English spellings/Catalogs/C
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| Common misspellings |
This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with C. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.
For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]
C = sêe look
c. = cïrca *sürka, but not normally spelt out (and "ca." is widely regarded as incorrect)
cabál, cabàl
cáche arms = cásh money
cáddie golf = cáddy tea
câdence
cadét
Cadíz is the traditional English pronunciation, though the Spanish stresses the first syllable
càdrê AmE, BrE *càdə
Caêsar *Sêezer
cáfè can be written with a French accent: café *cáfây
cáfè au lâit can be written with a French accent: café au lait *cáfâyô-lây
cáffêine
cãirn
Caîro *Kŷro
Caìus Cambridge = kêys lock; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with its variant Gaîus
Cálâis *Cállay
Calcútta old spelling = Kolkàta new (*Cål-cútta is often pronounced Cál-)
Caledônia
cálendar is not spelt -er, cf. còlander
Cálgary *Cálgəri
Califŏrnia -nyə
câliph, cáliph; câliphate, cáliphate, calìphate
cåll name, phone, shout = cåul birth, cf. Cál person
Cállaghán: silent g, *Cállahán
callígraphy -ll-, cf. Calígula
Callîopê = Kallîopê = Kallîopi
cállous uncaring = cállus skin ≈ Cállas Maria (or Cállás)
càlm -àm, BrE and AmE
cálorie
Câmbridge
cámel
camêllia: irregular ê before double consonant, *camêlia, cf. chamaêleon *camêliən
cámera
cameráderie
Cámeron
Cameroôn
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
cán nót: see cánnót
Cânaan *Câynən, aa as schwa
Cánada
Canâdian
canál
cánapè cf. cánopy
canãry
canásta
Canáveral
Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cámborough
cáncer illness = Cáncer constellation
cándidate BrE -ət, AmE -âte (unsurprisingly, the AmE version is common among British broadcasters)
câne stick, sugar = Câin Abel = Câne = Kâne Citizen
cânîne
cánister: one n
cánnabis
cánnibal rhymes with Hánnibal
cánnon = cánon
cannót; or cánnót for emphasis, but always one word when (as it almost always is) nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…; cf. contracted form cān't
canoe -noô
cánon church, œuvre, music = cánnon war
cánopy cf. cánapè
cánt cliche = Kánt philosopher = AmE cán’t impossible
cantàta
cánvas paint, tent = cánvass election
cányon cf. ònion, both -yən
câpable
Câpe Tòwn, two words, first stressed as if it were one, *Câpetown
Câpe Vërde, Câpe Vërdê
capíllary BrE; AmE cápillãry
cápital city = cápitol legislature = Cápitol Washington, Records
capítulate
cappuccìno -chêeno
cáptain -ptin
cáption -pshn
Cápricorn
càr vehicle = Càrr = Kàrr persons
*cáracter is spelt cháracter; cf. cáricature
càr-lôad noun
cárapâce
cárat gold = cárrot food
càrbon dióxîde
carburéttor
càrcass body cf. Carácas
cãre
cãrefree one word
carêer profession, speed BrE = Korêa country, cf. cárrier carry
cãrer
Cãrey = Cãry, cf. Kérry (minimal pair); Cãrrey is an irregular variant, as normally á before rr (cárry)
Cáríbbêan *Cárri-bêeən is the usual pronunciation outside the area, where some say *Cəríbbêən, and Rŏyal Caríbbean is normal
cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-
Carlîsle city, person = Carlŷle person
Càrnaby
Carnègiê, hard g (the family pronunciation, though one often hears it echoing the stress pattern of Càrnaby: Càrnegie; also Carnêgie)
càrnivore
Cárolîne
Cárolýn
caròusal carouse *cəròuzəl
carousél round *carəssél
cárrom or cárom
cárry bring = Cárrie person
càrt horse = kàrt race
cartél
càrton
cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, minimal pair: n and m only different sounds
cásh money = cáche weapons
cashìer *cashêer
cáshmêre wool = Kashmìr Asia
cassàva
cāst drama, throw, eye = cāste India
Castílian cf. Castìlle
cāstle -ssl
cásual cf. cåusal
cásualty
cát animal = qát drug
Cátalan
cátalog AmE = BrE cátalogue
Catalônia—as for example in the title of Orwell's Homage to Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan)
catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátar
catástrophê
catastróphic
cátchphrase is probably more common as one word
Câte Blanchett; but Kâte is the usual spelling of this abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine etc.
