imported>Ro Thorpe |
imported>Ro Thorpe |
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| {{subpages}} | | {{subpages}}{{:English spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}{{TOC|right}} |
| '''English''' is famous, even notorious, for its varied '''spellings'''. This is a selection of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside regular ones for contrast. For example, *disāsterous is a common misspelling of '''disāstrous''', with the e echoing that of '''disāster''' (the asterisk indicates an incorrect spelling, the accents stress and pronunciation: see [[English phonemes]]; where there is more than one accent, the first is stressed). | | '''[[English language|English]]''' is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular '''[[spelling]]s'''. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of [[English noun#Types of nouns|proper noun]]s—for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common [[misspelling]] is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a '''[[A (letter)|cluster of articles]]''' devoted to these things. |
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| 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. All three can be found here. In this alphabetical list, the most common word is placed first in the entry. | | To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added [[Accent (pronunciation)|accent]] marks, instead of relying on the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like '''thís''' *thíss. The accent marks show pronunciation, '''thús'''. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language<ref>A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see [[French words in English]].</ref>) can be found below; there is also an [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] key at [[English phonemes]]. Where there is more than one accent, the first is [[stress (linguistics)|stressed]], and the same is true after a hyphen, so in the respelling of '''Tchaikóvsky''', *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: '''Tchaî'''|'''kóvsky'''.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''', retaining the '''E''' of '''disāster'''." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]], where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for '''disāstrous''' is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character – the only one used – for [[schwa]]); or we can contrast [[British English]] *dizàstrus with [[American English|American]] *dizástrus. |
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| | Particular attention is given to [[homophones]], words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, '''cán''' ''able, tin'' (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations. |
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| 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. | | 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. |
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| The equals sign = is placed between homophones (in some cases the approximately equals sign ≈ is more appropriate). Homographs and other similar words are included after 'cf.' (from Latin ''conferre'', 'compare').
| | 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.' (Latin ''conferre'', 'compare'). |
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| An asterisk is placed before incorrect respellings, thus: *thuss. 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 [[British English|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 [[American English|AmE]]), is about as relevant as the fact that one is unlikely to meet a person called either.
| | Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, such spellings are shown using bold italics: '''touchè''' may be written with a French accent: '''''touché''''' *tooshây. |
| ==Alphabetical list==
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| ===A===
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| Â ''letter'' = èh? ''what?'' (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text)
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| a ''article'' *ə: schwa. It can be a strong form â, like the name of the letter Â, but this can sound pompous, especially in private; it can however be used for emphasis, as a synonym for ône, as for example of a tennis player trailing 4-6 2-0: At lêast hê lêads ín â sét.
| | The [[apostrophe]] is an important part of spelling and so it is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet. |
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| àaah sentiment ≈ àaargh disgust more a´s may be added, ≈ àh response
| | Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: '''Ukrâine''' has -'''âine''', not -âne. |
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| àardvark
| | Words in ''italics'' are used to suggest meanings (e.g. '''sêa''' ''water'' = '''sêe''' ''vision'', where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation). Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or place names. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: a bank clerk might be named '''Clàrk''' or '''Clàrke''', but probably not 'Clerk' (though [[British English|BrE]] '''clerk''' = '''Clàrk'''/'''Clàrke'''). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: '''Cloúgh''' = '''Clúff'''. An American called '''Maurìce Mŏrris''' could just as well be called '''Mórris Maurice''' ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where '''Maurice''' = '''Mórris''' (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name). |
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| Ãaron - also Ãron or Áron and now some say Áaron = Árran ''Isle''
| | ==Links to letter articles and lists== |
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| | {{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}} |
| àh ''response'' ≈ àaah ''sentiment'' ≈ àaargh ''disgust'' (in the latter cases more a´s may be added)
| | In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the [[CZ:Article structure|cluster]]) the cells in each row link as follows: |
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| abándoned - not -nned
| | *Top row: '''''articles''''' on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on [[GH]], the [[apostrophe]] and the [[hyphen]]. |
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| Abbàs
| | *Second row: '''''alphabetical''''' lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe|here]]). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd '''disbánd''' means that the word is 'disband'. (The ''bottom row'' is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.) |
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| | *Third row: '''''retroalphabetical''''' lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it: |
| | ::In the retroalphabetical lists 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. |
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| ábdomen
| | ::Some suffixes are included separately; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -'''ãrian'''" means there is no other pronunciation of -'''ãrian'''). |
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| abdóminal
| | ::Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after '''Z'''. (Words ending in an apostrophe are [[English spellings/Catalogs/Apostrophe#Final and medial|also here]].) |
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| Aberdêen
| | ::For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word: |
| | :::''woman'' '''mâid''' = ''make'' '''mâde''' |
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| Aberýstwýth
| | ::Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list: |
| | :::'''wêasel''' *wêasal |
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| aberrâtion
| | *Bottom row: '''''common misspellings''''' including '''''typos''''' (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions. |
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| abét
| | Two main varieties are distinguished: [[British English]] (BrE), that of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and much of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] (see also [[Commonwealth English]]), and [[American English]] (AmE), that of the [[United States of America|USA]] and [[Canada]] (without the [[caught-cot merger|'''cåught''' = '''cót''']] merger that has occurred in some parts of North America). |
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| abhŏr
| | Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast. |
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| abhórrent
| | ==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 standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but '''á''' in American and other British and Commonwealth speech. |
| | {|class="wikitable" |
| | |rowspan=2| |
| | |colspan=3 align=center|'''Front vowels |
| | |colspan=5 align=center|'''Back vowels |
| | |- |
| | !e |
| | !i |
| | !y<ref>When not accented, '''y''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''yoû''' and '''yés'''.</ref> |
| | !a |
| | !o |
| | !u |
| | !oo |
| | !w<ref>When not accented, '''w''' is usually the semi-consonant of '''wê''' and '''wíll'''.</ref> |
| | |- |
| | |width=36%|The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent) |
| | |width=8%|'''pét |
| | |width=8%|'''pít |
| | |width=8%|'''crýpt |
| | |width=8%|'''cát |
| | |width=8%|'''dóg'''<ref>In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer '''à''' in most positions, and by '''ŏ''' before '''r'''.</ref> |
| | |width=8%|'''nút |
| | |width=8%| |
| | |width=8%| |
| | |- |
| | |The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent) |
| | |'''sêe |
| | |'''nîce |
| | |'''mŷ |
| | |'''nâme |
| | |'''nôse |
| | |'''rûle |
| | |'''toô |
| | |'''neŵ |
| | |- |
| | |Sounds shown with the grave accent ('''ẁ'''- and '''qù'''- indicate the [[British English|BrE]] '''ó''' sound of the following '''a''', '''ẁad''' rhyming with '''qùad'''; '''òu''' and '''òw''' are diphthongs sounding like '''àù''' in '''àùtobahn''': '''nòw''' has this '''sòund''') |
| | |'''èight''' (= â) |
| | |'''machìne''' (= ê) |
| | |'''quaỳ''' ''water'' = '''kêỳ''' ''lock'' <br>(= ê) |
| | |'''àre |
| | |'''òther''', '''blòod''' <br>(= ú) |
| | |'''fùll''' (= oò), '''qùantity''' (= w) |
| | |'''foòt''' (= ù) |
| | |'''ẁant''' (= wó)<ref>Grave accents on '''w''' and on a '''u''' following a '''q''' indicate the sound of the following '''a''': '''à''' in American English, but in British the extra sound '''ó''' as in the British pronunciation of '''hót'''.</ref> |
| | |- |
| | |The '''ër''' sound (umlaut accent) |
| | |'''përson |
| | |'''bïrd |
| | |'''mÿrtle |
| | |('''ëarth''') |
| | |'''wörd |
| | |'''pürr |
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| | |- |
| | |The '''åw'''/'''ŏr''' sound (ring accent)<ref>'''å''' and '''ŏ''' show the same sound: ideally the '''o''' too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so '''ŏ''' is used instead.</ref> |
| | | |
| | |('''cŏin''') |
| | |('''jŏy''') |
| | |'''åll''' |
| | |'''mŏre |
| | |(for some BrE speakers) '''sůre |
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| | |- |
| | |The '''ãir''' sound (tilde accent) |
| | |('''thére''') |
| | |('''ãir''' = |
| | |'''Ãyr''') |
| | |'''stãre |
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| | |- |
| | |Irregular (respelling needed) |
| | |'''sew''' (= '''sô''') |
| | |'''meringue''' (*məráng) |
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| | |'''because''' (*bikóz) |
| | |'''woman''' (*wùmən), '''women''' (*wímən) |
| | |'''business''' (*bízníss) |
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| | |} |
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| âble ''capable'' = Âbel ''person''
| | ===Example sentences=== |
| | These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the [[schwa]] sound, a neutral grunt. |
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| abòut *əbòut
| | ''The usual short sound, acute accent:'' |
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| ábscess
| | '''The gínger cát was jéalous of the bláck cát: howéver, the tábby was a véry dífferent mátter - the stúff of réveries, ín fáct. |
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| ábsèil cf. sâil
| | ''The usual long sound, circumflex accent:'' |
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| ábsence
| | '''Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû. |
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| abstâin
| | ''The third sound, grave accent:'' |
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| absténtion
| | '''Christìna Grèy shoùld (and dòes?) lòve her mòther and fàther. |
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| ábstinence
| | ''The '''ër''' sound, umlaut:'' |
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| abýsmal -zməl
| | '''But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses. |
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| abýss
| | ''The '''ŏr''' sound ('''sůre''' here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = '''Shåw'''), the ring, or half-ring:'' |
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| ácadême
| | '''Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd? |
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| acádemy
| | ''Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:'' |
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| académic
| | '''Many women? Any woman!''' (pronounced: *Ménny wímmin? Énny wùman!) |
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| accélerate ax-, cf. excél, éxcellent
| | ==Double letters== |
| | The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English. |
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| áccent áx-
| | Double consonant letters before suffixes are used (as often elsewhere) to preserve short vowel sounds, as in '''flípped''' (not *flîped), '''rebélled''' (not *rebêled) and '''pégged''' (not *pêged, which if regular would 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 may seem unnecessary, but in some cases it can be doubled before -'''ed''': either '''tàrgeted''' or '''tàrgetted''' (but always '''commítted'''). |
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| accéntuate -x-
| | 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]]. |
| | {|class="wikitable" |
| | |- |
| | !letter |
| | !initial |
| | !medial |
| | !final |
| | !final + silent e |
| | |- |
| | |'''A |
| | |'''àardvark''' #<ref>'''àardvark''' and '''Transvàal''' are from '''[[Afrikaans|Afrikàans]]''', itself a further example.</ref> |
| | |'''bazàar''' # |
| | |'''bàa''' # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''B |
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| | |'''ríbbon |
| | |'''ébb''' # |
| | |'''Crábbe''' (= '''cráb''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''C |
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| | |'''sóccer''' (*sócker), '''accépt''' (*əxépt) |
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| | |- |
| | |'''D |
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| | |'''hídden |
| | |'''ádd |
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| | |- |
| | |'''E |
| | |'''êel |
| | |'''bêen |
| | |'''sêe |
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| | |- |
| | |'''F |
| | |'''Ffoùlkes''' |
| | |'''éffort |
| | |'''óff''' |
| | |'''Clíffe''' (= '''clíff''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''G |
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| | |'''aggréssion''' (-'''g'''-), '''exággerate''' (-j-) |
| | |'''égg''' # |
| | |'''Légge''' (= '''lég''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''H |
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| | |'''hítchhike''' # (accidental) |
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| | |- |
| | |'''I |
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| | |'''skìíng''' # |
| | |'''Hawàìi''' # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''J |
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| | |'''hàjj''' # (also spelt '''hàdj''') |
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| | |- |
| | |'''K |
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| | |'''púkka'''; '''boòkkeeper''' (accidental)<ref>With a pause to indicate both '''k'''’s are pronounced.</ref> # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''L |
