English spellings: Difference between revisions

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'''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.  


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 &ndash; the only one used &ndash; for [[schwa]]); or we can contrast [[British English]] *dizàstrus with [[American English|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.   
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.   


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').  


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==
===A===
 ''letter'' = èh? ''what?'' (names of letters are usually written as capitals in text)


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.


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.


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).


Ãaron - also Ãron or Áron and now some say Áaron = Árran ''Isle''
==Links to letter articles and lists==  
{{: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:


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]].


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.)
*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.


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''').


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]].)


Aberdêen
::For clarity, italic association words are to the left of the example word:
:::''woman'' '''mâid''' = ''make'' '''mâde'''


Aberýstwýth
::Some incorrect spellings are listed retroalphabetically, in which case the misspelling goes on the right, just as in the alphabetical list:
:::'''wêasel''' *wêasal


aberrâtion
*Bottom row: '''''common misspellings''''' including '''''typos''''' (blue-linked for checking purposes), followed by the correct versions.


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).


abhŏr
Unlike dictionaries, the lists include personal and place names for their own sake and for contrast.


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
|
|
|-
|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
|
|
|-
|The '''ãir''' sound (tilde accent)
|('''thére''')
|('''ãir''' =
|'''Ãyr''')
|'''stãre
|
|
|
|
|-
|Irregular (respelling needed)
|'''sew''' (= '''sô''')
|'''meringue''' (*məráng)
|
|'''because''' (*bikóz)
|'''woman''' (*wùmən), '''women''' (*wímən)
|'''business''' (*bízníss)
|
|
|}


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.


abòut *əbòut
''The usual short sound, acute accent:''


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


ábsèil cf. sâil
''The usual long sound, circumflex accent:''


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


abstâin
''The third sound, grave accent:''


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


ábstinence
''The '''ër''' sound, umlaut:''


abýsmal -zməl
'''But fïrst, Mÿrtle, fürther dïrty, ïrksome and distürbing wörk for the nürses.


abýss
''The '''ŏr''' sound ('''sůre''' here is with [[British English|British]] pronunciation = '''Shåw'''), the ring, or half-ring:''


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


acádemy
''Irregular, without accent, instead with respelling:''


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


accélerate ax-, cf. excél, éxcellent
==Double letters==
The following alphabetical table shows examples of how letters can be doubled in English.  


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''').


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''' #
|
|-
|'''B
|
|'''ríbbon
|'''ébb''' #
|'''Crábbe''' (= '''cráb''')
|-
|'''C
|
|'''sóccer''' (*sócker), '''accépt''' (*əxépt)
|
|
|-
|'''D
|
|'''hídden
|'''ádd
|
|-
|'''E
|'''êel
|'''bêen
|'''sêe
|
|-
|'''F
|'''Ffoùlkes'''
|'''éffort
|'''óff'''
|'''Clíffe''' (= '''clíff''')
|-
|'''G
|
|'''aggréssion''' (-'''g'''-), '''exággerate''' (-j-)
|'''égg''' #
|'''Légge''' (= '''lég''')
|-
|'''H
|
|'''hítchhike''' # (accidental)
|
|
|-
|'''I
|
|'''skìíng''' #
|'''Hawàìi''' #
|
|-
|'''J
|
|
|'''hàjj''' # (also spelt '''hàdj''')
|
|-
|'''K
|
|'''púkka'''; '''boòkkeeper''' (accidental)<ref>With a pause to indicate both '''k'''’s are pronounced.</ref> #
|
|
|-
|'''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'')


accépt ''receive'' cf. excépt ''exception''
|-
|'''M
|
|'''súmmer
|'''Crámm''' (= '''crám''')
|'''grámme''' (= '''grám''')
|-
|'''N
|
|'''dínner
|'''ínn''' # ''pub''
|'''Ánne''' (= '''Ánn''')
|-
|'''O
|'''oôze, oòmph''' #
|'''foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr'''
|'''toô
|'''Loôe''' (= '''loô''')
|-
|'''P
|
|'''flípped
|
|'''stéppe''' ''Asia'' # (= '''stép''' ''foot'')
|-
|'''Q
|
|'''Sadìqqi''' #
|
|
|-
|'''R
|
|'''érror
|'''pürr
|
|-
|'''S
|
|'''méssy
|'''lóss
|'''crevásse
|-
|'''T
|
|'''bétter
|'''ẁatt
|'''couchétte''' -sh-
|-
|'''U
|
|'''vácuum''' # (*vákyoôm)
|
|
|-
|'''V
|
|'''révved''' #
|
|
|-
|'''W
|
|'''Lawwell''' # (accidental)
|
|
|-
|'''X
|
|'''[[Exxon|Éxxon]]''' ™ #
|'''[[Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans|Bób B. Sóxx]]''' #
|
|-
|'''Y
|
|'''[[Omar Khayyam|Khayyàm]]''' #
|
|
|-
|'''Z
|
|'''fízzy
|'''búzz
|
|}


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:


áccident áx-
'''A''': '''â''' (the indefinite article, when stressed), '''èh?''' ''what?