cátegory
câter = Câtor
cáterpillar
Cátheríne is the most common spelling; also K-, -thar-
cáttle cows cf. kéttle boil (minimal pair)
cåucus rhymes with råucous
cåught catch = BrE cŏurt tennis, law
cåul birth = cåll name, phone, shout
cåuldron or cåldron
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 (or a as schwa)
Cávendish
Câyman Islands
ce- mostly s-
cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold
cêased rhymes and makes a minimal pair with êast
cêasefîre (no need to hyphenate)
cêde yield = sêed plant
cèilidh *kâlêy
cêiling floor = sêaling shutting
célebrâte s-
celébrity s-
célibate s-
céll prison, biology = séll money
céllar wine = séller sales
céllo tch-
céllophane s-, cf. sêal, séllotape
Céltic or céltic civilisation K-; Céltic football club S-
cémetery BrE -try, AmE -téry: not spelt -ary
cénsor censorship = sénsor feel ≈ cénsure blame
cént money = sént send = scént perfume
céntral s-
céntre s- BrE, AmE cénter
céntre-léft, céntre-rîght politics, hyphen
centrífugal or céntrifugal
centrípetal
céntrist s-
céntury is not automatically capitalised after an ordinal: 20th céntury
cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series
cérebral s- BrE; AmE cerêbral
Cêrês planet makes a minimal pair with sêríes string, or Céres, cf. Sírius star
céremony s-
Céri (from Welsh) = Kérry
certíficate -ət
cërtify
cërvical s- (some say cervîcal)
cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s-
césspit one word
césspool one word
cf. compare *cêe-éff
ch- tch- unless otherwise stated; sh-, often from French, where stated
chà tea
chà-chà or cha-cha-chà dance
Chádian *Cháddian
chádŏr
chãir sit makes a minimal pair with shãre divide and Chér person
chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng
chágrín sh- BrE; AmE *shəgrêen
chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl- = Chamaêleon constellation, cf. camêlia, where -n is the only extra sound (a minimal pair)
châmber cf. Châmbers person
chámois *shámwà
Champâgne France, drink = Champaîgn Illinois *shámpâin; they make a minimal pair with campâign *cámpâin
chāncellor
cháncre *shánker
chandelìêr sh-
Chandrasèkhar is much more common than Chandrasèkar
chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Channél persons, both sh-
châós *kâyóss, cf. cháps
chapàti (there are some longer spellings)
chápel church = Cháppell person
cháperôn sh-
chàplain church = Cháplin person
chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng
charàde sh- BrE; AmE charâde
cháracter cf. cáricature, both k-
Cháring Cróss
charivàri sh-
chàrlatan sh-
Chàrlotte Sh-
chãry cf. chãir
Charýbdis *Kəríbdiss
chásm *kázzəm
chássis *shássy
châste virgin = châsed chase
Chátham -təm
chauffëur *shô-fër
chauvinist shô-
chêap cost = chêep bird
chêapskâte one word
chêat
Chéchnya
chéckered
chéckers = Chéquers
chéckpoint one word
chêek cf. chíck
chêetah
chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound: tch-
Chélsêa *Tchélsì
chémistry k-
Chèney
chéque BrE money = chéck verify, AmE money = Czéch nationality
Chér = shãre, cf. chãir
Chernóbyl
Cherokêe
chérry-píck
chérub
cherúbic
Chéryl can be Sh-
chévron sh-
cheŵ cf. words beginning tû-, which can have the same tch- sound, e.g. tûbe
*chewítion tuítion
Cheyenne *Shŷ Ánn
chèz *shây
Chháttisgarh *Cháttisgar, cf. Chándigarh
chìc sh-
Chicàgo Shí-, à sound in both BrE and AmE
chíck
chíckpêa one word or two
chìêf tch-, cf. chéf, sh-
chihuàhua *tchiwàwa
chîld
Chîlds surname = chîld's possessive, cf. chíldren plural
chîldbïrth one word
chíldren, plural of chîld
Chílê country = chílì or (mostly BrE) chíllì bean = chílly cold (see following)
