Pronunciation guide: IPA symbols, stress and word endings
Vowels
| iː | see | ɪ | sit | e / ɛ | bed | æ | cat |
| ɑː | father | ɒ | hot (UK) | ɔː | law | ʊ | put |
| uː | too | ʌ | cup | ɜː | bird | ə | about |
| eɪ | day | aɪ | my | ɔɪ | boy | aʊ | now |
| əʊ / oʊ | go (UK / US) | ɪə | near | eə | hair | ʊə | tour |
Consonants that look unusual
| θ | thin | ð | this | ʃ | she | ʒ | measure |
| tʃ | church | dʒ | judge | ŋ | sing | j | yes |
p b t d k g f v s z h m n l r w sound as in ordinary English spelling.
Marks
- ˈ main stress, before the stressed syllable: /ˈwɔːtə/ water · ˌ lighter (secondary) stress: /ˌʌndəˈstænd/ understand
- ː a long vowel · (r) an r said only in accents that pronounce it (most American, Scottish, Irish)
Common word endings
- -s / -es (plurals; he/she form of verbs): /s/ after voiceless sounds (cats), /z/ after voiced (dogs), /ɪz/ after s, z, sh, ch, j sounds (buses, watches). Spelling: -es after s, x, z, ch, sh; consonant + y → -ies (city → cities).
- -ed (past): /t/ after voiceless sounds (walked), /d/ after voiced (played), /ɪd/ after t or d (wanted). Spelling: love → loved, stop → stopped, carry → carried.
- -ing: make → making, run → running, see → seeing.
- Irregular: go, went, gone · be, was, been · see, saw, seen · man → men · child → children · mouse → mice.
- Older (King James) forms: -eth = -s (he loveth = he loves) · -est with “thou” (thou lovest) · spake = spoke.
English Dictionary · 107,383 entries · Sources & licences
J 982 entries
Page 1 of 5: j – Japanese apricot
- j noun(slang) A term for a marijuana cigarette ('joint').
- J particle nounSynonym of J/psi particle.
- jab noun, verbA quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.
- Jabalpur proper nounA large city in Madhya Pradesh, India.
- jabber verb, noun(intransitive) To talk rapidly, indistinctly, or unintelligibly; to utter gibberish or nonsense.
- jabberer nounOne who jabbers.
- jabbering nounSpeech that jabbers; gibberish.
- jabberwocky noun, adjective, proper nounInvented or meaningless language; nonsense.
- jabbing nounA motion or gesture that jabs; a jab.
- jabiru nounA species of bird Jabiru mycteria in the monotypic genus Jabiru, of the stork family Ciconiidae, endemic to the Americas.
- jaboncillo nounevergreen of tropical America having pulpy fruit containing saponin which was used as soap by Native Americans
- jabot nounA cascading or ornamental frill down the front of a blouse, shirt, etc.
- jaboticaba nounThe evergreen Brazilian grape tree, Myrciaria cauliflora, a fruit-bearing tree native to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
- jacamar nounAny of various insectivorous tropical birds, of the family Galbulidae, having iridescent plumage and a long, sharp bill.
- jacaranda nounAny of several trees, of the genus Jacaranda, native to tropical South America, that have pale purple, funnel-shaped flowers. In horticultu…
- jacinth noun, proper nounA translucent, reddish type of zircon used as a gemstone; a hyacinth.
- jack noun, verb, adjective, proper nounA coarse medieval coat of defence, especially one made of leather.
- jack bean nounAny member of the species Canavalia ensiformis of annual plants from Central America grown for theirs large, slightly toxic, but edible bea…
- Jack Benny noun(poker slang) A three and a nine as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em.
- jack crevalle nounSynonym of crevalle jack.
- Jack Dempsey nounRocio octofasciata, a cichlid fish Native to Mexico and Honduras, but widely kept in aquaria and introduced elsewhere in the wild.
- Jack Frost proper nounA personification of frosty weather or winter.
- jack mackerel nounAny of various edible fish, especially of genus Trachurus, but also genera Caranx, Acanthocybium, and Euthynnus.
- jack of all trades noun(idiomatic) One competent in many endeavours, sometimes regarded as not excelling in any of them.
- jack off verb(ambitransitive or reflexive, slang, vulgar, derogatory) To masturbate.
- jack pine nounAn evergreen tree of species Pinus banksiana.
- jack plane nounA general-purpose bench plane, used for general sizing of wood and for smoothing or straightening edges.
- jack salmon nounMerluccius productus, a ray-finned fish found in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
- Jack the Ripper proper nounA supposed individual who was an unidentified 19th century serial killer in Whitechapel, London, England, UK; who has become part of folklo…
- jack up verbTo raise, hoist, or lift a thing using a jack, or similar means.
