English spellings/Catalogs/P

P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine

pâce speed

pàcè peace *pàhtchay

páchydërm *pákidërm

pácifist, cf. '''pássive

páct peace = pácked ''pack

'''paêan

paediatrícian BrE, AmE ped-

paêdophile BrE, AmE péd-

'''pâge

págeant: ea as schwa, *pádjənt

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

pâin hurt = pâne window

'''pâinstâking

pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails

Pakistān *Pàki-stàn, *Páki-stàn or *Páki-stán

pálatal palate

palâtial palace -shəl

pâle pallid = pâil bucket

'''Pálestîne

'''Palestínian

påll, cf. Páll Máll, '''måll

pállet mattress = pálette paint

'''Pámela

panáche *pənásh

'''Pánamà

'''Panamânian

páncake *pángcake

Páncho, cf. '''póncho

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, a similar case, where one would expect double s

'''páralyse

'''parálysis

'''paralýtic

'''parámeter

pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit

'''pãrent

paréntheses -sêez, -síz brackets; parénthesis -síss aside. A typical example of incorrect usage from a Wikipedia edit summary: changed a bracket to a parentheses. See also their entries in the retroalphabetical list.

'''parenthétical

'''parîah

Parísian -ízì-

pàrk = '''Pàrk

pàrliament *pàrləmənt

parliaméntary *parləméntry

parôle, cf. patrôl

párrot bird = Párrott ''person

pàrse -z

'''partícipate

partícularly BrE can sound like *partículy

partisán BrE -zán, AmE pàrtisan -zən

pássè can have French accent: passé

pāssed pass = pāst ''time, tense, go

pássion *páshən

pássive, cf. '''pácifist

pāst = passed

pâste ''copy, glue

pástel *pástle (t pronounced)

pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture ''field

pastìche -ìsh

'''pastìlle

pāstime hobby one s, one t, one word, stress on first syllable, cf. pàss tîme, even stress

pátè can have French accents: pâté

pâtent; for the noun, some say '''pátent

'''pàth

Pathé, with French accent, *Páthây

pathétic, cf. '''përfect

pathológical *páthə-lójikle

'''pathólogy

'''pâthós

pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients ''hospital

pátois *pátwà, cf. '''fátwà

pâtriàrch -k

'''Pátrick

Patrícia -ísha

pátriot or pâtriot, and in patriótic

patrôl, cf. pétrol, '''parôle

pátronise ''condescend

pâtronise ''patron

påuse stop = påws ''animal

påwnbrôker, cf. '''pornógrapher

pâyback noun one word pây-óff noun

pêa vegetable = pêe urine = P letter = p ''pence

pêal bell = pêel fruit = Pêel ''person

pêak summit = pêek cheat = pìque ''annoyance

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

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

pédalo

péderasty, péderast AmE; BrE pêderasty, '''pêderast

'''pédestal

'''pédigree

pédlar or péddler ''seller

pêe urine = pêa vegetable = p pence = P ''letter

pêek cheat = pêak summit = pìque ''annoyance

pêer look, lord = pìêr ''jetty

'''pêeved

pejórative, cf. '''përjury

Pekíng duck = pêa kíng, cf. pêaking ''peak

péll-méll, cf. '''Páll Máll

pén write = Pénn ''person

'''péncil

'''Penélopê

'''penicíllin

península noun = BrE penínsular ''adjective

Pennsylvânia *Pencilvânia

'''péntagon

'''pénury

pêony *pêənỳ

pêople pêep-, cf. '''stêeple

Pêpys Samuel = pêeps ''looks

për normally weak, but when strong = pürr ''cat

per cént = '''percént

percéntage

'''Perdita

përfect ''adjective

perféct ''verb

périgêe -jì

'''perímeter

'''pêriod

përjury, cf. '''pejórative

përk up, ''perquisite

'''përmanent

'''permíssion

permít ''verb

përmit ''noun

Perôt -rô

përpetrate not perper-

për sè *persây, cf. '''sây

'''përson

'''persôna

'''personálity

'''persôna nón gràtis

personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private

persuâde -swâde

'''Perû

'''pervërse

'''përvërt

'''pervërted

péssimistic usually péz-

'''Peshàwar

pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. '''patrôl

'''petrôleum

Pëugeôt ™ -zhô

peŵ church = Pûgh ''person

ph- = f-

'''phâeton

'''phálanx

phãraôh Egypt = Fãrôe Islands

pharaónic

pharmacôpoêia BrE, AmE pharmacôpêia, rhyming with '''cornucôpia

phàrming chemicals = fàrming farm

phâse period = fâze puzzle

phênix ashes (AmE) *fêenix = Phoênix Arizona = BrE phoênix or phœnix

phenómena plural

phenómenal rhymes with '''nóminal

phenómenon singular

pheŵ relief = feŵ many

phîal liquid = fîle papers, nails

Phílip given name = fíllip stimulus; Phílips and Phíllips are both surnames, while Phíllip is an unusual given name