Chílêan *Chíllìan, rhyming with Gíllian ("Chíllây" and "Chilâyan" are pretentious-sounding pseudo-Spanish pronunciations, cf. Chileno, Chilena, Spanish for the latter)
chimêra kî-
chímney
chimpanzêe
Chîna country = chîna crockery
chîropractic k-, first syllable = Caîro
chirópody k-
chïrp
chísel -zl
Chíslehurst -zl-
Chíswick *Tchízzick
chívalry sh-
chívy or chívvy
chlamýdia kl-
Chlôê *Klôwie
chlóroform kl-
chóc chocolate = chóck wedge
chóck-a-blóck
chŏice makes a minimal pair with Jŏyce
choîr singers = quîre paper
chólera k-, cf. cóllar (minimal pair)
choléstorol k-
choôse select = cheŵs masticates
chŏral chorus k-, cf. córal reef
chorāle chorus k- = corrāl animals
chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal
chŏrus k-
chòw dog, food = ciàô goodbye
chòw miên
chr- kr- (words that sound as if they begin 'chr-' may begin tr-)
Chrís = Krís, cf. críss-cróss
Chrîst Kr-
chrísten *kríssen
Chrístian *Kríshtchən or *Krístchen cf. crýstal
Christiáne *Kristi-ánn
Chrístmas *Kríssməss
Chrístopher *Krístəfər
chrôme kr-
chrónic, chrónicle kr-
chrýsalis kríss-
chrysánthemum kríz-
chthônian, chthónic, kth-, th-
chürch
chürn
chûte fall = shoôt gun
chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur
ci- s-
ciàô goodbye = chòw dog, food
cicàda BrE; AmE cicâda
Cícely person = Sícily Italy
cîder
cigàr
címbalóm is perhaps the most common of several spellings, cf. cýmbal
Cincinnáti
cínema
cínnamon
Cínque Ports = sínk wash, down
cïr-
cïrca is abbreviated to c. (not *ca.) and should not normally be spelt out, despite signs of increasing popularity
cïrcle
cïrcuit *sërkit
circûítous
cïrcumcîse
circumcísion -zhən
circúmference cf. interfêrence
cïrcumstance
Cîrencéster
cirrhôsis, cf. psorîasis
císsy = Císsy = síssy
citâtion cf. situâtion
cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place
cítizen
Citizéndium
Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon, making minimal pairs with cítrous
cíty
cívil
civílian: one l
Clãir = Clãire = Clãre
clámour BrE; AmE clámor
clámpdown noun one word
clándestîne; some say clandéstíne
clánger has the normal ng sound, rhyming with hánger, cf. ánger, *áng-ger, dânger, -njer
Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them
cláptrap one word
Clãre = Clãir = Clãire
cláret
clárify
clárity
clássical music is not capitalised when referring to any period; only Clássical when referring particularly to the period between Baroque and Romantic (and not necessarily music)
clāssroom one word
clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa
claustrophôbia clós-
clêan
cléanliness
cléanse -nz
clêaver cf. cléver
Clêese -z
clërgy
cléric
clërk AmE; BrE = Clàrk = Clàrke persons
clìchè *clêeshây
clíck sound, cf. clìque gang, see below
clîmb up = clîme weather
clìque *clêek; some AmE = clíck
clóckwörk one word
clôse shut = clôze test; clôse near, cul-de-sac *clôce
clôser more -ss-, clôser end -z-
clóset -z-
clôse-up near, -ss-, cf. clôse up shut, -z-
clóstr- claustrophôbia
clóth unvoiced th
clôthe voiced th
clôthes voiced th
Cloúgh = Clúff
Clŵýd rhymes with flûíd
cô and co = Côe
côach transport, trainer
côal fuel = Côle person
coalésce *côəl-éss
coalítion *côəl-íshən
côalman coal = Côleman person
côalmine or côal mîne, but côal mîning is two words
cŏarse crude = cŏurse route, study
côast cf. cóst
côastguard one word or two
côax
cóbra or côbra
cocâine (ô or schwa; weak = Cockâigne)
cóchineal
Cockâigne (ó or schwa; weak = cocâine)
Côckburn = Côburn persons
cóck-up
côco tree = côcoa tree, powder, drink
Côco the Clòwn
côconut or côcoanut
cocoôn
côdêine
côdicil
coêlacanth sêel- BrE, AmE cêlacanth
coërce
CofÊ Church of England *sêeyəvêe
cóffee drink = Cóffey = Cóffee persons
cógnac *cónyák
cohábit no hyphen