| | |'''llàma'''<ref>Also representing a [[Welsh language|Welsh]] sound in place names like '''Llandudno''' (-dídno) and '''Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch'''.</ref> # |
| | |'''fílling |
| | |'''wéll''' |
| | |'''bélle''' ''beauty'' (= '''béll''' ''ring'') |
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| accépt ''receive'' cf. excépt ''exception''
| | |- |
| | |'''M |
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| | |'''súmmer |
| | |'''Crámm''' (= '''crám''') |
| | |'''grámme''' (= '''grám''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''N |
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| | |'''dínner |
| | |'''ínn''' # ''pub'' |
| | |'''Ánne''' (= '''Ánn''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''O |
| | |'''oôze, oòmph''' # |
| | |'''foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr''' |
| | |'''toô |
| | |'''Loôe''' (= '''loô''') |
| | |- |
| | |'''P |
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| | |'''flípped |
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| | |'''stéppe''' ''Asia'' # (= '''stép''' ''foot'') |
| | |- |
| | |'''Q |
| | | |
| | |'''Sadìqqi''' # |
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| | | |
| | |- |
| | |'''R |
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| | |'''érror |
| | |'''pürr |
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| | |- |
| | |'''S |
| | | |
| | |'''méssy |
| | |'''lóss |
| | |'''crevásse |
| | |- |
| | |'''T |
| | | |
| | |'''bétter |
| | |'''ẁatt |
| | |'''couchétte''' -sh- |
| | |- |
| | |'''U |
| | | |
| | |'''vácuum''' # (*vákyoôm) |
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| | | |
| | |- |
| | |'''V |
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| | |'''révved''' # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''W |
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| | |'''Lawwell''' # (accidental) |
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| | |- |
| | |'''X |
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| | |'''[[Exxon|Éxxon]]''' ™ # |
| | |'''[[Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans|Bób B. Sóxx]]''' # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''Y |
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| | |'''[[Omar Khayyam|Khayyàm]]''' # |
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| | |- |
| | |'''Z |
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| | |'''fízzy |
| | |'''búzz |
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| | |} |
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| áccess *áxéss, cf. áxis, áxês
| | ==Names of the letters== |
| | The names of the letters of the alphabet are rarely written out in English (a simple capital being the normal usage: "with a C, not a K") so that, unlike in many other languages, most of their spellings have a rather unofficial status. But they can be shown as follows, using real words where possible: |
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| áccident áx-
| | '''A''': '''â''' (the indefinite article, when stressed), '''èh?''' ''what? |
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| accidéntally áx-
| | '''B''': '''bê''' ''exist'', '''bêe''' ''sting |
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| áccolade
| | '''C''': occasionally '''cêe'''; '''sêe''' ''look'', '''sêa''' ''ship |
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| accómmodate - two c’s and two m’s
| | '''D''': [[River Dee|'''Dêe''' ''River]], ''surname'' |
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| accòmpany
| | '''E''': '''ê''' as in '''êmail''', '''ê-mail |
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| accòmplíce ''person''
| | '''F''': '''éff''' as in the euphemism '''éff óff |
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| accòmplísh ''achieve''
| | '''G''': '''gêe''' ''up, exclamation'' *jêe |
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| Accrà
| | '''H''': '''âitch''' as in '''drópping your âitches |
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| accrûe cf. acróss
| | '''I''': '''Î''' ''me'', '''eŷe''' ''vision |
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| acërbic
| | '''J''': '''jây''' ''bird |
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| âche *âke
| | '''K''': '''Kây''' ''person |
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| achìêve
| | '''L''': '''él''' ''elevated railway'' ([[American English|AmE]]) |
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| ácmê
| | '''M''': '''ém''' ''dash |
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| acquiésce *aquìéss, cf. quiéscent *kwìéssent, quîet *kwîət
| | '''N''': '''én''' ''dash |
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| acquîre *aquîre
| | '''O''': '''ôwe''' ''debt'', '''ôh!''' ''exclamation |
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| acquít
| | '''P''': '''pêa''' ''pod'', '''pêe''' ''urine'', '''p''' ''pence'' ([[British English|BrE]]) |
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| âcreage *âkerage
| | '''Q''': '''queûe''' ''line'', '''cûe''' ''ball'', ''prompt |
|
| |
|
| acróss cf. accrûe
| | '''R''': '''àre''' ''be'', BrE '''àh''' ''exclamation |
|
| |
|
| áctual *ákchəl
| | '''S''': occasionally '''éss |
|
| |
|
| ácûmen cf. áccurate
| | '''T''': '''têa''' ''drink'', '''têe''' ''golf'', '''tì''' ''do-re-mi |
|
| |
|
| ácupuncture
| | '''U''': '''yoû''' ''me'', '''eŵe''' ''sheep |
|
| |
|
| ádage
| | '''V''': '''[[Bobby Vee|Vêe]]''' ''Bobby'' |
|
| |
|
| adàgio -jô
| | '''W''': "'''doúble you'''" (*dúblyu; cf. '''vácûum''', which actually does have a '''doúble Û''') |
|
| |
|
| ádd ''more'' = ád ''advertisement''
| | '''X''': '''éx-''' ''past |
|
| |
|
| Áddis Ábaba
| | '''Y''': '''whŷ''' ''reason'' (voiced '''w''', as in BrE) |
|
| |
|
| ádditive
| | '''Z''': BrE '''zéd''', AmE '''zêe |
|
| |
|
| addíctive
| | ==''The Chaos''== |
| | by Gerard Nolst Trenité |
|
| |
|
| addréss BrE = a dréss; AmE áddress
| | This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current [[British English]] pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found [http://ncf.idallen.com/english.html here]. |
|
| |
|
| adhêre (d and h pronounced separately)
| |
|
| |
|
| adhêsive (d and h pronounced separately)
| | '''The Châós''' (*câyóss) |
|
| |
|
| ád hóc
| |
|
| |
|
| ádjective cf. ejécted
| | Dêarest crêature ín creâtion |
|
| |
|
| adjöurn
| | Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion, |
|
| |
|
| adjúst *ajúst
| | :Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse |
|
| |
|
| ád nåusêám
| | :Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse. |
|
| |
|
| adôbê
| | Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy), |
|
| |
|
| adrénalín can be -íne
| | Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy; |
|
| |
|
| advānce
| | :Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar; |
|
| |
|
| ádvent
| | :Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer. |
|
| |
|
| advénture
| | Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet, |
|
| |
|
| ádversary -vəsrỳ or advërsary
| | Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít! |
| | |
| | :Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard, |
|
| |
|
| ádvërt
| | :Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd. |
|
| |
|
| ádvertise never -îze
| | Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain |
|
| |
|
| advërtísement BrE; AmE ádvertîsement
| | [Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten]. |
|
| |
|
| advîce noun -ss
| | :Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde, |
|
| |
|
| advîse verb pronounced but never spelt -îze
| | :Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid. |
| | Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû |
|
| |
|
| advîser = advîsor (alternatives)
| | Wíth súch wörds as vâgue and âgûe, |
|
| |
|
| Aêgêan *Êjêən
| | :Bút bê cãreful hòw yoû spêak, |
|
| |
|
| ãerial air = Ãriel person
| | :Sây: gúsh, bùsh, steâk, strêak, breâk, blêak, |
|
| |
|
| ãerie bird = ãiry light and = variant spellings of bird: ãerie = éyrie = éyry
| | Prêvious, précious, fûchsia (*feŵsha), vîa, |
| | |
| | Récipê, pîpe, stúdding-sâil, choîr (=quîre); |
|
| |
|
| ãeroplane BrE; AmE ãirplane
| | :Wôven, óven, hòw and lôw, |
|
| |
|
| Aêschylus BrE; AmE Êschylus *Êeskiləss
| | :Scrípt, recêipt (*rissêet), shoe (=shoô), pôem, tôe. |
| | Sây, expécting fråud and tríckerỳ: |
|
| |
|
| aêsthétics AmE ê-
| | Dåughter (*dåwter), làughter (*làfter) ánd Terpsíchorê (*Terpsíckery), |
|
| |
|
| afféct ''alter'' cf. efféct ''result'' í-
| | :Brànch, rànch, mêasles, tópsails, aîsles (*îles), |
|
| |
|
| áffect ''emotion''
| | :Míssîles, símilês, revîles. |
| | Whôlly (=hôly), hólly, sígnal, sîgning (*sîning), |
|
| |
|
| afféctive ''emotional'' cf. efféctive ''resultant''
| | Sâme, exámining, but mîning, |
| | |
| | :Schólar (*scóllar), vícar, and cigàr, |
|
| |
|
| áffidâvit
| | :Sôlar, mîca, wår and fàr. |
|
| |
|
| affrònt cf. effròntery
| | From "desîre": desîrable - ádmirable from "admîre", |
|
| |
|
| Afghánistān - either stressed
| | Lúmber, plúmber, biêr, but brîer, |
| | |
| | :Tópsham, broûgham (*breŵəm), renòwn, but knôwn, |
|
| |
|
| aficionàdo
| | :Knówledge, dòne, lône, góne, nòne, tône, |
|
| |
|
| afrâid
| | Òne (=wòn), anémonê, Balmóral, |
| | |
| | Kítchen, lîchen (=lîken), låundry, laurel (lórrel). |
|
| |
|
| África
| | :Gërtrude, Gërman (J-), wínd and wînd, |
|
| |
|
| Afrikàans -ànce
| | :Beau (=Bô), kînd, kíndred, queûe, mankînd, |
| | Tŏrtoise (*tŏrtus), türquŏise, chámois-léather (*shámwà-), |
|
| |
|
| Afrikàner
| | Rêading, Réading, hêathen, héather. |
|
| |
|
| āfter
| | :Thís phonétic lábyrínth |
|
| |
|
| āfterwards
| | :Gíves móss, grôss, broòk, brôoch, nînth, plínth. |
|
| |
|
| again é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâin
| | Háve yoû éver yét endéavoured |
|
| |
|
| against é, but AmE and some BrE, regular: agâinst
| | To (=toô)<ref>Strong form of '''to''', not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.</ref> pronòunce revêred and sévered, |
|
| |
|
| agâpe ''gaping''
| | :Dêmon, lémon, ghoûl, fòul, sôul, |
|
| |
|
| ágapê ''eros''
| | :Pêter, pétrol and patrôl? |
|
| |
|
| âge cf. édge: Francophones beware
| | Bíllet dòes nót énd lîke bállèt (*bállây); |
|
| |
|
| âgeing *âging, *âjing
| | Boûquèt, ẁallet, mállet, chálèt. |
| | :Blòod and flòod are nót lîke foôd, |
| | |
| | :Nŏr ís môuld lîke shoùld and woùld (=woòd). |
|
| |
|
| âgeist
| | Bánquet ís nót nêarly pàrquèt, |
|
| |
|
| agô
| | Whích exáctly rhŷmes wíth khàkì. ''—not usually nowadays'' |
| | |
| | :Díscòunt, vîscòunt (*vîcòunt), lôad and brŏad, |
| | |
| | :Towård, to fŏrward, to (=toô) rewård, |
|
| |
|
| ágriculture
| | Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt? |
|
| |
|
| âid ''help'' = âide ''assistant''; Âids or ÂIDS ''disease'' = âids, âides ''plurals''
| | Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.<ref>The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the '''K''' is normally the stressed syllable: '''okây'''.</ref> |
|
| |
|
| Âids or ÂIDS ''disease'' = âids, âides ''plurals''
| | :Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve, |
| ãir ''breathe'' = Ãyr ''Scotland'' = ére ''before'' = é’er ''ever'' = héir ''estate''
| | |
| | :Friénd and fiênd, alîve and líve. |
|
| |
|
| ãiry ''light'' = all four spellings of éyrie = éyry = ãerie = ãery ''bird'', cf. êerie ''strange''
| | Ís yŏur R corréct ín hîgher? |
|
| |
|
| alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ ''friend'', állêy ''way''
| | Kêats assërts ít rhŷmes Thalîa. |
|
| |
|
| aîsle ''church'' = îsle ''island''
| | :Hûgh, but húg, and hoòd, but hoôt, |
| | |
| | :Buŏyant, mínute, bút minûte. |
|
| |
|
| Ajáccio *Azháxio
| | Sây abscíssion wíth precísion, |
|
| |
|
| Àjax ''Amsterdam'' *Àyáx
| | Nòw: posítion ánd transítion; |
|
| |
|
| Âjax ''person''
| | :Woùld ít tálly wíth mŷ rhŷme |
| | |
| | :Íf Î méntioned páradîgm? |
|
| |
|
| Ál person cf. åll total
| | Twòpence, thréepence, têase are êasy, |
|
| |
|
| Alabáma - one m, cf. Montána, Louisiána
| | But cêase, crêase, grêase and grêasy? |
| | |
| | :Cŏrnice, nîce, valìse, revîse, |
|
| |
|
| Álan = Àllen = Àllan
| | :Râbíes, but lúllabîes. |
|
| |
|
| alás
| | Óf súch púzzling wörds as nåuseous, |
|
| |
|
| Ålbany cf. Álbânia
| | Rhŷming wéll wíth cåutious, tŏrtious, |
|
| |
|
| Álbert
| | :Yoû'll envélop lísts, Î hôpe, |
| | |
| | :Ín a línen énvelôpe. |
|
| |
|
| Albuquërquê *Albəkïrky
| | Woùld yoû lîke some mŏre? Yoû'll háve ít! |
|
| |
|
| Åldwých
| | Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit. |
|
| |
|
| Álfred
| | :To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik |
| | |
| | :Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche. |
| | |
| | Líberty, lîbrary, hêave and héaven, |
|
| |
|
| álgaê *áljê or *álgy
| | Râchel, lóch, moustàche, eléven. |
|
| |
|
| álgorithm rhymes with rhýthm
| | :Wê sây hállôwed, bút allòwed, |
|
| |
|
| Áli ''person'' = álley ''walk'' - except Muhámmad Àlì ''boxer''
| | :Pêople, léopard, tôwed but vòwed. |
|
| |
|
| âlias *âlius
| | Màrk the dífference, moreôver, |
|
| |
|
| Álíce
| | Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver. |
|
| |
|
| alîgn = a lîne, cf. állŷ
| | :Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse, |
|
| |
|
| Álistair = Álastair
| | :Chálíce, bút polìce and lîce, |
|
| |
|
| âlias
| | Cámel, cònstable, únstâble, |
|
| |
|
| álibî
| | Prínciple, discîple, lâbel. |
| | |
| | :Pétal, pênal, and canál, |
|
| |
|
| âlien
| | :Wâit, surmîse, pláit, prómíse, pál, |
|
| |
|
| alienâtion
| | Sûit, suìte, rûín. Cïrcuít, cónduít |
|
| |
|
| alîgned *allîned, cf. állied
| | Rhŷme wíth "shïrk ít" and "beyónd ít". —''still?'' |
|
| |
|
| alîve
| | :Bút ít ís nót hàrd to téll |
|
| |
|
| åll ''every'' = åwl ''tool'', cf. Ál ''person''
| | :Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll. |
|
| |
|
| Alládin
| | Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron, |
|
| |
|
| allegâtions *allogations
| | Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon, |
|
| |
|
| allége cf. lédge, etc.
| | :Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir, |
|
| |
|
| alléged *aléjd
| | :Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor, |
|
| |
|
| allégedly *aléjidly
| | Îvy, prívy, fâmous; clámour |
|
| |
|
| allelûia or allelûja or allelûya
| | Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer. |
|
| |
|
| állêy ''path'' = Áli ''person'', cf. állŷ
| | :Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss, |
|
| |
|
| álligâtor
| | :Désert, but desërt, addréss. |
|
| |
|
| allót ''assign'' = a lót ''much''
| | Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants |
| | |
| | Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants. |
|
| |
|
| åll-òut ''total'' before noun needs hyphen
| | :Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb, |
|
| |
|
| allòwed ''permitted'' = alòud ''heard''
| | :Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme. |
|
| |
|
| álloy
| | "Sôlder, sôldier! Blòod ís thícker", |
|
| |
|
| állŷ ''friend'' cf. állêy, alîgn
| | Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor", |
| | :Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe, |
|
| |
|
| állŷ ''noun''
| | :Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô). |
|
| |
|
| allŷ ''verb'', cf. Álì ''person''
| | Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger, |
|
| |
|
| ålmanac
| | Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —''neither does anger: *áng-gə'' |
| | :Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt, |
| | |
| | :Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt. |
|
| |
|
| ålmost
| | Àrsenic, specífic, scênic, |
|
| |
|
| àlms ''gift'' = BrE àrms ''body, weapons''
| | Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic. |
| | :Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse, |
|
| |
|
| alóngside one word
| | :Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse. |
| | Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle, |
|
| |
|
| alòud ''audible'' = allòwed ''allow''
| | Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle. |
|
| |
|
| alréady ''before'' = åll réady ''ready''
| | :Mînd! Mêándering but mêan, |
|
| |
|
| alrîght = åll rîght - same meaning, probably by analogy with alréady
| | :Válentîne and mágazìne. |
|
| |
|
| Alsâtian
| | Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny, |
|
| |
|
| ålso
| | Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny), |
|
| |
|
| ålter ''change'' = åltar ''church''
| | :Whích ís wróng. Sây râpier, pìêr, |
|
| |
|
