English Vocabulary

Spelling and pronunciation

In many English words, the spelling is different from the pronunciation. Here is a list of some difficult words with their pronunciations. The letters in brackets are usually not pronounced.

Asp(i)rin
ev(e)ning
om(e)lette
bus(i)ness
ev(e)ry
rest(au)rant
choc(o)late
marri(a)ge
sev(e)ral
diff(e)rent
med(i)cine
comf(or)table
temp(e)rature
int(e)resting
us(u)ally
secret(a)ry
veg(e)table

Silent letters

The letters in brackets are usually not pronounced.

clim(b), com(b), dum(b)
mus(c)le
han(d)kerchief, san(d)wich, We(d)nesday
champa(g)ne, forei(g)n, si(g)n
bou(gh)t, cau(gh)t, ou(gh)t, thou(gh)t
dau(gh)ter, hei(gh)t, hi(gh), li(gh)t, mi(gh)t, nei(gh)bour, ni(gh)t, ri(gh)t, strai(gh)t, throu(gh), ti(gh)t, wei(gh)
w(h)at, w(h)en, w(h)ere, w(h)ether, w(h)ich, w(h)ip, w(h)y
(h)onest, (h)onour, (h)our
(k)nee, (k)nife, (k)nob, (k)now
ca(l)m, cou(l)d, ha(l)f, sa(l)mon, shou(l)d, ta(l)k, wa(l)k, wou(l)d
autum(n), hym(n)
(p)neumatic, (p)sychiatrist, (p)sychology, (p)sychotherapy
cu(p)board
i(r)on
i(s)land, i(s)le
cas(t)le, Chris(t)mas, fas(t)en, lis(t)en, of(t)en, whis(t)le
g(u)ess, g(u)ide, g(u)itar
(w)rap, (w)rite, (w)rong
(w)ho, (w)hose, (w)hole

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