English spellings

A  B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z   Apostrophe'''


 * The letter links above lead to alphabetically arranged selections of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside some regular ones for contrast; in addition, the present page features a 'retroalphabetical' list (see Contents) with words arranged alphabetically by their final letters

English is famous, even notorious, for its varied spellings. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of proper names, as, for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh', pronounced 'Chumley Fanshaw'. On a more prosaic level, however, there are dangers. An example of a common misspelling is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', maintaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. And conversely, words may not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' you might expect to rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic' is in fact 'sizemic'. These lists are devoted to these things.

A few notes on how to read them: Linguists conventionally put an asterisk before words in order to denote an incorrect spelling, and here we also include accent marks to show stress and pronunciation. A table of these (which are not used in English ) can be found at the end of this article; there is also an IPA key at English phonemes. Where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed, and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling *Chŷ-kóffsky, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. The first sentence of this paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, maintaining the e of disāster.

Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation. English is rich in homophones; it also has many homonyms, words with the same spelling and pronunciation, and homographs, words with the same spelling but different pronunciation. Examples of all three are grouped together here.

Also of special note are words that many writers incorrectly divide. ôver and dûe, for example, combine to form overdûe, without a space in the middle. Such examples are included with ‘one word’ alongside them: alongsîde one word.

An equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar-looking words are included after 'cf.' (from Latin conferre, 'compare').

Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may be written with accents from those languages. Such spellings are shown using bold italics: touchè may be written with a French accent: touché *tooshây.

The apostrophe is an important part of spelling and so it has its own place at the end of the alphabet. An asterisk is placed before incorrect respellings, thus: *thuss. Fragments are in bold when correct: Ukrâine has -âine, not -âne. Words in italics are used to suggest meanings, in the case of similar words. The word person (or persons after more than one) implies either a personal or family name. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones, for example a bank clerk might be named Clàrk or Clàrke, but most probably not 'Clerk' (which is pronounced identically in BrE). It may, of course, also be a commercial or place name, as this is a matter regarding individuals: the fact that one is more likely to meet a person, most probably male, called Maurice Mórris than one called Mórris Maurice, both words and hence both names being pronounced the same in BrE (Maurìce in AmE), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.

Retroalphabetical list

 * For the conventionally alphabetical list, see the links at the top of the page

This list is in alphabetical order beginning with the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it. The headword is on the right. In this way, suffixes and other word endings can be seen grouped together, just as prefixes can be seen in normal alphabetical order. So, instead of ádd båll coúsin, we have réplicA fláB plástiC; and so for mûsiC, see under -c, for mûsicaL, see under -l, for pàrticlE, see under -e, and so on.

Some suffixes are included separately with their pronunciation applying or not to following words.

Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after z. For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:

woman mâid = make mâde

A
mostly schwa -a

BrE barrier, drink bàr = sheep bàa

'''Ábba

'''Shêba

'''Cûba

'''Hécuba

'''scûba

'''tûba

'''Lŏrca

(but Nabokov's is Àda) Âda

'''Granàda

'''Grenâda

'''propagánda

'''referénda

.*îdêə '''idêa

.*flê '''flêa

.*plê '''plêa

-êə '''Crîmêa

-êə '''ãrêa

person Chélsy = place Chélsêa

.*Swónzy '''Sẁansêa

.*nåuzêə '''nåusêa

'''Ólga

'''broûhàhà

'''gèisha

clóss- '''claustrophôbìa

-íshə, rhymes with milítia -'''ícia

'''Alícia

'''Galìcia

'''Patrícia

'''Albânia

'''Tanzanìa

'''Armênia

.*skítzô-frêniə '''schizophrênia

'''Slovênia

'''insómnia

Wó- '''Wallônia

'''ària

'''malãria

'''Bavãria

'''Alexāndria

'''Lîbêria

'''hystêria

pìts- '''pizzerìa

'''Victŏria

'''trattorìa

.*Âyshə or *Âyzhə '''Âsia

-zhə '''amnêsia

-zhə '''Indonêsia

.*Toô-nìzhə AmE; BrE Chû-nízìə Tunisia

-zhə '''Maláysia

mostly -shə -'''tia


 * Crôw-âyshə '''Croâtia

-tìə '''Ossétia

Patrícia rhymes with '''milítia

'''inërtia

vîa

trŏika

là

Kampàla

Mandéla

-zwâyla Venezuèla

umbrélla

côla

scrófula

.*pé-nínssyələ península

Mà

Alabáma

Pánamà

dràma

or -mə cínemà

Émma

dilémma

diplôma

carcinôma

Victoriàna

.*Loû-êasy-Ánna Louisiána

banāna

'''Fontāna

'''Montána

'''nìrvàna

Guyána

vagîna

Regîna

Polyánna

hénna

anténna

tûna

bôa

Nôah rhymes with Gôa

môa

Pà

spà

brà

cf. Ôprah - ópera

Pandŏra

Andŏrra AmE; BrE Andórra

Sumàtra

Sinàtra

ork- ŏrchestra

strâta AmE ≈ BrE strâighter - stràta

'''táffeta

'''excrêta

-wə '''Manágua

-yûə or -wə '''Nicarágua

'''nôva

'''sŏya

'''Gàza

'''plàza

.*pêetsa '''pìzza

B
'''náb

'''jáb

'''Árab

'''stáb

'''ébb

'''fíb

'''níb

.*lám '''lámb

.*lím '''límb

climate clîme = up '''clîmb

.*côam '''cômb

còme, húm, súm rhyme with -cúm '''succúmb

.*dúm '''dúmb

.*thúm '''thúmb

fruit plúm = plumbing  '''plúmb

.*núm '''númb

.*bóm '''bómb

.*côam '''cômb

.*toôm '''tomb

'''hóbnob

.*dŏrnób '''dŏorknob

AmE *érb '''hërb

'''vërb

'''ŏrb

'''súburb

'''blürb

'''pertürb

'''distürb

cúb

dúb

húb

C
mâniac

insómniac

.*afrô-dízzỳác aphrodísìac

lîlac

ålmanac

Quebéc

terrífic

horrífic

lógic

.*shêek chìc

pýrrhic

éthic

Góthic

'''mýthic

'''repúblic

'''seîsmic

'''irónic

'''Byrónic

'''herôíc

cf. Pátrick - '''Éric

ill síck   = thus síc

'''mûsic

'''dramátic

tråumátic

fanátic

noun, verb státic

parasític

plástic

drástic

acoûstic

cf. adjective mýstical - noun mýstic

loft áttic = Greek '''Áttic

paralýtic

wood blóck = political blóc

súbfúsc

can be móllusk in American - móllusc

D
'''bád

'''dád

book Bêde = string '''bêad

'''déad

'''héad

'''knêad

'''bréad

'''dréad

'''spréad

'''instéad

'''fád

'''hád

'''Ílìád

'''Jeremîád

'''trîád

'''lád

'''mád

'''gôad

'''rôad

'''brŏad

'''abrŏad

'''tôad

sád

qùad rhymes with ẁad

ádd

ódd

ae as schwa: *səbpênəd '''subpoênaed

-did -ded

woûnded

låuded

procêed

hêed

nêed

grêed

wêed

áct = -ácked

tactful táct = tack tácked

stácked

AmE tráveled

-ld fîled

-ld smîled

-ld pîled

l doubled after stressed syllable - BrE and AmE rebélled

BrE trávelled

abándoned

boôed

-pt stépped

réd

bare '''bãred

scãred

.*sâycríd sâcred

hámpered

cf. compãred - cómpéred

two syllables neûtered

revêred

sévered

mîred

cf. hâte - *hâtríd hâtred

cf. kînd - *kíndríd kíndred

-rəd húndred

bar ''bàrred

food bâste = base '''bâsed

.*bîast bîased

-éssed mostly rhymes with -ést: conféssed

.*blést, but can be *bléssid before a noun bléssed

asséssed

obséssed

-tíd -ted

tàrgeted

.*rícoshâid rícochèted

intërpreted

excîted

éxited

ẁanted

bígoted

-vd shôved

-vd lòved

allòwed

hállowed

néxt rhymes with séxed

stãry-eŷed

stàrry-eŷed

person Bŏyd = buoy buŏyed

âid

lâid

make mâde = woman mâid

.*pâyed pâid

bray brâyed = hair brâid

.*séd said

bíd

díd

líd

sqùalid

válid

vŏid

rápid

vápid

flûíd

Réginald

Rónald

géld

héld

fìêld

wìêld

mèld

wéld

gíld

chîld

mîld

wîld

ôld

bôld

fôld

thrêefôld

gôld

hôld

x yêars ôld in the plural, but hyphens when it's an adjective, noun x-yêar-ôld

sôld

tôld

cf. gôld - Goûld

cf. coùld, shoùld and woùld, all -ùd - môuld

ánd

hánd

lánd

-lənd: mostly schwa in (place or people’s) names, where it conveys familiarity: -lánd used for countries suggests alienness, even lack of sovereignty -land

Díxielánd

Tŷ- '''Thaîland

blánd = '''Blánd

'''Åuckland

'''Hólland

a as schwa before nouns, e.g. Ínland Révenue, otherwise á - '''ínlánd

schwa possible in adjectival use - '''mâinlánd

'''Fínland

Pôland

Láplánd

Súnderland

mòtherlánd

hínterlánd

ôverlánd

Swítzerland

Quêensland

Scótland

heàrtlánd

Mãryland

demānd

Hélmand

sánd

fìênd

friénd

blénd

'''pénd

'''rénd

'''sénd

'''ténd

'''wénd

'''bînd

crime fîned = discover '''fînd

'''hînd

one word '''hûmankînd

'''blînd

'''mînd

'''rînd

'''támarínd

blow wínd

round wînd

beyónd

ròund

woûnd

religion Gód = idol gód

clód

nód

pód

foôd

'''goòd

'''hoòd

no y before -'''hoòd

'''lîkelihoòd

'''lîvelihoòd

'''moôd

'''broôd

woòd

apart from monosyllables, mostly -ə(r)d -ard

càrd

'''bêard

'''hëard

'''hàrd

.*Ríchərd '''Ríchard

'''shàrd

'''làrd

cf. wide brŏad - boring bŏred = wood, company '''bŏard

.*cúbbərd '''cúpboard

'''flŏorbŏard

.*lépərd '''léopard

'''lêotàrd

'''bāstard

bústard

.*gàrd guàrd

wård

báckward

åwkward

except for Fránkie Hòwerd: Hòward

yàrd

házard

lízard

wízard

blízzard

búzzard

hear hëard = animals hërd

nërd

bïrd

tie chŏrd = vocal cörd

person Fŏrd = water fŏrd

name suffix, -fəd -ford

Brádford

Rédford

Blándford

Rétford

Óxford

rope cŏrd = music chörd

wörd

absürd

türd

applåud

Måud

fråud

Î’d

listen hêed = he hê’d

shê’d

plant wêed = we wê’d

.*prâycêed prècis’d

ít’d

yoû’d

thèy’d

E
final e is mostly silent; for words often italicised and ending in written -é see French words in English - e