'''Philìppe

'''Phílippìnes

phíshing internet = físhing water

'''phlégm

Phnóm Pénh *P(ə)nóm Pén

Phoêbê *Fêeby

Phoênix Arizona *Fêenix = phoênix or phœnix or (AmE) phênix ashes

phôney or phôny; phôneys or '''phônies

'''phôtograph

'''photógrapher

'''photógraphy

phrâse -âze phýsical -zí-, cf. físcal, -ss- (minimal pair)

physiógnomy *fízzy-ónomy

pî number π, pious = pîe food

pìanist'', piánist

'''piáno

píc picture = píck ''select

Piccadílly - cc, '''ll

'''píccolo

pídgin language = pígeon bird

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

pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce, Pêirce persons (though some Pëirces = pürses)

piérrot *pyérrô

pígeonhole one word

píllage -íj

pîlot plane = Pîlate ''Pontius

pîneápple -eá-

'''pínnacle

Pínochèt usually -shây in English, though -tché in Spanish

pînt, cf. línt, '''mínt

'''pîonêer

pîous religious = Pîus ''Popes

pipétte BrE pí-, AmE pî-

pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek ''look

'''pîracy

'''pîrate

Pîscês *Pŷsêez

pìste, cf. '''píssed

'''píttance

'''píty

'''pívot

pìzza *pìtsa

pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. '''ballerìna

pizzicàto píts-

'''plácard

plâce where = plâice ''fish

* pláck is spelt '''plāque

plâgiarise, -'''îze

pláid rhymes with '''clád

Plaîd Cymru *Plîde Cúmry (approximation of Welsh pronunciation)

pláit hair = Plátt person, cf. plâte ''food

plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin ''straightforward

plánet rhymes with '''gánnet

plástic - some BrE speakers say '''plàstic

pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto ''philosopher

pláteaux plural *pláttôze

'''plátinum

'''Plâto

'''plátypus

plâyboy one word

'''plâywright

pléasure -ézher

Plêiadês, '''Pleîadês

'''plébíscîte

plîght *plîte

plòw AmE

'''plòver

plòugh BrE = '''plòw

plúm fruit, exact = plúmb ''depths, plumber, exact

Plûtarch -k

'''plŷ

Plýmouth -məth

pm post meridian = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém

pneumátic neû-

pŏignant *pŏinyant

pôker cards, fire, cf. pôlka dance

'''Polàris

Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll ''election

polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze

'''poliomyelîtis

pólish ''shine

Pôlish Poland

pólitburo, cf. bûreau

'''polîte

polítical

'''politícian

'''políticking

político

'''pólitics

pôlka dance, cf. pôker cards, fire

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

póll, pólly parrot

Pólly person

pólythene *póllithêen

polyéthylene -éthílêen

'''polyphónic

'''polýphony

polystŷrene

pómegranate, cf. '''gránite

pontíficâte demand, cf. Pontíficate Pontiff -ət, minimal pair

poôl swim = Poôle ''place, person

pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (though some rhyme it with pûre: poôr)

pópulace noun = pópulous ''adjective

pŏring examining = pŏuring ''out

pŏrn pornography BrE = påwn ''pawnshop

'''pornográphic

'''pornógraphy

'''pŏrous

Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person or *Pŏrsh

Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce

Pŏrtugal, Portuguêse Pŏrch-

'''Poseîdon

posëur pseud, cf. pôser ''puzzle

'''póssê

posséss *pozéss

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

'''pósthumous

postpône pôsp-

pôtable drink

potâtoes, cf. tornâdos, both -ôz

'''Potômac

pótsherd - sh sound

'''poùffe

práctíce AmE, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (í, not î, and with the first syllable stressed: *práctíss) the American use of only the -íce spelling makes more sense: perhaps some AmE speakers, on seeing práctíse for the first time, imagine the British do indeed 'practîze' things

practítioner -tíshoner

Pràgue *Pràhg

prây prayer = prèy victim

prãyer *prãir, one syllable, cf. plâyer, lâyer, two

pre- prí- when unstressed and in pretty, otherwise mostly prê-

precêde before *prí-sêed, cf. procêed start *prə-sêed, though in rapid speech they sound the same (in slow speech, the latter may begin prô-)

