English spellings/Catalogs/S
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| Common misspellings |
This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with S. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.
For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]
S *éss
sác biology = sáck coal
sáccharine sácə-
sáchet bag = sáshay walk
sácrament
sâcred -ríd or -rəd
sácrifîce
sacrifícial
sacrilegious -íjəss, from sácrilege, cf. relígious, which rhymes
sâcrum, sácrum
Sadhbh = Sîve
Sádr city = sádder sad
sagácity
Sagittãrius Sáj-
saguàro *səgwàro, *səwàro, *səhwàro
said say *séd, cf. pâid, lâid etc., sád unhappy
Sàìd Port, person = either Sàêed person or sîde lateral (Pŏrt Sàìd Egypt, second word stressed, cf. pŏrt sîde ship's left, first word stressed)
sâil = sâle
sâke for
sàkè drink
sâle sell = Sâle England = sâil boat
Sålford
Sålisbury *Sålzbry
sálivate
salîva
sálmon *sámmon; similarly, Sálmond rhymes with Hámmond
Sálomè
sálon BrE; AmE salón
sålt
salûte cf. solûtion
Salvadǒrean, Salvadǒrian
Samôa
Sámùel -myùl
sanctimônious
sánctuary
sándal rhymes with cándle
Sandinístas
Sándys = Sánds = sánds
sang-froid *sàng-fwà
sanitŏrium or sanatŏrium
San Josè (can be written with Spanish accent San José) *Sán Hô-zè
sáns
Sánskrit
sápphire stone = Sáfire person
Sàra usually
Sãrah usually
Sarándon
Saràwak
sàrcasm -zəm
sarcástic
Sàrgent = sergeant, etc., -j-
sàrky
sarsaparílla sásp- or sàsp-
Saskátchewan
sátellite *sáttalight
Sâtan
sâte
sátín
sátîre cf. sátyr
Sátürn or, BrE, -tən
sátyr *sátter
Sàùdì Arâbia *Sòwdy; AmE also Såudi
sàùerkràùt *sòurcròut
sàùna
sâviour BrE, AmE sâvior
sávoir-fãire *sávwàr-fãir
sávvy
såw see, wood, saying = BrE sŏre pain = BrE sŏar up; French speakers should beware a tendency to make it sound like sô
sáx saxophone = Sáchs person
saxóphonist
says *séz
*Sâyshells Seychélles
sáy-sô noun one word
scáffolding
scámp
scámpì *scámpy
scándal *scándle, rhyming with cándle
scàr
scárab
scãre
scãrce
scàrf neck = Scàrfe person
scàrlet colour = Scàrlett person
scâthing -dh-
scávenge, cf. avénge, revénge
sce- se-
scenàrio *sinàrio
scêne vista = sêen see, making minimal pairs with sîgn = sîne
scént smell = cént money = sént send
scéptic doubt BrE, pronounced the same as its AmE version sképtic; cf. séptic infected
schàdenfreude *shàdənfrŏyd(ə)
schédule BrE shé-, AmE ské-
Scheherazàde Sh-
schêma *skêemə
schemàta *skêem-àtə
schême *skêem
schérzo *skãirtso
schísm *skízm
schíst *shíst
schízoid *skítsoid
schizophrênia *skítsəfrêenia
schizophrénic *skítsəfrénnic
schnítzel shn-
schoôl *skoôl
schoôlboy, schoôlgirl, schoôlchildren, each one word
schoôner skoô-
schtùm sht-
schwà sh-
sciática sî-
scientífic sîən-
Scílly Isles = sílly foolish
scíssors - ss as z, *sízzers, cf. sízzler
scóne BrE, AmE scône, cf. góne, dòne, cône
scöreboard one word
Scŏrpio astrology, Scŏrpius astronomy
Scót = Scótt (a Scot is a person from Scotland, but not normally a person's name; Scott is a family name and a boy's name)
Scótland
Scóttish
*scóugh: scóff
scòur
scöurge
scráp
scrâpe
scrâped
scrápped
scrêam
scrêen
Scriábin BrE (closer to the Russian); AmE Scriàbin
scríbble
scrîbe
scrípt
scúll oar = skúll head
scúllery
scúttle
scŷthe sî-
sêa water = sêe vision
sêagúll BrE, AmE -əl *sêagle
sêal shut, animal
sêaling = cêiling floor
sêam stitch = sêem appear