AmE -ê -'''aê

'''nébulaê

'''fŏrmulaê

'''anténnaê

'''nôvaê

'''scrîbe

'''descrîbe

medicine prescrîbe ≈ illegal '''proscrîbe

zé- '''xénophobe

'''lôbe

'''fâce

.*préffis '''préface

.*ménnis '''ménace

Ẁallis = '''Ẁallace

.*Hórris, rhyming with words in -óris - '''Hórace

.*térris '''térrace

'''îce

'''sácrifîce

órifíce BrE; AmE '''ǒrifíce

'''sürplíce

'''nîce

'''Véníce

'''cŏrníce

'''chŏice

'''vŏice

'''hóspíce

'''thrîce

'''caprìce

'''trîce

'''pôultíce

'''láttíce

BrE verb práctíse = noun, AmE verb  '''práctíce

'''nôtíce

'''devîce

'''crévíce

'''véngeance

(sometimes written as in French) séance - '''sèànce

'''chānce

'''vígilance

'''románce

'''perfŏrmance

noun = verb either stressed '''fînánce

'''híndrance

'''forbéarance

enter éntrance

beguile entrānce

cf. exístence - '''stānce

cf. exístence - '''resístance

AmE lîcense, cf. BrE and AmE suspénse - '''lîcence

.*ákwêeyéssənss; cf. présence, -zənss - '''acquiéscence

'''câdence

'''décadence

'''transcéndence

'''subsîdence

'''évidence

'''próvidence

cf. dénse - '''fénce

AmE defénse - defénce

AmE offénse - offénce

hénce

scîence

-shənss cónscience

åudience

-âshence impâtience

cf. prevâil - prévalence

vîolence

'''përmanence

'''adhêrence

'''occúrrence

'''rêcúrrence

'''ábsence

'''cómpetence

'''séntence

'''insístence

cf. stānce - '''exístence

'''ínfluence

mint mínts ≈ meat mínce

print prínts ≈ royal prínce

'''fìêrce

'''pìêrce

'''coërce

'''enfŏrce

-êí- '''reinfŏrce

'''divŏrce

verbs -'''ésce

-éss '''acquiésce

.*côwaléss '''coalésce

-éss '''effervésce

BrE -dyoôss or -joôss, AmE doôss -'''dûce

'''redûce

'''indûce

verb '''prodûce

noun '''próduce

'''Jŏyce

'''fâde

'''shâde

'''jâde

'''glâde

woman mâid = make '''mâde

'''grenâde

sh-; AmE charâde, BrE '''charàde

'''parâde

'''concêde

'''intercêde

'''supersêde

stressed in verbs, unstressed in nouns, but always pronounced -'''îde

'''régicide

'''sûicide

'''cŷanide

'''derîde

asîde

besîde

.*rizîde resîde

one word úpside

one word dòwnside

provîde

óxide

in some names -'''forde

íl- '''elûde

əl- '''allûde

'''lóngitude

'''látitude

'''áttitude

insect '''bêe

'''divorcêe

'''fêe

'''cóffee

'''banóffee

'''tóffee

'''Yánkee

'''glêe

'''referêe

as a suffix meaning ‘without’ -frêe should be at least hyphenated, never a separate word: '''cãrefrêe and commítment-frêe

'''degrêe

'''pédigree

'''sêe

.*lîcencêe '''licensêe

cf. députy - '''devotêe

'''payêe

-êe has main stress when in contrast to emplŏyer - '''emplŏyêe

'''gáffe

'''lîfe

.*nîfe '''knîfe

'''wîfe

'''âge

mostly -íj -'''age

-íj '''cábbage

-íj '''bándage

.*hémərij '''haémorrhage

.*fôlìíj '''fôlìage

.*cárríj '''cárriage

.*márríj '''márriage

-àzh '''fûselage

-àzh '''cámouflage

-íj '''víllage

-àzh '''cóllage

-íj '''dámage

-íj '''mánage

-àzh '''bádinage

BrE *gáràj; *gáríj is regarded by many as uneducated; AmE *gəràzh '''gáràge

-íj '''áverage

person Béveridge = -íj drink '''béverage

-íj '''lêverage

-àzh míràge

-íj stŏrage

BrE *báràj, AmE *bəràzh bárràge

sâge

BrE *məssàj, AmE *məssàzh mássàge

-íj '''méssage

-àzh '''dréssàge

-íj '''ûsage

-àzh '''sábotàge

-íj '''cóttage

-íj '''wâstage

-íj '''hóstage

-íj '''lánguage

-íj '''sávage

'''bádge

'''édge

'''plédge

slédge

-íj knówledge

mídge

rídge

brídge

pórridge

stódge

fúdge

sácrilege

prívilege

cf. édge - '''allége

'''oblîge

-êezh '''prestìge

-íj '''véstíge

'''chânge

'''whínge

'''lòunge

'''scròunge

'''Dôge

'''bàrge

'''làrge

'''dïrge

'''fŏrge

'''ürge

'''scöurge

'''pürge

'''sürge

.*âke '''âche

BrE *məstàsh, AmE *mústásh '''moustāche

-kê '''synécdochê

cf. trôphy, átrophy - '''catástrophê

'''apóstrophê


 * dhə before consonants, *dhê before vowels - '''thê

lôathe rhymes with '''clôthe

colour dŷe = death  '''dîe

'''bïrdìê

Chàrly = '''Chàrlie

surname Wílley = Wílly  = '''Wíllie

'''Cónnie

'''Lónnie

'''Rónnie

'''pîe

soft g - '''menágerìê

'''côterìê

'''cálorìê

'''éyrìê

'''bâke

'''câke

'''Jâke

cf. bláck, Bláck - '''Blâke

'''mâke

'''snâke

'''sâke

'''tâke

eat steâk = hold '''stâke

'''mistâke

'''lîke

'''chîldlîke

'''gódlîke

'''wårlîke

'''cátlîke

'''pîke

'''chôke

'''brôke

broòk rhymes with '''Ládbroke

broòk rhymes with '''Bólingbroke

'''evôke

'''provôke

'''wôke

'''rebûke

'''dûke

cf. noun, adjective fînal - noun '''finàlê

cf. adjective rátional - noun '''rationàle

cf. Âbel, Bâbel, 'lâbel, Mâbel - '''âble

'''impertürbable

'''applícable

dis- '''despícable

it is normal to retain an e before -able to show either the pronunciation of the preceding consonant or the long sound of the preceding vowel -'''eable

-nsəble '''pronòunceable

-jəble '''mánageable

-jəble '''chângeable

-kəble '''unshâkeable

-ləble '''sâleable

'''gâble

cf. lâbel - '''avâilable

'''unwínnable

'''ádmirable

'''desîrable

'''sâble

'''advîsable

'''tâble

'''debâtable

'''insurmòuntable

'''stâble

'''cònstable

'''forgívable

'''dábble

'''rábble

cf. rébel - '''pébble '''dríbble

'''cóbble

'''góbble

'''hóbble

'''nóbble

'''wóbble

'''Húbble

'''rúbble

'''stúbble

'''édible

tánj- '''tángible

'''fállible

'''térrible

'''hórrible

'''comprehénsible

'''apprehénsible

'''sénsible

-sable is French - '''respónsible

axé- '''accéssible

'''colléctible

'''suscéptible

'''contémptible

'''irresístible

'''ámble

prê- '''preámble

'''gámble

'''rámble

'''scrámble

'''assémble

'''dissémble

.*rizémble '''resémble

.*onsómble '''ensemble

'''nímble

'''thímble

'''búmble

'''fúmble

'''húmble

'''júmble

'''múmble

'''rúmble

'''crúmble

'''grúmble

'''túmble

'''stúmble

'''nôble

'''doúble

AmE rûble = BrE '''roûble

'''troúble

'''pínnacle

'''bàrnacle

'''téntacle

'''óbstacle

.*vêícle '''vêhicle

'''véntricle

'''pàrticle

.*úngkəl '''úncle

'''càrbuncle

'''tréadle

'''crâdle

'''páddle

'''stráddle

'''ẁaddle

'''tẁaddle

médal medallion = interfere '''méddle

bicycle pédal = sell '''péddle

'''díddle

'''fíddle

'''míddle

'''píddle

'''ríddle

'''códdle

cúddle

fúddle

'''befúddle

'''húddle

'''múddle

'''cándle

'''dándle

'''hándle

'''spíndle

'''noôdle

'''poôdle

'''gïrdle

'''cürdle

'''hürdle

'''kerfúffle

'''trúffle

'''strúggle

'''invêigle

g sounded separately from ng -'''ngle

'''ángle

'''bángle

'''dángle

spángle

'''wrángle

'''wángle

'''bürgle

'''bûgle

'''bîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl môbile

'''åutomobìle

'''fîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl frágile

'''Ánglophîle

'''mîle

'''símilê

.*fáx-íməly '''facsímilê

'''smîle

'''pîle

'''rîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl '''stérile

BrE -île, AmE -əl prayers míssal = war '''míssile

'''tîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl '''vólatile

'''mërcantîle

'''ínfantîle

BrE -île, AmE -əl '''hóstile

.*gîle, hard g - '''guîle

'''revîle

'''táckle

'''héckle

'''fréckle

'''píckle

'''tíckle

'''cóckle

'''búckle

'''ánkle

'''tínkle

'''wrínkle

'''wínkle

food gríll = screen '''grílle

fire côal = person '''Côle

'''dôle

'''hôle

'''môle

ballot pôll = Poland Pôle = wood '''pôle

over, eat rôll = play '''rôle

'''partíciple

adjective, person príncipal = belief '''prínciple

'''discîple

'''sāmple

'''exāmple

'''dímple

'''símple

'''rúmple

'''crúmple

stêeple rhymes with '''pêople

'''nípple

'''rípple

'''típple

'''coúple

'''scrûple

vással and in AmE words in -āstle rhyme with '''hássle

-zle '''tòusle

person Súttle = obvious '''súbtle

'''chŏrtle

-səl -'''stle

'''cāstle

véssel rhymes with -'''éstle

'''néstle

'''tréstle

'''wréstle

'''whístle

'''grístle

Rússell rhymes with -'''ústle

'''bústle

'''hústle

'''rústle

'''líttle

'''cáttle

'''kéttle

gold métal = courage méttle

'''bóttle

súbtle rhymes with '''shúttle

-ûel rhymes with -'''ûle

'''módule

'''mûle

'''rûle

'''cápsule

'''dázzle

'''fízzle

cf. drível - '''drízzle

'''sízzle

'''púzzle

person Mêe = ''you mê

cf. âim - câme

'''gâme

'''lâme

'''sâme

'''frâme

'''tâme

'''extrême

'''dîme

.*rèzhìme '''regìme

'''lîme

verse rhŷme = frost '''rîme

'''tîme

'''íncòme

'''òutcòme

'''dôme

'''hôme

'''gênome

Alaska Nôme = garden '''gnôme

'''sòme

səm -'''some

'''troúblesome

'''hándsome

'''thrêesome

h- '''whôlesome

'''wínsome

cf. hysteréctomy - '''epítomê

.*rizyûme resûme

written with French accents avoids confusion with resûme: résumé .*rézumây résumè