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

précious *préshəss, cf. prêvious

prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe

prècìs’d past *prâysêed

precîse *precîce

'''prê-dâte

'''prédator

prêdecessor BrE; AmE pré-

predóminantly (not -ately)

prê-émpt hyphenated

prê-éminent hyphenated

préferable, cf. '''prefër

prélude, AmE also prè-, prê-

prémier government, league, BrE; AmE premíer = '''premíere

prémiére performance, cf. thére; AmE premíere = '''premíer

'''prémíse

prémíses *prémisses

preóccupied - prê-

'''prepãre

'''preréquisíte

présent gift, now, here préz-

presént give príz-

prestìge -êezh

prestígious -íjəss

'''presûmably

'''presûme

'''preténce

'''preténd

'''preténsion

'''preténtious

pretty prí-

'''prevâil

'''prévalent

prêvious, cf. '''précious

prèy victim = prây ''prayer

prîce cost = Prîce = Prŷce ''persons

prìma dónna *prê-madónna

prîma fâcìê *prîma-fâyshêe/fâycêe

'''prîmâte

prîme mínister *prymínister

prímitíve, cf. '''prîmâte

prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male, cf. príncéss female - second syllable stressed if required to contrast with '''prínce

príncipal main = prínciple ''reason

'''principálity

'''prìón

prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor ''persons

prívacy BrE; AmE '''prîvacy

prîvate = Prîvate = Pte. BrE = Pvt. ''AmE

prívet ''hedge

'''prívilege

'''prívy

prîze present = prîse apart, with prîce value a minimal pair

prô- in favour, a word in its own right in '''prôs and cóns

probóscis -kís

'''procêdure

procêed, cf. '''precêde

'''procreâte

'''proféss

prófit money = próphet ''prophecy

prodûce ''verb

pródûce ''noun

'''pródúct

'''prodúctive

'''proféssional

prôgram - AmE uses this spelling for all meanings, while BrE only uses it with regard to computers, using prôgramme for all other meanings

progréss verb

prôgress noun BrE; AmE prógress

próject activity - some say '''prôject

projéct ''stick out

'''prôle

prolóng one word

prómenàde BrE, AmE -'''âde

próminent rhymes with '''dóminant

prómise -íss

'''prônòun

pronunciâtion -núnce-: cf. pronòunce ("pronounciation" is a common mispronunciation)

proôf noun, cf. prove verb *proôve (minimal pair)

'''propagánda

'''própagate

'''próper

próphecỳ ''noun

próphesŷ ''verb

próphet religion = prófit ''gain

prophyláctic, -'''áxis

'''propônent

prôs pro = prôse ''verse

próspect ''future

prospéct ''gold

próstate ''gland

prostrâte ''lie

prôtêa -êə

Prôtêa -êə South Africa

prôtêan -êə

'''protéct

'''protéctor

prôtegè male, prôtegèe female, can be written with a French accent: protegé, protegée *prôtezhây

prôtest ''noun

protést ''verb

'''prótestant

protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. '''invéstor

prove verb *proôve, cf. proôf noun (minimal pair)

prôven or *proôvən

'''próvenance

Provence *Provónce

Provençal *Provón-sàl

'''próvince

províncial -shl

'''provîso

'''provocâtion

'''provócative

'''provôke

'''pròwess

'''pròwl

'''prŷ

Prŷor person = prîor ''priory

ps- all but pssst with silent p: s-

psàlm *sàhm

pseûd person, adjective - but psêudo- is not a separate word and requires a hyphen:

'''pseûdo-intelléctual

'''pseûdo-scîence

'''psilocŷbin

psst - p pronounced, any number of s’s

psŷch *sîke

psŷchê *sîky

'''psychedélic

'''psychîatrist

psychólogist, cf. '''sýcophánt

'''psychólogy

'''psychométric

'''psŷchopáth

'''psychopáthic

'''psychópathy

ptàrmigan silent '''p

pterodáctyl térə-

públicly, cf. '''bâsically

púcker lips BrE = púkka ''real

'''pùdding

'''púddle

pûerile -yû-

Puerto Rìco BrE Pwãir-, AmE Pŏr-, cf. '''Pŏrto

Pûgh person = peŵ ''church

'''pugnácious

pùll push, cf. poôl ''water

pùllover clothing, cf. pùll ôver ''car

'''púlsàr

'''púmíce

púnchline one word

'''punctuâtion

'''púnish

pûnitive -yû-

pûny -yû-

'''Pürcell

pûre -yû-

'''pürgatory

'''pürge

pürl knit, liquid = pëarl ''stone

'''pürr

pürse, cf. pîerce, Pêarce, etc.

Pürves = '''Pürvís

pús yellow, cf. pùss ''cat

'''pùsh

pùt place, cf. pútt ''golf

putâtive -yû-

pûtrefy, cf. '''pétrify

pûtrid -yû-, cf. hâtred, both -íd

pùtsch, cf. pùsh (minimal pair)

pùtting ''put

pútting ''putt

'''púzzle

'''pýgmy

pyjàmas BrE; AmE '''pajámas

Pyongyáng, two syllables

'''pŷre

'''Pýrrhic

pŷthon, AmE also '''pŷthón