English spellings/Catalogs/S
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This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with S. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.
S
S *éss
sác biology = sáck coal
sáccharine sácə-
sáchet bag = sáshay walk
sácrament
sâcred -ríd or -rəd
sacrilegious -íjəss, from sácrilege, cf. relígious, which rhymes
Sádr city = sádder sad
Sagittãrius Sáj-
said say *séd, cf. pâid, lâid etc.
Sàìd Port, person = Sàêed person
sâke for
sàkè drink
sâle sell = Sâle England = sâil boat
Sålisbury *Sålzbry
sálivate
salîva
sálmon *sámmon
Sálomè
sálon BrE; AmE salón
Samôa
Sámùel -myùl
sanctimônious
sándal rhymes with cándle
Sandinístas
sang-froid *sàng-fwà
San Josè (can be written with Spanish accent San José) *Sán Hô-zè
Sánskrit cf. scrîbe
Sàra usually
Sãrah usually
Saskátchewan
sátellite - double l, single t
Sâtan
sátín
sátîre cf. sátyr
Sátürn
sátyr *sátter
Sàùdì *Sòwdy
sàùerkràùt *sòurcròut
sàùna
såw see, wood, saying = BrE sŏre pain = BrE sŏar up
sáx saxophone = Sáchs person
says *séz
sáy-sô noun one word
scándal *scándle, rhyming with cándle
scàr
scárab
scãre
scãrce
scàrf neck = Scàrfe person
scàrlet colour = Scàrlett person
sce- se-
scenàrio
scêne vista = sêen see
scént smell = cént money, sént send
scéptic BrE, but pronounced as AmE sképtic
schàdenfreude *shàdənfrŏyd(ə)
schédule BrE shé-, AmE ské-
schêma *skêemə
schemàta *skêem-àtə
schême *skêem
schérzo *skãirtso
schizophrênia *skítsəfrìnia
schizophrénic *skítsəfrénnic
schnítzel shn-
schtùm sht-
schoôl *skoôl
schoôlboy, schoôlgirl each one word
schoôner skoô-
schwà sh-
sciática sî-
scientífic sîən-
scíssors - ss as z
scóne cf. góne, dòne, cône
scöreboard one word
Scót Scotland = Scótt person
scòur
scöurge
scráp
scrâpe
scrâped
scrápped
scrêam
scrêen
scríbble
scúll oar = skúll head
scŷthe
sêa water = sêe vision
sêal shut, animal
sêaling = cêiling floor
Seån person = Shåun = BrE shŏrn shear
Seáttle cf. beátify, both êá
secêde cf. procêed, precêde, succêed, supersêde
secónd BrE military
sécond other meanings
sectãrian
sedán cf. Sudàn
sédentary cf. said, *séd
sêed plant = cêde yield
sêem appear = sêam coal, thread
sêer *sêe-er
segregâtion
sèguè *sâygwây
Sèine river = sâne insane, or *Sén, French version having a long é sound
seîsmic sîz-
seismólogist sîz-
sêize grab *sêez = sêes see, cf. cêase stop, sîze big, síeve filter
sélf-évident
séll buy = céll prison, biology
séll-bŷ dâte (not 'sell buy date')
sémblance cf. resemble
sêmen sperm = sêaman sailor = sêamen sailors
Senegål
sénsor feel = cénsor censorship
séntence
Seôul Korea = sôle only, shoe = sôul spirit
séparate adjective, séparâte verb not -per-, cf. a in pãir, e in désperate
séptic infected cf. BrE scéptic = AmE sképtic doubter
sépulchre *sépulker
sërf peasant = sürf sea
sergeant *sàrjent = Sergeant = Sàrgent persons = serjeant -at-àrms
sêrial TV = cêreal breakfast
sêries *sêríz
sêrious cf. Sýria, Sírius
sërve cf. sürvèy noun, *sërvây; survèy verb
sërvíce *sërvíss, cf. sürface, -físs, minimal pair, only one sound different
sétback noun one word
Sèumas Shây-
séver cut
sevêre tough
Sévern river BrE = séven number
sew thread = sô thus = sôw seed, cf. sòw pig
seŵer pipe
sewer sew = sôwer seed
séxìêst -ìyíst most
séxíst sexism
sextét
shâde
shádow
Shâkespêare - variant spellings omitted one or both silent e’s in William Shakespeare’s time but this is the norm now; cf. shâke and spêar
shâky
shâman
shãreholder one word
shêar cut = shêer absolute
shèikh Arabia - kh sound, or = shâke rattle
Shêila
shéllfish cf. sélfish
shenánigans - no double letters
shépherd *shépperd = Shépherd = Shéphard = Shépheard persons
shh - any number of h’s
Shìa ≈ BrE shêer
shíbboleth
Shìîte - no apostrophe or hyphen
shoe foot = shoô away
