshwåter adjective cf. thére ís nô frésh wåter
frîed
friénd
frìêze wall, cloth = frêeze
frîght *frîte
frîghtened *frîtənd
frólic
frònt
fròwzy
frûit *frûte
frŷ
FTSE *foòtsìê
fûchsia *fyoôsha
fùll
fundaméntalist
für animal = fïr tree
 
fürlôugh *fürlôw
 
fürnace -níss
 
fürnish
 
furŏrê or as AmE fûrŏr
 
fürther
 
===[[G]]===
G = gêe ''up''
 
gádfly one word
 
Gâelic ''Irish''
 
Gáelic ''Scottish'' = Gállic ''French''
 
gáffe cf. gúff
 
gág
 
gâge is an AmE alternative to gâuge
 
gâit ''walk'' = gâte ''garden''
 
Galápagos - identical Spanish accent may be written
 
gâle ''storm'' = Gâil = Gâle ''persons'' = Gâel Gaelic
 
Gålle ''Sri Lanka'' = Gåul ''France''
 
gállop ''horse'' = Gállup ''poll''
 
gámble ''money'' = gámbol ''frisky''
gánder
 
Gándhi *Gándy, cf. cándy and gh- words
 
gâol BrE old alternative spelling of, and pronounced, jâil
 
gárage hard g; BrE -àzh, AmE *guəràzh
 
Gáry hard G, cf. Gérry = Jérry; cf. Hárry, Cãry, Gáby
 
gàrdener ''garden'' = Gàrdiner = Gàrdner ''persons
 
gàrgoyle
 
gàrner ''gather'' = Gàrner ''person''; BrE = Ghàna ''country
 
gáses ''noun'' = gásses ''verb
 
gâte open = gâit walk
 
gâuge *gâij, AmE can be gâge; cf. grêengage
 
gåuze
 
gécko
 
gêese hard g: plural of goôse
 
Geîger còunter hard G
 
gèisha hard g
 
gél *jél, cf. jélly
 
Géminî Jé-
 
gêne ''genetics'' = Jêan ''girl'' = Gêne ''Eugene''; gênes = jêans ''trousers
 
genealógical jê-
 
géneral *jénral
 
genéric j-
 
gênes ''genetics'' = jêans ''trousers'', cf. Jêan ''person'' - pronounced *Zhà with nasalised à if French
 
geneálogy
 
genétics
 
gênìê j-
 
gênìî j-
 
génitâlia j-
 
gênius j-
 
genre *zhónrə
 
gentêel j-, cf. Géntîle
 
géntle j-
 
gênus j-
 
Géoff = Jéff
 
Géoffrey = Jéffrey
 
geográphic jêə-
 
geógraphy jóg- in rapid speech, cf. gêólogy´
 
Geŏrge Jŏr-
 
Gërman J-
 
germâne ''relevant'' = Germâine, Jermâin, etc. ''persons
 
gërminate j-
 
Gérry = Jérry cf. Gáry, hard G
 
gétaway ''adjective and noun'' one word, cf. ''verb'' gét awây
 
gêyser ''water'' = BrE gêezer ''man'', AmE geŷser
 
gh- = g-
 
Ghàna ''Africa'' = BrE gàrner ''gather
 
Ghanâian cf. Gándhi
 
ghāstly
 
ghåt or ghåut
 
ghërkin
 
ghétto
 
ghôst
 
gíbbet j-
 
gíbbon hard g
 
Gídêon hard G, *Gídêyən
 
gíg hard g cf. jíg
 
Gílbert hard G
 
gíll ''fish'' hard g, as also in McGíll ''person
 
gíll ''liquid'' = Jíll = Gíll = Gíl ''persons
 
gín *jín
 
giráffe j-
 
glâcial
 
glácier or glâcier
 
glâde
 
Gládys
 
glámorise
 
glámorous
 
glámour
 
glêam
 
glêan
 
Glóucester *Glóster
 
glûtinous
 
glútton
 
Glŷndebŏurne
 
gnàrled *nàrld
 
gnásh ''teeth'' = Násh ''person
 
gnát ''insect'' = Nát ''person''
 
gnåw ''chew'' = BrE nor ''neither
 
gnócchì *nyócky
 
gnôme ''garden'' = Nôme ''Alaska
 
gô-ahéad ''noun, adjective'' hyphenated
 
gôad
 
gôalless - sustained l sound
 
gôat cf. côat
 
góbbledygoòk
 
gódsend one word
 
gŏitre Bre; AmE gŏiter
 
gôlf cf. gúlf
Gomórrah rhymes with BrE Andórra
góner fatal
gonna going to two schwas: *gənə
goodsélf one word
goôgle verb no capital
goôgly
goòseberry *gùzbry
goôse *goôss
Gorbachev -chóff
gorílla ape = guerílla warfare
gŏurmet *gŏrmây
gòvern
gòvernment first n silent in rapid speech
Grâeme *Grâyəm = Grâham most common spelling = Grâhame Kenneth
graffìti
grámmar
grammátical grə-
grámophone ‘grammar phone’ has been seen
grándad or gránddad - dd can be extended d sound; as name, G-
gránddaughter *grándåwter
grándchîld
grándeûr *grándûre
Grànd Prìx *gràm-prì
gráphic cf. tráffic
grâte cheese, fire, annoy = grêat important
grâteful
grâve serious, burial
gràve accent
grâvy
grây is AmE for grèy
grâze sheep = grèys grey, cf. gràss
greât big = grâte cheese, fireplace, irritate
grêase oil = Grêece Greek
grêen colour = Grêen, Grêene persons
Gréenwich *Grénnídge
grêet
Grêig composer
Gréig English = Grég
Grenâda cf. Granàda
grenâde
grèy AmE grây = Grèy = Grây persons
grèyhòund one word
grìêf
gríll food, interrogate = grílle lattice
grimâce AmE grímace
grísly horrible = grízzly bear
grôan pain = grôwn up
grŏin body = grŏyne wood
gròundswell one word
grôwn-úp noun hyphenated
grûel
gu- followed by vowel, hard g, silent u, unless stated otherwise
Guàm *Gwàm
guarantêe gá-, cf. ẁarranty
guàrd *gàrd = gàrde in ávant gàrde
Guatemàla Gwà-
guerílla war = gorílla animal
guéss
guést visit = guéssed guess
gúff cf. gáffe
guîde
guíld society = gíld lily
guílt guilty = gílt gild
gúlf cf. gôlf
gúng-hô
gúnwale = gúnnell
Guínêa country = guínêa money
guíllotìne - either stressed
gúng-hô hyphenated
guŷ
gým gymnasium = Jím person
gynaecólogist hard g-: *gŷnəcólojist, AmE -nec-
gyrâte *jîrâte
gŷroscope j-
 
===[[H]]===
H âitch
 
hà
 
ha hà ''laughter''
 
hà-hà ''fence''
 
hâbeas cŏrpus *hâbius
 
háckneyed *hácknid
 
haemoglôbin - haê-
 
haemophília - haê-
 
haémorrhage *hémmoridge, *hémerage
 
haémorrhoid
 
haemostâsis
 
Hâgue ''person, Netherlands'' = Hâig = Hâigh ''persons''
 
hâil ''stones, greeting'' = hâle ''hearty''
 
hãir ''head'' = hãre ''animal''
 
