English spellings/Catalogs/M
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| Common misspellings |
This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with M. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.
For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]
M = ém print
Mà Mother = BrE màr ruin = BrE Màrr person
Màasaî
Mac-, see also Mc-
macádam road = McÁdam person (from which it is derived); names begin Mac-, with or without a following capital, or Mc-, with a following capital, both pronounced Mək-
macán- is spelt mechán- (= McCánn)
macarôni, cf. original Italian maccheroni
MacGrégor or McGrégor *Məgrégor (before G, the c sound is lost)
machétê *məshétty
machinâtion -sh- or -k-
machìne -sh-
machísmo mátch- or mətch-: the normal ch sound reflects the word's Spanish origin, so the Italian-style k that one sometimes hears ("McKismo"?) can sound ignorant
mácho mátch-
Mácintyre = MácKintyre (the c of Mác/Mc always a hard k sound, including before a vowel)
máckerel
Macleod or MacLeod or McLeod *Məclòud
mádam shop, etc
madáme brothel
Madêira
mádeleine cake = Mádeleine Paris, person
mâde-up adjective before noun
mádman or -mán; one word
Madràs
madrássa is perhaps the most phonetic of the many spellings of *mədrássə/*mədràssə
Mâe = Mây = mây
mâelstrom
màêstro *mŷstro
Máfia BrE; AmE Màfia (small m when used figuratively)
magazìne
Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge, both silent g = måudlin sentimental
Mágdalene Mary *Mágdəlín
magistêrial máj-, cf. májesty
mágistrâte máj-
mágnate power: mágnâte or = mágnet
magnêsium
mágnet magnetic
Maguîre = McGuîre *Məgwîə(r) *McGwîre
Màher Bill = màrr
mâid servant = mâde make
Mâida Vâle
mâil letters = mâle female
mâin principle = mâne horse = Mâine America = Mâyne person
mâinstream one word
maî taî drink = mŷ tîe
mâize crop = mâze labyrinth = Mâys
májesty, cf. majéstic, magistêrial
Majŏrca *Məyŏrkə
majórity
mâkeshift one word
malâise = Malâys
malãria
Malâysia, cf. Âsia etc.
Málcolm person *Málcum, rhyming with tálcum powder
Maldìves *Mål-dêevz
mâle man = mâil post
Màlè Maldives can be written Malé
Màli = BrE Màrley
málíce
malîgn -lîne
malígnant -lígnənt
malínger
måll shopping = måul violence, or máll, and, in London, regularly The Máll and Páll Máll
mállàrd
mállêable
Málory rhymes with Válerie
målt
Målta
Målvern
màma, Màma; archaic Mamà, mamà
Mámmon
mán male = Mán Isle, Manchester = Mánn = Mánne persons, cf. mâne
mánakin - see mánnequin
Manàma
manatêe
Mánbìj
Mánchester, cf. Chéster: both es in Mánchester are normally weak: *Mánchəstər, though some football pundits say "Mán Chéster"
Mancûnian
mándarin
mándâte noun; mandâte, verb
mándatory
mandolíne or mandolín
mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State
mânger -j-, cf. mánager
mângy -jy
mánhandle
mâniácal
máníkin, mánníkin - see mánnequin
Maníla
mán-mâde
mánna heaven BrE = mánor house = mánner way
mánnequin dummy = máníkin dwarf, model, cf. mánakin bird
manoeûvre BrE or manœûvre; AmE maneûver
manoeuvrabílity BrE; AmE maneuvrabílity, one word
mànquè, manqué *mànkây
mánslåughter *mánsslåwter
mántle, cf. méntal (minimal pair)
many rhymes with pénny, cf. Mánny Emmanuel
Màó rhymes with còw
Màóri rhymes with Lòwry