- jack-a-lantern nounAlternative spelling of jack-o'-lantern.
- jack-by-the-hedge noungarlic mustard
- jack-in-the-box nounChildren’s toy consisting of a small box from which a male figure pops out unexpectedly after some turnings of a crank.
- jack-in-the-pulpit nounA plant native to woodlands of northern Europe, Arum maculatum.
- jack-o'-lantern nounA carved pumpkin whose top and stem have been cut out and interior removed, leaving a hollow shell that is then decorated to represent a fa…
- jack-o-lantern nounAlternative form of jack-o'-lantern.
- jack-tar noun(UK) Alternative form of jacktar.
- jackal noun, verbAny of certain wild canids of the genera Lupulella and Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.
- jackanapes noun(obsolete) (A proper name for) an ape or monkey, especially a tame one kept for entertainment or as a pet.
- jackass noun, verb(countable) A male donkey.
- jackass penguin nounAfrican penguin.
- jackboot noun, verbA glossy leather calf-covering military boot, commonly associated with German soldiers of the WWII era.
- jackdaw nounA bird of the genus Coloeus, similar in appearance to crows and found within the same family; traditionally associated with church towers a…
- jacket noun, verbA piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse, often waist length to thigh length.
- jacket potato noun(UK, Ireland) A baked potato.
- jackfruit nounA tree, Artocarpus heterophyllus, of the Moraceae family, which produces edible fruit.
- jackhammer noun, verbA portable percussive power tool that combines a hammer and chisel used to drill or break hard matter, for instance rock or concrete.
- jacking off verbpresent participle and gerund of jack off
- jackknife noun(statistics) A resampling method that applies estimators to all subsamples that each omit a single different group (possibly of a single da…
- jackknife clam nouncommon name for several species of saltwater shellfish in the family Solenidae; also known as razor shells. Their shells are long and narro…
- jackknife-fish nounblack-and-white drumfish with an erect elongated dorsal fin
- jacklight noun, verb(Canada, US) A spotlight or lamp mounted on a car, boat or pole, etc. to aid in hunting.
- jackpot noun, verb, proper nounA money prize pool which accumulates until the conditions are met for it to be won.
- jackrabbit noun, verbAny of several large North American hares of the genus Lepus.
- jacks noun, proper noun(poker slang) A pair of jacks.
- jackscrew nounA jack (mechanical lifting device) which is operated by turning a leadscrew.
- jacksmelt nounAtherinopsis californiensis, an edible neotropical silverside native to the Pacific coast of North America.
- jacksnipe nounAny member of the species Lymnocryptes minimus of migratory small stocky waders, the smallest of the snipes.
- Jackson proper noun, nounA surname originating as a patronymic.
- Jackson Pollock verbTo splatter, as with paint; to pollock.
- jacksonia noungenus of yellow-flowered Australian unarmed or spiny shrubs without true leaves but having leaflike stems or branches
- jacksonian noun, adjective, proper noun(US politics) An adherent of Andrew Jackson's politics and policies, or one who admires Jackson as a historical figure.
- Jacksonville proper nounA city, the county seat of Duval County, Florida, United States. It is the largest city in Florida and is consolidated with the county.
- jackstones nounplural of jackstone
- jackstraw noun, adjective(usually in the plural) One of the pieces used for the game called jackstraws or pick-up sticks.
- jackstraws nounplural of jackstraw
- Jacob proper noun, nounA male given name from Hebrew.
- Jacob's ladder noun(biblical) A ladder leading to heaven.
- Jacob's staff noun(surveying) A single straight rod or staff, pointed and iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the ground, and having a socket joint at t…
- Jacobean adjective, nounRelating to a Jacob or James.
- Jacobean lily nounA bulbous Mexican plant that bears a single large red flower resembling a lily, Sprekelia formosissima.
- Jacobi proper nounA surname from German.
- jacobin noun, adjectiveA domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) with reversed feathers on its neck.
- Jacobinic adjective(historical) Synonym of Jacobin, of or relating to the Jacobins of France.
- Jacobinical adjective(historical) Synonym of Jacobin, of, related to, or characteristic of the Jacobins of France.
- Jacobinism noun(historical, France) The principles of the Jacobins; especially the violent opposition to legitimate government.
- Jacobite noun(historical) A supporter of the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland in the late 17th century. [from 17th…
- jacobs proper noun, nounAn English surname originating as a patronymic derived from Jacob.
- jaconet nounA type of cotton cloth, especially as dyed and waterproofed.
- jacquard noun, proper nounFabric woven on a Jacquard loom.
- Jacquard loom nounA loom fitted with a Jacquard machine.