.*prizyûme presûme

-syû- consûme

-syû- '''assûme

frost rîme = verse '''rhŷme

fruit lîme = England '''Lŷme

'''énzŷme

'''bâne

persons Câin = Câine = stick '''câne

'''urbâne

'''Dâne

'''mêthane

'''Jâne

'''lâne

cf. remâin - relevant '''germâne

'''scêne

'''obscêne

person '''Germâine

-ône '''colôgne

-îgn rhymes with -'''îne

'''mìgrâine

'''Ukrâine

.*Mádlin or *Mádlən - Mádeleíne

'''refîne

'''confîne

'''éngíne

cf. hérôín drug, hérôíne hero - '''méscalíne

declîne

'''reclîne

'''mîne

vërmín rhymes with '''ërmíne

'''detërmíne

'''sërpentîne

'''türpentîne

'''intéstíne

K- '''Chrístìne

'''prístìne

'''magazìne

win wòn = number '''òne

'''cône

cf. Stône of Scone, *Scoôn - '''scóne

'''dòne

'''condône

'''góne

'''alône

'''anémonê

'''nòne

'''atône

'''stône

cf. Kíngston, both have o as schwa - '''Mâidstone

'''zône

'''ãirbŏrne

o'' as schwa in best Aus pronunciation Mélbourne

'''Êastbŏurne


 * dí-mâin '''demèsne

= -ô, -ôw - -'''ôe

'''ôboe

'''dôe

'''fôe

-oô '''shoe

'''Jôe

-oô '''canoe

'''rôe

'''tôe

'''wôe

'''Zôê

'''grâpe

'''Penélopê

'''ántelôpe

or ón- '''énvelôpe

'''shãre

'''awãre

'''bewãre

'''prepãre

'''îronwãre

'''sóftwãre

-re as schwa - *âkər '''âcre

-re as schwa - -kər '''mássacre

ear hêar = this '''hêre

them théir = that '''thére

clothes wéãr = place '''whère

'''mêre

was '''wëre

'''sevêre

'''shîre

in England, schwa, -shə -'''shire

.*Glóstersher '''Glóucestershire

.*Léstersher '''Léicestershire

.*Wùstersher '''Worcestershire

-shîre in Scotland – though non-Scots may not comply '''Âyrshîre

'''hîre

mîre

AmE mêter = BrE length mêtre

cf. fŏr - befŏre

to the fŏre

'''thérefore

(and, for some, toûr guide) rock  tŏr = téar '''tŏre

'''bizàrre

cf. grándeûr - '''cûre

'''endûre

'''pāstûre

'''abjûre

-jər '''ínjure

-jər '''cònjure

'''përjure

'''lûre

-lyər '''fâilure

BrE əlyûə '''allûre

BrE Shåw = AmE '''sûre

-zhər -'''sure

'''pléasure

'''méasure

'''tréasure

'''léisure

'''clôsure

-sh- '''préssure

-sh- '''físsure

-chər -'''ture

'''matûre

'''nâture

'''státure

'''fûture

'''sûture

'''wê’re

of you yŏur = days yŏre = you are '''yŏu’re

here thére = them théir = they '''thèy’re

chêese, slêaze and frêeze rhyme with '''êase

-ss '''lêase

êase rhymes with plea plêas = request '''plêase

-ss '''crêase

verb, noun -ss '''decrêase

verb, noun -ss '''incrêase

-z '''têase

âce rhymes with '''châse

confuse fâze = temporary '''phâse

-êez (no nationalities end in -ìse); usually stressed but can become unstressed before a noun as in Jápanese: -'''êse

'''chêese

'''jöurnalêse

'''Nepalêse

'''Jápanêse

'''Chînêse

in all words apart from those specified below, -îse can be spelt -îze, for example críticize, and this is how -îse is pronounced in most verbs -'''îse

'''críticîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize noun, verb '''éxercîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''mërchandîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''fránchîse

'''vërbalîse

'''rêalise

'''êqualîse

-êez '''valìse

'''fërtilîse

never spelt -ize because it is a noun and pronounced -íss '''prémíse

never spelt -ize because pronounced -íss noun, verb '''prómíse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''cómpromîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''surmîse

.*pŏrpus '''pŏrpoise

.*tŏrtus '''tŏrtoise

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''despîse

'''glámorise

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''comprîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''surprîse

presh- '''pressurîse

'''émphasîse

práctíce = BrE verb '''práctíse

'''áppetîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''ádvertîse

.*éxpertêez '''expertìse

silent u; pronounced but never spelt -ize '''disguîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''advîse

cf. noun devîce - -z verb '''devîse

pronounced but never spelt *wîze '''wîse

pronounced but never spelt -wize -'''wîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''lîkewîse

pronounced but never spelt -ize '''clóckwîse

-ss, as also hénce, fénce - '''dénse

'''sénse

'''nónsense

cf. defénce, lîcence, offénce where AmE has -ense, all -ss '''suspénse

cf. dôze -ss '''dôse

-z '''chôse

'''grandiôse

.*loôze '''lose

noun, adjective -s, verb -z '''clôse

-z '''nôse

-z '''choôse

.*lûce '''loôse

-z '''expôse

can have French accent: exposé *expôzây '''expôsè

-z '''rôse

'''ápse

'''lápse

noun '''rêlapse

verb '''relápse

'''collápse

'''trâipse

'''eclípse

cop cóps = wood '''cópse

'''hëarse

cf. revërse - '''rehëarse

'''tërse

'''vërse

'''avërse

'''ádverse

cf. rehëarse - '''revërse

'''gŏrse

voice hŏarse = animal '''hŏrse

'''wörse

'''bŏurse

vulgar cŏarse = run '''cŏurse

-z '''ûse

no -z '''refûse

rubbish -ss '''réfuse

-z '''mûse

-ss '''spòuse

-îze '''ánalyse

-îze '''páralyse

lure bâit = anger, breath '''bâte

'''debâte

'''rêbâte

-âte verb, -ət noun '''prédicate

'''índicâte

'''víndicâte

-ət '''certíficate

BrE -ət, AmE -âte - '''cándidate

'''fâte

'''hâte

'''lâte

-âte verb, -ət adjective '''artículate

'''régulâte

'''mâte

-ít or -ət '''clîmate

-âte verb, -ət adjective '''éstimate

person Spèight = rush '''spâte

'''séparate

-rət '''dísparate

-âte verb, -ət adjective '''delíberate

cf. ônerous - '''exónerâte

-rət '''désperate

'''émigrate

'''ímmigrate

-âte verb, -ət adjective '''eláborate

máj- '''mágistrâte

'''démonstrâte

'''rémonstrâte

-âte verb, -ət adjective '''precípitate

'''áctivâte

'''effête

'''complête

.*sôshalîte '''sôcialîte

'''elìte

'''polîte

'''gráníte

'''fînîte

.*définət '''définite

.*ínfinət '''ínfinite

'''unîte

'''despîte

AmE réspíte - réspîte

hýpocríte

AmE -or- fâvouríte

Trótskyîte

can be written Brontë - Bróntê

ánecdote

ántidote

môte

nôte

vôte

'''fŏrtè

'''càste

'''hâste

'''châste

usually stressed -ét -'''étte

oô- '''oubliétte

'''serviétte

matress pállet = paint '''pálette

cf. hámlet - *ómlet '''ómelette

'''kitchenétte

'''tríbûte

'''cóntríbûte

'''dístríbûte

noun áttribûte

verb attríbute

.*mínít time mínute

.*mŷ-neŵt small mînûte

repûte

compûte

cf. ínput - impûte

bŷte

nêophŷte

mostly silent -ue

'''bàrbecûe

'''âgûe

.*lêag '''lêague

persons Hãig = Hâigh = city, person '''Hâgue

.*plâig '''plâgue

.*Pràg '''Pràgue

.*sâygwây '''sèguè

-êeg noun '''íntrigue

-êeg verb '''intrìgue

-êeg '''fatìgue

.*meráng '''meringue

.*túng '''tòngue

-óg '''sýnagogue

-óg dîalogue

àrgûe

blow bleŵ = colour '''blûe

'''clûe

'''glûe

final que is silent: many words end like this, but not bàrbecûe - '''que

-àk '''pláque

-âik '''opâque

.*Môzám-bêek '''Mozambìque

cf. reálpolitìk - '''critìque

-ésk '''burlésque

-ésk '''Pinterésque

-ésk '''picturésque

-ósk '''mósque

cf. brísk -oòsk '''brùsque

Susan Sûe = law '''sûe

.*insyû '''ensûe

-syû '''pursûe

.*íshû '''íssue

.*tíshû '''tíssue

câve

Dâve

gâve

háve

cónclâve

pâve

râve

crâve

serious, dead grâve

accent gràve

sw- suàve

êve

slêeve

belìêve

relìêve

grìêve

síeve

sémibrêve

côërcíve

dîve

éndíve

recêive

concêive

fîve

cf. jîve dance - hard g in take gíve

hîve

líve

alîve

derîve

contrîve

adhêsíve

offénsive

crêâtive

tålkatíve

imáginative

repétitive

arrîve

persuâsive

sénsitíve

môtíve

revîve

'''abòve

bird '''dòve

(BrE is regular dîved) AmE dive '''dôve

England Hôve = heave '''hôve

'''shòve

'''lòve

'''glòve

.*moôve '''move

'''groôve

'''rôve

'''grôve

'''stôve

'''trôve

'''strôve

'''nërve

'''sërve

.*prizërv '''presërve

'''Î’ve

'''wê’ve

'''yoû’ve

'''thèy’ve

'''Zimbàbwè

'''Lilóngwè

AmE áx - BrE '''áxe

'''yê

me Î = sight '''eŷe

pig, eye stŷ = eye stŷe

plêase and frêeze rhyme with slêaze

fâze

gâze

ádze

free frêes = cold frêeze

trapêze

most words in -îse can also be spelt -îze: all exceptions are listed under -îse -îze

never -ise sêize

apart prîse = present prîze

never -ise sîze

dôze

búlldoze

Drûze

AmE; BrE ánalŷse, both pronounced -îze ánalŷze

AmE; BrE páralŷse, both pronounced -îze páralŷze

F
'''chìêf

'''míschíef

'''thìêf

'''belìêf

'''relìêf

'''stāff

'''whíff

'''táriff

'''óff

'''féoff

'''Géoff

'''blúff

'''stúff

'''íf

'''sérif

cf. reason môtíve - *mô-têef pattern '''môtìf

'''Álf

.*cāf '''cālf

.*hāf '''hālf

one word '''himsélf

one word '''hersélf

one word '''yoursélf

one word '''itsélf

one word '''mŷsélf

'''gôlf

Rôlph = '''Rôlf

.*wùlf '''wolf

'''gúlf

'''Bêowùlf

No expressions with modal verbs followed by ‘of’ exist. What may sound like ‘of’ is the weak form of háve and so this or apostrophes should be written instead: woùld have, shoùld’ve, cān’t have, mîght’ve etc. - *óv '''óf