Hâiti *Hâtey, cf. hâte
 
hàjj or hàdj
 
hālf *hàf; AmE *háf
 
hâlfpenny *hâypəny
 
håll ''building'' = håul ''pull, rob'', cf. Hál ''person
 
hallelûjah - j as y: *hallelûya
 
hállôw cf. hallô
 
hålt
 
hālve ''half'' AmE ≈ háve ''own'', though hálve tends to be longer
 
hámlet -lít, cf. hám ómelette
 
hámster *hámpster, cf. hámper, Hámpstead
 
hándbag can be *hámbag
 
hándkerchìêf *hánkerchêaf
 
hándle ''touch, door'' = Hándel, Hándl ''persons''
 
hándout ''noun'' one word
 
hándover ''noun'' one word
 
hándwrítten one word
 
hángar ''plane'' = hánger ''clothes''
 
Hanŏi
 
Hánover has one n in English, two in German
 
Haràrê
 
haráss AmE; BrE *hárras, cf. Hárrís person
 
hàrem or hãrem
 
hàrk cf. heàrken
 
hàrpsichord -kŏrd
 
hássle cf. hústle, *hússle
 
hâsten *hâyssən
 
hâte ''love'' = Hâight ''Ashbury''
 
hâtred -íd cf. pûtríd
 
hautëur *ôat-ër
 
háve can sound like *háff when emphasised before an unvoiced consonant: I *háff to sêe hím
 
háve-nóts ''haves''
 
Hawàiì
 
Håwes
 
håwk
 
håwthorn ''plant'' = Håwthorne ''person''
 
hây ''farm'' = hèy ''exclamation''
 
Haŷdn cf. Hâydon = Hâyden
 
hâ’p’orth
 
héad cf. hêed
 
héalth
 
Hêar, hêar! ''agree''
 
hëard ''hear'' = hërd ''animals'', cf. hàrd ''soft''
 
heàrken cf. hàrk
 
hêarsay
 
hëarse
 
heàrt ''beat'' = hàrt ''deer'' = Hàrt ''person''
 
heàrtfélt one word
 
heàrth
 
hêath
 
hêathen -dhən
 
héather rhymes with wéather -dh-
 
hêave
 
héaven
 
héavy
 
héavywèight ''boxing'' *hévviwâit, one word, cf. héavy wèight ''literal
hêed cf. héad
 
hêe hêe ''laugh'' cf. hê ''him
 
hêel ''foot'' = hêal ''cure
 
hegémony - hard g or j
 
Heîdelberg
 
héifer ''cow'' = Héffer ''person
 
heîght *hîte
 
heîghten ''high'' = Huŷton ''England
 
hèinous
 
Heînz *Hŷnts: in the 1950s, with memories of the Second World War still fresh, the company of this name pronounced itself Hînes *Hŷnze
 
héir ''heiress'' = ãir ''breathe
 
hélicopter cf. hêlium
 
héllhole one word
 
hellô or hallô or hullô
 
hém - but not many other words begin this way, haém- being more common
 
hémidemisémiquaver
 
hémisphêre
 
hërd ''animals'' = hëard ''hear'', cf. hàrd ''soft
 
hêre ''there'' = hêar ''sound
 
Héreford
 
héretic
 
herétical
 
hêro
 
héron
 
hérôín ''drug'' = hérôíne ''hero'' cf. méscalíne
 
heteroséxual cf. métro, rétro
 
heŵ ''wood'' = hûe ''colour'' = Hûgh = Hûw ''persons
 
hèydây one word
 
he’s ''he is'' = hís ''belonging to him'' - but can be...
 
hê’s *hêez
 
hîâtus *hîgh-èight-us
 
híccúp can be spelt híccoúgh
 
hídden
 
hídeous *hídìəss
 
hîdeòut
 
hîeràrchy *hîeràrky
 
hîgh ''height'' = hî ''hello
 
hîghbròw one word, *hîbròw
 
hilãrious
 
Hílary ''usual'' = Híllary ''Edmund, clinton
 
hînd
 
hínder
 
híndrance -drənss
 
híppocratic cf. hypocrítical
 
hîre ''rent'' ≈ hîgher ''high
 
hís he *hízz, cf. híss snake, hê’s or he’s
 
históric
 
hítchhîke second h aspirated
 
hŏar ''frost'' = whŏre ''prostitute'' = Hŏare ''person
 
Hîte ''person'' = heîght ''high
 
hŏard ''store'' = hŏrde ''gang
 
hŏarse ''voice'' = hŏrse ''animal
hôax
 
hóbnób one word
 
hóck as in ín hóck, cf. ád hóc
 
hôe ''garden'' cf. hô hô ''laughter
 
hôld ''hand'' = hôled ''golf
 
hôle ''gap'' = whôle ''complete
 
hóliday ''vacation'' = Hólliday ''person'' = Hóliday ''Billie''
 
hólly cf. hôly
 
Hóllywoòd
 
Hôlmes ''person'' = hômes ''living''; or Hólmes, with l pronounced or hinted at
 
hôly sacred ≈ whôlly completely, which has the two l’s pronounced
Hólyhéad
Hôlyroôd
hómage - unlike French, one m
homêopáthic AmE; BrE homoêo-
homêópathy AmE; BrE homoêó-
hômewörk one word
hómicide
homógeneous -jenəss or hômôgêneous rhyming with gênius
hómoným 
hômo sápiens
homoséxual - hó-
Hóng Kóng *Honkóng
hône
hónest *ónnist
honoràrium ón-
hónorary ón-
honorífic ón-
hónour *ónner, AmE hónor
hónourable ón-, AmE hónorable
hoòdwink
hoòk
hoòkah pipe *hùkə = BrE hoòker prostitute, rugby
hoôver carpet is from Hoôver person
hôping hope cf. hópping hop
Hórace rhymes with Bóris, Dóris, Nórris and Mórris
hŏrde gang = hŏard store
horrífic
hórror
hŏrs d’oëuvre ŏr-dërvrə
hŏrse animal = hŏarse croak
hóspice -íss
hóspital
hóspitalised
hôst
hóstage
hóthead as if two words
hóthòuse as if two words
hóugh leg = hóck pawn
hòur time = òur us
hôuse noun -s, verb -z
Hoûston *Hoôston
howéver one word
hòwl wolf cf. òwl bird
hûbris
 
hûe ''colour'' = Hûgh ''person'' = hêw ''cut'' = Hûw ''Welshman''
 
Hûghes ''person'' = heŵs ''hew''
 
hullabaloô
 
hûman
 
hûmor AmE; BrE hûmour
 
hûmorist
 
hûmorous ''humour'' = hûmerus ''bone''
 
húndred
 
Húngary ''country'' - three syllables ≈ húngry
 
hunger - two syllables
 
hústle *hússle, cf. hássle
 
hýmn ''church'' = hím ''he''
 
hŷper- ''very''
 
hypercrítical ''critical''
 
hypócrisy cf. hýpocríte, demócracy, hippocrátic
 
hypocrítical ''hypocrite''
 
hystêria
 
hystérical
 
===[[I]]===
Î ''letter, me'' = eŷe ''sight'' = aŷe ''yes''
 