Seâmus Heaney = Sèumas Milne *Shâmus
Seån person = Shåun = BrE shŏrn shear
Sëarle
sêat sit
SÈÀT car *sây át
Seáttle *Sêa-áttle, cf. beátify, both ê-á
Sebástian
Sebástopol, historical name of Sevastópol
secêde cf. procêed, precêde, succêed, supersêde
secónd BrE military
sécond other meanings
sêcrecy
sêcret
sécretary weak form *sécrətry, strong form *sécrətérry
sectãrian
sedán cf. Sudàn
sédentary cf. said, *séd
sèder
sêed plant = cêde yield
sêem appear = sêam coal, thread
sêen = scêne, making minimal pairs with sîgn = sîne
sêer *sêe-er
segregâtion
sèguè *sâygwây, or = Ségway
Sèine river = sâne insane, or *Sén, French version having a long é sound
seîsmic sîz-
seismólogist sîz-
sêize grab *sêez, *siêze = sêes see, cf. cêase stop, sîze big, síeve filter
sêizure *sêezhə(r)
sélf-hélp, -defénce, -évident, etc.
séll buy = céll prison, biology
séll-bŷ dâte (not 'sell buy date')
séllotape, cf. céllophane
sémaphore
sémblance cf. resemble
sêmen sperm = sêaman sailor = sêamen sailors
sémi one word where it is an abbreviated form of phrases like sémi-fînal and sémi-detáched, otherwise must be hyphenated to following word
Senegål
sénsor feel = cénsor censorship
Séntamu
séntence
Seôul Korea = sôle only, shoe = sôul spirit
séparate adjective, séparâte verb not -per-, cf. a in pãir, e in désperate
séparately
séptic infected cf. BrE scéptic = AmE sképtic doubt
sépulchre *sépulker
sêre = sêar (variants)
sërf peasant = sürf sea
sërge fabric = sürge increase
sergeant *sàrjent = Sergeant = Sàrgent persons = serjeant -at-àrms
sêrial TV = cêreal breakfast
sêries *sêríz
sêrious cf. Sýria, Sírius
sërmon church = Sürman John
sërve cf. sürvèy noun, *sërvây; survèy verb
sërvíce *sërvíss, cf. sürface, -físs, minimal pair, only one sound different
sesquipedâlian
sétback noun one word
sétt badger = sét non-badger
Sèumas Milne = Seâmus Heaney *Shâymus
Sevastópól
séver cut
sevêre tough
sévered sever
Sévern river BrE = séven number
sew thread = sô thus = sôw seed, cf. sòw pig
seŵer pipe
sewer sew = sôwer seed
séxìêst -ìyíst most
séxíst sexism
sextét
Seychélles *Sây shélls
Sêymour = sêe more
shâde
shádow
Shâkespêare cf. shâke and spêar
Shakespêarean, Shakespêarian
shâky
shallót
shâman
shâme
*Shâmus Seâmus
Shapìro
Sharapôva (in English, though the second syllable is stressed in Russian)
shàrd
shãre divide makes a minimal pair with chãir seat
shãreholder one word
Sharìa
Sháron girl's name
Sharón Ariel BrE; AmE Sharôn
Shâvian Bernard Shaw
Shåw
shêar cut = shêer absolute
shéd noun and verb
*shêek chìc
*shédule schédule
shèikh Arabia: kh sound, or (may be spelt shèik) = shâke rattle
Shêila = Shêilagh
shékel makes a minimal pair with sháckle
shéllfish cf. sélfish
shenánigans - no double letters
shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons
shërbet, cf. Hërbert
shërd
shériff *shérrif
shh: any number of further h’s can be added
Shìa can sound like BrE shêer
shíbboleth
shín = first part of Sínn Fèin (Sinn Féin)
Shïrley
Shìîte: no apostrophe or hyphen
shoe foot = shoô away, as in shoô-ín
shóne shine BrE, AmE shône (= shôwn show)
shoô-in noun one word; *shoe-ín
shoôt bang = chûte fall
shôre sea BrE = Shåw person and often = sûre certain
shŏrn shear BrE = Shåun, Seån persons
shŏrtcoming one word
shŏrtlist finalists cf. a shŏrt líst not long