shoô-in noun one word; *shoe-ín
shoôt bang = chûte fall
shôre sea BrE = Shåw person and often = sûre certain
shŏrn shear BrE = Shåun, Seån persons
shŏrtcoming one word
shŏrtlist finalists cf. a shŏrt líst
Shostakôvich
shoùld *shoòd, cf. shôulder, hoòd
shôwcase one word, cf. bàsket câse
Shreŵsbury *Shroôzbry or, more commonly, *Shrôzbry
Shrì alternative spelling of Srì - but not in Srì Lánka
shŷ
shŷlỳ
Siàn *Shàn
Sibêria - Sî-
síbling
síbyllîne - y as schwa
sìêge cf. sêize
síeve *sív, cf. sêize
Siérra Leône
Sierra Leônean
sîgh breath = Cŷ person
sîghed sigh = sîde beside
sîght see = sîte place = cîte quote
sîgn signal = sîne mathematics
sígnature
Sìkh religion = sêek find
símilê cf. símilar, smîle
simultâneous
Sînaî
Sinàtra
síng song = Síngh person
sínger - síng + -er, cf. síngeing
síngeing singe -jing, cf. sínging sing - hard g
Singapŏre
Singapŏrean
singlemîndedly
sîphon or sŷphon
sïr - but Sir before a man’s name is not stressed and has the schwa sound: *Sə(r) Jóhn Fålstaff
sîte place = cîte quote
sîting site
sítting sit
situâtion - sí-, cf. citâtion, cî-
sîze cf. sêize
sîzeable or sîzable
skì snow, cf. skŷ above
skìêr ski
skîer sky
skìíng
skîve
skuldúggery
skúll head = scúll oar
skŷscrâper one word
slág cf. Glénda Slágg
slây kill = slèigh snow
slêaze cf. plêase, which rhymes, and grêase, which has the s hissing sound
slêeve, cf. lêave
sleîght-of-hand cf. slâte
sleŵ
slîght little, slur = sleîght-of-hand
slípshod no hyphen
slôth
slòugh swamp *slòu = Slòugh town, cf. slôw fast
sloúgh skin *slúff
slúg
slür
slŷ
slŷlỳ
smållpox one word
smélt smell, metal, fish
smídgen or smídgin cf. pídgin
smôkescreen one word
Smŷth = Smŷthe, voiced th, cf. Smíth = smíth, unvoiced th
snêeze
snóbbery
snoô- - all such words have this sound
snoôty cf. soòty
snoôze
snôwmobìle cf. môbîle
snôwstorm
sŏar up = sŏre hurt
sôber cf. BrE sómbre AmE sómber
sóccer *sócker
sôcial sôsh-
sôcialism
sociólogy sôsh-
sociológical
sóck cf. sóccer
sóften *sóffen
sóftwãre
sólace *sóllis, cf. Hóllis
sôldier *sôljer, cf. cŏrdial, as spelt
sôle only, fish = sôul spirit = Seôul Korea
sólipsism
solitãire patience cf. sólitary alone
sôlo
Sólomon - all o’s
sómbre BrE; AmE sómber; cf. sôber
sòme any = súm total
sòmehòw one word
sòmeone *súmwún, one word
sòmersåult cf. súmmer
Sòmerville cf. súmmer
sòmething cf. sòme thíngs
sòmetime former cf. sòme tîme
sòmeẁhat one word
sônàr
sóngwrîter one word
soôn
soòt
sŏre pain = sŏar rise, BrE = såw see
sŏught seek BrE = sŏrt type
sôul spirit = sôle only, fish = Seôul Korea
sòundbite one word
soûpçon *soûpsón
sŏurce origin BrE = såuce seasoning
sòuth unvoiced th, *sòwth
soúthern voiced th, *súdhern
Soúthwark voiced th, *Súdhək
soûvenìr *sûvenêer
sóvereign *sóvrin
sôw seed = sô therefore = sew cloth, cf. sòw
sòw pig
sŏya bean = Såwyer person = såwyer saw
spà town BrE = spàr fight
spâte flood, many = Spêight person
spây
spâceship one word
spêak cf. spêech
spêcíes *spêeshiz
spécimen
spéctre BrE; AmE spécter = Spéctor person
spêech cf. spêak
Spéncer usual = Spénser poet
spíllage -íj
spínach *spínij, *spínnage, cf. spíllage
spôkesperson one word
spótlîght -lîte, one word
spŷ
sqùander
sqùalor cf. dóctor, BrE còlour AmE còlor
squêamish
Srì Lánka can be pronounced, but not spelt, Shr-
St. *Sənt: abbreviation of Sâint before a name as in St. Màrk; St. Jóhn as a secular and/or personal name may be *Sínjən
stâbilise
stâble stability, horse
stâgefright *stâjefrîte, one word
stâid old-fashioned = stâyed stay
stâin mark = Stèyn person, cf. Steîn person
stâir up = stâre look
stâke bet, wooden = steâk meat
ståll
stålwart
stànch flow
stàr sky, film = Stàrr person
stãre look = stãir climb
stãring stare
stàrring star
stâteside one word
stâtionary motionless = stâtionery paper
stâtist
statístics
státistícian -shn