'''goôf

cf. plural hoôves - '''hoôf

cf. plural roôfs *roôves '''roôf

G
'''fág

'''hág

'''nág

'''drág

'''ság

'''lég

'''pég

'''égg

'''díg

'''jíg

'''píg

'''ríg

'''wíg

'''sáng

'''âgeing

cf. sing sínging - -j- singe síngeing

.*âking âcheing

mâking

snooker, drama cûeing = line queûeing

rûeing

brínging

cf. singe síngeing -j- - sing sínging

thíng

often mispronounced 'Beizhing': Bèijíng

AmE '''lâbeling

'''fîling

BrE '''lâbelling

'''fílling

'''dúmpling

'''êvening

'''mîning

'''exámining

sound '''bŏing

.*dûíng '''doing

'''gôing

tûí- '''toíng and frôíng

bell, round '''ríng

'''bríng

squeeze '''wríng

'''síng

cf. râcing - '''râising

'''tàrgeting

'''intërpreting

'''bétting

'''gétting

'''forgétting

'''accrûing

'''flôwing

'''lápwing

'''léft-wíng

'''rîght-wíng

'''lóng

'''sóng

'''dúng

'''lúng

'''súng

'''bóg

'''dóg

'''hóg

'''lóg

cf. Jôe Blóggs - '''blóg

'''Stríndbërg

'''îcebërg

.*Hŷdlebërg '''Heîdelbërg

'''Bŏrg

'''Mágdebürg

'''Lúxemböurg

.*Shãrebŏrg '''Chérbourg

.*Strázbërg '''Strásböurg

'''búg

'''dúg

'''thúg '''slúg

'''túg

H
silent after a vowel, combines to form consonant sounds with preceding consonant -'''h