Shostakôvich
shoùld *shoòd, rhyming with goòd
shôulder rhymes with côlder
shôwbiz one word
shôwcase one word, cf. bàsket câse
shôwdòwn
shòwer
shrápnel
Shreŵsbury *Shroôzbry or, more commonly, *Shrôzbry
Shrì alternative spelling of Srì - but not in Srì Lánka
shrúg
shŷ timid, throw
shŷlỳ
Siàn *Shàn, cf. Shåwn = Shåun = Seån
Sibèlius, Sí-
Sibêria, Sî-
síbling
síbyllîne - y as schwa
Sícily island = Cícely person
sidêreal
sìêge cf. sêize
síeve *sív, cf. sêize
Sìerra Leône, Leônean; also *Sì-érra
sîgh breath = Cŷ person = psî Greek
sîghed sigh = sîde beside
sîght see = sîte place = cîte quote
sîgn signal = sîne mathematics, making minimal pairs with scêne = sêen (*sîn, *sên)
sígnal, g pronounced
sígnature, g pronounced
sîgnpost *sînepôst
Sìkh religion = sêek find
silhouétte *sílu-wét
sílly foolish = Scílly Islands
Simféropol, Simferópol
símilê cf. símilar, smîle
Sîmon
simultâneous BrE sí-, AmE sî-
Sînaî
Sinàtra
sîne = sîgn
síneŵ
síng song = Síngh person
Singapŏre
Singapŏrean
síngeing singe -njing, cf. sínging sing, ng sound (twice)
sínger: síng + -er, cf. síngeing
singlemîndedly
Sínn Fèin *Shín Fâin (Irish: Sinn Féin)
Siobhån, with many variant spellings, *Shivåwn
sîphon or sŷphon
sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə(r) Jóhn Fålstaff
Sïrte = cërt
sîsal
sîte place = cîte quote = sîght see
sîting site
sítting sit
situâtion - sí-, cf. citâtion, cî-
sîze cf. sêize
sîzeable or sîzable
sîzem- seîsmic, seismólogy, etc.
sízzle, cf. scíssors
skéleton bones, cf. Skélton
skì snow, cf. skŷ above
skìed, skìer ski
skîed, skîer sky
skìíng
skíll, skílful BrE, skíllful AmE
skïrmish
skïrt
skîve
skuldúggery, skulldúggery
skúll head = scúll oar
skúll-cap hyphenated
skŷscrâper one word
slág cf. Glénda Slágg
slây kill = slèigh snow
slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase greasy = Grêece Greek
slêeve cf. lêave
slêek rhymes with chìc
sleîght-of-hand: some say slâte
slépt rhymes with stépped
sleûth
sleŵ
slîght little, insult = sleîght-of-hand *slîte
*slîly slŷly (though drîly is an alternative form of drŷly)
slípshod no hyphen
slôe fruit = slôw fast
slôth
slòugh swamp, despond *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw fast
sloúgh skin *slúff, as in sloúgh óff
Slôvák
Slovákia BrE; AmE Slovàkia
slôw fast = slôe blackthorn
slúg
slür
slŷ
slŷlỳ
smållpox one word
smêar
smélt smell, metal, fish
smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin
smôkescreen one word
smoôth -dh, rhymes with soôthe
Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th
snêer
snêeze
snóbbery
snoôty cf. soòty
snoôze
Snôwden Edward = Snôwdon Snowdonia
snôwmobìle cf. môbîle
snôwstorm
soâp cf. Sôper
sŏar up = sŏre hurt
sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber
sóbriquèt *sóbrikây
sóccer *sócker (from "Association football")
Sóchi BrE, Sôchi AmE
sôcial sôsh-
sôcialism
sociólogy sôsh-
sociológical
sóck cf. sóccer
sóckpuppet one word
Sófia Bulgaria cf. Sôphia person
sóften *sóffen
sóftwãre
Sôho London = SôHo New York
sólace *sóllis, cf. Hóllis
sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt
sôle only, fish = sôul spirit = Seôul Korea
sôlely
sólemn *sóllum
solémnity, n sounded
sólipsism
solitãire patience cf. sólitary alone
sôlo
Sólomon - all o’s
Solzhenítsyn Aleksandr
sómbre BrE; AmE sómber; cf. sôber