| altërnate ''adjective''
| | :Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr. |
|
| |
|
| ålternâte ''verb''
| | Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring |
|
| |
|
| altërnative
| | Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring? |
| | :Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve, |
|
| |
|
| althôugh *åldhô
| | :Trêason, hóver, còver, côve, |
|
| |
|
| alumínium BrE; AmE alûminum
| | Persevêrance, séverance. Ríbald |
|
| |
|
| alvêolar
| | Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled. |
| | |
| | :Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw, |
| | |
| | :Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw. |
| | |
| | Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít, |
|
| |
|
| ålways
| | Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet; |
| | |
| | :Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn, |
|
| |
|
| ám ''be''
| | :Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn. |
| | Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling |
|
| |
|
| âm ''ante meridian'' *â-ém
| | Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling ''—yëar and yêarling are about as likely'' |
|
| |
|
| ámateur *ámətə; AmE can be amateûr
| | Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt, |
|
| |
|
| ambássador cf. émbassy
| | :Mînd the Z (zéd)! (A géntle hínt.) |
|
| |
|
| ámbergrìs BrE; AmE ámbergrís - s pronounced
| | Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion |
|
| |
|
| ambítious *ámbíshəss
| | To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion, |
| | :Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws, |
| | |
| | :Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs; |
|
| |
|
| amén BrE à, AmE â
| | Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded, |
|
| |
|
| aménd cf. comménd
| | Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd, |
| | :Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn, |
| | |
| | :Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —''nowadays regularised to *Strákhən |
|
| |
|
| aménds ''make'' = eménds ''alters''
| | Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely, |
| | |
| | Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley). |
| | |
| | :Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud |
|
| |
|
| âmìable cf. âim
| | :Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud). |
|
| |
|
| ámícable
| | But mînd trívial and vîal, |
|
| |
|
| amòng
| | Trîpod, mênial, denîal, |
| | |
| | :Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam, |
| | |
| | :Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême. |
| | Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely |
|
| |
|
| amòunt
| | Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh, |
| | |
| | :Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây |
|
| |
|
| an *ən: version of a before a consonant
| | :Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt. |
|
| |
|
| anáchronism -nákr-
| | Hád thís ínvalid inválid |
|
| |
|
| ánalŷse
| | Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid, |
| | |
| | :Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked, |
| | |
| | :Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked! |
| | |
| | Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê, |
|
| |
|
| análysês ''plural'' *ənáləssêez
| | Páramour, enámoured, flîghty, |
| | :Épisôdes, antípodês, |
| | |
| | :Ácquiésce, and óbsequies. |
|
| |
|
| análysis ''singular'' *ənáləssís
| | Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser, |
|
| |
|
| ánalýst
| | Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor, |
|
| |
|
| ánarchy *ánəkỳ
| | :Rāther sây ín áccents pûre: |
| | |
| | :Nâture, státure ánd matûre. |
|
| |
|
| áncestor
| | Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly, |
|
| |
|
| ánchor -nk-
| | Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly, |
| | |
| | :Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán, |
| | |
| | :Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan. |
| | |
| | The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you |
|
| |
|
| ánchovy -ntsh-
| | Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û) |
|
| |
|
| âncient
| | :Sây thén thêse phonétic géms: |
| | |
| | :Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz). |
|
| |
|
| and *ənd, sometimes ánd for emphasis = &
| | Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham, |
|
| |
|
| andántè
| | Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em - |
| | |
| | :Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony, |
| | |
| | :Lîghten yŏur anxîety. |
|
| |
|
| Ándês
| | Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít |
|
| |
|
| Andêan
| | Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít; |
| | :Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice, |
| | |
| | :Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice. |
|
| |
|
| Andórra AmE -ŏrr-, cf. Pandŏra
| | Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger; |
| | | |
| Ándreŵ
| | Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger. |
| | | |
| anémonê cf. an énemy
| | :Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge, |
| | | |
| ângel *ânjəl, cf. ángle
| | :Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge, |
| | |
| ánger BrE *áng-gə
| |
| | |
| ángry *áng-gry
| |
| | |
| ángst
| |
| | |
| ánimus cf. ûnánimous
| |
| | |
| Ánkara
| |
| | |
| ánnals cf. ánalyst
| |
| | |
| annéx verb
| |
| | |
| ánnex or ánnexe ''noun''
| |
| | |
| annîhilate *annîyílâte
| |
| | |
| anómaly
| |
| | |
| ánonýmity
| |
| | |
| anónymous
| |
| anòther one word
| |
| | |
| ānswer - w silent: BrE *ànsə, AmE *ánsr
| |
| | |
| Antàrctica first c can be silent
| |
| | |
| ántê- before = ántì-
| |
| | |
| Ánthony (usual) = Ántony Mark, -tə-
| |
| | |
| ántì- against = ántê-; AmE ántî-
| |
| | |
| ántidote
| |
| | |
| Antìgua -gə
| |
| | |
| antirrhînum *antirŷnum
| |
| | |
| antisémitism
| |
| | |
| anxîety *angzîety
| |
| | |
| ánxious *ánkshəss
| |
| | |
| any ''thing'' é-, cf. Ánnie ''person''
| |
| | |
| anybody *énnybódy, one word
| |
| | |
| any mŏre two words
| |
| | |
| anyone *énnywún, one word
| |
| | |
| anyway ''despite'' one word, cf. where wây is a noun: any wây yoû loòk at ít
| |
| | |
| apâce ''fast'' = a pâce ''step''
| |
| | |
| apàrtheîd -tîte
| |
| | |
| apéritìf - either stressed
| |
| | |
| aphêlion *áfêlian
| |
| | |
| apìêce ''each'' one word = a pìêce ''part''
| |
| | |
| apócalypse
| |
| | |
| apólogîse ''verb''
| |
| | |
| apólogíes ''plural noun''
| |
| | |
| apóstasy
| |
| | |
| apóstrophê
| |
| | |
| appål - AmE can be appåll
| |
| | |
| appålling
| |
| | |
| apparátchik
| |
| | |
| ápparâtus BrE - either stressed (to children apparatus can sound plural, ‘apperators’); AmE apparátus
| |
| | |
| appárel
| |
| | |
| appárent
| |
| | |
| appêar
| |
| | |
| appêasement
| |
| | |
| appêaser
| |
| | |
| applåuse
| |
| | |
| approval -prû-
| |
| | |
| approve -prû-
| |
| | |
| âpricot
| |
| | |
| à priŏrî two words
| |
| | |
| àpriŏrísm one word
| |
| | |
| apropôs *ápropô
| |
| | |
| Aquãrius
| |
| | |
| Árab ''adjective, person''
| |
| | |
| Arâbian ''adjective''
| |
| | |
| Árabic ''language''
| |
| | |
| àrc ''circle'' = Àrk ''Noah''
| |
| | |
| archâíc *àrkâyíc
| |
| | |
| archeólogy àrk-
| |
| | |
| archipélago àrk-
| |
| | |
| àrchive *àrkîve
| |
| | |
| ãrêa ''space'' *ãrêə, cf. ària, êra
| |
| | |
| Argentìna Àrj-
| |
| | |
| àrgil ''clay'' - soft g
| |
| | |
| Argŷll ''Scotland'' = Argŷle ''Plymouth'' - hard g
| |
| | |
| àrgue
| |
| | |
| àrgument
| |
| | |
| ària ''opera'' cf. ãrea
| |
| | |
| árid
| |
| | |
| Ãries -ríz
| |
| | |
| árístocrat BrE á stressed, AmE í stressed
| |
| | |
| aristocrátic
| |
| | |
| Àrkansas BrE -såw, AmE -sà
| |
| | |
| arrést
| |
| | |
| arrhythmic
| |
| | |
| àrsenal *àrssnəl
| |
| | |
| arrhýthmic
| |
| | |
| àrtefact
| |
| | |
| artêsian ''well'' *àrtêzhən
| |
| | |
| artifícial -shəl
| |
| | |
| artisán ''art'' *àrtizán
| |
| | |
| àrtist ''art''
| |
| | |
| artìste ''stage''
| |
| | |
| ascént ''climb'' = assént ''agree''
| |
| | |
| ascertâin
| |
| | |
| ÁSEAN or Ásean ''association'' *ássián, cf. Âsian Asia, *Âzhan
| |
| | |
| Âsia *Âsha or *Âzha
| |
| | |
| askānce
| |
| | |
| as oppôsed to ázəpôzt-
| |
| ásphalt
| |
| | |
| áspirin -spr-, cf. aspîring
| |
| | |
| assássin four s’s
| |
| | |
| assént agree = ascént climb
| |
| | |
| ássét
| |
| | |
| assûme -syûme
| |
| | |
| assûre AmE -shûre, BrE –shůre
| |
| | |
| ásterisk
| |
| | |
| Ásterix
| |
| | |
| ásthma *ássma
| |
| | |
| asúnder
| |
| | |
| asŷlum
| |
| | |
| âte AmE; BrE *ét
| |
| | |
| âthêíst cf. aesthétic
| |
| | |
| atrôcious -shəss
| |
| | |
| atrócity
| |
| | |
| áttaboy one word
| |
| | |
| attáchè -áshè
| |
| | |
| attörney
| |
| | |
| Åuckland
| |
| | |
| auctionêer åuk-
| |
| | |
| augúst ''revered''
| |
| | |
| Åugust ''month''
| |
| | |
| āunt ''uncle'' AmE = ánt ''insect''
| |
| | |
| au fâit *ô-fây
| |
| | |
| au fónd *ô-fón, French nasal -ón
| |
| | |
| au pãir ôp-
| |
| | |
| åural ''ear'' = ŏral ''voice''
| |
| | |
| åuspices
| |
| | |
| Aussie ''Australasian'' = Óssy = Óssie ''persons''
| |
| | |
| Austen ''Jane'' = Austin ''car, Texas'' Ó-
| |
| | |
| Austrâlia Ó-
| |
| | |
| Austria Ó-
| |
| | |
| åutarchy ''sovereignty'' = åutarky ''self-sufficiency''
| |
| | |
| authóritative
| |
| | |
| authórity
| |
| | |
| àùtobàhn
| |
| | |
| åutomobìle
| |
| | |
| åutumn silent n, -m
| |
| | |
| autúmnal not silent n
| |
| | |
| ávalānche
| |
| | |
| ávant gàrde (gàrde = guàrd)
| |
| | |
| avocàdo
| |
| | |
| avoirdupŏis *ávədə-pŏiz
| |
| | |
| åwe
| |
| | |
| awêigh ''anchors'' = awây ''go''
| |
| | |
| åwful
| |
| | |
| åwkward *åwquəd
| |
| | |
| åwl ''tool'' = åll ''total''
| |
|
| |
|
| ÂWOL
| | Hêro, héron, quêry, véry, |
|
| |
|
| awrŷ
| | Párry, tárry, fûry, bury, |
| | |
| | :Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth, |
| | |
| | :Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath. |
| | |
| | Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners, |
|
| |
|
| áxe ''chop'' BrE; AmE áx
| | Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners |
|
| |
|
| áxes plural -íz
| | :Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz), |
|
| |
|
| áxis spin -íss
| | :Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)? |
|
| |
|
| áxês plural -êz, cf. áccess
| | Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle, |
|
| |
|
| áxle ''car'' = Áxel ''person''
| | Wê sây áctual, but víctual, |
|
| |
|
| Áxminster
| | Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght, |
| | |
| | :Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte. |
|
| |
|
| aŷe ''yes'' = eŷe ''see'' = Î ''me''
| | :Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer, |
|
| |
|
| Ãyr ''Scotland'' = ãir ''breathe''
| | Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer. |
| | |
| | :Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte, |
| | |
| | :Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte. |
|
| |
|
| Ãyrshire
| | Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —''Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish |
|
| |
|
| ázure -zh-
| | Scîence, cónscience, scientífic; |
| | |
| | :Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur, |
|
| |
|
| ===B===
| | :Gás, alás, and Àrkansås. |
| B = bê ''is'', bêe ''insect''
| |
|
| |
|
| bàa ''sheep'' BrE = bàr ''drink, chocolate, soap''
| | Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit, |
|
| |
|
| baboôn
| | Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít |
|
| |
|
| Bàch ''music'' = bách ''Welsh''
| | :Bôna fîdê, álibî |
|
| |
|
| báchelor ''unmarried'' = Bátchelor ''person''
| | :Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ. |
| | |
| | Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa, |
|
| |
|
| báckbiting one word
| | Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria. |
|
| |
|
| báckhand ''tennis''
| | :Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan, |
|
| |
|
| back-hánded ''ambiguous''
| | :Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne. |
|
| |
|
| bácklash one word
| | Compãre âlien wíth Itálian, |
|
| |
|
| backyàrd one word
| | Dándelîon wíth battálion, |
|
| |
|
| bád ''evil'' = báde ''asked''
| | :Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê, |
| | |
| | :Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! ''—ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh |
|
| |
|
| Baghdád AmE Bághdad Bágd-
| | Sây avër, but éver, fêver, |
|
| |
|
| bâil ''law, cricket'' = bâle ''hay, parachute''
| | Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver. |
| | :Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe, |
| | |
| | :Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf. |
|
| |
|
| bâilie ''magistrate'' = Bâiley ''person''
| | Stàrry, gránary, canãry, |
|
| |
|
| bâit ''hook'' = bâte ''fury, restrain''
| | Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie, |
| | |
| | :Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce, |
|
| |
|
| bâize ''cloth'' = bâys ''bay''
| | :Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss. |
|
| |
|
| Bàli ''island'' = BrE bàrley ''beer''
| | Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging, |
|
| |
|
| Bålkans cf. bálcony
| | Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging; |
|
| |
|
| båll ''game'' = båwl ''shout''
| | :Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar |
|
| |
|
| ballerìna cf. pizzerìa
| | :Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir. |
| | Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften |
|
| |
|
| bállèt *bállây, cf. bállot
| | Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, ''—scarcely heard nowadays |
| | |
| | :Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce; |
|
| |
|
| bàlm -àm
| | :Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss. |
|
| |
|
| bàlmy ''sea'' = BrE bàrmy ''daft''
| | Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting? |
|
| |
|
| Båltimore
| | Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting. |
|
| |
|
| báluster cf. bánister
| | :Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént. |
| | |
| | :Lîable, but Pàrliament. |
|
| |
|
| banàl BrE; AmE bânal
| | Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven, |
|
| |
|
| banálity
| | Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen, |
| | |
| | :Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk, |
| | |
| | :Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk. |
|
| |
|
| banāna
| | Â of válour, vápid vâpour, |
|
| |
|
| bánd ''music'' = bánned ''ban''
| | S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)), |
| | |
| | :G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-), |
| | |
| | :Î of ántichrîst and gríst, |
|
| |
|
| bándwagon one word
| | Díffer like divërse and dîvers, |
|
| |
|
| Bangkók cf. Háncóck - both -ngk-
| | Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers. |
|
| |
|
| bánish
| | :Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll, |
|
| |
|
| Bàrbara
| | :Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll. |
| | | |
| barbãrian
| | Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! - |
| | |
| barbáric
| |
| | |
| bàrbecûe *bàrbeqûe
| |
| | | |
| barcarólle or -óle
| | Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky. |
| | | |
| bàrd ''poet, bacon'' = bàrred ''bar''
| | :Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts |
| | | |
| bãre ''naked'' = béãr ''animal, tolerate''
| | :Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —''no longer |
| | |
| bãrely
| |
| | |
| bàrgaín *bàrgin
| |
| | |
| bàrley
| |
| | |
| bàr mítzvah
| |
| | |
| bàrnacle
| |
| | |
| báron ''nobleman'' = bárren ''bare'' = Bárron ''person''
| |
| | |
| baróque *bərók
| |
| | |
| bárrage -àzh BrE, AmE *bəràzh
| |
| | |
| bárrier
| |
| | |
| bàrtender
| |
| | |
| bâse ''basic'' = bâss ''treble'', cf. báss ''fish'' = Báss ''person''
| |
| | |
| bâses ''base'' -ssíz = bâsses ''music''
| |
| | |
| bâsês ''basis'' -ssêez
| |
| bâsic -ss-
| |
| | |
| bâsin -ss-
| |
| | |
| bâsis -ssíss
| |
| | |
| bāsk ''sun'' = Bāsque ''people''
| |
| | |
| bāsketball one word
| |
| | |
| báss ''fish'' = Báss ''person''
| |
| | |
| bâss ''treble'' = bâse ''basic''
| |
| | |
| bassoôn -ssoô-
| |
| | |
| bâste ''pour, sew'' = bâsed ''base''
| |
| | |
| batállion cf. báttle
| |
| | |
| bâte ''anger, breath'' = bâit ''lure''
| |
| | |
| bāth = Bāth ''city'' cf. bâthe ''swim'', final e signifying voiced th
| |
| | |
| bátón - one t, cf. Pátton, Hátton etc.