Côhen *Côwen, rhymes with Ôwen
côhêre
Coìmbra *Quêenborough
coincîde, coíncídence, cô-í-, without hyphens
cojônes *cohôniz
còlander cf. cálendar
Côle person = côal burn
côleslaw is probably more common nowadays than côle slåw
Cólin
colláborate
cóllàge art *cóllàzh, cf. cóllege school *cóllij
collápse
cóllar cf. chólera *cóllara
colléctable BrE, AmE colléctible
cóllier coal = Cóllier, Cólyer
Cóllins
collóssal
collûde
Colôgne Germany = colôgne perfume *kəlôn
Colòmbia country = Colúmbia company, British (-ló- is the Spanish and a spelling pronunciation)
Colòmbo Sri Lanka = Colúmbo TV series
côlon
cölonel army = kërnel nut *kënl
colônial
colonnâde
cólonise
cólony
Coloràdo in both BrE and AmE, Có-
colorâtion or colourâtion cú-
coloratùra
còlour tint cf. cóllar neck
Colúmbia British, commercial = Colòmbia South America
Colúmbus
cólumn *cóllum
cólumnist *cólumist, though some pronounce the n
côma cf. cómma
cômb hair *kôam, cf. còme here (minimal pair)
cómbat noun, verb, combát verb; verb forms -ing and -ed may have one t or two
cómbatant or combátant
còmeback noun, adjective one word
cómedy
comeúppance one word
còmfortable -ft-
comfortably-óff
còming come = Cúmming, cf. Cúmmings, persons
cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious
commānd
commandêer
comménd
cómment
commërcial
commít
commíttee
cómmonplace common one word
commûnal
cómmune noun
commûne verb
cómmunism
commûnity
còmpany
compãre contrast cf. cómpére (where French accent can be written: compère) host
cómparable or compárable
compárative
compárison
compàrtment
compássion
cómpensâte
compensâtion
cómpére (or with written French accent compère) show, cf. compãre contrast
complâint complain
cómplement together = cómpliment praise
cómplex BrE; AmE compléx
compléxion not -ct-
complîant comply
cómpóst
cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss
Còmpton, Cómpton
cómráde, cf. Cónrád (minimal pair), some BrE cómrâde
concêde
concentrâte cf. consént
cóncrete
concatenâtion: e, not i
cóncentrâte cf. consént
concéntric cf. consénsus
cóncept
concéptual
concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto or like Italian original *conchérto
concéssion
cónch shell -nch or -nk
cónch, Cónch Bahamian -nk
concörd
Cóncord
cóncrete
concússion
condémn, cf. dámn, both -m
condemnâtion ends like nâtion
condîgn -dîne
condôlences
cóndom, cóndóm
cóndŏr
condûcíve
cóndûít or -dwít; BrE was once *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised
conféctionery
confër
conféss
conféssion -féshən
cónfidànt person BrE -dónt
cónfident adjective -dənt
Confûcian -shən
confûsion -zhən
cónger hard g
cóngeries soft g
cóngruent or congrûent
cónical make a minimal pair with chrónicle
cóniìne -iì-
cònjure
Cónnåcht *Cónåwt
connéct
Connécticut *Cənétikət
connéction: BrE can be connéxion
connîve
connoissëur: -oi- as schwa: *connəssür
Cónor given = Cónnor family
cónquer win = cónker nut *cóngker
cónquést *cóngkwest, cf. quést
*conscient should be cónscious
consciéntious *cónshì-énshəs, *cónshénshəs
cónscious
consénsus cf. consént, cénsus, concéntric
consént cf. concentrâte
cónsequence
consërvative
conservâtion
consigliérê *consíl-yãry
consístent cf. cónstant
cónsôle noun
consôle comfort
consólidate
cónsonant
cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa
consŏrt verb
consŏrtium as written or -shm
conspíracy
conspírator
conspîre
cònstable
constábulary
cónstant cf. consístent
constítuency
consûme -syû-
cónsummate
cóntact noun and verb, cf. cóntract, contráct
contémptible
conténd struggle
contént happy
cóntént contain
cóntext
contéxtual
contínûùm -tínyûəm
cóntoûr
cóntract noun, contráct verb, cf. cóntact
contradíct
cóntra, cf. controvërsial, etc.