can be several à’s: '''àh

mostly schwa -'''ah

cf. Marìa - '''Marîah

'''parîah

'''blàh

'''ayatóllah

Gôa rhymes with '''Nôah

'''hurràh

'''Ûtàh

'''êach

'''blêach

'''pêach

'''impêach

'''rêach

AmE *spínních; BrE *spínnídge '''spínach

sand bêach = tree '''bêech

'''besêech

.*ték: abbreviation of téchnical; also hî-téch - '''téch

'''whích

-k '''Zûrich

cf. same sound in Åldwých -'''wích

and S- town; AmE -ch; BrE -dge '''sándwich

.*Woòlidge '''Woòlwich

.*Brómmidge '''Brómwich

.*Grénnidge '''Gréenwich

.*Hárrídge '''Hárwich

.*Nórrídge, rhyming with pórridge - though some say -rích '''Nórwich

-wích '''Ípswich

-wích '''Drŏitwich

-wích '''Nántwich

'''squélch

Wales Wélsh = person Wélch

'''fílch

'''zílch

'''drénch

'''sténch

'''wénch

'''ínch

cf. sýnch - easy '''sínch

'''wínch

'''cónch

'''búnch

'''húnch

'''púnch

'''lýnch -ch

cf. easy sínch, ch sound; down, wash sínk = together '''sýnch

-dóck '''Mürdoch

'''smoôch

'''àrch

'''sëarch

'''làrch

-k '''pâtriàrch

BrE -ək '''mónarch

'''kítsch

'''pùtsch

'''bátch

'''cátch

'''hátch

'''nátch

'''ẁatch

'''étch

'''fétch

'''kétch

'''ítch

'''dítch

'''hítch

'''glítch

'''pítch

'''stítch

cf. Åldwých - what whích BrE = wizard '''wítch

'''twítch

'''bótch

'''hótchpotch

'''Dútch

'''múch

-k '''eûnuch

'''còuch

'''gròuch

'''toúch

'''vòuch

'''súch

cf. place names in -wích - '''Åldwých

-d Rìyadh

ð éth or édh


 * ây èh

mostly silent gh

no nây = horse nèigh

kill slây = ride slèigh

cf. convèy, purvèy - invèigh

how wây = heavy wèigh

greeting hî = up hîgh

cf. voiced th in thŷ: vowel sound identical - unvoiced th in thîgh

.person Nŷe = near '''nîgh

.*sîe sîgh

.*Éddinbrə Édinburgh

.*Frâzerbrə Frâserburgh .*Pítsbürg Píttsburgh

BrE *làf AmE *láf lāugh

-òw bòugh

-ô thôugh

-ôw fûrlôugh

.*slòu - England Slòugh = swamp slòugh

.*slúff skin sloúgh

.*rúff roúgh

-û - throw threŵ = preposition throûgh

AmE = búrrow ground - BrE *búrrə bòrough

.*Lúfbrə Loúghborough

.*Scàrbrə Scàrborough

.*Míddlzbrə Míddlesborough

BrE *thúrrə, AmE *thúrrôw thòrough

-óff trôugh

-úff toúgh

-úff enoúgh

letter Ô = exclamation ôh

-f -ph

Rálph

oòmph

trîumph

lýmph

nýmph

mŏrph

glýph

AmE -r, BrE silent -rrh

catàrrh

mÿrrh

ásh

básh

cásh

dásh

gásh

hásh

flásh

slásh

smásh

rásh

crásh

thrásh

stásh

qùash

ẁash

Bangladésh

mésh

frésh

thrésh

réddish

chîldish

'''bánish

'''Spánish

'''vánish

end fínish = Finland Fínnish

'''astónish

'''gàrnish

'''tàrnish

'''vàrnish

'''Cŏrnish

'''bürnish

'''fürnish

'''púnish

'''wísh

'''fíftyish

person '''Ẁalsh

-sh - person Wélch = Wales '''Wélsh

'''cósh

'''dósh

'''nósh

'''whoòsh

'''pósh

'''tósh

'''bùsh

lúsh

blúsh

flúsh

plúsh

pùsh

rúsh

thrúsh

mostly unvoiced -th

déath

hêath

bréath

wrêath

ôath

pāth

-drət + unvoiced th - húndredth

shibbóleth

voiced th - wíth

héalth

stéalth

wéalth

plínth

nînth

bôth

dòth

lôth

slôth

ëarth

dëarth

heàrth

bïrth

gïrth

héncefŏrth

Fïrth of Fŏrth

gô fŏrth

nŏrth

wörth

4th fŏurth

noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced mòuth

ou as schwa, th unvoiced -mouth

-məth Bŏurnemouth

-məth Pŏrtsmouth

-məth Plýmouth

síxth

voiced th - casual blîthe = persons Blŷthe = Blŷth

voiced th - persons Smŷthe = Smŷth

or AmE schwa = BrE er - úh

I
-î or -'''ì

'''Dubaî

h sounded '''Shanghaî

'''Ábu Dhàbì

'''rábbî

'''álibî

'''Sàùdì

likewise other plurals of -us - '''nûclêî

'''Hawàìì

'''Isrâeli

'''Disrâeli

.*sémmy '''sémi

eat pîe = number '''pî

girls’ names tend to end in -i or -ie, boys’ in -y - '''Térrì

.*paparatsy - '''paparázzi

J, K
-zh '''Ràj

-zh Mahal '''Tàj

-dj '''hàjj

-que = -'''k

vegetable lêek = liquid '''lêak

'''blêak

'''spêak

car brâke = pieces '''breâk

'''strêak

'''têak

money, wood stâke = meat '''steâk

days wêek = feeble '''wêak

'''flák

'''ánorák

'''háck

'''sáck

'''déck

'''líck

'''gímmick

'''hŏick

'''bríck

'''síck

'''tíck

'''Pàrtick

cf. Éric - '''Pátrick

'''Bûíck

'''quíck

'''wíck

.*Wórrick '''Ẁarwick

.*Bérrick '''Bérwick

w sounded in '''Lërwick

.*Kézzíck '''Késwick

.*Smédhík (voiced th sound) '''Sméthwick

cf. Bangkók - '''cóck

'''dóck

'''lóck

'''wédlock

'''flóck

'''wårlock

.*nóck '''knóck

'''sóck

'''dúck

'''lúck

liquid lêak = vegetable '''lêek

'''mêek

'''rêek

'''sêek

feeble wêak = days '''wêek trék

cf. sqwåwk - -åwk -'''ålk

or båulk - -åwk '''bålk

-åwk '''chålk

cf. talcum powder tálc, l sounded - -åwk speak '''tålk

-åwk bird stŏrk BrE = plant, follow '''stålk

-åwk '''wålk

'''whélk

.*fôk '''fôlk

-fək '''Nŏrfolk

-fək '''Súffolk

ox yôke = egg '''yôlk

'''bánk

'''sánk

'''tánk

'''thánk

'''dránk

person Fránk = honest '''fránk

'''thínk

'''rínk

'''drínk

'''shrínk

'''sínk

'''hónk

'''plónk

'''mònk

'''hónky-tónk

'''dúnk

'''fúnk

'''Bángkók

'''noòk

'''spoôk

'''roòk

'''broòk

'''wók

'''pàrk

'''jërk

'''bersërk

'''smïrk

'''shïrk

'''kïrk

'''quïrk

'''wörk

'''lürk

'''Türk

'''āsk

'''bāsk

'''flāsk

'''tāsk

'''désk

record dísc = computer '''dísk

'''whísk

óbelisk

rísk

ásterisk

dúsk

músk

túsk

åuk

squåwk

L
'''lógical

'''mýthical

'''puritánical

'''histórical

'''hystérical

'''thêátrical

'''mûsical

'''práctical

'''scéptical

'''mýstical

'''nåutical

'''quízzical

'''fôcal

'''lôcal

'''vôcal

interfere méddle = coin '''médal

sell péddle = bicycle '''pédal

rhyming with cándle, hándle - '''scándal

rhyming with above '''sándal

'''concêal

'''repêal

'''squêal

'''vêal

'''revêal

'''lêgal

'''illêgal

rêgal

Bengål

.*commërshal commërcial

denîal

mênial

.*pàrshal pàrtial

ânal

AmE bânal - BrE banàl

canál

phenómenal

diágonal

hexágonal

-shənəl -tional

nátional

rátional

nôtional

hôle rhymes with gôal

shôal

cf. main, headteacher prínciple - basic, credo príncipal

quadriláteral

âmóral

immóral

-zəl apprâisal

cf. véssel - hássle rhymes with vással

ántênâtal

pôstnâtal

quality méttle = iron métal

.*péttle pétal

AmE inståll - BrE instål

-zhəl cásual

-kchəl áctual

evéntual

stomach nâvel = ship nâval

cf. êvil - *medêvəl or medìêval


 * Mŷcle Mîchael

Ráphâél

a common mistake is to write *Isreal - Ísrâel

cf. âble, tâble, stâble - Âbel

cf. bábble - Bâbel

lâbel

Mâbel

noun rébel

verb rebél

excél

módel

yôdel

êel

fêel

pêel

fálafel

air ãerial = person Ãriel

Mûriel

cf. lôcal, vôcal - yokel

cf. përsonal - personnél

'''repél

'''compél

'''dispél

'''expél

'''appárel

'''cóckerel

'''bárrel

'''mínstrel

'''wâstrel

'''êasel

wêasel

words in -éstle rhyme with véssel


 * hô-tél hôtél

cf. módel - *mô-tél motél

cartél

-ûle rhymes with -ûel

two dûal = fight dûel

fûel

crûel

grûel

navy nâval = stomach nâvel

Ravél

unrável

trável

cf. drízzle - drível

swível

shòvel

nóvel

bòwel

tròwel

vòwel

píxel

TÉFL

fâil

avâil

prevâil

vèil

AmE fulfíll, BrE fulfíl

níl

fŏil

êvil

dévil

Brazíl

åll

båll

cåll

fåll

tåll

wåll

béll

déll

féll

héll

nútshell

péll-méll

séll

téll

quéll

wéll

fíll

píll

tíll

dóll

cf. parrot póll, elect pôll

part rôle = along rôll

drôll

strôll

tôll

bùll

cúll

dúll

but the suffix is -fùl - fùll

city Húll = boat húll

lúll

island Múll = over múll

and void núll

anúll

pùll

hê’ll

shê’ll

wê’ll

Î’ll

ít’ll

yoû’ll or yoù’ll or yŏu’ll

thèy’ll

prôtocol

álcohol

coôl

foôl

.*skoôl schoôl

poôl

spoôl

toôl

woòl

AmE enróll - BrE enrôl

patrôl

pétrol

cf. rôll - contrôl

párasól

-təl pístol

'''gïrl

'''whïrl

'''twïrl

'''whŏrl

'''fürl

hôpeful

cãreful

beaûtiful

dûtiful

noun spoônful

wònderful

àrtful

Gåul

måul

Påul

Såul

cáterwåul

cf. word fùll suffix -fùl

hôpeful

stréssful

jŏyful

bird fòwl = bad fòul

ghoûl

only sôle = Korea Seôul = spirit sôul

åwl

båwl

cråwl

all meanings bôwl

bird fòwl

hòwl

y as schwa - Síbyl

y as schwa - Béryl

M
'''glêam

'''rêam

'''drêam

appear sêem = thread, coal '''sêam

'''stêam

'''scrêam

'''drêam

'''strêam

'''hám

AmE; BrE h silent, a as schwa, -əm -'''hám

h silent, g not sounded separately '''Búckingham

h silent, g not sounded separately '''Bïrmingham

-nəm '''Twíckenham

-nəm '''Chéltenham

.*Tótnəm '''Tóttenham

.*Méppəm '''Méopham

-səm '''Tópsham

-təm '''Stréatham

-təm '''Chátham

-təm '''Éltham

-təm '''Wåltham

unvoiced th sound '''Bôtham

unvoiced th sound '''Gótham

.*Rûtəm '''Wrotham

'''Wést Hám

'''môdém

'''dêem

group têam = pour '''têem

'''hém

'''ahém

'''Béthlehém

sounding like -um '''thêorem

'''stém

-ám '''dîaphragm

.*flém phlégm

-îm páradigm

rhýthm

âim

mâim

dím

dénim rhymes with Blénheim

whím

Kím

skím

dénim

mínim

BrE and AmE -àm bàlm

BrE and AmE -àm càlm

BrE and AmE -àm quàlm

tálcum rhymes with *Málcum Málcolm

dwell hôme = oak, islet hôlm

frêedom

bŏredom

kíngdom

slàlom

Tóm

árm

fàrm

hàrm

cf. wörm, wårn - wårm

pák- páchydërm

j- gërm

spërm

tërm

fïrm

fŏrm

nŏrm

cf. heat wårm - animal wörm

ŏrgasm

kázəm chásm

-zəm spásm

-ízəm; never stressed -ísm

âthêísm

Bùddhism

existéntialism

shôv- chauvinism

térrorism

mîcrocosm

tálcum

memorándum

referéndum

glúm

húm

válium

thállium

gerânium

aquãrium

delírium

drúm

húmdrúm

conúndrum

gymnâsium

fŏrum

vácûum

gỳm

name -ným

syû- pseûdonym

hómonym

sýnonym

ántonym

Î’m

N
'''bán

'''ürban

'''türban

'''cán

Gŏrdon rhymes with '''Jŏrdan

-tion '''crustâcean

lôtion rhymes with '''ôcean

'''dêan

'''clêan

'''mêan

-ìən '''epicûrêan

'''fán

'''Ìan

-íshən -'''ícian

'''technícian

'''patrícian

.*Óstrâlìən in rapid speech rhymes with míllion etc., -lyən - '''Austrâlian

-íshən abstract -ítion  = person -'''ícian

'''logícian

'''patrícian

'''politícian

'''mathematícian

'''reptílian

'''civílian

'''Brazílian

'''Gíllian

'''nonagenãrian

'''quinquagenãrian

'''septuagenãrian

'''sexagenãrian

'''octogenãrian

'''lîbrãrian

'''sectãrian

'''vegetãrian

'''libertãrian

no words end in *-erian

'''histŏrian

from -sia + n, = -sion, mostly -zh- -'''sian

-zh- '''Âsian

-zh- '''Caucâsian

-zh- '''Frêsian

AmE -izh-, BrE -ízì- '''Parísian

-shən = -tion -tian

'''Dalmâtian

nâtion rhymes with '''Crôâtian

'''Alsâtian

'''Títian

-bîzh- '''Azerbaijàn

'''mán

.*Îləv-Mán '''Îsle of Mán

mostly -mən -'''man

'''pâcemán

'''polìceman

'''hénchman

'''Omàn

'''Sûpermán

'''gásmán

'''ómbùdsman

'''Cóngressman

bátman

Bátmán

táxmán

Nŷman

-ən Kôfi Ànnan

môan

alone lône = lend '''lôan

'''grôan

god Pán = food '''pán

'''tán

'''Tîtan

'''Spàrtan

'''tàrtan

can be stressed in any word depending on speaker -'''stān

usually second syllable stressed '''Uzbékistan

'''Tajíkistan

'''Afghánistan

'''Manháttan

ván

ẁan

Tŷ- Taiwàn

= ón French en

letter én

dén

wîden

cf. Lòndon, both -dən - Cámden

sêen

splêen

shêen

grêen

fén

hén

dh- thén

léngthen

stréngthen

âlien

tâken

wêaken

brôken

tôken

wôken

dàrken

heàrken

póllen

swôllen

mén

-mən in most words -men

Yémen

spŏrtsmen

spécimen

chíldren

bréthren

wörsen

léssen

delicatéssen

bêaten

.*sóffən sóften

.*fāssən fāsten

.*hâyssən hâsten

.*líssən lísten

.*glíssən glísten

bird bíttern ≈ bite bítten

íll-gótten

héaven

hâven

êven

eléven

séven

òven

còven

or prû- prôven

wôven

Ôwen

óxen

yén

Zén

-n -gn

campâign

vèin rhymes with dèign

would fâin = pretend fèign

wet râin = monarch rèign

.*sóvrin sóvereign

-lîne malîgn

-nîne benîgn

signal = sîne maths - sîgn

-zîne desîgn

-zîne resîgn

-sîne énsîgn

-pyûne impûgn

pub ínn = out ín

Câin

disdâin

gâin

.*əgén; some regularise to agâin - again

slâin

explâin

mâin

cf. germâne relevant = Germâine person - remâin

brâin

Bahrâin

trâin

retâin

Bríton person = country Brítain

-tín cáptain

dín

skèin

Elmer Bërnstêin

Leonard Bërnsteîn

thín

detërmine rhymes with vërmin

pín

sín

bâsin

tín

-m -mn

condemn dám = water  dámn

condémn

sólemn

cólumn

åutumn

man hím = church hýmn

out ín = pub ínn

ón

mostly schwa, as are Cámden, Màrsden, Hámpden = Hámpton -on

càrbon

university, clothing dón

Héndon

Lòndon

cŏrdon

cf. gàrden – Gŏrdon

curmúdgeon

pígeon

-njən dúngeon

-jən sürgeon

-jən stürgeon

-nchən trúncheon

bandôneon

Lêón

.*kəmêlêən; AmE -mê-; in fast speech -lyən, like míllion, Austrâlian - chamaêlêon

Napôleon

nêón

péntagon

bándwagon

àrgón

pólygón AmE; BrE *pólygən

'''îón

-yən -'''ion

most words spelt thus in Spanish are -tion in English -'''cion

-sh- '''suspícion

'''Asunción

-sh- '''côërcion

rêgion

lêgion

relígion

fáshion

cf. percússion, also -sh- - cùshion

vermílion

gálleon rhymes with '''stállion

'''bíllion

'''míllion

'''tríllion

'''búllion

ònion

ûnion

Orîon

centûrion

-zhən after vowels; -shən after consonants, including another s and, in BrE, r -sion

lêsion

vísion

télevision

revísion

scánsion

expánsion

-éntion -énshən = -énsion

comprehénsion

pénsion

suspénsion

ténsion

preténsion

exténsion

avërsion

dîvërsion

convërsion

excürsion

dîgréssion

séssion

míssion

í- emíssion

ə- omíssion

-sh- percússion

'''fûsion

'''delûsion

'''illûsion

'''intrûsion

mostly -shən –'''tion

'''inundâtion

'''foundâtion

'''creâtion

'''installátion

'''constellátion

'''nâtion

'''rátion

vî- '''vibrâtion

mî- migrâtion

-kshən -ction

áction

afféction

conféction

BrE can be -éxion - refléction

colléction

BrE can be -éxion - connéction

eréction

diréction

contradíction

.*sángktchən sánction

.*úngktchən únction

.*fúngktchən fúnction

.*júngktchən júnction

.*cəmpúngkshən compúnction

complêtion

discrétion

definítion

preposítion

proposítion

opposítion

competítion

frûítion

= -énsion, -énshən -éntion

méntion

deténtion

inténtion

atténtion

prevéntion

absŏrption

erúption

abŏrtion

contŏrtion

contribûtion

distribûtion

pollûtion

solûtion

éxion is, except for compléxion, BrE only: other words end in -éction - éxion

so AmE, BrE refléction = BrE only refléxion

cf. conféction - *compléction compléxion

cf. convíction - crucifíxion

nŷlón

dêmon

lémon

Sólomon

Lébanon

cánnon

Shánnon

moôn

buffoôn

balloôn

lampoôn

harpoôn

cf. càrton - càrtoôn

upón

person  Bárron = lord báron

person Sháron

person AmE Sharôn, BtE Sharón

sáffron

eléctrón

neûtrón

sh- chévrón

boy sòn

bîson

Áshton

Élton

Lýttelton

prôtón

càrton

Nŏrton

east êastern BrE = person Êaston

west wéstern BrE = person Wéston

cf. Féatherstone, etc. Ålston

Màrston

Rŏyston

bútton

mútton

Sútton

wòn

cf. Jáckson, Híckson, etc. Díxon

Níxon

Ríxon

bàrn

'''dàrn

'''ëarn

'''lëarn

cf. wårm, wörm: wear wŏrn = person Wårne = warning '''wårn

'''yàrn

direction türn = bird '''tërn

'''lántern

'''stërn

'''astërn

persons Pátten = Pátton = BrE arrange '''páttern

bŏrn

cŏrn

cf. wriggly wörm - warning wårn = wear wŏrn ürn

bürn

chürn

round türn

fún

gún

nòun

shine sún

Whítsun

dåwn

påwn

spåwn

pråwn

heŵn

'''gòwn

'''blôwn

'''môwn

'''renòwn

.*nôan '''knôwn

'''bròwn

'''cròwn

'''grôwn

'''tòwn

O
mostly ô; never -ó -'''o

'''placêbô

usually *ənkô - & cô, '''and cô

'''stúccô

'''flaméncô

-û '''do

'''vídêo

'''Montevidèo

'''Lêo

Clìo = '''Clêo

'''Galilèo

'''gô

lumbâgo

dóggô

vërtigo

Djángo

lôgô

Tôgo

mácho

.*sŷko psŷcho

.*Tŷko Tŷcho

-shô braggadôcio

portfôlio

pôlio

-ss- impresàrio

-shô '''râtio

-shô '''Horâtio

'''nô

'''taboô

'''gôo

'''ígloô

'''Wåterloô

'''shampoô

'''kangaroô

'''woô

.*Búrə - it means Míddlesbrough, which doesn’t have the ò - ends in schwa - '''Bòro