Mâpplethorpe Robert *Mâplethorpe: unusual flouting of double-consonant rule in person's name, cf. mâple tree, mápping map
márathon AmE ó; BrE o as schwa
Marbèlla *Màr-bâya
màrch walk = Màrch month
mãre horse = mãyor councillor = Mãir person
màrè plain (on the Moon or Mercury, plural mària)
margarìne màrj-
Màrgot -gô
Màrgolỳes -lêez
Marìa but: Bláck Marîa
mària moon (plural of màrè, dark "sea" area on Moon or Mercury)
Marîah Carey, cf. parîah
Márian, like Ísabél, has an o variant, Márion
Mariánne
Mariê is usual, but Màrie Lloyd, cf. Màry Celéste
marìna
marìne
máriner sailor = Márriner person
Mário
máritîme
màrk = Màrk
màrket
Màrlboro™ cigarette -bərə = Màrlborough person
Mårlborough town *Måwlbərə
màrmalâde
màrquess = màrquis
màrquetry *màrketry
màrr ruin = Màrr = Màher
Márrakesh or -ch, pronounced -sh
márriage *márij, cf. French mariage
Màrs Martian = màrs mar
Marsèille *Marssây
màrshal officer = Màrshall = Màrshal persons = màrtial war = Màrtial poet, minimal pair with Màrtian
màrten animal = màrtín bird = Màrtín person
Màrtìne feminine
màrtyr -tər
màrvel
Marvéll
Mãry, cf. márry; but Màry Celéste
Mãryland, Máryland
Márylebone *Márryləbən, *Màrləbən
māsk face = māsque ball BrE = AmE mósque Islam
Massachûsetts
mássacre -ker
mássacring
mássàge -àzh; AmE *məssàzh
massëuse -ëz; AmE -ûz
māsterpiece one word
māsterstroke one word
másturbate
Matabêlêlánd
matêrial: -al, unlike in French; cf. mátter
mátinèe *mátinây: matinée, French accent can be written in BrE but not in AmE
mâtrix
máttress
måudlin sentimental = Mågdalen Oxford = Mågdalene Cambridge
måul lion = måll shops
Maurice person BrE = Mórrís name; AmE Maurìce; see -óris in Retroalphabetical List
Mauritânia BrE *Morritânia
mauve colour *môav, cf. move *moôv movement
mâven, mâvin
Maximílian rhymes with míllion
mây perhaps = Mây month, person = Mâe person
mâybe perhaps: only when it means perhaps is it one word, cf. mây bê verbs: mâybe it’s trûe; ít mây bê trûe
mâyhém
mãyor councillor = mãre horse = Mãir person, cf. Mâyer person, mâjor
mãyoral, mayŏral
Mc-, see also Mac-
McCánn = first two syllables of mechánical
McEnroe *Máckenroe
McGóugh *MəGóff
McGuínness makes a minimal pair with McÍnnes
McIlroy *Máckilroy
McKénzie = MacKénzie = Mackénzie Mək-
McLeod *McLòud
McNamàra = Macnamàra
mê myself = Mêe person
mêad
méadôw
mêaly-mòuthed
mêan intend, generous = mìên face
méant mean, cf. -ment suffix
mêantime one word
mêasles rhymes with wêasels
méasure *mézher
mêat flesh = mêet up = mête appropriate
mêatball one word
mechánic məká-, cf. machìne məsh-
mechánical məká-
méchanism mékə-
médal medallion = méddle interfere
mêdia
mêdial
mêdiate
médical
Medìci *Mədêechee
médicine: the first i may be silent
medìêval or medìaêval *medì-êvəl or *medêvəl
méditate
Mediterrânean cf. ‘terra’, Latin for ‘earth’, so it is not spelt *Meditterânean
Medvédev *Midvyédiff
mê = Mêe
mêet encounter = mêat eat = mête suitable, out
megalomâniac
megalomanîacal
Mégan
melanchôlia -nk-
mélancholy -nk-
Melanêsia
Mélanie, cf. mélody, Delâney
Mélbourne *Mélbə(r)n makes a minimal pair with Mílburn *Mílbə(r)n
méltdown noun one word
même
meménto remember, cf. môment, moméntous, moméntum time: A meménto, remémber, ís an âid to mémory, an aide-memoire...
