English spellings/Catalogs/C

C = sêe look

cabál makes a minimal pair with kebáb; cf. câble

cáche arms = cásh money

'''cadét

Cadíz is the traditional English pronunciation, though the Spanish stresses the first syllable

càdrê AmE, BrE *càdə

cáddie golf = cáddy tea

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

'''Caledônia

cálendar is not spelt -er, cf. '''còlander

Cálgary *Cálgəri

Califŏrnia -nyə

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

'''Câmbridge

camêllia or caméllia 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 '''cánnot

Cânaan *Câynən, aa as schwa

'''Cánada

'''Canâdian

'''canál

cánapè cf. '''cánopy

'''canãry

'''canásta

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

cánister: one '''n

'''cánnabis

cánnibal rhymes with '''Hánnibal

cánnon = '''cánon

cannót; or cánnot 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 or '''Câpe Vërdê

capíllary BrE; AmE '''cápillãry

cápital city = cápitol legislature = Cápitol Washington

'''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

càrcass body cf. '''Carácas

'''cãre

cãrefree one word

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

'''cãrer

Cãrey = Cãry cf. Kérry (minimal pair)

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 (though one often hears it echoing the stress pattern of Càrnaby)

'''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

Catalônia; ‘Catalunya’ is Catalan

catàrrh *catàr, cf. '''Qátar

'''catástrophê

'''catastróphic

cátchphrase probably one word more common than '''cátch phrâse

Câte Blanchett; but Kâte is the usual spelling of this abbreviation of Cátherine/Kátharine etc.

'''cátegory

'''câter

'''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)

'''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-

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 = Chér person, making a minimal pair with shãre ''divide

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 *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)

'''chāncellor

chandelìêr sh-

Chandrasèkhar is much more common than Chandrasèkar

chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Channél persons, both sh-

châós *kâyóss

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

'''Chernóbyl

Cherokêe

chérry-píck

chérub

cherúbic

chévron sh-

cheŵ cf. words beginning tû-, which can have the same tch- sound, e.g. '''tûbe

* chewítion '''tuítion

Cheyenne *Shŷ Ánn

chèz *shây

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 singular

chîldbïrth one word

chíldren plural

Chílê country = chílì or (mostly BrE) chíllì bean = chílly ''cold

Chílean *Tchíllian (some say "Tchilâyan", perhaps in homage to the Spanish Chileno)

chimêra kî-

chímney

chimpanzêe

Chîna country = chîna ''crockery

chîropractic k-, first syllable = '''Caîro

chirópody k-

chïrp

Chíswick *Tchízzick

chívalry sh-

chívy or chívvy

chlamýdia kl-

Chlôê *Klôwie

chlóroform kl-

chóc chocolate = chóck ''wedge

'''chóck-a-blóck

choîr singers = quîre ''paper

chólera k-, cf. cóllar (minimal pair)

choléstorol k-

choôse select = cheŵs ''masticates

chŏral k-

chorāle chorus = 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-)

Chrîst Kr-

chrísten *kríssen

Chrístian *Kríshtchən or *Krístchen cf. '''crýstal

Christiáne *Kristiánn

Chrístmas *Kríssməss

Chrístopher *Krístəfər

chrôme kr-

chrónic 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

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-

'''cïrcle

cïrcuit *sërkit

circûítous

cïrcumcîse

circumcísion -zhən

circúmference cf. '''interfêrence

cïrcumstance

císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy ''weak

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

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

clîmb up = clîme ''weather

clìque *clêek, cf. '''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 *côwəl-éss

coalítion *côwəl-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

'''cóchineal

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

côíncidence no hyphen

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 *kəlôan

Colòmbia country = Colúmbia British, company; some say -ló-, but there seems little danger of confusion

Colòmbo Sri Lanka = Colúmbo ''TV series

'''côlon

cölonel army = kërnel nut

'''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

'''comménd

'''cómment

'''commërcial

'''commít

'''commíttee

'''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

cómráde, cf. Cónrád (minimal pair), some BrE cómrâde

'''Cónakry

'''concêde

concentrâte cf. '''consént

'''cóncrete

concatenâtion: e, not i

cóncentrâte cf. '''consént

concéntric cf. '''consénsus

'''cóncept

'''concéptual

concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto

'''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

'''cóndom

'''cóndŏr

'''condûcíve

cóndûít or -dwít; BrE was once *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised

'''confër

'''conféss

conféssion -féshən

cónfidànt person BrE -dónt

cónfident adjective -dənt

Confûcian -shən

confûsion -zhən

cónger hard '''g

cóngeries soft '''g

cóngruent or '''congrûent

cóniìne -iì-

'''cònjure

Cónnåcht *Cónåwt

'''connéct

Connécticut *Cənétikət

connéction: BrE can be '''connéxion

'''connîve

connoissëur: -oi- as schwa: *connəssür

cónquer win = cónker ''nut

cónquest cf. '''quést

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

cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa

consŏrt ''verb

'''conspíracy

'''conspírator

'''conspîre

'''cònstable

'''constábulary

cónstant cf. consístent

'''constítuency

consûme -syû-

'''cónsummate

cóntact noun and verb, cf. cóntract, '''contráct

'''contémptible

contént ''happy

cóntént ''contain

'''cóntext

'''contéxtual

contínûùm -nyû-

'''cóntoûr

cóntract noun, contráct verb, cf. '''cóntact

'''contradíct

cóntra, cf. controvërsial, etc.

cóntrary ''opposed

contrãry ''awkward

cóntribûte or '''contríbûte

'''contribûtion

*contributer contríbûtor

'''contrôl

'''contrôller

'''controvërsial

cóntrovërsy or contróversy

'''conúndrum

'''cónvoy

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

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

correspóndence, correspóndent (unlike French, which has -ance, -ant)

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

cóttage -íj

còuch; the surname is, however, Coûch in the names of John Couch Adams and Arthur Quiller-Couch

'''còuchant

couchétte cûsh-

cóugh *cóff

coùld rhymes with '''goòd

còuncil committee = còunsel ''advice

'''còuncillor

'''còunt

còunty cf. '''coúntry

'''còunterfeít

còunter-productive hyphenated

coúntry *cúntry, cf. còunty and còunt, which begin with the còw sound ("còwntry" is, understandably, a common mispronunciation among foreign learners)

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 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 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

'''crévíce

'''crevásse

creŵ ship = Creŵe ''England

'''creŵ-cut

Crîchton *Crŷtən

crîme cf. crêam (minimal pair)

'''críminal

Crimêa *Crî-mêə

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

'''cróss-examinâtion

cròtch genitals = crútch ''support

crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây

'''crûcible

'''crûcifíxion

crûise -ûz

crúmb -m

'''crúmble

'''crúx

'''crýpt

crýstal, t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent '''t

'''cúckold

cùckoô cf. '''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

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

'''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