| |
| | |
| báttlefield one word
| |
| | |
| Báx ''person'' = bácks ''back''
| |
| | |
| bazàar *bəzàr, cf. bizàrre, í
| |
| | |
| Bà’ath ''party'' BrE = bāth ''water''
| |
| | |
| bê ''is'' = bêe ''insect''
| |
| | |
| bêach ''sand'' = bêech ''tree''
| |
| | |
| bêad ''string'' = Bêde ''person''
| |
| | |
| bêan ''eat'' = bêen ''was''
| |
| | |
| béãr ''tolerate, animal'' = bãre naked, cf. bêer drink, hêar hearing
| |
| | |
| bêat win, hit, rhythm = bêet sugar
| |
| | |
| bêater ''beat'' BrE = ''bêta'' Greek
| |
| | |
| bêátify saint cf. Sêáttle and beaûtify beauty
| |
| | |
| Bêatríce, Bêatrix a as schwa: Bêə-
| |
| | |
| beau ''boyfriend'' = Bô ''[[Bo Diddley|Diddley]]''
| |
| | |
| beaûty *byûty
| |
| | |
| because ó
| |
| Béchèt *Béshây
| |
| bêe ''insect'' = bê ''is''
| |
| bêetle ''insect'' = Bêatle ''[[The Beatles|Beatles]]'', cf. bêat ''rhythm''
| |
| bêech ''tree'' = beâch ''sand''
| |
| bêen ''was'' = bêan ''eat''
| |
| bêer ''drink'' = bìêr ''coffin''
| |
| bêet sugar = bêat hit
| |
| Bèethôven *Bâitovən
| |
| behêmoth
| |
| Bèijíng - j not zh sound
| |
| bêíng cf. Bíng
| |
| Beirût *Bây-roôt
| |
| Belarûs - one would expect this post-Soviet word (once literally rendered as ‘White Russia’) to regularise to ‘Bélarus’, with the u as schwa, but this hasn’t happened; the most common alternative is still Belarùs
| |
| Bélfāst
| |
| Bélgium *Béljəm
| |
| belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe
| |
| belìêve
| |
| béllicôse
| |
| bellígerent -j-
| |
| béllow shout, bellows cf. belôw under
| |
| Bénaud *Bénnô
| |
| bénefit
| |
| benévolent
| |
| bérèt *bérrây
| |
| bërk insult = Bürke person
| |
| Bërkelêy California cf. Bàrclaỳ person = BrE Berkeley person
| |
| Bërkshîre AmE; BrE *Bàkshə, as with bàrk dog, tree Bàrking town
| |
| Berlín
| |
| bérry fruit = bury ground
| |
| bërth ship = bïrth born
| |
| bêta AmE bèta
| |
| Bétjeman *Bétcheman
| |
| bewíldered BrE *biwíldəd, AmE *bêwíldərd
| |
| | |
| bezìque *bəzêek
| |
| | |
| Bhùtto (the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] has taken to saying *Boôto)
| |
| | |
| bî- two = bŷ preposition = bŷ- extra = bŷe cricket, goodbye = buŷ sell = bî bisexual
| |
| | |
| bîas
| |
| | |
| bîased *bŷəst
| |
| | |
| bìdet *bêedây
| |
| | |
| bìêr corpse = bêer drink
| |
| | |
| bîght curve = bîte eat = bŷte computer
| |
| | |
| bígot
| |
| | |
| Bíllie female = Bílly male = bílly goat
| |
| | |
| bîô-
| |
| | |
| biógraphy
| |
| biólogy
| |
| Bïrmingham *Bïrmingəm, g not sounded separately
| |
| bïrthplace one word
| |
| bíscuit *bísket, cf. bāsket
| |
| bîson cf. bâsin
| |
| bîte food = bŷte computer = bîght loop
| |
| bizàrre *bízàr, cf. bazàar *bəzàr
| |
| bláckmail
| |
| blānch white = Blānche person
| |
| blancmange *blamónzh
| |
| blãre noise = Blãir person
| |
| bléssed *blést; but mostly as attributive adj: a *bléssíd thíng
| |
| bleŵ blow = blûe colour
| |
| blóc grouping = blóck prevent, wood, building
| |
| blónd male person, male and female adjective = blónde female person
| |
| blòodstained one word
| |
| blòodthirsty one word
| |
| blürred cf. cûred
| |
| bŏar animal = bŏor rude = bŏre boring, carried
| |
| bŏard wooden, directors = bŏred boring, cf. brŏad wide
| |
| bôast
| |
| bôat
| |
| Boàteng Bwà-
| |
| Bôeing person = bôwing music
| |
| Boer *Bùer
| |
| bôgey golf, ghost = bôgie trolley, truck = Bôgey Bogart
| |
| bôld brave = bôwled bowl
| |
| | |
| Bóllywood
| |
| bôlt metal = Bôlt = Bôult persons
| |
| Bólton city, person = Bôulton person
| |
| bómb *bóm
| |
| Bombây
| |
| bómbing *bómming
| |
| bôna fîdê
| |
| bonhomìê *bónə-mêe
| |
| boôgie-woôgie
| |
| boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound as if two
| |
| boôst
| |
| boôze drink = boôs boo
| |
| Bŏrdeaux *Bŏrdô, cf. Bardôt, *Bardô
| |
| bŏred boring = bŏard wooden, directors
| |
| bŏredom *bŏrdum
| |
| Bŏrgia *Bŏrjə
| |
| bŏrn birth = bŏrne wind = bŏurn stream
| |
| bòrough town BrE -rə, AmE = búrrow earth
| |
| bosom *bùzəm
| |
| bôth
| |
| boûgainvillea *bûgənvília
| |
| bòugh tree = bòw low, ship
| |
| bôulder rock = bôlder bold
| |
| Boulogne *Bəlŏin
| |
| böurbon
| |
| bŏurgeois bŏrzhwà
| |
| bourgeoisìê bŏrzhwà-zêe
| |
| bŏurne stream = bŏrn birth = bŏrne carried
| |
| Bŏurnemouth *Bŏrnməth
| |
| bòw low, ship = bòugh tree
| |
| bôw knot
| |
| bòwel
| |
| bòwer tree = bàuer euchre
| |
| bôwl all meanings
| |
| bóxing sport = Bóxing Day
| |
| búffalo animal = Búffalo America
| |
| | |
| brâin head cf. Brîan person
| |
| brâinwash one word
| |
| Brasília - s
| |
| Brazíl - z
| |
| bréad food = bréd breed
| |
| breâk smash, interval = brâke car
| |
| breâkaway adjective cf. breâk awây verb
| |
| breâkdown noun cf. breâk dòwn verb
| |
| breâkthroûgh noun *brâkethrû; cf. breâk throûgh verb
| |
| bréakfast
| |
| bréath noun unvoiced th, brêathe verb voiced th, cf. mòuth, same noun-verb distinction in pronunciation, but invariable spelling
| |
| bréathtaking one word
| |
| bréd breed = bréad food
| |
| brêed animal cf. bréad food
| |
| bréthren -dhrən
| |
| Brîan = Brŷan cf. brâin, O’Brîen
| |
| brìêf
| |
| brîght -ît
| |
| Brísbane *Brízbən
| |
| Brítain country -tən; = Bríton citizen, Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain persons
| |
| Bríttany France ≈ Brítney person
| |
| brôach subject = broôch wear
| |
| brŏad cf. bŏard
| |
| bróccolì *bróckəlêy
| |
| Brómwich *Brómmidge
| |
| Bróntê
| |
| brôoch pin BrE = brôach speak; AmE broôch
| |
| broôm sweep = brûme mist
| |
| bróthel unvoiced th
| |
| bròther voiced th
| |
| Bròúgh *Brúff
| |
| broûgham carriage = broôm sweep - or gha as schwa, broôəm
| |
| broûhàhà
| |
| Brûges = Brûgge *Brûzh
| |
| | |
| brûise ''contusion'' *brûze = breŵs ''beer''
| |
| | |
| Bruneî
| |
| | |
| Brunél
| |
| | |
| Brússels
| |
| | |
| Bucharést Bùka-
| |
| | |
| Budapést Bùda-
| |
| | |
| Bùddha -ùdə
| |
| | |
| Bùddhist -ùdi-
| |
| | |
| Buénos Aîres ''Argentina'' –ríz or Ãires *Ãríz, cf. Ãries ''Ram''
| |
| | |
| bùffèt ''eat'' *bùffây
| |
| | |
| búffet ''hit'', t sounded
| |
| | |
| buffoôn -ffoô-
| |
| | |
| buíld *bíld
| |
| | |
| buílding *bílding
| |
| | |
| Bulgãria
| |
| | |
| bùll
| |
| | |
| bùlletin
| |
| búllshit one word
| |
| buŏy sea = bŏy child
| |
| buŏyant *bŏyant
| |
| bürden load = Bürdon person
| |
| bûreau *byûrô, plural bûreaux, *bûrôz
| |
| bureaucracy *byûrócracy, *beaûrócracy
| |
| bürger hamburger = bürgher business = Bërger person
| |
| bürgeoning
| |
| bürn fire = Bÿrne name
| |
| bürqa
| |
| búrrow ground = AmE bòrôugh town cf. Búrrôughs person
| |
| bury ''ground'' = bérry ''tree'', Bury ''town''
| |
| | |
| bús ''transport'' = búss ''kiss''
| |
| | |
| búsed ''driven'' or bússed = búst ''bosom, broke''
| |
| búses ''plural, verb'' *bússes
| |
| búsing -ss-
| |
| bùsh
| |
| | |
| | |
| business *bízniss, cf. bíz, busy-ness ''being busy''
| |
| | |
| businessman one word, bíz-
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| bússed ''driven'' or búsed = búst ''bosom, broken''
| |
| | |
| busy bíz-
| |
| | |
| busybódy bíz-; one word
| |
| | |
| busy-ness ''busy'' cf. business ''matter'' - both í
| |
| | |
| bútt ''head, joke, buttocks'' = bút ''however''
| |
| | |
| bútterfly
| |
| | |
| buŷ ''sell'' = bŷ ''preposition'' = bŷ- ''incidental'' = bŷe ''cricket'' = bî- ''two'' = bî ''bisexual''
| |
| | |
| bŷe-bye!
| |
| | |
| bŷ-election
| |
| | |
| bŷ-product
| |
| | |
| Bÿrd ''person'' = bïrd ''fly''
| |
| | |
| bŷte ''computer'' = bîte ''food'' = bîght ''loop''
| |
| | |
| Bŷzántîne or Býzantîne
| |
| | |
| ===C===
| |
| C = sêe ''look''
| |
| | |
| cabál cf. câble
| |
| | |
| cáche ''arms'' = cásh ''money''
| |
| | |
| càdre *càder; AmE càdrê
| |
| | |
| cáddie ''golf'' = cáddy ''tea''
| |
| | |
| cáfè (can be written as café)
| |
| | |
| cáfè au lâit (can be written as café au lait) *cáfâyô-lây
| |
| | |
| cáffêine
| |
| | |
| Caîro
| |
| | |
| Caìus ''Cambridge'' = kêys ''lock''; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with Gaîus
| |
| | |
| Calcútta
| |
| | |
| cálendar not spelt -er, cf. còlander
| |
| | |
| Cálgary *Cálgəri
| |
| | |
| Califŏrnia -nyə
| |
| | |
| callígraphy -ll-
| |
| | |
| 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
| |
| | |
| canãry
| |
| | |
| canásta
| |
| | |
| Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cánborough
| |
| | |
| 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''
| |
| | |
| 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 AmE cápillãry
| |
| | |
| cápital ''city'' = Cápitol ''Washington''
| |
| | |
| capítulate
| |
| | |
| 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
| |
| | |
| 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
| | Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel |
| ===edit===
| |
| cartél
| |
| càrton
| |
| cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, m only different sound
| |
| 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
| |
| cåucus rhymes with råucous
| |
| cåught catch BrE = cŏurt tennis
| |
| cauliflòur *cóllyflower
| |
| cåuse reason -z = BrE Cŏrrs persons, cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós because *cóz
| |
| cause celébre cause célèbre *côz-celébrə
| |
| cavalìêr
| |
| cávêát
| |
| cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold
| |
| cêasefîre
| |
| 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-, AmE cénter
| |
| centrífugal
| |
| centrípetal
| |
| céntrist s-
| |
| cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series
| |
| cérebral s-; 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-; ch- where stated
| |
| chà tea - or chàr as other meanings
| |
| chà chà
| |
| Chádian *Cháddian
| |
| chãir sit = Chér person
| |
| chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng
| |
| chágrin sh-; AmE *shəgrìn
| |
| chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl-, cf. camêlia, only ending sounds different
| |
| châmber tsh-, cf. Châmbers person
| |
| chámois *shámwà
| |
| champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink)
| |
| chandelìêr sh-
| |
| Chandrasèkhar
| |
| chánnel rhymes with pánel
| |
| châós *kâyóss
| |
| chápel church = Cháppell person
| |
| cháperône sh-
| |
| chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng
| |
| charàde sh-; AmE charâde
| |
| cháracter k
| |
| 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 tsh-
| |
| Chéchnya Tsh-
| |
| chéckpoint one word
| |
| chêetah tsh-
| |
| chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound
| |
| chéque money tsh-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch nationality
| |
| Cherokêe Tsh-
| |
| chérry-píck tsh-
| |
| chévron sh-
| |
| cheŵ tsh-; cf. words beginning tû-
| |
| chèz *shây
| |
| chìc sh-
| |
| Chicàgo Shí-, à in both BrE and AmE
| |
| chíck
| |
| chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh-
| |
| chihuàhua *tshiwàwa
| |
| chîld singular tsh-
| |
| chîldbïrth one word
| |
| chíldren plural tsh-
| |
| Chílê country tsh-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold
| |
| Chílêan Tsh-
| |
| chimêra kí-
| |
| chímney tsh-
| |
| chívalry sh-
| |
| chívy or chívvy tsh-
| |
| chlamýdia kl-
| |
| Chlôê *Klôwie
| |
| chlóroform kl-
| |
| chóc chocolate tsh- = chóck wedge
| |
| chóck-a-blóck
| |
| choîr singers = quîre paper
| |
| choléstorol k-
| |
| choôse select = cheŵs chew
| |
| chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal
| |
| chŏrus k-
| |
| Chrîst Kr-
| |
| chrísten *kríssen
| |
| Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal
| |
| Chrístmas *Kríssməss
| |
| Chrístopher *Krístəfə
| |
| chrôme kr-
| |
| chrónic kr-
| |
| chrysánthemum kríz-
| |
| chûte fall sh-; = shoôt gun
| |
| chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur
| |
| ci- s-
| |
| Cícely person = Sícily Italy
| |
| cîder
| |
| cigàr
| |
| cínema
| |
| cínnamon
| |
| cïrcle
| |
| cïrcuit *sërkit
| |
| circûítous s-
| |
| cïrcumcîse sër-
| |
| circumcísion s-; -zhən
| |
| cïrcumstance s-
| |
| císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak
| |
| 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
| |
| 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
| |
| 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
| |
| côconut or côcoanut
| |
| cocoôn
| |
| côdêine
| |
| côdicil
| |
| coêlacanth sêel-, 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
| |
| collápse
| |
| 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-
| |
| cóloratùra
| |
| còlour tint cf. cóllar neck
| |
| cólumn *cóllum
| |
| cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the n
| |
| côma cf. cómma
| |
| cômb hair -m, cf. còme here
| |
| cómbat
| |
| cómbatant or combátant
| |
| cómedy
| |
| còmeúppance ó; one word
| |
| còmfortable -ft-
| |
| cómfortably-óff
| |
| cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious
| |
| cómment
| |
| commërcial
| |
| commít
| |
| commíttee
| |
| commûnal
| |
| cómmune noun
| |
| commûne verb
| |
| cómmunism
| |
| commûnity
| |
| còmpany
| |
| compãre contrast cf. cómpére compère host
| |
| cómparable or compárable
| |
| compárative
| |
| compárison
| |
| compàrtment
| |
| cómpensâte
| |
| compensâtion
| |
| cómpére - compère show, cf. compãre contrast
| |
| complâint complain
| |
| cómplement together = cómpliment praise
| |
| cómplex AmE compléx
| |
| compléxion not -ct-
| |
| complîant comply
| |
| cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss
| |
| cómrâde AmE cómráde, cf. Cónrád
| |
| concêde
| |
| concentrâte cf. consént
| |
| cóncrete
| |
| concatenâtion - e, not i
| |
| concentrâte cf. consént
| |
| 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
| |