Ìan ''person'' cf. îron, silent r
 
îceberg one word
 
Îceland -lənd
 
Icelándic
 
îcon
 
idêa *îdêə, cf. monosyllables pêa, têa, a not sounded separately
 
ídeogram
 
idêólogy - î or í
 
idiosýncrasy
 
îdle lazy = îdol god = AmE îdyll idyllic
 
Idomenèo
 
ídyll BrE; AmE îdyll = îdle = îdol
ígnorance
ignŏre
íleum intestine = ílium bone
illegálity
illícit illegal = elícit get
íll-thŏught-òut
illûsive illusory = elûsive elude
ímage -íj
imaginâtion
imágíne
imàm
imbróglio *imbrólyo
immêdìately
imménse cf. eménd
ímmigrate cf. émigrate
ímpact noun, affect
impáct fix, wedge
impâle
impàla
ímpasse
impêach
impéccable
impêrial
impéril
ímpetus
impŏrtance
ímpotence
impresàrio one s
ímpress noun
impréss verb
improprîety
ímprovîse
improvisâtion BrE -əvî-, AmE -óví-
ímpudent -yû-
impûte ascribe cf. ínput put in *ímpùt
ín abséntia
inadvërtent
íncense smoke
incénse anger
inchôâte ínk-
íncident
incidéntal
incidéntally
incrédible
incúmbent cf. encúmber
indepéndent cf. depéndent, depéndant
ín-dépth adjective
Índian - can be spelt without a capital when referring to American indians
Indiána
indîct *indîte
indígenous
indispénsable
índustry
indústrial
inévitable
infállible
ínfamous cf. fâmous
infátuâtion
inflámmatory -mm-
ín frònt of three words
inhérit
inítial *iníshəl
inítiative *iníshətíve
ínjure cf. endûre
ínland adjective
inlánd adverb
ínn pub = ín preposition
inóculate
ínpùt put in *ímpùt, cf. impûte ascribe
inquîre, inquîry or enquîre, enquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry
ínroads
insâtiable
insístent
ín sítu
insoûciance
inståll some AmE instål
instålment AmE instållment
instéad
insůre insurance = ensůre verify; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûr
insürgent cf. sürge
intáct one word
intégral
íntegrate
intélligent
interáction
interfêre
interfêrence
interlócutor
intërnal
internátional -áshnəl, cf. nâtion
internêcîne
intërpret
ínterview
intestînal or intéstinal
íntimate adjective -ət
íntimâte verb
ínto *íntû or *íntə: one word - but ón to is still two
íntricacy
íntrìgue noun *íntrêeg
intrìgue verb *ín-trêeg
introspéction
inválid valid
ínvalid ill
ínventory *ínvəntry, cf. ínfantry
in-yer-fâce
îón electron cf. îron metal, *îən, silent r
Îôna
îPód ® showing a trend towards internal capitalisation also seen in EastÉnders
Irān cf. îron metal, silent r
Irânian or Irànian
Irāq -k
Irāqi -kì
irâte î-
Îreland BrE Îələnd, cf. îsland *îlənd
Irênê or silent final e
iridéscent *írridéssant
îron metal BrE *îyən, cf. îón electron, Ìan person, Iràn country
irónic
îrony *îrənỳ
irresístible
irréverent
irrévocable
írrigate cf. erádicate
Îsaac *Îzək
îsland  *îlənd, cf. Îreland
Íslám Íz-
Islámic
Îslay *Îlə
îsle island *île = aîsle theatre
Îsle of Wîght *Île of Whîte
îsobar -ss-, cf. Ísobel = Ísabel, -z-
Ísrâel *Ísreâl
Isrâeli
íssue *íshû or íssyû
Istanbùl or to please the Turks Istánbul cf. old spelling in Graham Greene’s novel title Stamboul Train
ísthmus
íts belonging to it = ít’s it is - ít’s for íts is probably the most common mistake of all
Îvan
Îvor
îvory
îvy plant = Îvy person
 
===[[J]]===
J = jây ''bird''
 
Jáckie ''either sex'' = Jácqui ''female
 
Jâin ''religion'' = Jâne ''person
 
jalópy
 
jámb ''door'' = jám ''bread'', cf. lámb, also -m
 
Jánet
 
Jânus
 
Japán
 
jéalous *jélləss
 
Jêan = Gêne ''persons'' = gêne ''genetics'', cf. Jâne ''person
 
jêans ''trousers'' = gênes ''genetics
 
jéll ''shape'' = gél ''hair
 
jélly
 
jéopardy *jéppardy, cf. léopard, also silent o
 
Jéricho -kô
 
Jerôme
 
Jérry = Gérry
 
Jéssê = Jéssìê
 
Jêsus -z-
 
Jésûít -z-
 
jéttison
 
jétty
 
Jeŵ cf. Jûdaism
 
jeŵel ''stone'' cf. dûel ''fight'' = dûal ''two
 
jeŵeller *jûəler
 
jihád
 
jínx ''bad luck'' = jínks ''high jinks''
 
Jô ''Josephine'' = Jôe ''Joseph
 
Jôêy ''Joseph'' = jôey ''animal
 
Jôan
 
Jôánna
 
Jôánne
 
jób ''work
 
Jôb ''person''
 
jöurnal
 
jöurney
 
Jûdâísm AmE *Jûdêísm
 
júdgement or júdgment soft g
 
jûice ''fruit'' *jûce, cf. deûce ''two, equal''
Jûlie
 
Julŷ
 
júmpstart one word
 
jùnta or ú or h-
 
jûry ''justice'' = Jeŵry ''Jew'', cf. Dûry ''person'', Neŵry ''town
 
Jûvenal
 
jûvenîle
 
===[[K]]===
K = Kây ''person''
 
Kàbul - some say Kabùl
 
Kafkaésque *Káfkə-ésk: there may be a glottal stop before é
 
kamikàzê
 
kapùt unlike German kaputt
 
karaôkê *kariôkêy, *cárry-ôkie
 
Káren ''ancient''
 
Kàrin ''modern''
kàrma
 
Kashmìr ''Asia'' = cashmêre ''wool''
 
Kathmandû Kátm-
 
Kátz ''person'' = cáts ''cat''
 
kebáb
 
kêen ''interested, sharp'' = Kêane = Kêene ''persons
 
Kêighley *Kêithley
 
Kêith
 
kërb ''street'' = cürb ''lessen, street''
 
kërnel ''centre'' = colonel ''army''
 
kérosêne or kérosìne
 
késtrel
 
kétchup
 
kéttle ''water'' cf. cáttle ''farm''
 
kêy ''door'' = quaỳ ''port''
 
kêyboard one word
Kèynsham
 
Khachatûrian *Kachachûrian
 
khàkì - either syllable stressed
 
Khmér Kəm-
 
Kìév *Kìyéff
 
kìlo
 
kílomêtre or kilómetre; AmE -er
 
kînd
 
kíndred -dríd
 
kíngly
 
Kíngsley cf. Mackínley
 
Kirkûdbright *Kəkûbry
 
kítsch *kítch
 
Kleîn = Clîne
 
kn-  n-
 
knâve ''cad, cards'' = nâve ''church
 
knêad ''dough'' = nêed ''necessary'' = knêed ''knee
 
knêejerk one word, n-
 
knêel ''down'' = Nêil, etc. ''persons
 
Knésset K sounded
 
kneŵ ''know'' = neŵ ''fresh
 
kníck-knáck cf. Níck
 
knîght ''chess, Sir'' *nîte = Knîght ''person'' = nîght ''dark
 
knít ''wool'' = nít ''creature, fool
 
knóck *nóck, cf. noòk
 
knót ''tie'' = nót ''no
 
knôw ''acquaint'' = nô ''negative
 
knôw-hòw ''knowledge'' is hyphenated = nôhòw ''anyhow
 
knôw-nothing adjective one word
 
knówledge *nólij
 
knôwn cf. nòne
 
knôws ''know'' = nôse ''face
 
Knóx person = knócks knock, n-
 
koòky ''eccentric'' = coòkie ''cake
 
Koràn = Quràn = Qur’àn
 
Korêa ''peninsula'' = BrE carêer ''job, fast
 
Kósovô BrE; AmE Kôsovo, -ss-
 
kowtòw *kòw-tòw
 
Kürt ''person'' = cürt ''abrupt
 
Kuwâit
 
Kÿrgyzstān
 
===[[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 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
 
