English spellings/Catalogs/M

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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

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]

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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

machìne -sh-

machísmo mátch- or mətch- (the -tch- sound reflects the word's Spanish origin, so an Italian -k- sounds 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

madáme

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

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

mágnet magnetic

Maguîre = McGuîre *Məgwîə(r) *McGwîre

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

mâle man = mâil post

Màlè Maldives can be written Malé

Màli = BrE Màrley

málíce

malîgn -lîne

malígnant -lígnənt

måll shopping = måul violence (but, in London: The Máll and Páll Máll)

mállàrd

mállêable

Málory rhymes with Válerie

målt

Målta

Målvern

Mámmon

mán male = Mán Isle, Manchester = Mánn = Mánne persons, cf. mâne

mánakin - see mánnequin

Manàma

manatêe

Mánchester, cf. Chéster: both es in Mánchester are normally weak: *Mánchəstər, though some football pundits say "Mán Chéster"

Mancûnian

mânger, cf. mánager

mándarin

mándâte

mándatory

mandolíne or mandolín

mâne horse = mâin principal = Mâine State

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

mánslåughter *mánsslåwter

mántle, cf. méntal (minimal pair)

many rhymes with pénny

Màòri 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

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

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 *Morritânia

mauve colour *môav, cf. move *moôv movement

mâven, mâvin

Maximílian rhymes with míllion

mây perhaps = Mây month, 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

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

médical

médicine - the first i may be silent

medìêval or medìaêval *medì-êvəl or *medêvəl

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 *Mélbən makes a minimal pair with Mílburn *Mílbən (BrE)

méltdown noun one word

même

meménto remember, cf. môment, moméntous time: remémber, a meménto ís an âid to yŏur 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

Ménzíes Robert

Menzies Campbell *Míngiz, standard Scots pronunciation

Méopham *Méppəm

mêre

mërger makes a minimal pair with mürder

meringue *məráng

mërmaid

mesméric

mésmerise

méssage

méssenger

Méssiàen

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

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

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

mídwîfe

midwífery

mìên face = mêan intend, ungenerous

míffed rhymes with ríft etc.

mîght perhaps, power = mîte small, arachnid

mìgraine BrE; AmE mîgraine

mîgrant

migrâte = my grâte

Miguél: silent u, as in Spanish and Portuguese

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

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

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

misshâpen *míss-shâpen

Mississíppì

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 nem-, silent m

môbîle move

Môbìle Alabama

Môbley

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 mother (*màhm: AmE equivalent of BrE múm, but it does not rhyme with súm, nor with BrE Tóm)

Mombása *Mombássa

môment, cf. meménto

moméntous, 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)

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

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

mòuntaínous -tínəss

mŏurn dead = mŏrn morning

mòuse rodent, cf. moûsse

Mòusehole Cornwall *Mòuzəl

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

Mubārak

mûcus

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, mother BrE, cf. AmE móm mother

Mumbaî, Mùmbaî, 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, AmE Mú-, both -z-

múslin

mústáche AmE *mústásh; BrE moustàche *məstàsh

mústn’t *mússənt

mûte silent, cf. moôt mention

mŷ

Mỳanmar (*Mêeənmar) is perhaps the most common pronunciation of broadcasters, though "pronounce it the way you think is correct" seems to be the rule, with three versions each of y (consonant, êe and Ì) and the first a (á, à and schwa): Myánmar and Myànmar; *Mee-ánmar, *Mêe-ànmar and Mŷanmar; some still say Bürma (finally abandoned by the BBC World Service in 2014, though Burmêse is still used)

mŷnah bird = BrE mînor lesser = mîner mines

mŷre

mýriad

mÿrtle

mýstery *mistry

mystìque *mistêek, cf. mistâke

mýth

myxomatôsis