| 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
| |
| cóp-òut
| |
| cóps police = cópse wood
| |
| 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 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
| |
| 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
| |
| crêak noise = crêek water
| |
| crêam
| |
| crêâte
| |
| crêâtion -êâshən
| |
| crêature -ch-
| |
| créche *crésh, cf. crásh
| |
| crêdence
| |
| credéntials
| |
| crédibílity
| |
| crêed
| |
| crêek water = crêak noise
| |
| créme crème
| |
| créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt
| |
| Crêôle
| |
| crêosote
| |
| crèpe crèpe
| |
| crescéndos -sh-
| |
| créscent *crézzənt
| |
| crévíce
| |
| crevásse
| |
| creŵ ship = Creŵe town
| |
| creŵ-cut
| |
| Crîchton *Crŷtən
| |
| crîme
| |
| Crîmêa -êə
| |
| Crôát *Crôwát
| |
| Croâtia *Crôwâshə
| |
| 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
| |
| 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-
| |
| cýst s-
| |
| cýnic s-
| |
| cýnicism
| |
| Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr
| |
| Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash
| |
| D = Dêe person
| |
| Dail parliament = Dŏyle person
| |
| dâily
| |
| daîquíri
| |
| dãiry milk cf. dîary day
| |
| Dàlek
| |
| Dalziél *Dêe-él
| |
| dám river = dámn hell
| |
| dámage
| |
| dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound
| |
| Dániel *Dányəl
| |
| Dânish
| |
| Dáphnê *Dáffney
| |
| dãresây is one word in Î dãresay meaning ‘probably’
| |
| dàrtbŏard one word
| |
| dāstardly cf. bāstard
| |
| dâtabâse AmE dátabâse one word
| |
| dåughter *dåwter
| |
| Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis
| |
| dávit
| |
| dâys day = dâze dazzle
| |
| de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right
| |
| déad cf. dêed
| |
| déadline one word
| |
| déadlock one word
| |
| dêal
| |
| déalt
| |
| dêar loved, expensive = dêer animal
| |
| dëarth
| |
| debàcle
| |
| débris débris BrE *débrêe or dâybree; AmE *dəbrêe
| |
| débt *dét; silent b
| |
| dèbut début *dâybyû - or dé-
| |
| dèbuted débuted *dâybyûd - or dé-
| |
| décade years cf. decâyed decay - though some do rhyme them
| |
| Decémber
| |
| dêcent
| |
| decídûous -yû
| |
| déckchair one word
| |
| declássè déclassé *dây-clássây
| |
| décimate
| |
| decîpher cf. cŷpher or cîpher
| |
| Déclan
| |
| dêed cf. déad
| |
| dêer animal = dêar friend, expensive
| |
| dè fácto two words, *dây-fácto
| |
| defámatory
| |
| defâme
| |
| defër cf. díffer
| |
| déficit
| |
| définitely
| |
| defûse problem dê-, -z, cf. diffûse, dí-
| |
| degénerate
| |
| dèign condescend = Dâne Denmark
| |
| deipnósphist
| |
| déjà vu *dèzhà-vû
| |
| delây
| |
| deletêrious
| |
| Délhi India = déli delicatessen
| |
| delínêâte
| |
| delínquent
| |
| delîght -ît
| |
| Dêlius cf. Sibèlius
| |
| delíver
| |
|
| |
|
| ===edit2===
| | Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale, |
| cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow
| |
| 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
| |
| crêak noise = crêek water
| |
| crêam
| |
| crêâte
| |
| crêâtion -êâshən
| |
| crêature -ch-
| |
| créche *crésh, cf. crásh
| |
| crêdence
| |
| credéntials
| |
| crédibílity
| |
| crêed
| |
| crêek water = crêak noise
| |
| créme crème
| |
| créme de menthe - crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt
| |
| Crêôle
| |
| crêosote
| |
| crèpe crèpe
| |
| crescéndos -sh-
| |
| créscent *crézzənt
| |
| crévíce
| |
| crevásse
| |
| creŵ ship = Creŵe town
| |
| creŵ-cut
| |
| Crîchton *Crŷtən
| |
| crîme
| |
| Crîmêa -êə
| |
| Crôát *Crôwát
| |
| Croâtia *Crôwâshə
| |
| 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
| |
| 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-
| |
| cýst s-
| |
| cýnic s-
| |
| cýnicism
| |
| Czàr or Tsàr *Zàr
| |
| Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash
| |
|
| |
|
| ===D===
| | :Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght, |
| D = Dêe person
| | |
| Dail parliament = Dŏyle person
| | :Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct. |
| dâily
| |
| daîquíri
| |
| dãiry milk cf. dîary day
| |
| Dàlek
| |
| Dalziél *Dêe-él
| |
| dám river = dámn hell
| |
| dámage
| |
| dânger -jer, cf. clánger, hánger, no j sound
| |
| Dániel *Dányəl
| |
| Dânish
| |
| Dáphnê *Dáffney
| |
| dãresây is one word in Î dãresay meaning ‘probably’
| |
| dàrtbŏard one word
| |
| dāstardly cf. bāstard
| |
| dâtabâse AmE dátabâse one word
| |
| dåughter *dåwter
| |
| Dâvìês -z AmE; BrE = Dâvis
| |
| dávit
| |
| dâys day = dâze dazzle
| |
| de *də (de lûxe or de lúxe) or dè (dè fácto), not a word in its own right
| |
| déad cf. dêed
| |
| déadline one word
| |
| déadlock one word
| |
| dêal
| |
| déalt
| |
| dêar loved, expensive = dêer animal
| |
| dëarth
| |
| debàcle
| |
| débris débris BrE *débrêe or dâybree; AmE *dəbrêe
| |
| débt *dét; silent b
| |
| dèbut début *dâybyû - or dé-
| |
| dèbuted débuted *dâybyûd - or dé-
| |
| décade years cf. decâyed decay - though some do rhyme them
| |
| Decémber
| |
| dêcent
| |
| decídûous -yû
| |
| déckchair one word
| |
| declássè déclassé *dây-clássây
| |
| décimate
| |
| decîpher cf. cŷpher or cîpher
| |
| Déclan
| |
| dêed cf. déad
| |
| dêer animal = dêar friend, expensive
| |
| dè fácto two words, *dây-fácto
| |
| defámatory
| |
| defâme
| |
| defër cf. díffer
| |
| déficit
| |
| définitely
| |
| defûse problem dê-, -z, cf. diffûse, dí-
| |
| degénerate
| |
| dèign condescend = Dâne Denmark
| |
| deipnósphist
| |
| déjà vu *dèzhà-vû
| |
| delây
| |
| deletêrious
| |
| Délhi India = déli delicatessen
| |
| delínêâte
| |
| delínquent
| |
| delîght -ît
| |
| Dêlius cf. Sibèlius
| |
| delíver
| |
| déluge -yû-
| |
| delûsion cf. illûsion
| |
| de lûxe or de lúxe
| |
| démagogue -góg
| |
| demānd
| |
| démo
| |
| demócracy cf. hypócrisy
| |
| democrátic
| |
| demür
| |
| demûre
| |
| dénguê fêver
| |
| dénier weight, coin *dényə, cf. denîer deny
| |
| Dénis = Dénnis
| |
| Denìse -êez
| |
| denŷ
| |
| depéndant person = depéndent adjective
| |
| dërby race = Dërby England AmE; BrE = Dàrby person
| |
| de riguëur *dərigër - hard g
| |
| desálinate
| |
| descént down = dissént disagree
| |
| descrîbe dís-
| |
| désert sand
| |
| desërt leave = dessërt meal
| |
| désiccate - very commonly misspelt: -ss- would be expected after é, cf. párallel
| |
| despãir
| |
| désperate cf. dísparate, séparate
| |
| desperâtion
| |
| despícable
| |
| dessërt meal -zërt = desërt leave
| |
| dessërts just -zërts
| |
| détail noun
| |
| detâil verb
| |
| detër
| |
| detêriorate
| |
| detërmíne
| |
| detérrent
| |
| detrîtus
| |
| dévastate
| |
| devastâtion
| |
| devélop rhymes with envélop verb, cf. énvelôpe noun
| |
| devîce -ss, cf. divîde
| |
| devîse -z, cf. divîde
| |
| devôte
| |
| devotêe
| |
| devòut
| |
| deŵ morning = dûe owed, cf. do act *dû
| |
| déxtrous or déxterous
| |
| diabêtes *dîəbêtêez or -tíz
| |
| diabétic
| |
| diaérisis *dî-érisis, AmE diérisis
| |
| dîálýsis
| |
| dîamond
| |
| dîáphanous
| |
| dîaphragm -ám
| |
| diarrhoêa BrE *dîre-rêar; AmE diarrhêa
| |
| dîary cf. dãiry
| |
| diáspora
| |
| dictâte cf. díktát
| |
| dîcy dodgy cf. Dícky, Díckie persons
| |
| dîe death = dŷe colour
| |
| dîehard one word
| |
| dìêsel
| |
| dîet *dîət
| |
| díffer cf. defër
| |
| diffûse various -ss, give out -z
| |
| dígit
| |
| díktát cf. dictâte
| |
| dilémma
| |
| dilettántê
| |
| dímwit one word
| |
| dínghy boat - no g sound, only ng sound
| |
| díngy dark *dínjy
| |
| dînosåur
| |
| dîocese *dîəsíss
| |
| diphthêria
| |
| díphthong
| |
| diplôma
| |
| díplomat
| |
| dîre cf. dêar
| |
| dírham
| |
| disassôciate - -sass-
| |
| disarrây
| |
| disāstrous -zā-, no e, cf. disāster; mürderous, cantánkerous, etc.
| |
| dísc record, circular = dísk computer
| |
| discòver
| |
| discrêet careful = discrête separate
| |
| discrétion -éshən
| |
| discriminâtory
| |
| díscus
| |
| discúss
| |
| disequilíbrium
| |
| disgúst revulsion ≈ discússed talked
| |
| disingénuous - -uou-
| |
| Dísney *Díznì
| |
| dispátch or despátch
| |
| dispénsable
| |
| disséction
| |
| dissént disagree = descént down
| |
| dissymétric dîssý-
| |
| dístribûte or distríbûte -yû-
| |
| divîne cf. Devìne
| |
| divîsive cf. divîde, dêvious, devîse
| |
| Djángo Reînhardt - unlike in French
| |
| do *dû cf. dûe cause, time = deŵ morning *dyû
| |
| doable *dûwable
| |
| Dócherty or Dóherty same pronunciation: Celtic ch sound, same as Arabic kh as in Khàn
| |
| dôcîle AmE *dóssle
| |
| dòes do *dúz, cf. dôes female deer
| |
| dóg-êat-dóg
| |
| dógged verb *dógd: this próblem dógged us
| |
| dógged attributive adjective *dóggíd: a dógged pursûer
| |
| dôe animal = dôh music, exclamation
| |
| dòes *dúz, cf. fãir do’s, *doôz
| |
| dôle money = Dôle person
| |
| dóll model
| |
| dóllar
| |
| domâin territory = demèsne estate, domâine vineyard
| |
| dón clothes = Dón person
| |
| dòne do = dún colour = Dúnn person = Dònne poet
| |
| dóner kebab = Dónner person
| |
| dônor give
| |
| doômsday doom = Domesday Book
| |
| dŏorstép one word
| |
| dŏrmant
| |
| dóssièr silent French r - or e regularised to schwa
| |
| dotcóm or dot.cóm - but one dot is surely enough
| |
| doúble rhymes with búbble
| |
| doûble entendre - -en- as ón, twice
| |
| dòubt *dòut, cf. dòughty
| |
| dôugh bake, money = dôe deer
| |
| dôughnút *dônut
| |
| dòughty
| |
| Doúglas *Dúgləss
| |
| doûr serious, one syllable ≈ doer do, two
| |
| dòve bird
| |
| dôve dive - AmE for dîved
| |
| dòvish
| |
| dòwnfall one word
| |
| downhíll one word
| |
| dòwry
| |
| dôze
| |
| dôzed doze
| |
| dòzen 12
| |
| dracônian
| |
| drāft AmE all meanings, BrE outline, money, group, US conscription = drāught
| |
| dràgon
| |
| dràma
| |
| drāught BrE cold, net, liquids, game, horse = drāft, cf. dròught *dròwt
| |
| dråw design ≈ dråwer pull
| |
| dråwback noun one word
| |
| dreŵ draw = Dreŵ person
| |
| dríll
| |
| drîly or drŷly
| |
| drível
| |
| drízzle
| |
| drómedary
| |
| droôp down = drûpe fruit
| |
| dròught *dròut, cf. drāught = drāft
| |
| drúnkenness -nn-
| |
| Drûze
| |
| dûal two = dûel fight, cf. jeŵel stone
| |
| dúchess cf. Dútch
| |
| dûe owed = deŵ morning, cf. do act *dû
| |
| dúmb-bell
| |
| dún colour = Dúnn person = dòne do, cf. dón clothes = Dón person
| |
| Dúncan rhymes with drúnken
| |
| Dundêe
| |
| dûne sand
| |
| Dúrham *Dúrrəm
| |
| dûring j-
| |
| dúst dirt = dòst archaic do
| |
| dústbin one word
| |
| duúmvirate ûú
| |
| dûvèt *doôvây
| |
| Dvŏrak Dvořák *Dəvåwzhàk
| |
| dŷe colour = dîe dead
| |
| dŷeing dye = dŷing dîe
| |
| dynámic
| |
| dŷnamísm
| |
| dŷnamîte
| |
| dýs- bad = dís- negative
| |
| dýsentery
| |
| dysfúnctional
| |
| dysléxic
| |
| ===E===
| |
| Ê
| |
| êar cf. ërr
| |
| ëarl
| |
| Ëarl Grây tea cf. colour BrE grèy, AmE grây
| |
| ëarly
| |
| ëarn money = ürn bury = ërne eagle
| |
| ëarnest serious = Ërnest person, cf. Thê Impŏrtance of Bêing Ëarnest
| |
| ëarth
| |
| Eâster
| |
| eâstern east BrE = Êaston person
| |
| êasy-gôing
| |
| êaten eat = Êton school
| |
| êaves roof cf. êve before
| |
| êavesdróp one word
| |
| eccéntric exé-
| |
| échelon ésh-
| |
| eclãir éclair *í-clãir
| |
| eclát éclat *è-clá
| |
|
| |
|
| éctoplasm
| | Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther, |
| económical
| |
| ecónomy
| |
| ecólogy
| |
| êcosystem
| |
| écstasy éxt-
| |
| ecstátic éxt-
| |
| Écuador *Équador
| |
| éczema *éxma
| |
| éddy pool = Éddie = Éddy persons
| |
| êdict
| |
| édit
| |
| êerie strange as in Lâke Êrie, cf. ãiry light = éyrie - and variant spellings - bird
| |
| efféct result í- or ə-: when schwa = afféct cause
| |
| effervésce -véss
| |
| efficácity
| |
| effícient -shənt
| |
| éffort -or- as schwa
| |
| effròntery cf. affrònt
| |
| Èid
| |
| èight 8 = AmE âte eat, BrE *ét
| |
| eîther neither AmE êither voiced th, cf. êther sky, unvoiced th
| |
| élbôw
| |
| eléction
| |
| eléctoral
| |
| elegîac
| |
| Eléktra
| |
| élement
| |
| eleméntary
| |
| elévenses
| |
| Élgàr - though it seems contemporary pronunciation was *Èlgə
| |
| éligible cf. illégible
| |
| elícit obtain = illícit illegal
| |
| elìte íl-
| |
| elìtist
| |
| Elízabeth Queen = Elísabeth
| |
| Éltham -təm
| |
| elûsive elude = illûsive illusory
| |
| élsewhere one word
| |
| émanate
| |
| embárrass cf. embrâce
| |
| émbassy cf. ambássador
| |
| embézzle
| |
| émblem
| |
| embódiment
| |
| embrâce cf. embárrass
| |
| embrŏidery
| |
| eménds alters = aménds make, cf. imménse huge
| |
| emërge
| |
| émigrate cf. ímmigrâte
| |
| émigrè émigré
| |
| éminence grìse *éminónss-grêez
| |
| éminent
| |
| emôtion
| |
| emphysêma
| |
| émulate
| |
| en French = ón English - en occurs in the following expressions taken from French: en attendant *onətóndón, en blóc, en clãir, en fáce, en famìlle *onfamì, en fête *onfét, en másse, en pássant *onpásson, en plein *onplán, en póste, en prìse, en rappŏrt, en roûte, en suìte *onswêet
| |
| encéphalitis ens-
| |
| encore ón-
| |
| énclave
| |
| encúmber cf. incúmbent
| |
| endéavour
| |
| endógenous cf. indíginous
| |
| endûre cf. ínjure
| |
| énergy - g as j
| |
| energétic - g as j
| |
| enfant terrìble *ónfóntérêebl
| |
| enfŏrce require = ín fŏrce applicable
| |
| engâge
| |
| engagé *ongázhây
| |
| éngine -jín
| |
| England Íng-glənd
| |
| English Íng-glísh
| |
| ennuì *ón-wê
| |
| enŏrmous
| |
| enoúgh *inúff
| |
| en pássant *ompássom - last syllable nasalised
| |
| enquîre, enquîry or inquîre, inquîry; AmE ínquiry = enquiry
| |
| ensemble *onsómble
| |
| ensûe -syû
| |
| ensůre certain = insůre insurance; BrE *inshåw, AmE *inshûre
| |
| énter
| |
| entîre *íntŷre, cf. MácIntyre etc.