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 - except for 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 'loose' 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 ''unlucky'' *lûzer, cf. loôser ''more insecure''
 
loses lû-, cf. lósses
 
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 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 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-
 
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
 
[[Robert Menzies|Ménzies ''Robert'']]
 
[[Menzies Campbell|Menzies ''Campbell'']] *Míngiz
 
Méopham *Méppəm
 
mêre
 
meringue *məráng
 
mesméric
 
mésmerise
 
Méssrs ''Mister'' r as er, cf. mésser ''mess''
 
[[John le Mesurier|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 méz- or méts-
 
mézzo *métso
 
mì ''doh-re-mi'' = mê ''I
 
Mîámì
 
miaòw
 
mîca
 
Mîchael *Mŷcle, rhyming with cŷcle
 
mîcrô-ŏrganism hyphenated
 
míd does not require hyphen
 
middây
 
mídnight *mídnîte
 
mìên ''face'' = mêan ''intend, ungenerous
 
míffed rhymes with ríft etc.
 
mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid
 
mìgraine
 
mîke ''microphone'' = Mîke ''Michael
 
Milán ''Italy'' í, cf. Mìlán ''person
 
mîles ''mile'' = Mîles ''person
 
mílitary
 
milítia *milíshə
 
millénnium
 
minarét
 
mînd ''brain, care'' = mîned ''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''
 
Mûnich -ík
 
Múrraỳ = Mòray ''Firth'' = Múrry, cf. húrry
 
mürky
 
múscle ''body'' = mússel ''shellfish''
 
Múscovite
 
mústáche AmE; BrE moustàche
 
mûse ''think, inspiration'' = meŵs ''street, cat''
 
musêum mûz-
 
mûsic ''current'' = mûsick ''archaic''
 
Mùslim or Móslem, -z-
 
múslin
 
mústn’t *mússənt
 
mûte ''silent'' cf. moôt ''mention''
mŷ
 
mŷnah ''bird'' BrE = mînor ''lesser'' = mîner ''mines''
 
mŷre
 
mýriad
 
mÿrtle
 
mýstery *mistry
 
mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke
 
mýth
 
myxomatôsis
 
===[[N]]===
N = én print
 
nâdír
 
naìve can be written naïve ''innocent'' 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
 
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''
 
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
 
Ôklahôma
 
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'' *pàchè
 
páchydërm *pákidërm
 
pácifist cf. pássive
 
paêan
 
paediatrícian
 
paêdophile
 
pâge
 
págeant ea as schwa, *pájənt
 
pâid ''pay'' *pâyed, *pâde, cf. regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc.
 
pâin ''hurt'' = pâne ''window''
 
pâinstâking
 
pãir ''two'' = péãr ''fruit'' = pãre ''nails''
 
Pākistān but not 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
 
pídgin ''language'' = pígeon ''bird''
 
pìêr ''jetty'' = pêer ''look, lord'' cf. [[Peter Pears|Pêter Pêars]], péar
 
pìêrce ''cut'' = Pìêrce, Pêarce, [[Hayford Peirce|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
 
plòver
 
plúm ''fruit, exact'' = plúmb ''depths, plumber
 
plŷ
 
Plýmouth -məth
 
pm post meridian = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém
 
pneumátic neû-
 
pŏignant *pŏinyant
 
Polàris
 
Pôle ''Poland'' = pôle ''wood'' = pôll ''election
 
'''polìce''' *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze
 
'''poliomyelîtis
 
'''pôliovirus''' one word
 
'''pólish''' ''shine
 
Pôlish ''Poland''
 
'''pólitburo''' cf. '''bûreau'''
 
políticking
 
pólitics
 
pôker ''cards, fire''
 
pôlka ''dance''
 
pôll ''vote'' = pôle ''wood'' = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll
 
póll ''parrot''
 
pólythene *póllithêen
 
polyéthylene -éthílêen
 
polyphónic
 
polýphony
 
pómegranate cf. gránite
 
poôl ''swim'' = Poôle ''place, person
 
pŏor ''impecunious, unfortunate'' = pŏre ''skin, examine'' = pŏur liquid (some say poôr)
 
pópulace ''noun'' = pópulous ''adjective
 
pŏring ''examining'' = pŏuring ''out
 
pŏrous
 
pornográphic
 
pornógraphy
 
Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person
 
Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce
 
Pŏrtugal, Portuguêse Pŏrch-
 
Poseîdon
 
posëur ''pseud'' cf. pôser ''puzzle
 
póssê
 
posséss *pozéss
 
pôst ''letter'' = pôst- ''after'', which must be followed by a hyphen
 
postpône pôsp-
 
potâtoes cf. tornâdos, both -ôz
 
Potômac
 
poùffe
 
práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (neither -îse nor -îze) the American custom of using only the -íce spelling would seem the more sensible
 
Pràgue *Pràhg
 
prây ''prayer'' = prèy ''victim''
 
prãyer *prãir, cf. plâyer
 
precêde ''before'' prí-, cf. procêed start *prəsêed
 
précedent ''before'' préss- *précident, cf. président head, préz-
 
précious *préshəss
 
prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe
 
prècìs’d ''past'' *prâycêed
 
precîse *precîce
 
prê-dâte
 
prédator
 
prêdecessor AmE pré-
 
prê-émpt hyphenated
 
prê-éminent hyphenated
 
préferable cf. prefër
 
prélude
 
prémìêr ''government, league'', -er as schwa; AmE premìêr = premìêre
 
prémìére ''performance'' cf. thére; AmE premìêre = premìêr
 
prémíse
 
preóccupied - prê-
 
prepãre
 
présent ''gift, now'' préz-
 
presént ''give'' príz-
 
prestìge -êezh
 
prestígious -íjəss
 
preténce
 
preténd
 
preténsion 
 
preténtious
 
pretty -í-
 
prevâil
 
prévalent
 
prêvious
 
prèy ''victim'' = prây ''prayer
 
prîce ''cost'' = prîce = Prŷce ''persons
 
prìma dónna *prê-madónna
 
prìma fâcìê
 
prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ ''male'' cf. príncéss ''female'' - either stressed
 
príncipal ''main'' = prínciple ''reason
 
principálity
 
prîor ''before, priory'' = Prîor, Prŷor ''persons
 
prívacy BrE; AmE prîvacy
 
prívilege
 
prîze ''present'' = prîse ''apart
 
prô- ''in favour''
 
procêdure
 
procêed cf. precêde
 
procreâte
 
proféss
 
prófit ''money'' = próphet ''prophecy
 
prodûce ''verb
 
pródûce ''noun
 
pródúct
 
prodúctive
 
proféssional
 
prôgram ''computer, AmE''
 
prôgramme ''BrE not computer''
 