- jacquinia nounsometimes placed in family Myrsinaceae
- jactation nounA tossing or shaking of the body; physical agitation, especially while asleep or confined to bed by illness; jactitation.
- jactitate verb(rare, intransitive) To move about restlessly.
- jactitation nounBragging or boasting, especially in a false manner to another's detriment.
- jaculus nounjerboas
- jade noun, adjective, verb, proper nounA semiprecious stone, either nephrite or jadeite, generally green or white in color, often used for carving figurines.
- jade green noun, adjectiveA light and desaturated tint of green.
- jade vine nounStrongylodon macrobotrys, a leguminous perennial liana endemic to the tropical forests of the Philippines.
- jade-green adjectiveof something having the color of jade; especially varying from bluish green to yellowish green
- jaded adjectiveBored or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having been overexposed to, or having consumed too much of something.
- jadeite noun(mineralogy) A pyroxene mineral, a sodium aluminium silicate with the chemical formula Na(Al,Fe³⁺)Si₂O₆, found in metamorphic rocks.
- jadestone nounSynonym of jade (“semiprecious stone”).
- jaeger nounAny of three seabirds in the skua genus Stercorarius.
- Jafar proper nounA male given name from Arabic, Persian [in turn from Arabic]
- jaffa noun, proper nounA type of sweet orange, normally seedless.
- Jaffa orange nounA sweet, nearly seedless variety of orange.
- jaffar nounIndonesian terrorist and Islamic militant who commands the Laskar Jihad; uses violence to achieve political ends (1965-2000)
- jag noun, verbA sharp projection.
- Jagannath proper noun(Hinduism) One of the names of Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu.
- Jagannatha proper nounAlternative form of Jagannath.
- Jagatai proper noun, nounAlternative form of Chagatai.
- jagganath nounan avatar of Vishnu
- jaggary nounAlternative form of jaggery.
- jagged adjectiveUnevenly cut; having the texture of something so cut.
- jaggedly adverbIn a jagged manner.
- jaggedness nounThe state of being jagged.
- jagger noun, proper nouncarrier, carter
- jaggery nounA traditional dark-brown unrefined sugar made from palm tree sap which is used throughout South and Southeast Asia; (by extension) other ty…
- jagghery nounAlternative spelling of jaggery.
- jaggy adjectivejagged, toothed or serrated
- Jaghatai proper nounAlternative form of Chagatai.
- jagua nounA tree of species Genipa americana, native to the tropical forests of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean; genipap.
- jaguar noun, proper nounA carnivorous spotted large cat native to South and Central America, Panthera onca.
- jaguarondi nounAlternative spelling of jaguarundi.
- jaguarundi nounA medium-sized Central and South American wild cat, Herpailurus yagouaroundi.
- jahvey nouna name for the God of the Old Testament as transliterated from the Hebrew consonants YHVH
- Jahweh proper nounAlternative form of Yahweh.
- jai alai nouna Basque ball game in which the players propel the ball using a long basket attached to the wrist
- jail noun, verbA place or institution for the confinement of persons held against their will in lawful custody or detention, especially (in US usage) a pl…
- jail bird nounAlternative form of jailbird.
- jail cell nounA locked room to incarcerate an inmate in prison.
- jailbird nounA prisoner or an ex-prisoner.
- jailbreak noun, verbAn escape from prison.
- jailed verbsimple past and past participle of jail
- jailer nounOne who enforces confinement in a jail or prison.
- jailhouse nounA building containing a prison.
- jailor nounAlternative spelling of jailer.
- Jain adjective, noun, proper nounOf or pertaining to Jainism.
- Jainism proper nounAn ancient Dharmic religion, with a focus on nonviolence and personal effort to elevate the reincarnating soul towards moksha by liberating…
- Jainist nouna follower of Jainism, a religion based primarily in India
- Jairus proper noun(biblical) The father of a young girl resurrected by Jesus Christ.
- jaish-e-muhammad nouna terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to sec…
- jaish-i-mohammed nouna terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to sec…
- jak proper nounA male given name of rare usage, variant of Jack
- Jakarta proper nounA province and capital city of Indonesia.
- jakes noun, proper noun(now chiefly Ireland) A place to urinate and defecate: an outhouse or lavatory.
- jakobson nounUnited States linguist (born in Russia) noted for his description of the universals of phonology (1896-1982)
- Jalalabad proper nounThe capital city of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.
- jalapeño nounA cultivar of hot chili pepper, Capsicum annuum.
- jalapeño pepper nounSynonym of jalapeño
- jalopy noun(US, slightly dated) An old, dilapidated or unpretentious automobile.
- jalousie noun(naval architecture) A component in a ventilation system.