| |
| entîrety *entîrity
| |
| entouràge *óntùràzh
| |
| éntrance enter
| |
| entrānce beguile
| |
| entrèe entrée *óntrây
| |
| entrepôt *óntrəpô
| |
| entreprenëur ón-; AmE -neûr
| |
| enúnciate
| |
| envélop verb
| |
| énvelôpe noun
| |
| envîronment - nm
| |
| environméntalist - nm
| |
| epicûrêan
| |
| épitāph
| |
| êqual
| |
| eqùality
| |
| equâte
| |
| équitable
| |
| ër hesitation = BrE ërr error
| |
| êra AmE éra time = BrE érror mistake; cf. ãrea, ària
| |
| erádicate cf. írrigate
| |
| ére before = ãir oxygen = héir estate
| |
| ërne eagle = ëarn money = ürn pot
| |
| ërr AmE érr cf. êar
| |
| érror
| |
| eschêat - s and ch pronounced separately: rhymes with chêat
| |
| escheŵ - s and ch pronounced separately
| |
| ÉTA Basque = Étta person
| |
| ét ál
| |
| etc. = ét cétera - the pronunciation ‘ixetra’ is frowned upon
| |
| éthnocéntric one word
| |
| ethnógraphy
| |
| êthŷl
| |
| Êton school = êaten eat = Êton = Êaton persons
| |
| eû- well = yoû pronoun
| |
| Eûcharist Yûkə-
| |
| eûchre *yûker
| |
| Eûgêne = yoû, Jêan
| |
| eûlogy
| |
| eùro currency = Eùro football
| |
| Eùrope *Yùrəp
| |
| Europêan
| |
| euthanâsia -âzìyə
| |
| eváporate
| |
| êve before cf. êaves roof
| |
| êven cf. Évan
| |
| evént
| |
| Évelyn usually female
| |
| Êvelyn usually male
| |
| éveryday adjective éveryday lîfe; wê gét úp évery dây
| |
| êvil cf. dévil
| |
| eŵe sheep = yoû me = yeŵ tree
| |
| éx lover = éx- past
| |
| exácerbate
| |
| exággerate
| |
| excél
| |
| éxcellent
| |
| excépt exception = accépt receive
| |
| exclâim
| |
| exécutive cf. éxecute
| |
| éxercise
| |
| exhíbit
| |
| exhibítion
| |
| exhílarating silent h, cf. hilãrious
| |
| éxîle
| |
| éxiting exit cf. excîting excite, both one t
| |
| exónerâte
| |
| éxŏrcise or = éxercise
| |
| expátriate -ət, cf. pâtriot, also ət
| |
| expêrience
| |
| expériment
| |
| expertìse -têez, cf. other words ending in -ise, mostly -îze
| |
| expôse
| |
| exposé *expôzây - either stressed
| |
| extól or extôl
| |
| éxtra *xtra
| |
| extrávagant
| |
| extravagánza
| |
| extrêmist
| |
| extraŏrdinary - the first a often is not heard: *extrŏrdinary
| |
| eŷe see = Î am = aŷe yes
| |
| eŷesîght one word, *îsîte
| |
| eŷeẁash one word, *îwósh
| |
| éyrie bird has variant spellings éyry, ãérie and ãéry = ãiry light; cf. Lâke Êrie = êerie weird
| |
|
| |
|
| ===F===
| | Sâying làther, bâther, fàther? |
| F *éff
| | |
| fábulous *fábyələss
| | :Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh, |
| façàde *fəsàd
| | |
| facêtious *fəsêeshəss
| | :Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh?? |
| fáction *fácshən, cf. fáshion
| |
| Fáhrenheît
| |
| fãir justice, pretty, fun- = fãre
| |
| fãiry cf. férry
| |
| fait accomplì *fét-əcomplì
| |
| fåll-òut noun
| |
| Fålstaff
| |
| fålcon
| |
| Fålklands
| |
| fámily *fámly
| |
| fámíne
| |
| fàraway adjective before noun, one word, cf. ít’s toô fàr awây
| |
| fàrcical
| |
| fãre travel, food = fãir
| |
| farewéll
| |
| Fãroe Islands = phãroah Egypt
| |
| fàr-rêaching
| |
| Fàrquhar *Fàrker
| |
| fàrther further BrE and some AmE = fàther dad
| |
| fáscist *fáshist, cf. râcist
| |
| fáshion *fáshən, *fátion, cf. fáction
| |
| fāst
| |
| fāsten *fāssən
| |
| Fátah Palestine = BrE fátter fat
| |
| fâtal
| |
| fatálity
| |
| fáthéad as if two words
| |
| fátwà
| |
| fåucet tap = Fåwcett person
| |
| fåulty fault = Fåwlty Towers
| |
| fåun goat-god = fåwn
| |
| fåuna
| |
| faux *fô
| |
| faux-pas *fô-pà
| |
| fåwn grovel, colour, deer = fåun
| |
| fâvourite -vr-; AmE fâvorite
| |
| fáx machine = fácts truths
| |
| Fây = Fâye persons = fèy whimsy
| |
| fâze confuse = phâse period
| |
| fêat achievement = fêet foot
| |
| Fébruary
| |
| fêed verb cf. féd past, foôd noun
| |
| fèign pretend = fâin willing
| |
| fèint sham, write = fâint unconscious
| |
| feîsty
| |
| Fêlix
| |
| fêmur
| |
| fermént chemical, excite cf. fomént water, disorder
| |
| férry cf. fãiry *féəry
| |
| fète garden, celebrate fête = fâte destiny
| |
| fétid cf. fèted = fâted
| |
| feûd argument cf. leŵd, foôd
| |
| fèy whimsy = Fây = Fâye persons
| |
| feŵ many = pheŵ relief
| |
| fìat decree = Fìat ® car
| |
| fìêrce
| |
| fîery cf. fîre, wîry, feîsty
| |
| fífth *fíth
| |
| fíg-lêaf
| |
| fígurehead *fíggerhéd, one word
| |
| fîle nail, paper = phîal liquid
| |
| fílet or fíllet - BrE t sounded, AmE *filây
| |
| fíll up = Phíl Philip
| |
| fíllip boost = Phílip person
| |
| fín fish = Fínn Finland
| |
| fînal
| |
| finàlê
| |
| fîne all meanings
| |
| fínger *fíng-gər
| |
| fínish stop = Fínnish Finland
| |
| fïr tree = für animal
| |
| fîreworks noun one word
| |
| físcal finance -ss-, cf. phýsícal body, -zí-
| |
| físsure break = físher fish, Físher person
| |
| fláccid *fláxid
| |
| flagellâtion
| |
| flãir ability = flãre fire
| |
| flák cf. bláck
| |
| flãre fire = flãir ability
| |
| flåutist
| |
| flák abuse = Fláck person
| |
| flåw error = BrE flŏor ground
| |
| flêa insect = flêe escape
| |
| Fléming
| |
| flíck-knife
| |
| flîer or flŷer
| |
| flípside one word
| |
| flôe ice = flôw water
| |
| flòod
| |
| flòur bake = flòwer plant
| |
| floúrish
| |
| flŏra
| |
| flôw water = flôe ice, cf. flåw error
| |
| flòwer plant = flòur bake
| |
| flû influenza = flûe chimney
| |
| flûgelhorn
| |
| flúmmoxed *flúməxt
| |
| fôcus, fôcused and fôcusing are preferable to fôcussed and fôcussing as they do not remind one of cússed and cússing
| |
| foêtus AmE fêtus
| |
| fôlìage has three syllables, cf. cárriage, márriage, each two
| |
| fomént water, disorder cf. fermént chemical, excite
| |
| foòt
| |
| foôd eat cf. feûd quarrel fyoô-
| |
| foôl
| |
| foôlscap
| |
| foòtnôte one word
| |
| fŏr preposition usually schwa; stressed = fŏur 4, fŏre front
| |
| fóray AmE = Fåurè Fauré
| |
| forbád or forbâde
| |
| forbíd
| |
| fŏre front = fŏur number
| |
| fŏrecast
| |
| fŏrecastle -səl: sailors traditionally say *fôksəl
| |
| fŏrehéad traditionally *fórrid, cf. hórrid, but now normally spelling pronunciation
| |
| fóreign *fórrən
| |
| fórest -íst = Fórrest person = Fórest Nottingham, person
| |
| fŏrewörd book cf. fŏrward back
| |
| fŏrmally formal BrE = fŏrmerly before
| |
| fŏrmer cf. fàrmer
| |
| fŏrmidable or formídable
| |
| fŏrtè
| |
| fŏrth forward = fŏurth four
| |
| forthcòming one word
| |
| fŏrtnight *fŏrtnîte
| |
| fŏrty cf. fŏur, fŏurteen
| |
| fŏrward forwards cf. rewård prize, fŏrewörd introduction
| |
| fòul bad = fòwl birds
| |
| fòund find, establish
| |
| fŏur number = fŏre front = fŏr preposition
| |
| fŏyèr *fŏyây
| |
| frácàs *frácà
| |
| frâmework one word
| |
| fránc currency = fránk honest = Fránk person
| |
| Frānces usually female
| |
| Frāncís usually male
| |
| fråught
| |
| frêak
| |
| frêe - as a suffix meaning ‘without’ it must be hyphenated: débt-frêe *dét-frêe
| |
| frêer *frêeər
| |
| frêest *frêeíst
| |
| frêeze cold = frìêze wall
| |
| Frêmantle
| |
| frêquent adjective
| |
| frequént verb
| |
| fréshwåter adjective cf. thére ís nô frésh wåter
| |
| frîed
| |
| friénd
| |
| frìêze wall, cloth = frêeze
| |
| frîght *frîte
| |
| frîghtened *frîtənd
| |
| frólic
| |
| frònt
| |
| fròwzy
| |
| frûit *frûte
| |
| frŷ
| |
| FTSE *foòtsìê
| |
| fûchsia *fyoôsha
| |
| fùll
| |
| fundaméntalist
| |
| für animal = fïr tree
| |
| fürlôugh *fürlôw
| |
| fürnace -níss
| |
| fürnish
| |
| furŏrê or as AmE fûrŏr
| |
| fürther
| |
| ===G===
| |
| G = gêe up
| |
| gádfly one word
| |
| Gâelic Irish
| |
| Gáelic Scottish = Gállic French
| |
| gáffe cf. gúff
| |
| gág
| |
| gâge is an AmE alternative to gâuge
| |
| gâit walk = gâte garden
| |
| Galápagos - identical Spanish accent may be written
| |
| gâle storm = Gâil = Gâle persons = Gâel Gaelic
| |
| Gålle Sri Lanka = Gåul France
| |
| gállop horse = Gállup poll
| |
| gámble money = gámbol frisky
| |
| gánder
| |
| Gándhi *Gándy, cf. cándy and gh- words
| |
| gâol BrE old alternative spelling of, and pronounced, jâil
| |
| gárage hard g; BrE -àzh, AmE *guəràzh
| |
| Gáry hard G, cf. Gérry = Jérry; cf. Hárry, Cãry, Gáby
| |
| gàrdener garden = Gàrdiner = Gàrdner persons
| |
| gàrgoyle
| |
| gàrner gather = Gàrner person; BrE = Ghàna country
| |
| gáses noun = gásses verb
| |
| gâte open = gâit walk
| |
| gâuge *gâij, AmE can be gâge; cf. grêengage
| |
| gåuze
| |
| gécko
| |
| gêese hard g: plural of goôse
| |
| Geîger còunter hard G
| |
| gèisha hard g
| |
| gél *jél, cf. jélly
| |
| Géminî Jé-
| |
| gêne genetics = Jêan girl = Gêne Eugene; gênes = jêans trousers
| |
| genealógical jê-
| |
| géneral *jénral
| |
| genéric j-
| |
| gênes genetics = jêans trousers, cf. Jêan person - pronounced *Zhà with nasalised à if French
| |
| genétics
| |
| gênìê j-
| |
| gênìî j-
| |
| génitâlia j-
| |
| gênius j-
| |
| genre *zhónrə
| |
| gentêel j-, cf. Géntîle
| |
| géntle j-
| |
| gênus j-
| |
| Géoff = Jéff
| |
| Géoffrey = Jéffrey
| |
| geográphic jêə-
| |
| geógraphy jóg- in rapid speech, cf. gêólogy
| |
| Geŏrge Jŏr-
| |
| Gërman J-
| |
| germâne relevant = Germâine, Jermâin, etc. persons
| |
| gërminate j-
| |
| Gérry = Jérry cf. Gáry, hard G
| |
| gétaway adjective and noun one word, cf. verb gét awây
| |
| gêyser water = BrE gêezer man, AmE geŷser
| |
| gh- = g-
| |
| Ghàna Africa = BrE gàrner gather
| |
| Ghanâian cf. Gándhi
| |
| ghāstly
| |
| ghåt or ghåut
| |
| ghërkin
| |
| ghétto
| |
| ghôst
| |
| gíbbet j-
| |
| gíbbon hard g
| |
| Gídêon hard G, *Gídêyən
| |
| gíg hard g cf. jíg
| |
| Gílbert hard G
| |
| gíll fish hard g, as also in McGíll person
| |
| gíll liquid = Jíll = Gíll = Gíl persons
| |
| gín *jín
| |
| giráffe j-
| |
| glâcial
| |
| glácier or glâcier
| |
| glâde
| |
| Gládys
| |
| glámorise
| |
| glámorous
| |
| glámour
| |
| glêam
| |
| glêan
| |
| Glóucester *Glóster
| |
| glûtinous
| |
| glútton
| |
| Glŷndebŏurne
| |
| gnàrled *nàrld
| |
| gnásh teeth = Násh person
| |
| gnát mosquito = Nát person
| |
| gnåw chew = BrE nor neither
| |
| gnócchì *nyócky
| |
| gnôme garden = Nôme Alaska
| |
| gô-ahéad noun, adjective hyphenated
| |
| gôad
| |
| gôalless - sustained l sound
| |
| gôat cf. côat
| |
| góbbledygoòk
| |
| gŏitre AmE gŏiter
| |
| gôlf cf. gúlf
| |
| Gomórrah rhymes with BrE Andórra
| |
| góner fatal
| |
| gonna going to two schwas: *gənə
| |
| goodsélf one word
| |
| goôgle verb no capital
| |
| goôgly
| |
| goòseberry *gùzbry
| |
| goôse *goôss
| |
| Gorbachev -chóff
| |
| gorílla ape = guerílla warfare
| |
| gŏurmet *gŏrmây
| |
| gòvern
| |
| gòvernment first n silent in rapid speech
| |
| Grâeme *Grâyəm = Grâham most common spelling = Grâhame Kenneth
| |
| graffìti
| |
| grámmar
| |
| grammátical grə-
| |
| grámophone ‘grammar phone’ has been seen
| |
| grándad or gránddad - dd can be extended d sound; as name, G-
| |
| gránddaughter *grándåwter
| |
| grándchîld
| |
| grándeûr *grándûre
| |
| Grànd Prìx *gràm-prì
| |
| gráphic cf. tráffic
| |
| grâte cheese, fire, annoy = grêat important
| |
| grâteful
| |
| grâve serious, burial
| |
| gràve accent
| |
| grâvy
| |
| grây is AmE for grèy
| |
| grâze sheep = grèys grey, cf. gràss
| |
| greât big = grâte cheese, fireplace, irritate
| |
| grêase oil = Grêece Greek
| |
| grêen colour = Grêen, Grêene persons
| |
| Gréenwich *Grénnídge
| |
| grêet
| |
| Grêig composer
| |
| Gréig English = Grég
| |
| Grenâda cf. Granàda
| |
| grenâde
| |
| grèy AmE grây = Grèy = Grây persons
| |
| grèyhòund one word
| |
| grìêf
| |
| gríll food, interrogate = grílle lattice
| |
| grimâce AmE grímace
| |
| grísly horrible = grízzly bear
| |
| grôan pain = grôwn up
| |
| grŏin body = grŏyne wood
| |
| gròundswell one word
| |
| grôwn-úp noun hyphenated
| |
| grûel
| |
| gu- followed by vowel, hard g, silent u, unless stated otherwise
| |
| Guàm *Gwàm
| |
| guarantêe gá-, cf. ẁarranty
| |
| guàrd *gàrd = gàrde in ávant gàrde
| |
| Guatemàla Gwà-
| |
| guerílla war = gorílla animal
| |
| guéss
| |
| guést visit = guéssed guess
| |
| gúff cf. gáffe
| |
| guîde
| |
| guíld society = gíld lily
| |
| guílt guilty = gílt gild
| |
| gúlf cf. gôlf
| |
| gúng-hô
| |
| gúnwale = gúnnell
| |
| Guínêa country = guínêa money
| |
| guíllotìne - either stressed
| |
| gúng-hô hyphenated
| |
| guŷ
| |
| gým gymnasium = Jím person
| |
| gynaecólogist hard g-: *gŷnəcólojist, AmE -nec-
| |
| gyrâte *jîrâte
| |
| gŷroscope j-
| |
| ===H===
| |
| H âitch
| |
| hà
| |
| ha hà laughter
| |
| hà-hà fence
| |
| hâbeas cŏrpus
| |
| háckneyed *hácknid
| |
| haemoglôbin - haê-
| |
| haemophília - haê-
| |
| haémorrhage *hémmoridge, *hémerage
| |
| haémorrhoid
| |
| haêmostâsis
| |
| Hâgue person, Netherlands = Hâig = Hâigh persons
| |
| hâil stones, greeting = hâle hearty
| |
| hãir head = hãre animal
| |
| Hâiti *Hâtey, cf. hâte
| |
| hàjj or hàdj
| |
| hālf *hàf; AmE *háf
| |
| hâlfpenny hâpəny
| |
| håll building = håul pull, cf. Hál person
| |
| hallelûjah - j as y: *hallelûya
| |
| hállôw cf. hallô
| |
| hålt
| |
| hālve half AmE ≈ háve own, though hálve tends to be longer
| |
| hámlet -lít, cf. hám ómlette
| |
| hámster *hámpster, cf. hámper, Hámpstead
| |
| hándbag can be *hámbag
| |
| hándkerchìêf *hánkerchêaf
| |
| hándle touch, door = Hándel, Hándl persons
| |
| hándout noun one word
| |
| hándover noun one word
| |
| hándwrítten one word
| |
| hángar aeroplane = hánger clothes
| |
| Hanŏi
| |
| Hánover has one n in English, two in German
| |
| Haràrê
| |
| hárass *hárras, AmE haráss, cf. Hárrís person
| |
| hãre animal = hãir fur = Hãre = Hãir persons
| |
| hàrem or hãrem
| |
| hàrk cf. heàrken
| |
| hàrpsichord -kŏrd
| |
| hàrt deer = heàrt beat = Hàrt person
| |
| hássle cf. hústle, *hússle
| |
| hâsten *hâyssən
| |
| hâte love = Hâight Ashbury
| |
| hâtred -íd cf. pûtríd
| |
| håul robbery = håll building
| |
| hautëur *ôat-ër
| |
| háve can sound like *háff when emphasised before an unvoiced consonanat: I *háff to sêe hím
| |
| háve-nóts haves
| |
| Hawàiì
| |
| Håwes
| |
| håwk
| |
| håwthorn plant = Håwthorne person
| |
| hây farm = hèy exclamation
| |
| Haŷdn cf. Hâydon = Hâyden
| |
| hâ’p’orth
| |
| héad cf. hêed
| |
| hêal cure = hêel foot
| |
| héalth
| |
| hêar sound = hêre there
| |
| Hêar, hêar! agree
| |
| hëard hear = hërd animals, cf. hàrd soft
| |
| heàrken cf. hàrk
| |
| hêarsay
| |
| hëarse
| |
| heàrt beat = hàrt deer = Hàrt person
| |
| heàrtfélt one word
| |
| heàrth
| |
| hêath
| |
| hêathen -dhən
| |
| héather rhymes with wéather -dh-
| |
| hêave
| |
| héaven
| |
| héavy
| |
| héavywèight boxing *hévviwâit, one word, cf. héavy wèight literal
| |
| hêed cf. héad
| |
| hêe hêe laugh cf. hê him
| |
| hêel foot = hêal cure
| |
| hegémony - hard g or j
| |
| Heîdelberg
| |
| héifer cow = Héffer person
| |
| heîght *hîte
| |
| heîghten high = Huŷton place
| |
| hèinous
| |
| Heînz *Hŷnts: in the 1950s, with memories of the second world war still fresh, the company of this name pronounced itself Hînes *Hŷnze
| |
| héir heiress = ãir breathe, etc.