'''prô

cf. bûreau - pólitburo

sô

Plâto

AmE tomâto - tomàto

potâto

f- phôto

Plûto

at to = also, many toô = 2 tŵo

émbrỳo

P
cáp

gáp

snáp

táp

stép

híp

friéndship

kíngship

crāftsmanship

shôwmanship

wörship

kíp

skíp

líp

clíp

flíp

slíp

whíp

gríp

tríp

stríp

whélp

kélp

cámp

dámp

lámp

rámp

crámp

trámp

hémp

ímp

skímp

límp

pímp

wímp

búmp

dúmp

thúmp

júmp

lúmp

slúmp

frúmp

trúmp

devélop

cf. noun énvelôpe - verb envélop

flóp

póp

sóp

désktóp

láptóp

hoôp

droôp

troôp

loôp

sloôp

stoôp

càrp

hàrp

wårp

bürp

slürp

cúsp

úp

cùp

bird coô = overthrow coûp

.*rêcoôp recoûp

.*groôp groûp

gåwp

Q, R
'''Iràq

where unstressed, schwa -'''ar

'''bazàar

'''bàr

'''càr

'''râdàr

'''cálendar

'''êar

cf. drink bêer - animal, tolerate '''béãr

cf. risk dãre - animal dêer = beloved, expensive '''dêar

'''fêar

'''gêar

there hêre = ear '''hêar

look lêer = person '''Lêar

'''clêar

'''unclêar

.*nûclêə(r) '''nûclear

'''smêar

yêar or '''yëar

cf. búgger - '''béggar

though contemporaries pronounced it ending in schwa - '''Élgàr

sh- '''sùgar

buŷer, flŷer and trîer rhyme with '''lîar

'''brîar

'''jàr

'''símilar

'''píllar

'''cáterpillar

'''cóllar

hóller rhymes with '''dóllar

sk- '''schólar

'''môlar

'''múscular

'''régular

'''júgular

'''grámmar

-z- '''quâsàr

'''púlsàr

'''Qátàr

'''néctar

'''scímitàr

'''sítàr

change ålter = church '''åltar

'''mŏrtar

'''stàr

schwa:  AmE  uh  = BrE '''er

mostly schwa; stressed -ër in some words; some AmE -er words are -re in BrE. -'''er

'''câber

silent b: *clîmer '''clîmber

'''tímber

'''encúmber

'''cûcumber

'''lúmber

silent b: *plúmmer '''plúmber

'''cáncer

'''dāncer

'''cîder

'''glîder

'''spîder

person Rŷder = ride, logic '''rîder

'''insîder

bold bôlder = rock '''bôulder

'''shôulder

propagánda rhymes with BrE '''gánder

Lê- '''Leánder

mê- '''meánder

cf. sqùalor - '''sqùander

'''ẁander

'''wònder

'''yónder

'''enginêer

'''pîonêer

iléc- '''electionêer

cf. wither sêar, one diphthong, one syllable - *sêeər, two syllables see '''sêer

voluntêer

defër

confër

refër

prefër

óffer

próffer

cónifer

pílfer

hard g - làger

-j- mánager

cf. béggar - dágger

bígger

lógger

'''blógger

.*Nizhãir '''Nigér

hard g - '''tîger

hard g pronounced separately: áng-ger '''ánger

.*dânjer '''dânger

g not pronounced separately from -ng-; aeroplane hángar = coat '''hánger

.*mânjer '''mânger

.*strânjer '''strânger

.*jínjer '''gínger

hard g sounded separately: líng-ger '''línger

no g sound '''sínger

no g sound '''wínger

hard g sounded separately *mòng-ger -'''mònger

'''físhmònger

'''warmonger

hard g sounded separately: *stróng-ger - '''strónger

'''àrcher

'''màrcher

'''cátcher

'''decîpher

'''gôpher

or cîpher - '''cŷpher

usually voiced th and schwa -'''ther

'''bâther

'''féather

'''héather

'''léather

climate '''wéather

BrE far fàrther = AmE as well as BrE dad '''fàther

cf. AmE fàther - AmE láther - '''lāther

'''bláther

cf. AmE fàther - AmE ráther - '''rāther

unvoiced th - '''êther

'''togéther

if '''whéther

'''téther

for most speakers where whíther = decay '''wíther

'''òther

'''bóther

'''smòther

'''mòther

one word '''anòther

'''bròther

'''fàrther

'''fürther

'''idéntifîer

'''supplîer

'''ëarlier

person Crŷer = cry, town '''crîer

'''pìêr

silent French r - '''dóssièr

cry têar = level '''tìêr

'''jôker

'''hoòker

'''snoôker

'''pôker

'''bàrker

'''wörker

'''hándler

'''tóddler

'''jâiler

'''tåller

dóllar rhymes with '''hóller

'''rôller

'''stámmer

baseball hômer = person '''Hômer

'''wårmer

'''fŏrmer

'''góner

'''lôner

'''kêeper

'''léper

.*loôzer '''loser

'''câter

'''lâter

'''wåter

cf. áctor - k- '''cháracter

'''detër

cf. BrE mêtre AmE mêter distance, rhythm - parámeter

perímeter

thermómeter

Pêter

trúmpeter

.*dåwter dåughter

āfter rhymes with lāughter

.*slåwter slåughter

wâiter

church åltar = change ålter

fålter

Wålter

'''shélter

'''helter-skélter

'''wélter

'''promôter

'''hélicopter

'''stàrter

'''disāster

'''Chéster

'''Mánchester

'''Dŏrchester

or -or: '''protéster

'''gángster

'''yoúngster

'''blíster

'''síster

'''hípster

'''bátter

'''fátter

'''hátter

'''mátter

'''pátter

'''bétter

'''bítter

'''lítter

'''hótter

'''tótter

'''bútter

stútter

commûter

compûter

.*lácker lácquer

avër

hâver

brâver

'''quâver

'''fêver

'''whichéver

AmE léver - BrE '''lêver

'''cléver

'''whenéver

.*hû-éver '''whoéver

'''wheréver

.*wót-éver '''whatéver

'''hòwéver

'''fîver

líver

ríver

arrow, shake quíver

ôver

còver

Dôver

hóver

lòver

plòver

art dråw ≈ chest dråwer

bòwer

flòwer

glòwer

tòwer

cf. lãir - *lãyə lâyer

.*plâyə(r) plâyer

.*prãir prãyer

.*fŏyây fŏyèr

låwyer rhymes with emplŏyer

buŷer

.*lŏyer låwyer

thére *thãir rhymes with ãir

hãir

despãir

fïr

-vwàr réservoir

tâpìr

stïr

bestïr

mostly schwa, as also -er, -our -or

ráncor

córridŏr

cóndŏr

fŏr

abhŏr

ultêrior

antêrior

postêrior

ánchor

cf. sqùander - sqùalor

person Tâylor = clothes tâilor pállor

chāncellor

trémor

gòvernor

dŏor

pŏor

térror

hórror

spónsor

téar tŏre = crag tŏr

álligâtor

flagellâtor

órator

colláborator

narrâtor

spectâtor

áctor

léctor

Selécter band = seléctor

colléctor

protéctor

véctor

dóctor

proprîetor

trâitor

méntŏr

protéster is much more common than protéstor

invéstor

resístor

transístor

impóstor

whïrr

Cŏrr

fürr

pürr

occür

incür

concür

.*gránjə grándeur

frottëur

longuëur

voyëur

für

AmE Darfùr BrE Darfůr

AmE súlfur BrE súlphur

demür

fêmur

lêmur

mürmur

when unstressed, schwa; -or in AmE -our

we òur = time hòur

doûr

AmE -or - hàrbour

scòur

preposition fŏr = 4 fŏur

cf. petal flòwer - dough flòur

BrE *cúlə; AmE -or - còlour

BrE *glámə; AmE -or - glámour

BrE *hûmə; AmE -or - hûmour

BrE *ónə; AmE -or - hónour

sòur

téar tŏre = hill tŏr = travel for some speakers toûr

nón séquitur

-ə -yr

zéphyr

màrtyr

S
.*áz ás

.*wéəráz whereás

.*ház hás

.*Cánzus Kánsas

-såw Årkansås

.*wóz ẁas

AmE *ërbs hërbs

thêátrics

-x athlétics

-x gymnástics

-x logístics

Nétherlands

-dz forwards

words from Greek, etc: -êz -ês

Ándês

antípodês

côdes

édges

lódges

Hódges

hew heŵs = person Hûghes

lúllabîes

râbíes

.*síəríz sêríes

BrE *wúrríz, AmE *würríz or *würrìz wòrríes

Lós = lóss lose; -íz Lós Ángeles

distance mîles = person Mîles

cf. shékels - sháckles

-z Hërculês

-nz Bàrnes

Jóhn Mâynard Kèynes

Mílton Kêynes

.*dúzz dòes

.*gôze gôes

hêroes

.*tôze tôes

-tôze potâtoes

plural of -sís in Greek-derived words (see English irregular nouns) -sês

parénthesês

cf. prîces *prîsíz - *crŷsêez crîsês

.*loôziz loses

glāsses

-zíz hòuses

-ssíz spòuses

Sócratês

hêaves

leave, leaf lêaves

have-nots háves

shâves

wâves

thief thìêves

Îves

gíves

-k- àrchîves

plural noun lîves

singular verb líves

knife knîves

arrîves

môtíves

wife wîves

calf càlves

valve válves

elf élves

delve délves

shelf shélves

self sélves

one word, as with following: *òursélvz oursélves


 * yŏrsélvz yoursélves


 * dhəmsélvz themsélves


 * wùlvz wolves

cf. dòves - drôves

hoof hoôves

scarf scàrves


 * yéss yés

hoôves rhymes with roôfs

-gz dógs

parîahs

big sîze = sigh sîghs

-āffs lāughs

-óffs cóughs

.*íz ís

.*híz '''hís

plurals, no apostrophes, -íz '''Bangladéshis

-íz '''Bengålis

-íz '''Nepålis

-íz '''Isrâelis

-iz semifinals '''sémis

-əss '''pênis

-íz '''Sùnnis

-nŏy '''Íllinois

-íss '''Páris

Hórace and Mórris = BrE Maurice rhyme with Bóris and '''Dóris

'''Hárris

térrace rhymes with Férris

rhyming with Hórace, BrE Maurice = Mórris

Nórris

thêsis

Greek-derived words in -sís, *síss, have -sês, *sêez, for their plurals (see Irregular Plurals) sýnthesis