mémoir *mémwàr (no final -e unlike in French original)
ménace rhymes with Dénnis and ténnis (-əss or -íss)
menágerie
*mént: méant is the past tense of mêan; -ment, the suffix, is more common
méntal, cf. mántle (minimal pair)
méntǒr
ménû *ményu rhymes with vénue
Ménuhin *Ményuwin
Menzies Campbell *Míngiz, standard Scots pronunciation
Méopham *Méppəm
mêre
mërger makes a minimal pair with mürder
meringue *məráng
mërmaid
mesméric
mésmerise
méssage
méssenger
Méssrs Mister, cf. mésser mess
Mésurier John le = méasurer measure
métal metallic = méttle quality
metamŏrphôsis - either stressed
mête suitable, out = mêet encounter = mêat animal
meteorólogy mê-
mêter machine = mêtre distance, rhythm BrE; all three meanings in AmE are mêter
méthane AmE; BrE mêthane
methínks one word *mê thínks
méthod
methódical
méthýl
méthylâted spírits
mètièr can have French accent métier *mâytiay
métro
metrópolis
metropólitan
meŵ cat = mû Greek
meŵs street, cat = mûse think, inspiration
mézzanìne méts- or méz-
mézzo *métso
mì doh-re-mi = mê I
Miámì *Mŷ-ámmy
miaòw
mîc = mîke microphone = Mîke Michael
mîca = Mîcah
Mîchael *Mŷcle, rhyming with cŷcle
Michâela *Mí-kâylə
Míchaelmas *Míckleməs
Míckey Mouse, etc = Míckie
mîcro-
mîcrô-ŏrganism hyphenated
míd does not require hyphen
middây (pronounced like two words: pause on d sound to indicate both ds pronounced, but no hyphen between them)
Míddlesbrough England *Míddlzbrə; cf. Míddlesborough Kentucky
mídnight *mídnîte
mídsummer = Mídsomer
mídwîfe
midwífery
mìên face = mêan intend, ungenerous
míffed rhymes with ríft etc.
mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid
mìgraine BrE; AmE mîgraine
mîgrant cf. ímmígrant
migrâte = my grâte
Miguél: Spanish and Portuguese silent u (which keeps the g hard) is pronounced w by some anglophones
mîke = mîc microphone = Mîke Michael
Milán city, second syllable stressed
Mìlán person, football *Mêelán, first syllable stressed: boy's name and, from Milanese, can be used when referring to AC Milan football club
mîles mile = Mîles person
Mílibánd
mílitant makes a minimal pair with Míllicent
mílitary
milítia *milíshə
millénnium
míllipede
Milwåukee
mímic rhymes with gímmick
minarét
mînd brain, care = mîned mining
mîndset noun one word
mîne me, bomb, coal
mînefield one word
mîner coal = mînor small, young, major
minestrônê
míni small = Mínnie person
míniature *mínitcher
mínímum
mínistry, cf. mónastery
mínkê *mínky
mínstrel
mînus
mínuscule, now also míniscule
mínute time *mínít
minûte tiny = mŷ neŵt
minûtiae *minûshî or *minûshìî
mîre
mìrror = mêre in AmE; BrE *mírə, *mêə
mís- joined, not hyphenated; = míss = Míss
miscellâneous -səl-
miscéllany -sél-
míschíef
míschíevous
misconcéption
mîser
míserable
misére (or as French, misère) *mí-zér
mísery
mísháp *míss-háp
mislêad
misléd
misnômer
misógynist
misquôte
míss aim = Míss female = mís- wrong
míssal prayers = AmE míssile hit, cf. BrE pronunciation míssîle
míssed miss = míst fog
misshâpen *míss-shâpen
Mississíppì
*míssle = míssîle, see míssal
Missoûrì *Mizoôry; some AmE speakers say *Mízoôrə
misspéll
místral wind, cf. místrîal trial
misunderstánding
misûse
mîte small, arachnid = mîght perhaps, power
Mládic *Mláditch, two syllables
mnemónic, silent initial m
Mnûchin Mənû-
Môáb
môbîle move
Môbìle Alabama
módel *móddle, cf. môtél
móderate tempered, móderâte verb
môdus operándî
môdus vivéndì
Mohámmed is probably more common in British English, Muhámmad in American, e.g. the boxer Muhámmad Alì; also variants Mohámed Morsi, etc.; *Məhámid, *Məháməd
mŏist
mŏisten *mŏissən
Mojàvê *Məhàvì
môld American English = môuld British English
mólecule
molécular
molést
móllycoddled one word
Mólotov -f
Mólineûx *Móllyneŵ
móllusc (AmE also móllusk)
móm/mòm mother (*màhm, or = BrE múm; does not rhyme with BrE Tóm)
Mombása *Mombássa
môment, moméntous, moméntum, cf. meménto