státutory
ståunch support
stây
stâyed stay = stâid old-fashioned
stéad cf. stéady, stêed
steâk meat = stâke bet, wooden, cf. strêak line
stêal thieve = stêel metal
stéalth
sténch
stép walk = stéppe plain
Stêphens = Stêvens -v-
stérilise
stërling currency = Stïrling Scotland = Stërling person
steŵard
Steŵart person = Stûart person: one is more likely to meet a Stûart Steŵart than the reverse
stíck
stîfle
stíll
stíng
stíngy -njy
stínk
stítch
St. Jóhn in most cases *Sənt-Jón, in a few *Sínjən
stôny
stópôver noun, adjective
stŏre shop = Stŏrr person
stŏrey BrE floor = stŏry tale, AmE floor
stŏry-télling
Stŏrmont
strâight direct = strâit narrow
straightfŏrward adjective one word
Stranràer
stràta BrE; AmE strâta = BrE strâighter
stratêgic
strátegy
stràtum AmE strâtum
strêamlined one word
strénuous
Stréatham -təm
strýchnìne *strícknêen
Stûart person = Steŵart person - the Scottish royals were Stûarts but Stûart is more common as a given name, Steŵart more as a family name
stúcco
stûdent
stúdy
stûpid
stŷ pig = stŷ or stŷe eye
stŷle mode = stîle field
stŷmie cf. slîmy
Stýx river = stícks stick
suàve swà-
súb as an abbreviation, for example for sub-editor or submarine, sub-edit or substitute, is a word in its own right, but far more often it is attached to the following word, with or without a hyphen; there is also the expression:...
súb jûdicê
súbjugate
submarìne
submáriner
submít
subŏrn
subpoêna AmE -pê-
subsîdence
súbsídy
substántial -shəl
súbtitle
súbtle *súttle, cf. súpple
succêed -x-
succéss -x-
succínct -x-
súccour help = súcker fool
succúmb -úm
Sudān cf. sedán
sûe law = Sûe Susan = Sioûx American; cf. diminutives Sûsie, Sûzy, etc. = Sioûxsie Banshees; words beginning soô- and soû- also have this sound
suède material = swâyed sway
Sûez *Soôwíz
suffîce
Súffolk -fək
súffrage cf. súffer
sùgar shù-
suicîdal
sûit wear, cards *sût - or *syût (more common in inflected versions such as unsûitable), cf. soòt black
suìte rooms, music = swêet confection
súlphur BrE; AmE súlfur
súm arithmetic = sòme others
súmmary summarise = súmmery summer
sún star = sòn offspring
súnglasses one word
súnny sun = sònny son
súndae ice-cream = Súnday day
Sùnni Muslim cf. súnny weather - some AmE speakers say Sûnni *Soôny
sûper-rích is a good example of the usefulness of the hyphen: compare an apparent ‘supérrich’
supercílious
supërfluous
superflûity
supersêde cf. precêde, intercêde
súpper
súpple *súpəl, cf. súbtle, *sútəl
súpplement -pləmənt
supplŷ provide
súpplỳ supple
suppréss -pp-
sûre AmE *shûre; BrE sůre rhyming with Shåw
sûrety AmE *shûre, BrE *shůrety
sürf sea = sërf peasant
sürface -físs, cf. sërvíce, minimal pair, only one sound different
Surinám or -náme
surmòunt
súrrogacy
sürplíce clergy ≈ sürplus extra
surprîse -rpr-; not -ize
survèillance -ll-
sürvèy noun
survèy verb
Sûsan -z-, cf. Suzánne, etc.
suscéptible
suspénse AmE and BrE; but see retroalphabetical list for -ence and -ense
sustâin
sústenance
svélte
sẁallow throat, bird
sẁamp
sẁan bird = Sẁann person
Sẁansea *Swónzy
swårthy
sẁastika
sẁat fly = swót exam
sẁath ridge - though increasingly this spelling is being used for the vogue word...
swâthes, swâths large areas
swéar
swéat perspire
swêet eat = suìte music, hote
swêetheàrt
sweêt-talk verb hyphenated
swŏrd blade *sŏrd, cf. swård turf, swŏre, swŏrn swear, w pronounced in all three
swót exam = sẁat fly
sý- apart from the variant spelling of sîphon, sŷphon, and Sŷracûse
sybarític cf. síbyllîne
sýcamore
.*sych- no words begin like this
sýcophánt
Sýdney Australia, person = Sídney person
Sylhét
sýllable
sýllabus
sýlph
sýmbol sign = cýmbal percussion
sýmmetry
symmétrical
sýmptom cf. Símpson
sýnagogue -góg
sýnch synchronisation = sínk lower, wash
sýndrome
synécdochê -kê
sýnod
syrínge
sýrup
sýstem