sòme any = súm total
sòmeday future one word
sòmehòw one word
sòmeone *súmwún, one word
sòmersåult cf. súmmer
Sòmerville cf. súmmer
sòmething cf. sòme thíngs
sòmetime adjective, adverb (the sòmetime gòvernor, Î'll do ít sòmetime), otherwise two words (at sòme tîme)
sòmeẁhat one word
sônàr
sóngwrîter one word
sonórity
sónorous
Sóny or Sôny
soôn
sôooo (as much ...ooooo as is desired) used for humorous effect to show a lengthened sô (as in soooooooooooooooo fúnny, meant ironically), though it looks as if it would be pronounced like sûe/Sûe (*soô)
soòt
soôthe rhymes with smoôth
sóp cf. sôap
sŏre pain = sŏar rise, BrE = såw see
sortiê
sótto vôcè *sótto vôchâi, may be italicised
sŏught seek BrE = sŏrt type
sôul spirit = sôle only, fish = Seôul Korea
sòundbite one word
soûp
soûpçon *soûpsón
sŏurce origin BrE = såuce seasoning
Soûsa (though the original Portuguese name has a sound more like ô)
soûsaphone sûza-
Soûsse
sòuth unvoiced th, *sòwth; compound forms may be one word or hyphenated, but not two words: southêast or sòuth-êast, southwést or sòuth-wést
soúthern voiced th, *súdhə(r)n
Soúthey voiced th, *Súdhêe, or unvoiced th, *Sòwthêe (= Sòuthee)
Soúthwark voiced th, *Súdhək
souvenìr *soôvenêer
sóvereign *sóvrin
sóvereignty *sóvrənty
Sóviet seems to be the more common post-Sôviet pronunciation; -ìət
sôw seed = sô therefore = sew cloth, cf. sòw
sòw pig
Sowétô, from Sòuth-Wést(ern) Tòwnships
sŏya bean = Såwyer person = såwyer saw
spà town BrE = spàr fight
spâceship one word
spâde = spâyed
Spâin
Spániard
Spánish
spâte flood, many = Spêight person
spây = Spèy river
spêak = Spêke, cf. spêech
spêar makes a minimal pair with sphêre
spécial *spéshle
spécialty = Spécialty
speciálity
spêcíes *spêeshiz, *spêeseez
specífic
spécimen
spéctacle
spéctre BrE; AmE spécter = Spéctor person
spêech cf. spêak
Spéncer usual = Spénser poet
sphêre
sphérical
spìêl *shpêel
spíllage -íj
spínach *spínij, *spínnage, cf. spíllage
spínet, spinét
spîral
Spokáne
spôke speak, wheel
spôken
spôkesperson one word
spótlîght -lîte, one word
spôx, abbreviation of spôkespërson
sprêe
sprîghtly *sprîtely
*sprîly (though drîly is an alternative form of drŷly)
sprîte
sprŷ
sprŷly
spŷ
sqùander
sqùalour BrE; AmE squàlor
sqùat
sqùatter
squåwk
squêak
squêal
squêamish
squîre
squírrel
squïrt
Srébrenice *Srébrənítzə
Srì Lánka can be pronounced, but not spelt, Shr-
St. or St *Sənt: abbreviation of Sâint before a name as in St. Màrk; St Jóhn as a secular and/or personal name may be *Sínjən; also an abbreviation of Strêet
stâbilise
stâble stability, horse
stâgefright *stâjefrîte, one word
stâid old-fashioned = stâyed stay
stâin mark = Stèyn person, cf. Steîn
stãir up = stãre look cf. stàr
stâke bet, wooden = steâk meat
ståll
stålwart
stànch flow
Stánsted Ãirport
stàr sky, film = Stàrr
stãre look = stãir climb
stãred, stãring stare
stàrred, stàrring star
stâteside one word
stâtionary motionless = stâtionery paper
stâtist
statístics
státistícian -shn
státutory
ståunch support
stây
stâyed stay = stâid old-fashioned
stéad cf. stéady, stêed
steâk meat = stâke bet, wooden, cf. strêak line
stêal thieve = stêel metal
stéalth
steîn; surname can also be Stêin
sténch
stép walk = stéppe plain
stépfàther, stépmòther, etc., each one word
Stéphanie, Stéf-, and not usually with a second 'e', unlike...