prôgress noun, BrE AmE prógress; verb progréss
 
próject ''activity'' - some say prôject
 
projéct ''stick out
prôle
 
prolóng one word
 
prómenàde AmE -âde
 
prómise -íss
 
prônòun
 
pronunciâtion ú: cf. pronòunce
 
proôf cf. prove *proôve
 
propagánda
 
própagate
 
próper
 
próphecỳ ''noun
 
próphesŷ ''verb
 
próphet ''religion'' = prófit ''gain
 
propônent
 
prôs ''pro'' = prôse ''verse
 
próspect ''future
 
prospéct ''gold
 
prôtêan
 
protéct
 
protéctor
 
prôtegè ''male'' can be written with a French accent: protegé *prôtezhây
 
protegèe ''female'' can be written with a French accent: protegée *prôtezhây
 
prôtest ''noun
 
protést ''verb
 
prótestant
 
protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor
 
prove *proôve, cf. proôf
 
prôven or *proôvən
 
próvenance
 
Provence *Provónce
 
Provençal *Provón-sàl
 
próvince
 
províncial -shl
 
provocâtion
 
provócative
 
provôke
 
pròwess
 
pròwl
 
prŷ
 
ps- s-
 
psàlm *sàm
 
pseûd
 
pseûdo-intelléctual
 
psilocŷbin
 
psst - p pronounced, any number of s’s
 
psŷch *sîke
 
psŷchê *sîky
 
psychîatrist
 
psychólogist cf. sýcophánt
 
psychólogy
 
psychométric
 
psŷchopáth
 
psychopáthic
 
psychópathy
 
pterodáctyl térə-
 
públicly cf. bâsically
 
púcker ''lips'' BrE = púkka ''real
pùdding
 
púddle
 
pûerile
 
pùll ''push'' cf. poôl ''water
 
pùllover ''clothing'' cf. pùll ôver ''car
 
púmíce
 
púnish
 
pûny -yû-
 
pûre -yû-
 
pürl ''knit, liquid''  = pëarl ''stone
 
pürr
 
pús ''yellow'' cf. pùss ''cat
 
pùsh
 
pùt ''place'' cf. pútt ''golf
 
pûtrid cf. hâtred, both -íd
 
pùtsch cf. pùsh
 
pùtting ''put
 
pútting ''putt
 
púzzle
 
pýgmy
 
pyjàmas AmE pajámas
 
pŷre
 
Pýrrhic
 
===[[Q]]===
Q = queûe ''up'' = cûe ''prompt''
 
Qátàr or *Cátter, cf. catàrrh
 
qát ''drug'' or khát or kát; = cát ''animal''
 
quáck
 
qùad
 
quadriplégic
 
quágmire or qùagmire
 
quàlm -àm
 
quángo
 
qùantity
 
quàrk
 
qùarrel
 
quartét å
 
quårtz ''mineral'' = quårts ''liquid''
 
qùash
 
quaỳ ''harbour'' = kêỳ ''lock''
 
quêasy -zêe, rhymes with êasy and slêazy, not with grêasy -sêe
 
Quebécker
 
quéll
 
quêry
 
quéstion *quéshchən
 
queûe ''line'' = cûe ''theatre, billiards''
 
quìche *kêesh
 
quíd prô quô
 
quiéscent *kwìéssent
 
quîet ''silent'' two syllables, e as schwa: *kwîət
 
quít ''leave, stop''
 
quîte ''moderate'' one syllable
 
Quìto *Kêeto
 
quíz
 
quŏits
 
Quràn = Qur’àn = Koràn
 
QWËRTY
 
===[[R]]===
R = àre ''be''
 
rábbî
 
raccoôn or racoôn
 
râcehorse one word
 
râcism cf. fáscism *fáshism
 
ráck ''frame, stretch'' = wráck ''pain
 
rácket ''corruption, noise'' = rácquet ''sport
 
râdàr
 
râdìî
 
râdius
 
râid
 
râin ''water'' = rèign ''monarch'' = rèin ''horse
 
râise ''up'' = râze ''ground
 
râisin -zən
 
râison d’étre  may have French accent: raison d´être
 
Ráleigh ''person'' = rálly ''meeting'', though officially Sir Wålter Råleigh sounds like Råwley
 
Rálph mostly, but some are Râlph, *Râfe
 
rámpâge ''noun
 
rampâge ''verb
 
Rámsey ''Isle of Man'' = Rámsay ''MacDonald
 
ráncour *rángkə BrE; AmE ráncor *rángkər
 
Rangoôn *Ráng-gûne
 
ránkle cf. wrínkle
 
ránsom ''money'' = Ránsome ''person
 
rappróchement *rápróshmó
 
rápt ''entranced'' = wrápped ''parcel
 
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 diferent
 
sétback ''noun'' one word
 
séver ''cut
 
sevêre ''tough
 
sew ''thread'' = sô ''thus'' = sôw ''seed'', cf. sòw ''pig
 
seŵer ''pipe
 
sewer ''sew
 
séxìêst -ìyíst ''most
 
séxíst ''sexism''
sextét
 
Shâkespêare - variant spellings omitted one or both silent e’s in William Shakespeare’s time but this is the norm now; cf. shâke and spêar
shâky
 
shâman
 
shãreholder one word
 
shêar ''cut'' = shêer ''absolute
 
shèikh ''Arabia'' - kh sound, or = shâke ''rattle
 
Shêila
 
shéllfish cf. sélfish
 
'''shenánigans''' 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 or *Sînêî
 
síng ''song'' = Síngh ''person
 
sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing
 
síngeing ''singe'' -jing, cf. sínging ''sing'' - hard g
 
Singapŏre
 
Singapŏrean
 
sîphon or sŷphon
 
sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə Jóhn Fålstaff
 
sîting ''site
 
sítting ''sit
 
sîze cf. sêize
 
sîzeable or sîzable
 
skì ''snow'', cf. skŷ ''above
skìêr ski
skîer sky
skìíng
skîve
skuldúggery
skúll head = scúll oar
skŷscrâper one word
slág cf. Glénda Slágg
slây kill = slèigh snow
slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase, which has the s hissing sound
slêeve, cf. lêave
sleîght-of-hand cf. slâte
sleŵ
slîght little, slur = sleîght-of-hand
slípshod no hyphen
slôth
slòugh swamp *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw fast
sloúgh skin *slúff
slúg
slür
 
slŷ
 
slŷlỳ
 
smållpox one word
 
smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin
 
smôkescreen one word
 
Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th
 
snêeze
 
snóbbery
 
snoôze
 
snôwmobìle cf. môbîle
 
snôwstorm
 
sŏar ''up'' = sŏre ''hurt
 
sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber
 
sóccer *sócker
 
sôcial sôsh-
 
sôcialism
 
sociólogy sôsh-
 
sociológical
 
sóck cf. sóccer
 
sóften *sóffen
 
sóftwãre
 
sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt
 
sôle ''only, fish'' = sôul ''spirit'' = Seôul ''Korea
 
sólipsism
 
solitãire ''patience'' cf. sólitary ''alone
 
sôlo
 
Sólomon - all o’s
 
sómbre 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
 
swâth or 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''
 
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 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
 
trîumph
 
tróglodyte
 
trombône
 
troôp army = troûpe stage
 
troôper army = troûper stage
 
troúble rhymes with búbble, doúble
 
tróugh -óff
 
tròunce
 
trûe
 
trûly *trûely
 
trûth unvoiced -th
 
trûths -dhz
 
trŷ
 
trýst
 
Tsàr or Czàr *Zàr
 
tsétsê, tsunàmi - it makes little difference whether or not one attempts to pronounce the initial t
 