Mónaco
mónarch BrE -nək, AmE -nrk or -nàrk
Mónbìôt *Mónbeêo
Monegásque -ásk
mónestery *mónistry, cf. mínistry
mònetary
mòney
mòngrel
mónicker name = móniker name; BrE = Mónica person
mòníes = mòneys and mòníed = mòneyed, variant spellings
mónitor
mònk
monópoly = Monópoly game (Monópoly mòney)
mónster
mónstrous
Móntagûe or -û
Montána BrE and AmE, cf. AmE banána but BrE banàna, with the usual BrE pronunciation of this ending (also Alabáma and Louisiána are both BrE and AmE)
Montenêgro, Montenégro
Monterrèy
Montevidèo
Montgómery = Montgómerie
mònth *múnth, cf. mòunt *màoont
Montreål *Móntry-åll
Montrëux *Montrüh *Montrër
moôg or *môag; or M-
moôn
mŏor land = mŏre plus = Mŏore = Mŏre names
moôt mention, late, cf. mûte silent
môped mope
môpéd bike
móral BrE, AmE mŏral virtuous
morāle confidence
moratǒrium
moreôver
mŏrès -âyz
móribund
mŏrning early = mŏurning death
Morócco
mŏron
Mórris person BrE = Maurice person, rhyming with lóris, Bóris and Dóris (all ŏ in AmE)
mŏrtgage *mŏrgij
mŏrtíce or mŏrtíse
mosâíc pattern = Mosâíc Jewish *môzâíc
Móscôw; some AmE speakers say Móscòw
mósque Islam *mósk AmE = BrE māsk face = másque ball, cf. músk
mosquìto -skêeto
môte eye = môat castle
móthball one word
motìf pattern mô-, cf. môtive reason
mótto
moûe pout = moô cow
môuld British English = môld American English
mòund
mòuntaínous -tínəss
mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning
mòuse rodent, cf. moûsse
Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl (cf. mòusehôle mouse, as two words)
moûsse chocolate = moôse animal, cf. mòuse
moustāche BrE *məstàsh; AmE mústache, *mústásh
mòuth noun th unvoiced, verb th voiced, same spelling, cf. bréath noun th unvoiced, brêathe adding an e when becoming a verb, th also voiced
mòuthpiece one word
move moving *mûve, cf. mauve colour *môve
Môzart *Môatsart
Mr abbreviation of míster, full form rarely used
Mrs *míssíz; abbreviation of míssis or míssus, of which the full form is rarely used; = mísses mistakes, girls
mû Greek = meŵ cat
mûcus
Múeller Robert
mûesli *meŵsley
muézzin
Muhámmad, see Mohámmed
Mûïr name *meŵer
mujahidêen is one of many spellings
múlct
múll over = Múll Scotland
múlti- is a prefix, not a word, and must be either joined to the next word, as in múltitask, or hyphenated, as always before a following vowel, as in múlti-instruméntalist
múltiplŷ verb
múltiplỳ adverb
múm quiet, BrE mother, cf. AmE móm mother
Mùmbaî, Mumbaî (echoing the stress pattern of Bombây), Múmbaî
múmmy body, mother BrE, cf. AmE mómmy mother
múnch -ch sound, cf. Édvàrd Mùnch, *Moònk
Mûnich -ík
mürder
Mürdoch -ók or -ókh
mürky
mürmur cf. mürder, minimal pair
Mürphy *Mërfie
Múrraỳ = Mòray Firth = Múrry, cf. húrry
múscle body = mússel shellfish
Múscovite
mûse think, inspiration = meŵs street, cat
musêum mûz-
mûsic current = mûsick archaic
músk makes a minimal pair with mósque
Mùslim BrE, some AmE Mú-, both -z-
múslin
mústáche AmE *mústásh; BrE moustàche *məstàsh
mústard food = mústered muster
mústn't *mússənt
mûte silent, cf. moôt mention
mŷ
Myánmàr is a good example of the folly of trying to control exonyms. *Myánmà/*Myànmà is the intended pronunciation, with the y as a semiconsonant, thus maintaining the two-syllable stress pattern of Bürma (another variant of the same original), but this hasn't been generally understood: the y is instead being vocalised, sometimes to ŷ as in mŷ, but more often, as in the most common broadcast pronunciation, to (a very rare stressed) ỳ, turning the first syllable into mê: *Mỳənmà(r)—adding a syllable, and sounding in BrE like mê 'n' Mà; meanwhile, some still say Bürma, and there is no sign of Burmêse being replaced
mŷnah bird = BrE mînor lesser = mîner mines
mŷre
mýriad
mÿrtle
mýstery *místry
mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke
mýth
myxomatôsis