Stêphen = Stêven, both pronounced -v-
stépped rhymes with slépt
stérilise
stërling quality, currency = Stïrling Scotland = Stërling
steŵard
Steŵart person = Stûart person: one is more likely to meet a Stûart Steŵart than the reverse
stíck
stîfle
stígma
stíll
stíng
stíngy -njy
stínk
stîpend
Stïrling see stërling
stítch
St. Jóhn in most cases *Sənt Jón, in a few *Sín Jən
St. Loûis most often *St. Leŵis, cf. Loûis *Loûee
St. Lûcia *Sənt Lûshə
St. Morítz *Sán Mərítts
stóckpile one word
stôíc -k
stôícism -s-
stôle steal, fur
stòmach *stúmmək
stôny
stópôver noun, adjective
stŏre shop = Stŏrr person
stŏrey BrE floor = stŏry tale, AmE floor
stŏry-télling
Stŏrmont
Stöurton
St. Pêtersburg
Stráchan *Strákən, *Stråwn
strâight direct = strâit narrow
strâight awây two words
straightfŏrward adjective one word, no hyphen
strâight-lâced or strâit-lâced
strâitjacket
strâits dire, Dire Straits
strânge -j
strânger -j-
strángle
strángler
Stranràer
Strásböurg, Strásbŏurg Stráz-
stràta BrE; AmE strâta = BrE strâighter
strátegem
stratêgic
strátegist
strátegy
stràtum AmE strâtum
Stràùss *Stròwse, hissing s; Strauß is not used in English, as the German-language character ß (esszet) is not used
stråw mán two words
strêamlined one word
Stréatham London = Strétham Cambridgeshire *Strétəm
strénuous
streŵ
streŵed
streŵn
stríp
strîpe
strîve
stríven
strômuhr
strôve
strýchnìne *strícknêen
Stûart person = Steŵart person - the Scottish royals were Stûarts but Stûart is more common as a given name, Steŵart more as a family name
stúbborn
stúcco
stûdent
stúdy
stùmm *shtùm
stûpid
stûpor *stûper, *stûpour
stŷ pig = stŷ or stŷe eye
stŷle mode = stîle field
stŷmie cf. slîmy
Stýx river = stícks stick
suàve swà-
súb can be a word in its own right, but only as an abbreviation (itself a súbstitute), meaning for example sub-édit, sub-éditor, submarìne, or indeed súbstitûte; far more often though it is attached to the following word, with or without a hyphen; and there is also the Latin legal expression súb jûdice (*subjûdísì or *subyûdikây)
súbfúsc
súbject noun, subjéct verb
súbjugate
submarìne
submáriner
submít
subŏrn
subpoêna BrE; AmE -pê-
subsîdence
súbsídy
substántial -shəl
súbtitle
súbtle = Súttle person, cf. súpple
súbürb
subürban
succêed -x-
succéss -x-
succínct -x-
súccour help = súcker fool
succúmb -úm
súch so = Sútch person
Sudán, Sudàn, Sù-, cf. sedán sí-
sûe law = Sûe Susan = Sioûx American; cf. diminutives Sûsie, Sûzy, etc. = Sioûxsie Banshees; words beginning soô- and soû- also have this sound
suède material = swâyed sway
Sûez *Soôwíz
suffîce
súffocâte
Súffolk -fək
súffrage cf. súffer
sùgar shù-
suicîdal
sûing *sûeing
sûit wear, cards *sût, or, perhaps more common in inflected versions such as unsûitable, *syût; cf. soòt black