'''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 bury = ëarn money = ërne eagle
 
Ürquhart *Ürkət, Ürcàrt, *Ïrk-heàrt
 
Ùruguay Yù-
 
ÛS America *yû-wéss, cf. ús we
 
ûse ''noun'' *yoôss as in ẁhat ís the ûse? ''verb'' *yoôz as in ûse mîne
 
ûsed ''use'' *yoôzd as in ûsed cars; ''habituated'' *yoôst as in Î’m ûsed to thát and wê ûsed to gô thére
 
Ûtàh *yû-
 
Utôpia Yû- cf. eûlogy, also yû-
 
===[[V]]===
V = Vêe ''person''
 
váccine *váxín, cf. tóxin
 
vácûous *vákyûwəss
 
vácûum *váckyûme
 
vâin ''proud'' = vâne ''weather'' = vèin ''blood''
 
válue
 
válve
 
vápid
 
vâpour AmE vâpor
 
vãry cf. véry, é not followed by schwa
 
vàse BrE *vàz, AmE *vâyss, rhyming with bâse
 
Våughan = Våughn *Våwn
 
Vauxhall *Vóxåll
 
vêer
 
végetable -jt-
 
vêhicle - -hi- as schwa: *vìəcle
 
vèil ''face'' = vâle ''valley''
 
vèin ''blood'' = vâin ''proud'' = vâne ''weather''
 
Venêtian -êshən
 
Venezuèla *Venezwâyla
 
véngeance cf. vindíctive
 
Véníce *Vénnis, cf. ténnis
 
vénison - i can be silent; s can be z
 
vénûe
Vênus
verbâtim
vermílion -l-, cf. míllion
Vérsaîlles *Vãir-sŷe
vërsus ''against'' *vërssəss ≈ vërses verse *vërsíz
 
véry *vérry, cf. vãry, longer sound
 
véterinary *vétinary
 
véx
 
vîa
 
vicãrious
 
vîce-président - the hyphen differentiates from vîce président which would theoretically mean ‘president of vice’
 
vichyssoise *víshy-swàz
 
vícious *víshus, cf víscous
 
víctual *víttle
 
Vìénna
 
Vìênnêse
 
Vìêtnām one word *VietNām
 
vieŵ rendundant i: *vyû, *veŵ, cf. feŵ, etc.
 
vieŵpoint one word
 
vígorous
 
vígour BrE; AmE vígor
 
vîle ''nasty'' = Weîll ''Kurt
 
vílify
 
víllage -íj
 
víllain -an
 
vindaloô
 
vindíctive cf. véngeance
 
vîne
 
vínegar
 
víneyard
 
vînyl *vînəl
 
vîôla ''music''
 
vîola ''plant'' = Vîola ''person''
 
vîolate
 
vîolent
 
vîolet
 
violín
 
Vïrgo
 
vïrtue ''good'' = Vërtue ''person''
 
vis-a-vìs, 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 are
wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf
wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if
wê’re are
wh- BrE w-, AmE hw-
wháck cf. wácky
whâle sea BrE = wâil cry
whám
ẁhat ''question'' BrE = wót ''jocular'' = ẁatt ''electric
 
whêedle
 
whêel ''round'' BrE = wêal ''mark''
 
whén ''time'' BrE = wén ''tumour
 
whére ''place'' cf. wëre ''was
 
whereás one word, *wéəráz
 
whét ''appetite'' BrE = wét ''water
 
whéther ''if'' BrE = wéather ''rain'' = wéther ''ram
 
whèy ''curds'' BrE = wèigh ''weight'' = wây ''method
 
whîne ''moan'' BrE = wîne ''drink
 
whínge -nj, cf. wíng
 
whïrl
 
whïrlwind one word
 
whïrr ''noise'' BrE = wëre ''be
 
whísky or whískey (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
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
 
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 and 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
 
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 [[Vladimir Nabokov|Nabokov]]'s is '''Àda''') '''Âda'''
 
Granàda
 
Grenâda
 
propagánda
 
referénda<ref>Plural of '''referéndum''': for more words like this, see [[English irregular nouns]].</ref>
 
.*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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
''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 Bernstein|''Elmer'' Bërnstêin]]
 
[[Leonard Bernstein|''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
 
îon
 
-yən -ion
 
most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -cion
 
-sh- suspícion
 
-sh- côërcion
 
rêgion
 
lêgion
 
relígion
 
fáshion
 
cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion
 
vermílion
 
bíllion
 
míllion
 
tríllion
 
ònion
 
ûnion
 
Orîon
 
centûrion
 
-zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including another s and, in BrE, r -sion
 
lêsion
 
vísion
 
télevision
 
revísion
 
scánsion
 
expánsion
 
-éntion -énshən = -énsion
 
comprehénsion
 
pénsion
 
suspénsion
 
ténsion
 
preténsion
 
exténsion
 
avërsion
 
dîvërsion
 
convërsion
 
excürsion
 
dîgréssion
 
séssion
 
míssion
 
í- emíssion
 
ə- omíssion
 
-sh- percússion
 
fûsion
 
delûsion
 
illûsion
 
intrûsion
 
mostly -shən –tion
 
inundâtion
 
foundâtion
 
creâtion
 
nâtion
 
rátion
 
vî- vibrâtion
 
mî- migrâtion
 
-kshən -ction
 
áction
 
afféction
 
conféction
 
BrE can be -éxion - refléction
 
colléction
 
BrE can be -éxion - connéction
 
eréction
 
diréction
 
contradíction
 
.*sángktchən sánction
 
.*úngktchən únction
 
.*fúngktchən fúnction
 
.*júngktchən júnction
 
.*cəmpúngkshən compúnction
 
complêtion
 
discrétion
 
definítion
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
-sêe émbassy
 
-sêe fússy
 
dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy
 
-sêe jéalousy
 
-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy
 
entîrety
 
cíty
 
felícity
 
stupídity
 
mentálity
 
facílity
 
iníquity
 
relîabílity
 
flexibílity
 
celébrity
 
antíquity
 
crûelty
 
silent h - hónesty
 
thïrsty
 
Kïrsty
 
''goodbye, cricket'' bŷe = ''preposition'' bŷ = ''money'' buŷ
 
nâvy
 
wâvy
 
bévy
 
cf. lévêe, Lêvî - Lêvy
 
îvy
 
prívy
 
ánchovy
 
scürvy
 
sávvy
 
deŵy
 
wáxy
 
fóxy
 
slêazy
 
dâzy
 
hâzy
 
lâzy
 
crâzy
 
whêezy
 
dízzy
 
===Z===
'''bíz'''
 
'''whízz''' or '''whíz'''
 
'''quíz'''
 
'''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]].
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!initial
!medial
!final
!final + silent e
|-
|aàrdvark #<ref>This and the following are from [[Afrikaans]], itself a further example.</ref>
|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 #<ref> Also accidental in '''boòkkeeper''', with a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.</ref>
|
|
|-
|llàma #
|fílling
|wéll
|bélle
|-
|
|súmmer
|Crámm
|grámme
|-
|dínner
|ínn # ''pub''
|Ánne (= Ánn)
|-
|oôze, oòmph #
|foôd, foòt, flòod, [[British English|BrE]] doŏr
|toô
|Loôe (= loô)
|-
|
|
|flípped
|
|-
|
|Sadìqqi #
|
|
|-
|
|érror
|pürr
|
|-
|
|méssy
|lóss
|crevásse
|-
|
|bétter
|ẁatt
|couchétte -sh-
|-
|
|vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
|
|
|-
|
|flívver #
|
|
|-
|
|[[Exxon|Éxxon]] ™ #
|[[Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans|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.
{|class="wikitable"
|rowspan=2|
|colspan=3 align=center|'''Front vowels
|colspan=5 align=center|'''Back vowels
|-
!e
!i       
!y<ref>When not accented, it is usually the semi-consonant of '''yoû''' and '''yés'''.</ref>
!a
!o
!u
!oo
!w<ref>When not accented, it is usually the semi-consonant of '''wê''' and '''wíll'''.</ref>
|-
|width=36%|The typical short sound:
|width=8%|pét
|width=8%|pít
|width=8%|crýpt
|width=8%|cát
|width=8%|dóg<ref>In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer '''à''' in most positions, and by '''ŏ''' before '''r'''.</ref>
|width=8%|nút
|width=8%|
|width=8%|
|-
|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
|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:
Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,  
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:
:Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,
Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.
       
:Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.  


The third sound:
Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,
Christìna Grèy shoùld lòve her mòther and fàther (and dòes).


The ‘ër’ sound:
Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?     
But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.
       
:Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
       
:Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??


The ‘ŏr’ sound (sůre here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = Shåw):
Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.
Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?


Irregular, with respelling:
Mŷ advîce ís: GÍVE ÍT ÚP!
Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny *wímmin? *Énny *wùman!)


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

Latest revision as of 11:01, 12 August 2024

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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
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  

English is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular spellings. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of proper nouns—for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common misspelling is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a cluster of articles devoted to these things.

To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added accent marks, instead of relying on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like thís *thíss. The accent marks show pronunciation, thús. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language[1]) can be found below; 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 of Tchaikóvsky, *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: Tchaî|kóvsky.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, retaining the E of disāster." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the IPA, where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for disāstrous is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character – the only one used – for schwa); or we can contrast British English *dizàstrus with American *dizástrus.

Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, cán able, tin (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations.

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.' (Latin conferre, 'compare').

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

The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet.

Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: Ukrâine has -âine, not -âne.

Words in italics are used to suggest meanings (e.g. sêa water = sêe vision, where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation). Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or place names. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: a bank clerk might be named Clàrk or Clàrke, but probably not 'Clerk' (though BrE clerk = Clàrk/Clàrke). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: Cloúgh = Clúff. An American called Maurìce Mŏrris could just as well be called Mórris Maurice ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where Maurice = Mórris (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name).

Links to letter articles and lists

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
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  

In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the cluster) the cells in each row link as follows:

  • Top row: articles on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on GH, the apostrophe and the hyphen.
  • Second row: alphabetical lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are here). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd disbánd means that the word is 'disband'. (The bottom row is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
  • Third row: retroalphabetical lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it:
In the retroalphabetical lists 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; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -ãrian" means there is no other pronunciation of -ãrian).
Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after Z. (Words ending in an apostrophe are also here.)
For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
woman mâid = make mâde
Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
wêasel *wêasal
  • Bottom row: common misspellings including typos (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.

Two main varieties are distinguished: British English (BrE), that of the UK and much of the Commonwealth (see also Commonwealth English), and American English (AmE), that of the USA and Canada (without the cåught = cót merger that has occurred in some parts of North America).

Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.

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 standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but á in American and other British and Commonwealth speech.

Front vowels Back vowels
e i y[2] a o u oo w[3]
The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent) pét pít crýpt cát dóg[4] nút
The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent) sêe nîce mŷ nâme nôse rûle toô neŵ
Sounds shown with the grave accent (ẁ- and qù- indicate the BrE 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 (= â) machìne (= ê) quaỳ water = kêỳ lock
(= ê) 		àre òther, blòod
(= ú) 		fùll (= oò), qùantity (= w) foòt (= ù) ẁant (= wó)[5]
The ër sound (umlaut accent) përson bïrd mÿrtle (ëarth) wörd pürr
The åw/ŏr sound (ring accent)[6] (cŏin) (jŏy) åll mŏre (for some BrE speakers) sůre
The ãir sound (tilde accent) (thére) (ãir = Ãyr) stãre
Irregular (respelling needed) sew (= sô) meringue (*məráng) because (*bikóz) woman (*wùmən), women (*wímən) business (*bízníss)

Example sentences

These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.

The usual short sound, acute accent:

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, circumflex accent:

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

The third sound, grave accent:

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

The ër sound, umlaut:

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

The ŏr sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw), the ring, or half-ring:

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

Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:

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

Double letters

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

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

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

letter initial medial final final + silent e
A àardvark #[7] bazàar # bàa #
B ríbbon ébb # Crábbe (= cráb)
C sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt)
D hídden ádd
E êel bêen sêe
F Ffoùlkes éffort óff Clíffe (= clíff)
G aggréssion (-g-), exággerate (-j-) égg # Légge (= lég)
H hítchhike # (accidental)
I skìíng # Hawàìi #
J hàjj # (also spelt hàdj)
K púkka; boòkkeeper (accidental)[8] #
L llàma[9] # fílling wéll bélle beauty (= béll ring)
M súmmer Crámm (= crám) grámme (= grám)
N dínner ínn # pub Ánne (= Ánn)
O oôze, oòmph # foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr toô Loôe (= loô)
P flípped stéppe Asia # (= stép foot)
Q Sadìqqi #
R érror pürr
S méssy lóss crevásse
T bétter ẁatt couchétte -sh-
U vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
V révved #
W Lawwell # (accidental)
X Éxxon ™ # Bób B. Sóxx #
Y Khayyàm #
Z fízzy búzz

Names of the letters

The names of the letters of the alphabet are rarely written out in English (a simple capital being the normal usage: "with a C, not a K") so that, unlike in many other languages, most of their spellings have a rather unofficial status. But they can be shown as follows, using real words where possible:

A: â (the indefinite article, when stressed), èh? what?

B: bê exist, bêe sting

C: occasionally cêe; sêe look, sêa ship

D: Dêe River, surname

E: ê as in êmail, ê-mail

F: éff as in the euphemism éff óff

G: gêe up, exclamation *jêe

H: âitch as in drópping your âitches

I: Î me, eŷe vision

J: jây bird

K: Kây person

L: él elevated railway (AmE)

M: ém dash

N: én dash

O: ôwe debt, ôh! exclamation

P: pêa pod, pêe urine, p pence (BrE)

Q: queûe line, cûe ball, prompt

R: àre be, BrE àh exclamation

S: occasionally éss

T: têa drink, têe golf, tì do-re-mi

U: yoû me, eŵe sheep

V: Vêe Bobby

W: "doúble you" (*dúblyu; cf. vácûum, which actually does have a doúble Û)

X: éx- past

Y: whŷ reason (voiced w, as in BrE)

Z: BrE zéd, AmE zêe

The Chaos

by Gerard Nolst Trenité

This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current British English pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found here.


The Châós (*câyóss)


Dêarest crêature ín creâtion

Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion,

Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse
Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse.

Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy),

Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;

Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;
Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer.

Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,

Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít!

Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,
Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd.

Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain

[Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten].

Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,
Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.

Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû

Wíth súch wörds as vâgue and âgûe,

Bút bê cãreful hòw yoû spêak,
Sây: gúsh, bùsh, steâk, strêak, breâk, blêak,

Prêvious, précious, fûchsia (*feŵsha), vîa,

Récipê, pîpe, stúdding-sâil, choîr (=quîre);

Wôven, óven, hòw and lôw,
Scrípt, recêipt (*rissêet), shoe (=shoô), pôem, tôe.

