English spellings/Catalogs/C

C = sêe look

c. = cïrca, not normally spelt out ("ca." is widely regarded as incorrect)

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 old spelling = Kolkàta new (*Cål-cútta is often pronounced Cál-)

'''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

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

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 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

'''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 (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

Catalônia is the traditional English name, as for example in the title of Orwell's Homage to Catalonia; the Catalan name, Catalunya, is however also heard in English

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-

Céri (from Welsh) = Kérry

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 *shámpâin makes a minimal pair with 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

Chér = shãre, cf. chãir

'''Chernóbyl

Cherokêe

chérry-píck

chérub

cherúbic

Chéryl

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

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-)

Chrîst Kr-

chrísten *kríssen

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

Christiáne *Kristi-ánn

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-

cïrca is usually abbreviated to c. (not *ca.)

'''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

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

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 *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

'''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

'''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

Còmpton-Bürnett

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

condôlences

cóndom, cóndóm

'''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

* 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

'''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)

'''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

cóttage -íj

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

'''còuchant

couchétte cûsh-

coûgar *coôger

cóugh *cóff

coùld rhymes with '''goòd

còuncil committee = còunsel ''advice

'''còuncillor

'''còunt

còunter noun

còunter- opposite, hyphenated: còunter-clâim, còunter-productive

'''còunterfeít

coúntry *cúntry, cf. còunty and còunt, which begin with the còw sound ("còwntry" is a common and understandable 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

'''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

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