némesis

-íss Dâvis

-íss Mâvis

-íss Trávis

Élvis

pélvis

-íss áxis

léxis


 * nóx knócks

loòks

spoôks

-z sélls

-z húms

words from Greek: -óss -ós


 * kâyós châos

insect lòuse = nation Làos -dôz tornâdos

-pss hélps

schnápps

heart cŏre = army cŏrps

-z stàrs

lîars, trîers and buŷers rhyme with plîers

bôres, BrE påuse, and påws rhyme with dŏors

mostly -íss -ess

.*áxéss áccess

góddéss

cãreless

ûseless

hápless

hélpless

t can be silent lístless

t can be silent réstless

méss

goòdness

lîonéss

cléanliness

clúmsiness

nāstiness

no words end: *-yness

dréss

áctress

stréss

headmístress

cf. áccess *áxéss - asséss

silent u - guéss

kíss

prémíse rhymes with míss

lóss

grôss

cúss

-tss cáts

Kêats

Yâtes = Yeâts

-tss séts

it is ít’s = of it íts

-tss síts

-tss bútts

-tss cúts

mostly -əss -us

-ss bús

ábacus

fôcus

-oôz Híndûs

-kəss Bácchus

Sibèlius

Dêlius

Jûlius

j-; cf. adjective ingênious - noun gênius

ignorâmus

j- gênus

ménûs

for adjectives = -us mostly for nouns: -əss –ous

cåucus rhymes with råucous

-dəss - only found in the following five words -dous

treméndous

stûpendous

horréndous

jép- jéopardous

házardous

-jəss outrâgeous

-jəss gŏrgeous

simultâneous

'''pugnâcious

-êsh- spêcious

-ésh- précious

-ísh- vícious

uncónscious

relígious rhymes with sacrilegious

cf. noun gênius - adjective ingênious

pîous

censŏrious

kyù- cùrious

-ísh- fictítious

óbvious

prêvious

.*ánkshus ánxious

jéalous

zéalous

màrvellous

ridículous

fâmous

ínfamous

ánimus cf. ûnánimous

cf. vërtigo, hard g - g as j in vertíginous

glûtinous

glúttonous

scábrous

wòndrous

slānderous

'''thúnderous

mürderous

nûmerous

from -our - -orous

vígorous

glámorous

hûmorous

díz- disàstrous

mónstrous

vácuous

fátuous

nërvous

.*Bélla-Roôse Belarûs

cf. prósperous - phósphorus

rhêsus

cénsus

consénsus

sánctus

ríctus

-z jåws

irregular: *séz says

regular: *stâze stâys

-âze sîdeways

never used to form plurals: either a singular possessive or an abbreviation of ís - ‘s

w-, plural ònes = possessive òne’s

or *híz hê’s

or *shíz shê’s

chíldren’s

of it íts = it is ít’s

T
'''át

'''cát

'''bêat

'''hêat

'''chêat

'''plêat

'''nêat

'''fát

voiced th - '''thát

'''slát

ash grâte = big '''greât

'''swéat

'''bôat

'''côat

'''flôat

'''glôat

'''môat

'''Crôát

'''thrôat

.*dét '''débt

.*dòut '''dòubt

touch '''afféct

emotion '''áffect

result í- '''efféct

adjective '''përfect

verb '''perféct

thing '''óbject

disagree '''objéct

matter '''súbject

cruel '''subjéct

verb '''rejéct

noun '''rêjéct

'''colléct

'''connéct

'''áspect

'''respéct

.*éxtradîte '''éxtradîct

person '''áddict

verb '''addíct

'''êdict

.*indîte '''indîct

'''vërdict

person '''cónvict

verb '''convíct

mostly -ít (-ət in Australasian English), but some have French -ây -'''et

BrE Hërbert rhymes with '''shërbet

t sounded hit '''búffet

.*bùffây food '''bùffèt

.*crôshây '''crôchet

'''rátchet

'''crótchet

'''thícket

'''pícket

'''crícket

'''wícket

'''màrket

-lây '''chálèt

cf. -létte - *boòklít; these words are -lət in Australasian English - '''boòklet

'''píglet

.*bállây '''bállèt

'''mállet

'''ẁallet

'''bíllet

'''tríplet

BrE, u as schwa - '''qùadruplet, quíntuplet, séxtuplet, séptuplet, óctuplet

AmE - '''qùadrûplet, quíntûplet, séxtûplet, séptûplet, óctûplet

'''stàrlet

'''Jánet

'''plánet

'''gánnet

'''cŏrnet

'''límpet

-rây '''bérèt

å - '''quartét

'''bánquet

-kây '''crôquèt

-kây '''sóbriquèt

BrE *pàhkây, AmE *parkây '''pàrquèt

.*boô-kây '''bouquèt

'''déft

'''héft

'''léft

'''beréft

míffed rhymes with '''ríft

'''dríft

'''shríft

'''lóft

.*yót '''yacht

mostly silent gh -'''ght

'''èight

'''heîght

'''frèight

wèight

fîght

lîght

delîght

plîght

cf. sleîght-of-hánd little slîght

nîght

rîght

frîght

tîght

correct, left rîght = maker -wrîght

.*plâywrîte plâywrîght

cópyrîght

any = ŏught should åught

cåught

drāft = drāught

fråught

any åught = should ŏught

bŏught

fŏught

nŏught

brŏught

dròught

wrŏught

ít

-ate rhymes with -âit

breath bâte = catch bâit

gâit

wâit

awâit

bít

inhábit

prohíbit

déficit

còunterfeít

fŏrfeít

sürfeít

Fáhrenheît

befít

fít

hít

kít

lít

admít

commít

ômít

vómit

sít

-kít cïrcuit

-skít bíscuit

cóndûít

quít

-roôt recrûit

.*froòt frûit

cf. soòt - *sût or *syût sûit

Jésûít

-syoôt pursûit

quít

wít

dímwit

outwít

côbålt

hålt

målt

bélt

K- Célt

n- knélt

félt

jílt

kílt

sílt

tílt

.*bílt buílt

wílt

fåult

cúlt

only word ending in -mt (cf. prómpt) - dréamt

'''ánt

AmE cannot cán’t = philosopher Kánt = words '''cánt

'''signíficant

'''descéndant

'''deféndant

adjective depéndent = person '''depéndant

BrE *pànshàn, AmE '''pénchant

'''trénchant

'''clâimant

'''dŏrmant

'''còvenant

cf. próminent - '''dóminant

'''rámpant

'''árrant

'''érrant

now cúrrent = eat cúrrant

pléasant

incéssant

blâtant

hésitant

contéstant

resístant

rélevant

sërvant

ẁant

send sént = money cént

.*áxent áccent

dêcent

rêcent

magníficent

ascént

dént

précedent

anticêdent

áxi- áccident

óxi- óccident

résident

président

person depéndant = adjective depéndent

'''indepéndent

j- man (abbreviation of géntleman) '''gént

'''stríngent

'''púngent

hard G- Belgium '''Ghént

'''obêdient

Christian Lént = lend '''lént

'''éxcellent

'''repéllent

'''fråudulent

cf. mean méant - suffix -'''ment

'''engâgement

'''mánagement

séttlement

-tíssm- advërtisement

âilment

gòvernment

pâyment

përmanent

cf. dóminant - próminent

përtinent

oppônent

pãrent

appárent

transpárent

dífferent

inhérent

cohêrent

réverent

irréverent

eat cúrrant = now cúrrent

money cént = send sént

tént

cómpetent

inadvërtent

consístent

persístent

nón-exístent

vént

fërvent

línt

flínt

glínt

mínt

pînt

frònt

dåunt

gåunt

håunt

verb discòunt

noun díscount

vîc- vîscount

blúnt

rúnt

stúnt

gót

.*éscàr-gô escargôt

Màrgo = Màrgôt

hót

lót

no nót = tie knót

boôt

hoôt

foòt

loôt

roôt

soòt

pót

rót

árrow rhymes with tárôt

gold cárat = eat cárrot

párrot

tót

ápt

léapt

accépt

excépt

képt

slépt

wépt

unkémpt

exémpt

noun éxcërpt

íx- verb excërpt

àrt

pàrt

depàrt

impàrt

wårt

dïrt

flïrt

fŏrt

shŏrt

repŏrt

noun ímport

verb impŏrt

sŏrt

verb consŏrt

cf. cóncert - noun cónsŏrt

cürt

hürt

êast

bêast

fêast

lêast

bréast

yêast

fāst

lāst

māst

vāst

stréssed rhymes with stressed -est

bést

íncést

.*hŷíst hîghest

.*drŷíst drîest

priêst

jést

lést

nést

vést

wést

lôwest

ángst

râcist

.*fáshist fáscist

líst

sôshə- sôcialist

týpist

gríst

K- Chrîst

-k- Gílchríst

insíst

consíst

persíst

exíst

whîlst

cóst

dusty dúst = archaic do dòst

hôst

ghôst

lóst

fŏremôst

úppermôst

òutermôst

pôst

fïrst

thïrst

wörst

cürsed rhymes with bürst

hürst

búst

lôcust

lúst

trúst

cýst

ánalýst

cátalýst

more common in family names like Péttitt and Sénnett (= sénate house) than in ordinary words: -tt

ẁatt

head bútt

Àrgonaut

cóz- cósmonaut

ástronaut

júggernaut

however bút

cút

jút

glút

slút

nút

òut

gòut

clòut

pòut

tòut

.*impùt ínput

rút

neŵt

nòwt

séxed rhymes with néxt

téxt

cān’t

shān’t

hádn’t

nêedn’t

dídn’t

.*cùdənt coùldn’t

.*shùdənt shoùldn’t

.*wùdənt woùldn’t

àren’t

dãren’t

wëren’t

háven’t

âin’t

dôn’t

habit wônt = will wôn’t

.*házzənt hásn’t

.*wózzənt ẁasn’t

.*dúzzənt dòesn’t

.*ízzənt ísn’t

.*åwtənt ŏughtn’t

.*mússənt mústn’t

.*mîtənt mìghtn’t

U, V, W
.*táblô '''tábleau

.*byoôrô '''bûreau

.*troôssô '''troûsseau

.*pláttô '''pláteau

silent u in Guinea; -ssòw Guínea Bíssàù

illness '''flû

.*êemyoô '''êmû

'''cáriboû

'''gùrû

-óff '''Gorbachev

-nyéff '''Brézhnev

along with many other such Slavonic names, -ov as -óff (such words were once spelt -off) '''Chékhov