| |
| hélicopter cf. hêlium
| |
| héllhole one word
| |
| hellô or hallô or hullô
| |
| hém but not many other words begin this way, haém- being more common
| |
| hémidemisémiquaver
| |
| hémisphêre
| |
| hërd animals = hëard hear, cf. hàrd soft
| |
| hêre there = hêar sound
| |
| Héreford
| |
| héretic
| |
| herétical
| |
| hêro
| |
| héron
| |
| hérôín drug = hérôíne hero cf. méscalíne
| |
| heteroséxual cf. métro, rétro
| |
| heŵ wood = hûe colour = Hûgh = Hûw persons
| |
| hèydây one word
| |
| he’s he is = hís belonging to him - but can be hê’s *hêez
| |
| hîâtus *hîgh-èight-us
| |
| híccúp can be spelt híccoúgh
| |
| hídden
| |
| hídeous *hídìəss
| |
| hîdeòut
| |
| hîeràrchy *hîeràrky
| |
| hîgh height = hî hello
| |
| hîghbròw one word, *hîbròw
| |
| hilãrious
| |
| Hílary = Híllary
| |
| hînd
| |
| hínder
| |
| híndrance -drənss
| |
| híppocratic cf. hypocrítical
| |
| hîre rent ≈ hîgher high
| |
| hís he *hízz, cf. híss snake, hê’s or he’s
| |
| históric
| |
| hítchhîke second h aspirated
| |
| hŏar frost = whŏre prostitute = Hŏare person
| |
| Hîte person = heîght high
| |
| hŏard store = hŏrde gang
| |
| hŏarse voice = hŏrse animal
| |
| hôax
| |
| hóbnób one word
| |
| hóck as in ín hóck, cf. ád hóc
| |
| hôe garden cf. hô hô laughter
| |
| hôld hand = hôled golf
| |
| hôle gap = whôle complete
| |
| hóliday vacation = Hólliday person = Hóliday Billie
| |
| hólly cf. hôly
| |
| Hóllywoòd
| |
| Hôlmes person = hômes living or Hólmes, with l pronounced or hinted at
| |
| hôly sacred ≈ whôlly completely, which has the two l’s pronounced
| |
| Hólyhéad
| |
| Hôlyroôd
| |
| hómage - unlike French, one m
| |
| homêopáthic AmE; BrE homoêo-
| |
| homêópathy AmE; BrE homoêó-
| |
| hômewörk one word
| |
| hómicide
| |
| homógeneous -jenəss or hômôgêneous rhyming with gênius
| |
| hómoným
| |
| hômo sápiens
| |
| homoséxual - hó-
| |
| Hóng Kóng *Honkóng
| |
| hône
| |
| hónest *ónnist
| |
| honoràrium ón-
| |
| hónorary ón-
| |
| honorífic ón-
| |
| hónour *ónner, AmE hónor
| |
| hónourable ón-, AmE hónorable
| |
| hoòdwink
| |
| hoòk
| |
| hoòkah pipe *hùkə = BrE hoòker prostitute, rugby
| |
| hoôver carpet is from Hoôver person
| |
| hôping hope cf. hópping hop
| |
| Hórace rhymes with Bóris, Dóris, Nórris and Mórris
| |
| hŏrde gang = hŏard store
| |
| horrífic
| |
| hórror
| |
| hŏrs d’oëuvre ŏr-dërvrə
| |
| hŏrse animal = hŏarse croak
| |
| hóspice -íss
| |
| hóspital
| |
| hóspitalised
| |
| hôst
| |
| hóstage
| |
| hóthead as if two words
| |
| hóthòuse as if two words
| |
| hóugh leg = hóck pawn | |
| hòur time = òur us
| |
| hôuse noun -s, verb -z
| |
| Hoûston *Hoôston
| |
| howéver one word
| |
| hòwl wolf cf. òwl bird
| |
| hûe colour = Hûgh person = hêw cut = Hûw Welsh
| |
| Hûghes person = heŵs hew
| |
| hullabaloô
| |
| hûman
| |
| hûmorist
| |
| hûmorous humour = hûmerus bone
| |
| hûmour AmE hûmor
| |
| húndred
| |
| Húngary country - three syllables ≈ húngry hunger - two syllables
| |
| hústle *hússle, cf. hássle
| |
| hýmn church = hím he
| |
| hŷper- very
| |
| hypercrítical critical
| |
| hypócrisy cf. hýpocríte, demócracy, hippocrátic
| |
| hypocrítical hypocrite
| |
| hystêria
| |
| hystérical
| |
| ==I==
| |
| Î letter, me = eŷe sight = aŷe yes
| |
| Ìan person cf. îron, silent r
| |
| îceberg one word
| |
| Îceland -lənd
| |
| Icelándic
| |
| îcon
| |
| idêa *îdêə, cf. monosyllables pêa, têa, a not sounded separately
| |
| ídeogram
| |
| idêólogy - î or í
| |
| idiosýncrasy
| |
| îdle lazy = îdol god = AmE îdyll idyllic
| |
| Idomenèo
| |
| ídyll BrE; AmE îdyll = îdle = îdol
| |
| ígnorance
| |
| ignŏre
| |
| íleum intestine = ílium bone
| |
| illegálity
| |
| illícit illegal = elícit get
| |
| íll-thŏught-òut
| |
| illûsive illusory = elûsive elude
| |
| ímage -íj
| |
| imaginâtion
| |
| imágíne
| |
| imàm
| |
| imbróglio *imbrólyo
| |
| immêdìately
| |
| imménse cf. eménd
| |
| ímmigrate cf. émigrate
| |
| ímpact noun, affect
| |
| impáct fix, wedge
| |
| impâle
| |
| impàla
| |
| ímpasse
| |
| impêach
| |
| impéccable
| |
| impêrial
| |
| impéril
| |
| ímpetus
| |
| impŏrtance
| |
| ímpotence
| |
| impresàrio one s
| |
| ímpress noun
| |
| impréss verb
| |
| improprîety
| |
| ímprovîse
| |
| improvisâtion BrE -əvî-, AmE -óví-
| |
| ímpudent -yû-
| |
| impûte ascribe cf. ínput put in *ímpùt
| |
| ín abséntia
| |
| inadvërtent
| |
| íncense smoke
| |
| incénse anger
| |
| inchôâte ínk-
| |
| íncident
| |
| incidéntal
| |
| incidéntally
| |
| incrédible
| |
| incúmbent cf. encúmber
| |
| indepéndent cf. depéndent, depéndant
| |
| ín-dépth adjective
| |
| Índian - can be spelt without a capital when referring to American indians
| |
| Indiána
| |
| indîct *indîte
| |
| indígenous
| |
| indispénsable
| |
| índustry
| |
| indústrial
| |
| inévitable
| |
| infállible
| |
|
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|
| ===G===
| | Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp. |
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| ==Retroalphabetical list==
| | Mŷ advîce ís: GÍVE ÍT ÚP! |
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| ===A=== | | ==Notes== |
| | {{reflist}} |
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H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z
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Use in English
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Alphabetical word list
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Retroalphabetical list
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Common misspellings
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English is notorious for its many varied, inconsistent and irregular spellings. This can be seen at its most extravagant in the field of proper nouns—for example, simply adding an 'h' to 'Maria' to make it rhyme with 'pariah', or calling oneself 'Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh' while pronouncing it 'Chumley Fanshaw'. An example of a common misspelling is 'disasterous' for 'disastrous', retaining the 'e' of 'disaster'. Many words do not turn out to have the pronunciation they appear to have: 'do' and 'to' do not rhyme with 'go' and 'no', while 'seismic', instead of being 'seezmic' or 'sayzmic', or even 'sayizmic', is in fact 'size-mic'. The above grid (reproduced and explained below) provides links to three lists and a cluster of articles devoted to these things.
To show pronunciation, these articles use correct spellings with added accent marks, instead of relying on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In some cases incorrect respellings are placed next to the correct ones, signalled by a preceding asterisk, like thís *thíss. The accent marks show pronunciation, thús. A table of these accents (which are not part of the language[1]) can be found below; 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 of Tchaikóvsky, *Chŷ-kóffskỳ, it is 'kóff' that has the main stress. (Another way of showing new stress is with a bar: Tchaî|kóvsky.) A sentence from the preceding paragraph can thus be rewritten as follows: "An example of a common misspelling is *disāsterous for disāstrous, retaining the E of disāster." Respelling may be used to exemplify an incorrect spelling, or show a correct pronunciation, or a bit of both. Unlike the IPA, where there can only be one version per pronunciation, as there must be an unambiguous one-to-one correspondence, there can be many respellings: if *disāsterous for disāstrous is a common mistake, we can also represent the pronunciation as *dizāstrus or *dizāstrous or *dizāstrəss (with 'ə', a special character – the only one used – for schwa); or we can contrast British English *dizàstrus with American *dizástrus.
Particular attention is given to homophones, words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. English is rich in homophones, many of which are also homonyms, having also the same spelling, as, for example, cán able, tin (the italicised words suggest meanings, in this case two); while homographs are words with the same spelling whose meanings are distinguished by different pronunciations.
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.' (Latin conferre, 'compare').
Some words from other languages, in most cases French, may sometimes appear in English with accents from those languages. Here, 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 is treated as a letter, with its own place at the end of the alphabet.
Fragments of words are in bold when correctly spelt: Ukrâine has -âine, not -âne.
Words in italics are used to suggest meanings (e.g. sêa water = sêe vision, where the equals sign denotes identical pronunciation). Words beginning with an initial capital may have no word in italics following: these are names of people, either personal or family, and/or commercial or place names. Such words are included because they often contrast with the spellings of homophones: a bank clerk might be named Clàrk or Clàrke, but probably not 'Clerk' (though BrE clerk = Clàrk/Clàrke). Unusual spellings can be explained by regular ones: Cloúgh = Clúff. An American called Maurìce Mŏrris could just as well be called Mórris Maurice ("Morris Morris") in Britain, where Maurice = Mórris (although it would be putting the conventional surname before the conventional given name).
Links to letter articles and lists
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E |
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Z
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Use in English
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Alphabetical word list
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Retroalphabetical list
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Common misspellings
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In the navigation table above (reproduced at the top of each article in the cluster) the cells in each row link as follows:
- Top row: articles on each letter and its use in English. There are similar articles on GH, the apostrophe and the hyphen.
- Second row: alphabetical lists of of commonly misspelt and/or mispronounced words, alongside more regular words they may be confused with (words beginning with an apostrophe are here). Some incorrect spellings are also listed, signalled by an asterisk: *dispánd disbánd means that the word is 'disband'. (The bottom row is devoted entirely to misspellings and typos.)
- Third row: retroalphabetical lists, arranged alphabetically according to the final letter of the word and continuing backwards through it:
- In the retroalphabetical lists 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; their pronunciation may or may not apply to following words ("always -ãrian" means there is no other pronunciation of -ãrian).
- Throughout, the apostrophe is treated as the last letter, after Z. (Words ending in an apostrophe are also here.)
- For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
- woman mâid = make mâde
- Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
- wêasel *wêasal
- Bottom row: common misspellings including typos (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.
Two main varieties are distinguished: British English (BrE), that of the UK and much of the Commonwealth (see also Commonwealth English), and American English (AmE), that of the USA and Canada (without the cåught = cót merger that has occurred in some parts of North America).
Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.
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 standard British and Commonwealth pronunciations but á in American and other British and Commonwealth speech.
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Front vowels
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Back vowels
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e
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i
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y[2]
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a
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o
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u
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oo
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w[3]
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The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent)
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pét
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pít
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crýpt
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cát
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dóg[4]
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nút
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The typical long sound, corresponding to the names of the letters A, E, I, O and U (circumflex accent)
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sêe
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nîce
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mŷ
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nâme
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nôse
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rûle
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toô
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neŵ
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Sounds shown with the grave accent (ẁ- and qù- indicate the BrE ó sound of the following a, ẁad rhyming with qùad; òu and òw are diphthongs sounding like àù in àùtobahn: nòw has this sòund)
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èight (= â)
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machìne (= ê)
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quaỳ water = kêỳ lock (= ê)
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àre
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òther, blòod (= ú)
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fùll (= oò), qùantity (= w)
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foòt (= ù)
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ẁant (= wó)[5]
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The ër sound (umlaut accent)
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përson
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bïrd
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mÿrtle
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(ëarth)
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wörd
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pürr
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The åw/ŏr sound (ring accent)[6]
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(cŏin)
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(jŏy)
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åll
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mŏre
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(for some BrE speakers) sůre
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The ãir sound (tilde accent)
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(thére)
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(ãir =
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Ãyr)
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stãre
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Irregular (respelling needed)
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sew (= sô)
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meringue (*məráng)
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because (*bikóz)
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woman (*wùmən), women (*wímən)
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business (*bízníss)
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Example sentences
These sentences show how the accents may be used, for example, when teaching pronunciation. Words without accents are monosyllables with the schwa sound, a neutral grunt.
The usual short sound, acute accent:
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, circumflex accent:
Sây mŷ nâme thrêe tîmes with stŷle and Î’ll gô and fînd a tûne to plây for yoû.
The third sound, grave accent:
Christìna Grèy shoùld (and dòes?) lòve her mòther and fàther.
The ër sound, umlaut:
But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.
The ŏr sound (sůre here is with British pronunciation = Shåw), the ring, or half-ring:
Sůre yoû ŏught to cråwl ón åll fŏurs, m’lŏrd?
Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:
Many women? Any woman! (pronounced: *Ménny wímmin? Énny wùman!)
Double letters
The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.
Double consonant letters before suffixes are used (as often elsewhere) to preserve short vowel sounds, as in flípped (not *flîped), rebélled (not *rebêled) and pégged (not *pêged, which if regular would 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 may seem unnecessary, but in some cases it can be doubled before -ed: either tàrgeted or tàrgetted (but always commítted).
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.
letter
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initial
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medial
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final
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final + silent e
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A
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àardvark #[7]
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bazàar #
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bàa #
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B
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ríbbon
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ébb #
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Crábbe (= cráb)
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C
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sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt)
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D
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hídden
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ádd
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E
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êel
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bêen
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sêe
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F
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Ffoùlkes
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éffort
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óff
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Clíffe (= clíff)
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G
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aggréssion (-g-), exággerate (-j-)
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égg #
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Légge (= lég)
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H
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hítchhike # (accidental)
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I
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skìíng #
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Hawàìi #
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J
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hàjj # (also spelt hàdj)
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K
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púkka; boòkkeeper (accidental)[8] #
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L
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llàma[9] #
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fílling
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wéll
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bélle beauty (= béll ring)
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M
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súmmer
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Crámm (= crám)
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grámme (= grám)
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N
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dínner
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ínn # pub
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Ánne (= Ánn)
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O
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oôze, oòmph #
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foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr
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toô
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Loôe (= loô)
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P
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flípped
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stéppe Asia # (= stép foot)
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Q
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Sadìqqi #
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R
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érror
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pürr
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S
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méssy
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lóss
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crevásse
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T
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bétter
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ẁatt
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couchétte -sh-
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U
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vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
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V
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révved #
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W
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Lawwell # (accidental)
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X
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Éxxon ™ #
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Bób B. Sóxx #
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Y
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Khayyàm #
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Z
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fízzy
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búzz
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Names of the letters
The names of the letters of the alphabet are rarely written out in English (a simple capital being the normal usage: "with a C, not a K") so that, unlike in many other languages, most of their spellings have a rather unofficial status. But they can be shown as follows, using real words where possible:
A: â (the indefinite article, when stressed), èh? what?