Sây, expécting fråud and tríckerỳ:

Dåughter (*dåwter), làughter (*làfter) ánd Terpsíchorê (*Terpsíckery),

Brànch, rànch, mêasles, tópsails, aîsles (*îles),
Míssîles, símilês, revîles.

Whôlly (=hôly), hólly, sígnal, sîgning (*sîning),

Sâme, exámining, but mîning,

Schólar (*scóllar), vícar, and cigàr,
Sôlar, mîca, wår and fàr.

From "desîre": desîrable - ádmirable from "admîre",

Lúmber, plúmber, biêr, but brîer,

Tópsham, broûgham (*breŵəm), renòwn, but knôwn,
Knówledge, dòne, lône, góne, nòne, tône,

Òne (=wòn), anémonê, Balmóral,

Kítchen, lîchen (=lîken), låundry, laurel (lórrel).

Gërtrude, Gërman (J-), wínd and wînd,
Beau (=Bô), kînd, kíndred, queûe, mankînd,

Tŏrtoise (*tŏrtus), türquŏise, chámois-léather (*shámwà-),

Rêading, Réading, hêathen, héather.

Thís phonétic lábyrínth
Gíves móss, grôss, broòk, brôoch, nînth, plínth.

Háve yoû éver yét endéavoured

To (=toô)[10] pronòunce revêred and sévered,

Dêmon, lémon, ghoûl, fòul, sôul,
Pêter, pétrol and patrôl?

Bíllet dòes nót énd lîke bállèt (*bállây);

Boûquèt, ẁallet, mállet, chálèt.

Blòod and flòod are nót lîke foôd,
Nŏr ís môuld lîke shoùld and woùld (=woòd).

Bánquet ís nót nêarly pàrquèt,

Whích exáctly rhŷmes wíth khàkì. —not usually nowadays

Díscòunt, vîscòunt (*vîcòunt), lôad and brŏad,
Towård, to fŏrward, to (=toô) rewård,

Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?

Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.[11]

Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
Friénd and fiênd, alîve and líve.

Ís yŏur R corréct ín hîgher?

Kêats assërts ít rhŷmes Thalîa.

Hûgh, but húg, and hoòd, but hoôt,
Buŏyant, mínute, bút minûte.

Sây abscíssion wíth precísion,

Nòw: posítion ánd transítion;

Woùld ít tálly wíth mŷ rhŷme
Íf Î méntioned páradîgm?

Twòpence, thréepence, têase are êasy,

But cêase, crêase, grêase and grêasy?

Cŏrnice, nîce, valìse, revîse,
Râbíes, but lúllabîes.

Óf súch púzzling wörds as nåuseous,

Rhŷming wéll wíth cåutious, tŏrtious,

Yoû'll envélop lísts, Î hôpe,
Ín a línen énvelôpe.

Woùld yoû lîke some mŏre? Yoû'll háve ít!

Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.

To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.

Líberty, lîbrary, hêave and héaven,

Râchel, lóch, moustàche, eléven.

Wê sây hállôwed, bút allòwed,
Pêople, léopard, tôwed but vòwed.

Màrk the dífference, moreôver,

Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver.

Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,
Chálíce, bút polìce and lîce,

Cámel, cònstable, únstâble,

Prínciple, discîple, lâbel.

Pétal, pênal, and canál,
Wâit, surmîse, pláit, prómíse, pál,

Sûit, suìte, rûín. Cïrcuít, cónduít

Rhŷme wíth "shïrk ít" and "beyónd ít". —still?

Bút ít ís nót hàrd to téll
Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.

Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron,

Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,

Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir,
Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,

Îvy, prívy, fâmous; clámour

Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.

Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,
Désert, but desërt, addréss.

Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants

Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.

Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb,
Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme.

"Sôlder, sôldier! Blòod ís thícker",

Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",

Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,
Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô).

Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,

Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —neither does anger: *áng-gə

Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.

Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,

Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.

Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,
Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.

Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,

Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.

Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,
Válentîne and mágazìne.

Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,

Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny),

Whích ís wróng. Sây râpier, pìêr,
Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.

Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring

Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?

Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,
Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,

Persevêrance, séverance. Ríbald

Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.

Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,
Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.

Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,

Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet;

Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,
Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn.

Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling

Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling —yëar and yêarling are about as likely

Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt,

Mînd the Z (zéd)! (A géntle hínt.)

Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion

To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion,

Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws,
Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs;

Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded,

Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd,

Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn,
Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —nowadays regularised to *Strákhən

Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely,

Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley).

Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud
Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud).

But mînd trívial and vîal,

Trîpod, mênial, denîal,

Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam,
Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême.

Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely

Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh,

Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây
Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt.

Hád thís ínvalid inválid

Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid,

Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked,
Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked!

Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê,

Páramour, enámoured, flîghty,

Épisôdes, antípodês,
Ácquiésce, and óbsequies.

Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser,

Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor,

Rāther sây ín áccents pûre:
Nâture, státure ánd matûre.

Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly,

Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly,

Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán,
Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan.

The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you

Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û)

Sây thén thêse phonétic géms:
Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz).

Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham,

Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em -

Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony,
Lîghten yŏur anxîety.

Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít

Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít;

Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice,
Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice.

Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger;

Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger.

Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge,
Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge,

Hêro, héron, quêry, véry,

Párry, tárry, fûry, bury,

Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth,
Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath.

Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners,

Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners

Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz),
Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)?

Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle,

Wê sây áctual, but víctual,

Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght,

Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte.
Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer,

Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer.

Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte,
Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte.

Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish

Scîence, cónscience, scientífic;

Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur,
Gás, alás, and Àrkansås.

Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit,

Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít

Bôna fîdê, álibî
Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ.

Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa,

Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria.

Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan,
Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne.

Compãre âlien wíth Itálian,

Dándelîon wíth battálion,

Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê,
Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! —ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh

Sây avër, but éver, fêver,

Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver.

Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe,
Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf.

Stàrry, gránary, canãry,

Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie,

Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce,
Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss.

Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging,

Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging;

Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar
Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir.

Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften

Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, —scarcely heard nowadays

Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce;
Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss.

Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting?

Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting.

Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént.
Lîable, but Pàrliament.

Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven,

Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen,

Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk,
Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk.

 of válour, vápid vâpour,

S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)),

G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-),
Î of ántichrîst and gríst,

Díffer like divërse and dîvers,

Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers.

Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll,
Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll.

Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! -

Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky.

Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts
Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —no longer

Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel

Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,

Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,
Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.

Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,

Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?

Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??

Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.

Mŷ advîce ís: GÍVE ÍT ÚP!

Notes

  1. ↑ A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see French words in English.
  2. ↑ When not accented, y is usually the semi-consonant of yoû and yés.
  3. ↑ When not accented, w is usually the semi-consonant of wê and wíll.
  4. ↑ In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer à in most positions, and by ŏ before r.
  5. ↑ Grave accents on w and on a u following a q indicate the sound of the following a: à in American English, but in British the extra sound ó as in the British pronunciation of hót.
  6. ↑ å and ŏ show the same sound: ideally the o too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so ŏ is used instead.
  7. ↑ àardvark and Transvàal are from Afrikàans, itself a further example.
  8. ↑ With a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.
  9. ↑ Also representing a Welsh sound in place names like Llandudno (-dídno) and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch.
  10. ↑ Strong form of to, not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.
  11. ↑ The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the K is normally the stressed syllable: okây.
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