accidéntally áx-
'''B''': '''bê''' ''exist'', '''bêe''' ''sting


áccolade
'''C''': occasionally '''cêe'''; '''sêe''' ''look'', '''sêa''' ''ship


accómmodate - two c’s and two m’s
'''D''': [[River Dee|'''Dêe''' ''River]], ''surname''


accòmpany
'''E''': '''ê''' as in '''êmail''', '''ê-mail


accòmplíce ''person''
'''F''': '''éff''' as in the euphemism '''éff óff


accòmplísh ''achieve''
'''G''': '''gêe''' ''up, exclamation'' *jêe


Accrà
'''H''': '''âitch''' as in '''drópping your âitches


accrûe cf. acróss
'''I''': '''Î''' ''me'', '''eŷe''' ''vision


acërbic
'''J''': '''jây''' ''bird


âche *âke
'''K''': '''Kây''' ''person


achìêve
'''L''': '''él''' ''elevated railway'' ([[American English|AmE]])


ácmê
'''M''': '''ém''' ''dash


acquiésce *aquìéss, cf. quiéscent *kwìéssent, quîet *kwîət
'''N''': '''én''' ''dash


acquîre *aquîre
'''O''': '''ôwe''' ''debt'', '''ôh!''' ''exclamation


acquít
'''P''': '''pêa''' ''pod'', '''pêe''' ''urine'', '''p''' ''pence'' ([[British English|BrE]])


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
 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
===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===
Ìt's a dàrk abýss ŏr túnnel
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===
Streŵn wíth stônes lîke rôwlock, gúnwale,  
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
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
:Íslington, and Îsle of Wîght,  
económical
       
ecónomy
:Hòusewîfe, vërdíct and indîct.  
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===
Dôn't yoû thínk sô, rêader, ràther,  
F *éff
fábulous *fábyələss
façàde *fəsàd
facêtious *fəsêeshəss
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


Sâying làther, bâther, fàther?     
       
:Fînally, whích rhŷmes wíth enoúgh,
       
:Thôugh, throûgh, bòugh, cóugh, hóugh, sòugh, toúgh??


Hiccoúgh hás the sòund of súp.


==Retroalphabetical list==
Mŷ advîce ís:  GÍVE ÍT ÚP!


===A===
==Notes==
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 18:48, 13 April 2017

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=English_spellings&printable=yes
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  

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

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  

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.

Front vowels Back vowels
e i y[2] a o u oo w[3]
The typical short sound, never occurring at the end of a word (acute accent) pét pít crýpt cát dóg[4] nút
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 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
(= ê) 		àre òther, blòod
(= ú) 		fùll (= oò), qùantity (= w) foòt (= ù) ẁant (= wó)[5]
The ër sound (umlaut accent) përson bïrd mÿrtle (ëarth) wörd pürr
The åw/ŏr sound (ring accent)[6] (cŏin) (jŏy) åll mŏre (for some BrE speakers) sůre
The ãir sound (tilde accent) (thére) (ãir = Ãyr) stãre
Irregular (respelling needed) sew (= sô) meringue (*məráng) because (*bikóz) woman (*wùmən), women (*wímən) business (*bízníss)

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 initial medial final final + silent e
A àardvark #[7] bazàar # bàa #
B ríbbon ébb # Crábbe (= cráb)
C sóccer (*sócker), accépt (*əxépt)
D hídden ádd
E êel bêen sêe
F Ffoùlkes éffort óff Clíffe (= clíff)
G aggréssion (-g-), exággerate (-j-) égg # Légge (= lég)
H hítchhike # (accidental)
I skìíng # Hawàìi #
J hàjj # (also spelt hàdj)
K púkka; boòkkeeper (accidental)[8] #
L llàma[9] # fílling wéll bélle beauty (= béll ring)
M súmmer Crámm (= crám) grámme (= grám)
N dínner ínn # pub Ánne (= Ánn)
O oôze, oòmph # foôd, foòt, flòod, doŏr toô Loôe (= loô)
P flípped stéppe Asia # (= stép foot)
Q Sadìqqi #
R érror pürr
S méssy lóss crevásse
T bétter ẁatt couchétte -sh-
U vácuum # (*vákyoôm)
V révved #
W Lawwell # (accidental)
X Éxxon ™ # Bób B. Sóxx #
Y Khayyàm #
Z fízzy búzz

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

  1. ↑ A few different accents, mostly from French, sometimes crop up in English, however; see French words in English.
  2. ↑ When not accented, y is usually the semi-consonant of yoû and yés.
  3. ↑ When not accented, w is usually the semi-consonant of wê and wíll.
  4. ↑ In American English this short British sound is replaced by the longer à in most positions, and by ŏ before r.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ àardvark and Transvàal are from Afrikàans, itself a further example.
  8. ↑ With a pause to indicate both k’s are pronounced.
  9. ↑ Also representing a Welsh sound in place names like Llandudno (-dídno) and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobllllantysiliogogogóch.
  10. ↑ Strong form of to, not normal in a verb's infinitive, necessitated by the metre.
  11. ↑ The pronunciation required by the metre is "ôkay", though the K is normally the stressed syllable: okây.
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