suìte rooms, music = swêet confection
súllen
súlphur BrE; AmE súlfur
súltan
súm arithmetic = sòme others
súmmary summarise = súmmery summer
sún star = sòn offspring
*sunàmi tsunàmi
súndae ice-cream = Súnday day
súnglasses one word
Sùnni Muslim = Northern English pronunciation of súnny weather; some AmE speakers say Sûnni *Soôny
súnny sun = sònny son
sûper cf. súpper
sûper-rích: hyphen avoids apparent ‘supérrich’
supercílious
supërfluous
superflûity
sûpermarket one word
sûpermodel one word
sûperpòwer one word
supersêde cf. precêde, intercêde
súpper
súpple *súpəl, rhyming with coúple, cf. súbtle, *sútəl
súpplement -pləmənt
supplŷ provide
súpplỳ supple
suppréss -pp-
sûre AmE *shûre; BrE sůre rhyming with Shåw
sûrety AmE *shûre, BrE *shůrety
sürf sea = sërf peasant
sürface -físs, cf. sërvíce, minimal pair
sürge rush = sërge cloth
Surinám or -náme
surmòunt
surrêalism, cf. sêrialism
súrrogacy
súrrogate
sürplíce clergy ≈ sürplus extra
surprîse -rpr-; not -ize
survèillance spy: some pronounce it like survèyance
sürvèy noun, survèy verb
survèyance surveyor
Sûsan -z-, cf. Suzánne, etc.
suscéptible
suspéct verb, súspect person
suspénse AmE and BrE; but see retroalphabetical list for -ence and -ense
sustâin
sústenance
súttee (nowadays often sàti), cf. soòty (minimal pair)
svélte
svengàli, S-
sẁallow throat, bird
sẁamp
sẁan bird = Sẁann person
Sẁansea *Swónzy
sẁansong
sẁap = swóp, a chiefly British variant
swårthy
sẁastika, some AmE swastìka
sẁat fly = swót exam = Swàt Valley
sẁath ridge (*swóth, unvoiced th), spelling and even pronunciation increasingly used in place of swâthe large area or quantity (*swâydh, voiced th, rhyming with lâthe and bâthe)
swéar
swéat perspire
swêde vegetable = Swêde Sweden, cf. suède = swâyed
swêet eat = suìte music, hote
swêetheàrt
swêetshop one word
sweêt-talk verb hyphenated
Swíthin or Swíthun
swŏrd blade *sŏrd = sŏared soar, cf. swård turf, swŏre, swŏrn swear, w pronounced in all three
swóp, a chiefly British variant = sẁap
swót exam = sẁat fly = Swàt Valley
*swóth, see sẁath, swâthe
sý-: initially, sy is pronounced like sí- in sít, apart from sŷphon (= sîphon) and Sŷracûse Italy
sybarític cf. síbyllîne
sýcamore
*sych- no words begin like this
sýcophánt
Sýdney Australia, person = Sídney person
Sylhét
sýllable
sýllabúb
sýllabus
sýlph
symbiótic
sýmbol sign = cýmbal percussion
sýmmetry
symmétrical
sýmptom cf. Símpson
sýnagogue *sínnagóg
sýnc, sýnch synchronisation = sínk lower, wash
sýnched, sýnch'd, sýnc'd: past forms of preceding-as-verb
sýndrome
synécdochê -kê
sýnod
sŷphon or sîphon
Sýracuse America, Sŷracuse Italy
Sýria makes a minimal pair with Sírius, cf. Líbya
syrínge
Sýriza, cf. Sýria ("Syrêetsa", with a German-sounding ts sound for the z, is sometimes heard)
sýrup
sýsóp
sýstem
systemátic
systémic