- jam noun, verb(less common in the US) A sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar and allowed to congeal. Often spread on bread or toast or used in jam ta…
- jam session noun(music) An informal gathering of musicians to play music, especially improvised jazz or a similar genre.
- jam-packed adjective(informal) Packed or filled tightly.
- jamaica noun, proper nounroselle
- Jamaican noun, adjectiveA person from Jamaica or of Jamaican descent.
- jamais vu nounA sense of unfamiliarity with, or of never having experienced or seen before, something that should be familiar.
- jamb noun, verb(architecture, interior decorating, carpentry) Either of the vertical components that form the side of an opening in a wall, such as that o…
- jambalaya nounAny of various of rice-based dishes common in Louisiana Cajun or Creole cooking, most often with shrimp, oysters, chicken or ham.
- jambeau noun(historical, chiefly in the plural) A piece of armour for the leg (especially below the knee), a greave.
- jamberry nounMexican annual naturalized in eastern North America having yellow to purple edible fruit resembling small tomatoes
- jambon noun(Ireland, UK) A square puff pastry containing ham and cheese.
- jamboree noun, verbA boisterous or lavish celebration or party.
- jambos nounplural of jambo
- jambosa nountropical tree of the East Indies cultivated for its edible fruit
- Jambres proper nounA proper name in the King James New Testament (at 2TI 3:8).
- James proper noun(biblical) The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
- James Bay proper nounA gulf of Nunavut, Canada, at the southern end of Hudson Bay, Arctic Ocean. A large sub-arctic sea surrounded on three sides by land of Ont…
- James Bond proper noun, nounA fictional British spy in the novels of Ian Fleming and the motion pictures based on these novels, famous for his suavity, ingenuity, ruth…
- Jamesian adjective, nounOf or relating to American writer Henry James (1843–1916), regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism.
- jamesonia nounxerophytic ferns of South America
- Jamestown proper nounThe capital city of Saint Helena.
- Jamestown weed noun(archaic) Synonym of jimsonweed.
- Jamison proper nounA Scottish surname transferred from the given name.
- jamjar nounAlternative form of jam jar.
- jammed adjectiveStuck.
- jammer nounAny device used to jam radio reception.
- jammies nounplural of jammy
- jamming noun, adjectiveThe act or process by which something is jammed.
- Jammu and Kashmir proper noun(now historical) A princely state which governed the region of Kashmir, the territory of which is now de facto divided between China, India…
- jampack verbAlternative spelling of jam-pack.
- jampan noun(India, chiefly historical) Synonym of dandy or tonjon, a kind of open sedan chair, particularly one with its main pole suspended from smal…
- jampot nounAlternative form of jam pot.
- jan proper nounA male given name from Dutch.
- Jane Doe noun(idiomatic) An unknown or anonymous female; the female equivalent of John Doe.
- jangle verb, nounTo cause (something) to make a rattling metallic sound.
- jangling nounA jangle, the sounds of a jangle.
- jangly adjectiveAccompanied by a jangling sound.
- janissary noun(historical) An infantry soldier, often of European Christian background from the Balkans as well as Eastern Europe and forcibly converted …
- janitor noun(chiefly US, Philippines) Someone who looks after the maintenance and cleaning of a public building.
- Janna proper nounA female given name from Hebrew, a fanciful modern variant of Jane.
- Jansen proper nounA surname from Dutch.
- Jansenism noun(Catholicism) The doctrine of Cornelius Jansen and his followers, which emphasise original sin, divine grace and predestination; condemned …
- Jansenist adjective, nounOf or pertaining to Jansenism.
- January proper nounThe first month of the Gregorian calendar, following the December of the previous year and preceding February.
- January 6 proper noun(metonymic) The attack against the United States Congress at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
- Janus proper noun(Roman mythology) The god of doorways, gates and transitions, and of beginnings and endings, having two faces looking in opposite direction…
- Janus-faced adjectivedouble-faced; deceitful
- jap verb, proper noun, noun, adjective(Canada, US, ethnic slur, slang, transitive) To carry out a sneak attack upon (something or somebody).
- japan noun, verb, proper nounA hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.
- Japan cedar nounSynonym of Japanese cedar.
- Japan clover nounAlternative form of Japanese clover.
- Japan Current proper nounSynonym of Oyashio.
- Japan tallow nounSynonym of Japan wax.
- Japan wax nounA yellowish fat obtained by refining the protective coat from the berries of various Asian sumacs of the genus Toxicodendron.
- Japanese adjective, noun, proper nounOf, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of Japan, its people, language, or culture.
- Japanese andromeda nounA plant, Pieris japonica, native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan where it grows in mountain thickets.
- Japanese apricot nounSynonym of plum blossom