English spellings/Catalogs/C

This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with C. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.

C
C = sêe look

cabál cf. '''câble

cáche arms = cásh money

càdre *càder; AmE '''càdrê

cáddie golf = cáddy tea

cáfè can be written with a French accent: café *cáfây

cáfè au lâit also: café au lait *cáfâyô-lây

cáffêine

Caîro *Kŷro

Caìus Cambridge = kêys lock; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with '''Gaîus

'''Calcútta

'''Caledônia

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

Cálgary *Cálgəri

Califŏrnia -nyə

cåll name, phone cf. Cál person

callígraphy -ll-, cf. '''Calígula

cállous uncaring = cállus skin ≈ 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 cf. '''cánopy

'''canãry

'''canásta

Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cámborough

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

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, *Câpetown

capíllary BrE; AmE '''cápillãry

cápital city = Cápitol Washington

'''capítulate

cappuccìno -chêeno

'''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

Cãrey = Cãry cf. Kérry (minimal pair)

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, minimal pair: n and m only different sounds

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 (minimal pair)

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

'''Câyman Islands

cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize ''hold

cêasefîre (no need to hyphenate)

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 or '''céntrifugal

'''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 tch-, cf. Châmbers ''person

chámois *shámwà

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

chandelìêr sh-

Chandrasèkhar Tch-

chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Cahnnél persons

châós *kâyóss

chápel church = Cháppell ''person

cháperôn sh-

chàplain church = Cháplin ''person

chárabanc *shárabang, cf. '''shebáng

charàde sh- BrE; AmE '''charâde

cháracter k-

Cháring Cróss Tch-

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 tch-

Chéchnya Tch-

chéckpoint one word

chêetah tch-

chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound: tch-

Chélsêa *Tchélsì

chéque money tch-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch ''nationality

Cherokêe Tch-

chérry-píck tch-

chévron sh-

cheŵ tch-; cf. words beginning '''tû-

chèz *shây

chìc sh-

Chicàgo Shí-, à sound in both BrE and AmE

'''chíck

chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh-

chihuàhua *tchiwàwa

chîld singular tch-

chîldbïrth one word

chíldren plural tch-

Chílê country tch-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly ''cold

Chílêan Tch-

chimêra kî-

chímney tch-

Chíswick *Tchízzick

chívalry sh-

chívy or chívvy tch-

chlamýdia kl-

Chlôê *Klôwie

chlóroform kl-

chóc chocolate tch- = chóck ''wedge

'''chóck-a-blóck

choîr singers = quîre ''paper

chólera k-, cf. cóllar (minimal pair)

choléstorol k-

choôse select = cheŵs ''masticates

chŏrd music = cŏrd ''rope, vocal

chŏrus k-

chòw miên tch-

Chrîst Kr-

chrísten *kríssen

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

Chrístmas *Kríssməss

Chrístopher *Krístəfə

chrôme kr-

chrónic kr-

chrysánthemum kríz-

chûte fall = shoôt ''gun

chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. '''Hótspur

ci- s-

Cícely person = Sícily ''Italy

'''cîder

'''cigàr

'''cínema

'''cínnamon

cïr-

'''cïrcle

cïrcuit *sërkit

circûítous s-

cïrcumcîse sër-

circumcísion s-; -zhən

cïrcumstance s-

císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy ''weak

citâtion cf. '''situâtion

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

cláret cf. '''Clãre

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

côco tree

'''Côco the Clòwn

côcoa ''tree, powder, drink

côconut or '''côcoanut

'''cocoôn

'''côdêine

'''côdicil

coêlacanth sêel- BrE, 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

'''colláborate

cóllàge art *cóllàzh, cf. cóllege school *cóllij

'''collápse

cóllar cf. chólera *cóllara

cóllier coal = Cóllier, Cólyer

'''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-

'''coloratùra

còlour tint cf. cóllar ''neck

'''Colúmbus

cólumn *cóllum

cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the '''n

côma cf. '''cómma

cômb hair *kôam, cf. còme here (minimal pair)

'''cómbat

cómbatant or '''combátant

'''cómedy

comeúppance one word

còmfortable -ft-

comfortably-óff

cómma punctuate, cf. côma ''unconscious

'''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

'''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

cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss

cómrâde BrE; AmE cómráde, cf. '''Cónrád

'''concêde

concentrâte cf. '''consént

'''cóncrete

concatenâtion - e, not i

cóncentrâte cf. '''consént

concéntric cf. '''consénsus

'''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

cóniìne -iì-

Cónnacht *Cónåwt

'''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

cópy cf. '''côpe

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 BrE; 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 (minimal pair)

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

cravát ('cravate' is French)

cråwl ground = Kråll person

crêak noise = crêek water

'''crêam

'''crêâte

crêâtion -êâshən

crêature -ch-

créche *crésh, cf. crásh (minimal pair)

'''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

'''Crêôle

'''crêosote

crèpe = '''crèpe

crescéndo -sh-

créscent *crézzənt

'''crévíce

'''crevásse

creŵ ship = Creŵe ''England

'''creŵ-cut

Crîchton *Crŷtən

'''crîme

'''críminal

Crimêa *Crî-mêə

'''crític

critìque -êek

Crôát *Crôwát

Croâtia *Crôw-âyshə

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 cür-

'''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