cóntrary opposed
contrãry awkward
cóntribûte or contríbûte
contribûtion
*contríbyəter contríbutor
contrôl
contrôller
controvërsial
cóntrovërsy or contróversy
conúndrum
cónvoy
coòk kitchen = Coòk = Coòke persons
coôlie *kûli
Coômbs = Coômbes *Cûmz
cooperâtion côwóp-, cf. cŏrporation
coóperative côwóp-
Copenhâgen: Cô-; or -hàgen
cóps police = Kóp Liverpool
cóp-òut
cóps police = cópse wood
cópy cf. côpe
cópyédit can be one word or two
cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing
córal
cŏr ànglâis *cŏróng-glây
cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music
cŏrdon
cŏre apple = cŏrps army
cŏrnerstône one word
coróllary
corôna
córonary
córoner
cŏrporate
cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following
cŏrpse
corrāl AmE animals; BrE = chorāle choral
corrālled
correspóndence, correspóndent (unlike French, which has -ance, -ant)
corróborate
córrugate BrE; AmE cörrugate
cóst cf. côast
Cósta Rìca
côsy BrE = AmE côzy = Côsey
Côte d'Ivoire (French accent may be retained in English) *Côat-divwàr, also known as Îvory Côast
cotërminous adjective, cf. tërminus noun
cóttage -íj
còuch; the surname is, however, Coûch in the names of John Couch Adams and Arthur Quiller-Couch
còuchant
couchétte *coô-shét
coûgar *coôger
cóugh *cóff
coùld rhymes with goòd
còuncil committee = còunsel advice
còuncillor
còunt
còunter noun
còunter- opposite, hyphenated: còunter-clâim, còunter-productive
còunterfeít; còunterfeíter rhymes with (ends like) fítter
coúntry *cúntry, cf. còunty and còunt, which do begin with the còw sound; "còwntry" is a common mispronunciation by foreign learners
còunty cf. coúntry
coûp d’état = coô bird
coúple rhymes with súpple (minimal pair)
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 (minimal pair)
coúsin *cúzzen
Cóvent Gàrden
còver
côvert, còvert, cf. ovërt
còvet -ít
Còwen = Còwan, minimal pair with Côhen
còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight, cf. kowtòw
Coŵper = Coôper; or Còwper
Cóx = cócks
cŏyôtê BrE; AmE *kîôat
cráckpot noun one word
crâdle
crāft skill = Krāft person
cravát ('cravate' is French)
cråwl ground = Kråll person
crêak noise = crêek water
crêam
crêâte
crêâtion -êâshən
crêature -ch-
créche *crésh, cf. crásh, crúsh (minimal pairs)
crêdence
credéntials
crédibílity
crêed
crêek water = crêak noise
créme can have French accent: crème
créme de menthe can have French accent: crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt
Creôle (êô) = creôle
crêosote
crèpe = crèpe
crescéndo -sh-
créscent *crézzənt, *créssənt
crétin
crévíce
crevásse
creŵ ship = Creŵe England
creŵ-cut
Crîchton *Crŷtən
crîme cf. crêam (minimal pair)
Crimêa *Crî-mêə
críminal
críss-cróss, cf. Chrís, cróss
critêrion (plural critêria) crî-
crític
critìque -êek
crôak = Crôke
Crôát *Crôwát
Croâtia *Crôw-âyshə
cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old
crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet
crócodîle
croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón
Crómarty
crône
crôny
crônyism *crônêeízm
cróss-examinâtion
cròtch genitals = crútch support
crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây
crûcible
crûcifíxion *crûci-fíction
Crûickshank -ûk-
crûise -ûz
crúmb -m
crúmble
crúx
crýpt
crýstal, t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t
cubewàno, from "QB1-o" (after the prototype trans-Neptunian object QB-òne *qyû-bê-wún, with ú changed to à)
cúckold
cùckoô, first syllable sounding like coòk
cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line = Keŵ Gardens
Cûi *QE
cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən
cúl-de-sác
cúlprit
cúm with = còme here
Cúmmings person = còmings and goings
cúmqùat = kúmqùat
cûneífŏrm rhymes with ûniform
cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard
curaçào *curassòw
cûrate person
curâte museum
cürb stop, street = kërb street
cûre-åll noun, adjective
cûrious
cürly = Cürley
cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow BrE; AmE cür-
currículum vìtaê
cürse cf. cŏurse
cürt blunt = Kürt person
cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness
curvâceous
cürve
cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən
cússed *cússid
cústard
cústody BrE *cústardy
cútback noun one word
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