B: bê exist, bêe sting
C: occasionally cêe; sêe look, sêa ship
D: Dêe River, surname
E: ê as in êmail, ê-mail
F: éff as in the euphemism éff óff
G: gêe up, exclamation *jêe
H: âitch as in drópping your âitches
I: Î me, eŷe vision
J: jây bird
K: Kây person
L: él elevated railway (AmE)
M: ém dash
N: én dash
O: ôwe debt, ôh! exclamation
P: pêa pod, pêe urine, p pence (BrE)
Q: queûe line, cûe ball, prompt
R: àre be, BrE àh exclamation
S: occasionally éss
T: têa drink, têe golf, tì do-re-mi
U: yoû me, eŵe sheep
V: Vêe Bobby
W: "doúble you" (*dúblyu; cf. vácûum, which actually does have a doúble Û)
X: éx- past
Y: whŷ reason (voiced w, as in BrE)
Z: BrE zéd, AmE zêe
The Chaos
by Gerard Nolst Trenité
This poem on pronunciation irregularities was first published in 1920. Accent marks, respellings and editorial comments have been added to reflect current British English pronunciation. The unadorned poem, with an introduction, can be found here.
The Châós (*câyóss)
Dêarest crêature ín creâtion
Stúdying English (*Ínglish) pronunciâtion,
- Î wíll têach yoû ín mŷ vërse
- Sòunds lîke cŏrpse, cŏrps (*cŏr), hŏrse and wörse.
Î wíll kêep yoû, Sûsy, busy (*bízzy),
Mâke yŏur héad wíth hêat grôw dízzy;
- Têar ín eŷe, yŏur dréss yŏu'll téar;
- Quêer, fãir sêer (*sêe-er), hêar mŷ prãyer.
Prây, consôle yŏur lòving pôet,
Mâke mŷ côat loòk neŵ, dêar, sew (=sô) ít!
- Júst compãre heàrt, hêar and hëard,
- Dîes and dîet (*dîət), lŏrd and wörd.
Swŏrd (*sŏrd) and swård, retâin and Brítain
[Mînd the látter hòw ít's wrítten].
- Mâde hás nót the sòund of báde,
- Sây–said (*séd), pây–pâid, lâid but pláid.
Nòw Î sůrely wíll nót plâgue yoû
Wíth súch wörds as vâgue and âgûe,
- Bút bê cãreful hòw yoû spêak,
- Sây: gúsh, bùsh, steâk, strêak, breâk, blêak,
Prêvious, précious, fûchsia (*feŵsha), vîa,
Récipê, pîpe, stúdding-sâil, choîr (=quîre);
- Wôven, óven, hòw and lôw,
- Scrípt, recêipt (*rissêet), shoe (=shoô), pôem, tôe.
Sây, expécting fråud and tríckerỳ:
Dåughter (*dåwter), làughter (*làfter) ánd Terpsíchorê (*Terpsíckery),
- Brànch, rànch, mêasles, tópsails, aîsles (*îles),
- Míssîles, símilês, revîles.
Whôlly (=hôly), hólly, sígnal, sîgning (*sîning),
Sâme, exámining, but mîning,
- Schólar (*scóllar), vícar, and cigàr,
- Sôlar, mîca, wår and fàr.
From "desîre": desîrable - ádmirable from "admîre",
Lúmber, plúmber, biêr, but brîer,
- Tópsham, broûgham (*breŵəm), renòwn, but knôwn,
- Knówledge, dòne, lône, góne, nòne, tône,
Òne (=wòn), anémonê, Balmóral,
Kítchen, lîchen (=lîken), låundry, laurel (lórrel).
- Gërtrude, Gërman (J-), wínd and wînd,
- Beau (=Bô), kînd, kíndred, queûe, mankînd,
Tŏrtoise (*tŏrtus), türquŏise, chámois-léather (*shámwà-),
Rêading, Réading, hêathen, héather.
- Thís phonétic lábyrínth
- Gíves móss, grôss, broòk, brôoch, nînth, plínth.
Háve yoû éver yét endéavoured
To (=toô)[10] pronòunce revêred and sévered,
- Dêmon, lémon, ghoûl, fòul, sôul,
- Pêter, pétrol and patrôl?
Bíllet dòes nót énd lîke bállèt (*bállây);
Boûquèt, ẁallet, mállet, chálèt.
- Blòod and flòod are nót lîke foôd,
- Nŏr ís môuld lîke shoùld and woùld (=woòd).
Bánquet ís nót nêarly pàrquèt,
Whích exáctly rhŷmes wíth khàkì. —not usually nowadays
- Díscòunt, vîscòunt (*vîcòunt), lôad and brŏad,
- Towård, to fŏrward, to (=toô) rewård,
Rícochèted and crôchèting, crôquèt?
Rîght! Yŏur pronunciâtion's OK.[11]
- Ròunded, woûnded, griêve and síeve,
- Friénd and fiênd, alîve and líve.
Ís yŏur R corréct ín hîgher?
Kêats assërts ít rhŷmes Thalîa.
- Hûgh, but húg, and hoòd, but hoôt,
- Buŏyant, mínute, bút minûte.
Sây abscíssion wíth precísion,
Nòw: posítion ánd transítion;
- Woùld ít tálly wíth mŷ rhŷme
- Íf Î méntioned páradîgm?
Twòpence, thréepence, têase are êasy,
But cêase, crêase, grêase and grêasy?
- Cŏrnice, nîce, valìse, revîse,
- Râbíes, but lúllabîes.
Óf súch púzzling wörds as nåuseous,
Rhŷming wéll wíth cåutious, tŏrtious,
- Yoû'll envélop lísts, Î hôpe,
- Ín a línen énvelôpe.
Woùld yoû lîke some mŏre? Yoû'll háve ít!
Áffidâvit, Dâvid, dávit.
- To (=toô) abjûre, to përjure. Shèik
- Dòes nót sòund lîke Czéch but âche.
Líberty, lîbrary, hêave and héaven,
Râchel, lóch, moustàche, eléven.
- Wê sây hállôwed, bút allòwed,
- Pêople, léopard, tôwed but vòwed.
Màrk the dífference, moreôver,
Betwêen mover (*moôver), plòver, Dôver.
- Lêaches, brêeches, wîse, precîse,
- Chálíce, bút polìce and lîce,
Cámel, cònstable, únstâble,
Prínciple, discîple, lâbel.
- Pétal, pênal, and canál,
- Wâit, surmîse, pláit, prómíse, pál,
Sûit, suìte, rûín. Cïrcuít, cónduít
Rhŷme wíth "shïrk ít" and "beyónd ít". —still?
- Bút ít ís nót hàrd to téll
- Whŷ ít's påll, måll, but Páll Máll.
Múscle, múscular, gâol (=jâil), îron,
Tímber, clîmber, búllion, lîon,
- Wörm and stŏrm, chaise (*shézz), châós, chãir,
- Sénator, spectâtor, mãyor,
Îvy, prívy, fâmous; clámour
Hás thê Â of dráchm and hámmer.
- Pùssy, hússy ánd posséss,
- Désert, but desërt, addréss.
Gôlf, wolf (=Woòlf), còuntenance, lieuténants
Hŏist ín lieû of flágs léft pénnants.
- Coùrier, cŏurtier, tomb (*toôm), bómb, cômb,
- Còw, but Cowper (=Coôper), sòme and hôme.
"Sôlder, sôldier! Blòod ís thícker",
Quôth hê, "than liqueûr ŏr líquor",
- Mâking, ít ís sád but trûe,
- Ín bravàdo, múch ado (*adoô).
Strânger dòes nót rhŷme wíth ánger,
Neîther dòes devòur wíth clángour. —neither does anger: *áng-gə
- Pîlot, pívot, gåunt, but āunt,
- Fónt, frònt, wônt, wånt, gránd and grānt.
Àrsenic, specífic, scênic,
Rélic, rhétoric, hygìênic.
- Goòseberry, goôse, and clôse, but clôse,
- Páradise, rîse, rôse, and dôse.
Sây invèigh, nèigh, but invêigle,
Mâke the látter rhŷme wíth êagle.
- Mînd! Mêándering but mêan,
- Válentîne and mágazìne.
Ánd Î bét yoû, dêar, a pénny,
Yoû sây máni-(fôld) lîke many (*ménny),
- Whích ís wróng. Sây râpier, pìêr,
- Tîer (òne who tîes), but tìêr.
Àrch, archângel; prây, dòes ërring
Rhŷme wíth hérring ŏr wíth stïrring?
- Príson, bîson, tréasure trôve,
- Trêason, hóver, còver, côve,
Persevêrance, séverance. Ríbald
Rhŷmes (but pîebåld dòesn't) wíth níbbled.
- Phâeton, paêan, gnát, ghåt, gnåw,
- Liên, psŷchic, shóne, bône, pshåw.
Dôn't bê dòwn, mŷ ôwn, but roúgh ít,
Ánd distínguish bùffèt, búffet;
- Broôd, stoòd, roôf, roòk, schoôl, woòl, boôn,
- Worcester (*Wùster), Boleýn, to (=toô) impûgn.
Sây ín sòunds corréct and stërling
Hëarse, hêar, heàrken, yêar and yëarling —yëar and yêarling are about as likely
Êvil, dévil, mézzotínt,
- Mînd the Z (zéd)! (A géntle hínt.)
Nòw yoû nêed nót pây atténtion
To (=toô) súch sòunds as Î dôn't méntion,
- Sòunds lîke pŏres, påuse, pŏurs and påws,
- Rhŷming wíth the prônòun yŏurs;
Nŏr are próper nâmes inclûded,
Thôugh Î óften hëard, as yoû díd,
- Fúnny rhŷmes to ûnicŏrn,
- Yés, yoû knôw them, Våughan and Stråchan —nowadays regularised to *Strákhən
Nô, mŷ mâiden, cŏy and còmely,
Î dôn't ẁant to spêak of Chòlmondeley (*Chúmley).
- Nô. Yét Froûde compãred wíth pròud
- Ís nô bétter thán McLeod (*McClòud).
But mînd trívial and vîal,
Trîpod, mênial, denîal,
- Trôll and trólley, réalm and rêam,
- Schédule, míschief, schísm, and schême.
Àrgil, gíll, Argŷll, gíll. Sůrely
Mây bê mâde to rhŷme wíth Råleigh,
- Bút yŏu're nót suppôsed to sây
- Pìquèt rhŷmes wíth sóbriquèt.
Hád thís ínvalid inválid
Wörthless dócuments? Hòw pállid,
- Hòw uncoûth hê, còuchant, loòked,
- Whén for Pŏrtsmouth Î had boòked!
Zeûs, Thêbes, Thales, Aphrodîtê,
Páramour, enámoured, flîghty,
- Épisôdes, antípodês,
- Ácquiésce, and óbsequies.
Plêase dôn't mònkey wíth the gêyser,
Dôn't pêel 'tâters wíth mŷ râzor,
- Rāther sây ín áccents pûre:
- Nâture, státure ánd matûre.
Pîous, ímpìous, límb, clîmb, glúmly,
Worsted (wùsted), wörsted, crúmbly, dúmbly,
- Cónquer, cónquest, vàse, phâse, fán,
- Ẁan, sedán and àrtisan.
The TH (*têe-âitch) wíll sůrely troúble you
Mŏre than R, CH ŏr W (*àh, cêe-âitch ŏr doúble-û)
- Sây thén thêse phonétic géms:
- Thómas, thŷme, Therêsa, Thames (*Témz).
Thómpson, Chátham, Wåltham, Stréatham,
Thére are mŏre but Î forgét 'em -
- Wâit! Î've gót ít: Ánthony,
- Lîghten yŏur anxîety.
Thê archâíc wörd ålbêít
Does nót rhŷme wíth èight - yoû sêe ít;
- Wíth and fŏrthwith, òne hás vŏice,
- Òne hás nót, yoû mâke yŏur chŏice.
Shoes (=shoôs), gôes, dòes. Nòw fïrst sây: fínger;
Thén sây: sínger, gínger, línger.
- Rêal, zêal, mauve (*môv), gåuze and gâuge,
- Márríage, fôlìage, mìràge, âge,
Hêro, héron, quêry, véry,
Párry, tárry, fûry, bury,
- Dòst, lóst, pôst, and dòth, clóth, lôth,
- Jób, Jôb, blóssom, bosom (*bùzm), ôath.
Fåugh, oppúgnant, kêen oppûgners,
Bòwing, bôwing, bánjo-tûners
- Hôlm yoû knôw, but nôes, canoes (*canoôz),
- Pûisnê (*poôny), trûísm, ûse (*yoûss), to ûse (*yoûz)?
Thôugh the dífference sêems líttle,
Wê sây áctual, but víctual,
Sêat, swéat, châste, càste, Lêigh, èight, heîght,
- Pùt, nút, gránite, ánd unîte.
- Rêefer dòes nót rhŷme wíth déafer,
Féoffer dòes, and zéphyr, héifer.
- Dúll bùll Géoffrey, Geŏrge ate (*ét) lâte,
- Hínt, pînt, sénate, but sedâte.
Gáelic, Árabic, pacífic, —Scottish; or regular Gâelic if Irish
Scîence, cónscience, scientífic;
- Toûr, but òur, doûr, súccour, fŏur,
- Gás, alás, and Àrkansås.
Sây manoeûvre, yacht (*yót) and vómit,
Néxt omít, whích díffers fróm ít
- Bôna fîdê, álibî
- Gŷrate, dòwry ánd awrŷ.
Sêa, idêa, guínea, ãrêa,
Psàlm, Marìa, bút malãria.
- Yoûth, sòuth, soúthern, cléanse and clêan,
- Dóctrine, türpentine, marìne.
Compãre âlien wíth Itálian,
Dándelîon wíth battálion,
- Rálly wíth állŷ; yeâ, yê,
- Eŷe, Î, ây, aŷe, whèy, kêy, quaỳ! —ây mê, archaic expression of sadness, ây = èh
Sây avër, but éver, fêver,
Neîther, léisure, skèin, recêiver.
- Néver guéss - ít ís nót sâfe,
- Wê sây càlves, válves, hālf, but Râlf.
Stàrry, gránary, canãry,
Crévice, but devîce, and éyrie,
- Fâce, but préface, thén grimâce,
- Phlégm, phlegmátic, áss, glāss, bâss.
Báss, làrge, tàrget, gín, gíve, vërging,
Ŏught, òust, jòust, and scòur, but scoürging;
- Êar, but ëarn; and ére and téar
- Do (*doô=) nót rhŷme wíth hêre but héir.
Mînd thê Ô of óff and óften
Whích mây bê pronòunced as ŏrphan, —scarcely heard nowadays
- Wíth the sòund of såw and såuce;
- Ålsô sóft, lóst, clóth and cróss.
Pùdding, púddle, pùtting. Pútting?
Yés: at gôlf ít rhŷmes wíth shútting.
- Réspîte, spîte, consént, resént.
- Lîable, but Pàrliament.
Séven ís rîght, but sô ís êven,
Hŷphen, roúghen, néphew, Stêphen,
- Mònkey, dónkey, clerk (=Clàrk) and jërk,
- Ásp, grāsp, ẁasp, demèsne, cŏrk, wörk.
 of válour, vápid vâpour,
S of neŵs (-z) (compãre neŵspâper (-ss-)),
- G of gíbbet (j-), gíbbon, gíst (j-),
- Î of ántichrîst and gríst,
Díffer like divërse and dîvers,
Rívers, strîvers, shívers, fîvers.
- Ònce, but nónce, tôll, dóll, but rôll,
- Pólish, Pôlish, póll and pôll.
Pronúnciation - thínk of Psŷchê! -
Ís a pâling, stòut and spîky.
- Wôn't ít mâke yoû lose (=loôs) yŏur wíts
- Wrîting grôats and sâying 'gríts'? —no longer
Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel
Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,
- Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,
- Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.
Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,
Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?
- Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
- Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??
Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.
Mŷ advîce ís: GÍVE ÍT ÚP!
Notes
- ↑ A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see French words in English.
- ↑ When not accented, y is usually the semi-consonant of yoû and yés.
- ↑ When not accented, w is usually the semi-consonant of wê and wíll.
- ↑ In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer à in most positions, and by ŏ before r.
- ↑ Grave accents on w and on a u following a q indicate the sound of the following a: à in American English, but in British the extra sound ó as in the British pronunciation of hót.
- ↑ å and ŏ show the same sound: ideally the o too would have a ring over it, but this symbol is not available, so ŏ is used instead.
- ↑ àardvark and Transvàal are from Afrikàans, itself a further example.
- ↑ With a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.
- ↑ Also representing a Welsh sound in place names like Llandudno (-dídno) and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch.
- ↑ Strong form of to, not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.
- ↑ The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the K is normally the stressed syllable: okây.