'''guffåw

'''jåw

'''låw

'''clåw

animal '''påw

'''dråw

see, wood '''såw

little feŵ = relief '''pheŵ

'''Jeŵ

'''neŵ

therefore sô = needle '''sew

'''dreŵ

me yoû = sheep  eŵe = tree  '''yeŵ

Street Bôw = ribbon '''bôw

incline '''bòw

'''còw

(some say -òw) '''Móscôw

'''Dòw

'''wíndôw

'''hòw

'''lôw

'''belôw

'''flôw

'''allòw

-'''llôw

'''fállow

'''ẁallow

'''sẁallow

'''béllow

'''féllow

'''méllow

'''yéllow

'''bíllow

'''píllow

'''fóllow

'''hóllow

'''môw

'''nòw

negative nô = knowledge '''knôw

line '''rôw

argue '''ròw

'''grôw

'''thrôw

'''pròw

'''árrôw

'''bárrôw

'''fárrôw

'''hárrôw

'''nárrôw

'''spárrôw

needle sew = seeds '''sôw

pig '''sòw

foot tôe = pull '''tôw

'''stôw

'''bestôw

'''vòw

X
data fácts = machine '''fáx

hasn’t lácks = careless '''láx

'''côax

'''hôax

'''wáx

dúst flécks = cord '''fléx

'''rêflex

'''cïrcumflex

'''véx

'''fíx

'''míx

'''síx

high jínks = curse '''jínx

'''mínx

'''quíncunx

'''lýnx

'''phárynx

'''óx

'''bóx

cóx

páradox

ŏrthodox

flúmmox

plural -lôz tábleaux

plural -rôz bûreaux

flúx

crúx

Y
after a consonant, mostly ỳ -'''y

as a suffix, may be pronounced -dỳ in days of the week such as Mònday - '''dây

'''bïrthday

'''hóliday

'''Frîday

'''wêekday

'''wörkday

'''Mònday

'''Súnday

'''todây

'''yésterday

'''Sáturday

doom doômsday = book '''Domesday

'''Wédnesday

'''Tûesday

'''Thürsday

'''Mâyday

'''hèyday

elf fèy = person '''Fây

'''gây

'''hây

'''clây

'''delây

'''plây

'''displây

verb mây = month '''Mây

'''sây

.*Línzy '''Líndsay

'''daresây

'''hêarsay

'''stây

cf. place names in -aî - *Páragwŷe Páraguaŷ

.*Yûrəgwŷe Ûruguaŷ

weight wèigh = how wây

awày

verb is two words breâkaway

verb is two words rúnaway

verb is two words gétaway

Gålway

cricket, farewell bŷe = 2 bî- = preposition bŷ

bâby

cábbie and words in -ábby rhyme with Gáby

lúllabŷ

abbot ábbey = persons Àbbey = Ábby

shábby

flábby

tábby

lóbby

lâybŷ

sêe sight = -sỳ = -cỳ

Mâcy

râcy

cf. hypócrisy - thêócracy

cf. hypócrisy - demócracy

.*byurócracy bureaucracy

áccuracy

-cỳ noun cf. próphesŷ verb - próphecy

nŏrmalcy

fáncy

chāncy

nécrománcy

person Náncy

France Nàncy

discrépancy

téndency

cúrrency

constítuency

shâdy

lâdy

trágedy

cómedy

përfidy

súbsidy

persons Àbbey = Ábby = abbot '''ábbey

'''obèy

person Fây = whimsy '''fèy

Hárringây = Háringèy

'''thèy

'''whèy

'''kêy

cf. lúcky - '''láckêy

'''hóckey

'''dónkêy

'''mònkêy

'''lèy

állêy

válley

trólley

fólly rhymes with vólley

jóckêy

dónkêy

mònkêy

nest, cart = drây cart drèy

Jéffrêy

ósprêy or ósprèy

cf. invèigh - convèy

purvèy

Hàrvêy

-zy Jërsêy

íffy

jíffy

stúffy

símplifŷ

mágnifŷ

vérifŷ

goôfy

dódgy

pódgy

-jy strátegy

fóggy

-njỳ -ngy

-jy mângy

-jy díngy

-ləjỳ -logy

jêó- geólogy

sôsh- sociólogy

-jy astrólogỳ

-jy énergy

-jy sýnergy

-jy '''líturgy

.*díng-y '''dínghy

.*dôwy '''dôughy

jó- '''geógraphy

cf. catástrophê, apóstrophê - '''trôphy

'''átrophy

voiced th, cf. thîgh, unvoiced, same vowel sound '''thŷ

telépathy

sýmpathy

lêaky

tácky

cf. jóckey - '''lúcky

'''plúcky

'''pôky

'''âbly

próbably

regréttably

nó- knóbbly

fêebly

vísibly

respónsibly

dumb *dúmly dúmbly

crumble crúmbly

nôbly

cf. bâsically - públicly

admíttedly

lîkely

two ls pronounced - sôlely

delíberately

complêtely

or -érily -ãrily

prîmãrily

necessãrily

temporãrily

militãrily

momentãrily

-z- êasily

quíckly

állŷ

cf. públicly - económically

tópically

bâsically

mûsically

illêgally

víscerally

incidéntally

tôtally

mostly female Bíllie = either Bílly

two l’s pronounced shrílly

sílly

vólley rhymes with fólly

two l’s pronounced whôlly

two l’s pronounced coôlly

two l’s pronounced dúlly

fùlly

replŷ

ëarly

dêarly

nêarly

pëarly

cléverly

fãirly

bürly

vígorously

AmE evidéntly BrE évidently

'''áptly

'''trûly

'''Âmy

'''astrónomy

gá- '''gastrónomy

'''autónomy

cf. epítomê - '''hysteréctomy

.*énny '''any

.*ménny '''many

'''zâny

'''prógeny

'''shîny

Plíny

cf. tínny - tîny

whîny

Jénnie = Jénny

Kénny

pénny

Jóhnnie = Jóhnny

Dónny

fúnny

súnny

BrE o as schwa, AmE -môny

BrE *hígémony (hard g), AmE *héjəmôny hegemony

îrony

pôny

Tôny

misógyny

bŏy

jŏy

tŏy

álloy

annŏy

háppy

AmE, when stressed syllable does not come immediately before it, -ãry or -éry, cf. -ery; BrE a as AmE or as schwa or silent; see also -ory - -'''ary '''Cãry

'''Gáry

-shəry '''judíciary

'''vocábulary

canãry

gránary

díctionary

lîbrary

nécessary

líterary

suppleméntary

documéntary

Jánuary

Fébruary

vãry

wãry

crŷ

gímmickry rhymes with '''mímicry

drŷ

tåwdry

mostly e as schwa: can sound like -ry in BrE -ery

físhery

fîery

bâkery

coòkery

sh- chicânery

paper stâtionary = stop stâtionery

conféctionery

míz- '''mísery

cürsory rhymes with '''nürsery

'''cémetery

'''quêry

'''véry

brâvery

recòvery

discòvery

quêry

frŷ

bélfry

ángry

húngry

mímicry rhymes with '''gímmickry

gŏry

glŏry

compúlsory

nürsery rhymes with cürsory

Tŏry

usually pronounced -trỳ in BrE -tory

oblígatory

óratory

AmE láboratŏry, BrE labóratory

satisfáctory

réctory

diréctory

trajéctory

dŏrmitory

stŏry

hístory

prŷ

Bárry

person Cárrie = fetch cárry

Hárry

márry

earth burỳ = fruit bérry

as suffix, AmE -bérry, BrE -brêe bláckberry

blûeberry

AmE rázb-, BrE ràzb- rāspberry

stråwberry

lórry

sórry

wòrry

cúrry

fürry

húrry

trŷ

påltry

pléasantry

péasantry

bígotry

áncestry

sóphistry

ké- chémistry

fruit bérrỳ = earth bury

Dûry

Drûry

lúxury

mostly = -cỳ -sỳ

-zêe êasy

-sêe grêasy

-zêe quêasy

like demócracy, thêócracy all -ssy idiosýncrasy

-sêe écstasy

-zêe chêesy

cf. noun próphecỳ -sêe - verb próphesŷ

-sêe héresy

demócracy and thêócracy rhyme with hypócrisy

léprosy

-sêe émbassy

-sêe fússy

dízzy rhymes with *bízzy busy

-sêe jéalousy

-zêe Sûzy = Sûsie = Sûzie = Sûsy

entîrety

cíty

felícity

stupídity

reálity

cf. spécialty - speciálity

mentálity

facílity

relîabílity

flexibílity

celébrity

iníquity

antíquity

fêalty

cf. speciálity - spécialty

lŏyalty

rŏyalty

crûelty

silent h - hónesty

thïrsty

Kïrsty

goodbye, cricket bŷe = preposition bŷ = money buŷ

nâvy

wâvy

bévy

cf. lévêe, Lêvî - Lêvy

îvy

prívy

'''ánchovy

'''scürvy

'''sávvy

'''cívvy

'''skívvy

deŵy

wáxy

fóxy

slêazy

dâzy

hâzy

lâzy

crâzy

whêezy

dízzy

Z
bíz

whízz or whíz

quíz

Óz

jázz

razzmatázz

pizzázz

fízz

búzz

fúzz

zzzz

Double letters
The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.

Double letters before suffixes are used to preserve short vowel sounds as in flípped (not *flîped), rebélled (not *rebêled) and pégged (not pêged, which would probably in any case be pronounced pêjed). Compare scrâped, past of scrâpe, and scrápped, from scráp. In the case of t, doubling it after an unstressed vowel and before a suffix seems unnecessary, but in some cases it doubles before -ed: either tàrgeted or tàrgetted.

The sign # indicates a double letter that is rare in that position; capital-letter words indicate that the double letter in this position is only found in names. An asterisk (*) indicates a respelling to show pronunciation and an equals sign (=) introduces a homophone.

Table of accents
These accents are intended to show the pronunciation while retaining the spelling: they are not part of the language. Those on i and y show the same sound; similarly with u, oo and w. Accented vowels are stressed (ỳ is normally unstressed, as in háppy). ā, not in the table, means that the sound is à in British English and á in American.

Example sentences
Words without accents have the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.

The usual short sound:

The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct.

The usual long sound:

Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.

The third sound:

Christìna Grèy shoùld lòve her mòther and fàther (and dòes).

The ‘ër’ sound:

But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.

The ‘ŏr’ sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw):

Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?

Irregular, with respelling:

Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny *wímmin? *Énny *wùman!)