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
N 2,711 entries
Page 1 of 14: n – nappy
- n numeral, nounThe fourteenth numeral symbol of the English alphabet, called en and written in the Latin script.
- N'Djamena proper nounThe capital city of Chad.
- n-th adjectivelast or greatest in an indefinitely large series
- n.b. interjection, phrase, proper nounAbbreviation of nota bene.
- na adverb, interjection, proper noun(obsolete) Not.
- Na-Dene proper nounA major language family consisting of Tlingit, Eyak and the Athabascan languages, spoken in large parts of North America.
- Naaman proper nounA proper name in the King James New Testament (at LUK 4:27).
- naan nounA type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- Naasson proper nounA proper name in the King James New Testament (first at MAT 1:4).
- nab verb, noun(informal, transitive) To seize, arrest or take into custody (a criminal or fugitive).
- nabalus noungenus of North American and east Asian perennial herbs; sometimes included in genus Prenanthes
- Nablus proper nounA city, the capital of Nablus governorate, West Bank, Palestine.
- nabob noun(historical) An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
- Nabokov proper nounA transliteration of the Russian surname Набоков (Nabokov).
- naboom nounSynonym of candelabra tree (“Euphorbia ingens”).
- Nabu proper nounThe ancient Mesopotamian patron god of literacy, the rational arts, scribes, and wisdom.
- nabumetone nounA nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
- NAC proper noun(rail transport) The station code of Nam Cheong in Hong Kong.
- nacelle nounThe compartment that holds passengers on a dirigible, hot-air balloon, or other aerostat; a gondola.
- nacho nounA single tortilla chip from a dish of nachos.
- Nacimiento proper nounA municipality in Almería, Andalusia, Spain.
- nacre noun, adjective(obsolete) A shellfish which contains mother-of-pearl.
- nacreous adjectiveOf, or resembling nacre (mother of pearl).
- nacreous cloud nounA polar stratospheric cloud.
- nad noun(linguistics) noun animate dependent
- nada pronoun(informal, colloquial, chiefly US) Nothing.
- nadir noun, verb, proper nounThe point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under…
- nadolol noun(pharmacology) A beta blocker C₁₇H₂₇NO₄ taken orally in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris.
- NADP noun(biochemistry) Initialism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.
- naemorhedus noungorals
- nafcil nouna penicillinase-resistant form of penicillin (trade name Nafcil) used (usually in the form of its sodium salt) to treat infections caused b…
- nafcillin noun(pharmacology) A semisynthetic penicillin that is resistant to beta-lactamase and is used especially in the form of its hydrated sodium sal…
- NAFTA proper nounAcronym of North American Free Trade Agreement
- Nafud proper nounA desert in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula, occupying a great oval depression.
- nag noun, verbA small horse; a pony.
- Nag Hammadi proper nounA city in Qena governorate, Upper Egypt.
- naga noun, proper noun(Australia) A loincloth.
- nagami nounshrub bearing oval-fruited kumquats
- Nagami kumquat nounCitrus japonica 'Margarita', a type of kumquat.
- Nagano proper nounThe capital city of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
- nagari noun, proper nounA traditional administrative unit of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia, consisting of a cluster of villages.
- Nagasaki proper nounA port city, the capital and largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture, in southwestern Kyushu, Japan, famous as the country's early modern entre…
- nageia nounsmall genus of Asian evergreen trees having columnar crowns and distinguished by leaves lacking a midrib; eastern Asia including India and …
- Nagge proper nounA proper name in the King James New Testament (at LUK 3:25).
- nagger nounOne who nags.
- nagging adjective, nounPersistently annoying or painful.
- Nagi proper nounA surname.
- Nagoya proper nounThe capital city of Aichi Prefecture, in central Honshu, Japan.
- nahor noun, proper nounMesua ferrea (Ceylon ironwood).
- Nahuatl noun, proper nounA member of a group of people indigenous to Central Mexico, spanning multiple tribal groups and including the Aztecs.
- Nahum proper noun(biblical) A book of the Tanakh / the Old Testament of the Bible.
- naiad noun, proper noun(Greek mythology) A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.
- naiadaceae nounmonotypic family of aquatic plants having narrow leaves and small flowers
- naiadales nounan order of aquatic monocotyledonous herbaceous plants
- naiant adjective(heraldry, of a fish) Depicted swimming horizontally.
- naias noun(Greek mythology) Synonym of naiad (“female water deity”)
- naïf adjective, nounNaive.
- naiki nouna Dravidian language spoken in south central India
- nail noun, verb, proper nounThe horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and h…
- nail down verb(transitive) to attach with nails
- nail enamel nounSynonym of nail polish.
- nail polish nounA cosmetic lacquer applied to the fingernails or toenails.
- nail varnish noun(UK, Ireland) A cosmetic lacquer applied to the fingernails or toenails.
- nail-biting adjective(informal, idiomatic) That causes nervous anticipation or suspense.
- nail-tailed wallaby nounSynonym of nailtail wallaby.
- nailbrush noun, verbA small brush, with firm bristles, used to clean the fingernails or to scrub the hands.
- nailer nounOne whose occupation is to make nails; a nail maker.
- nailfile nounAlternative form of nail file.
- nailhead nounThe head of a nail.
- nailing nounA mechanical fastening by means of nails.
- nailrod nounAny of various plants of the genus Typha.
- nails noun, proper nounThe four round-topped pedestals outside the Corn Exchange in Bristol on which bargains used to be struck.
- Nain proper noun, nounA town, Inuit community government, and capital of Nunatsiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador.
- nainsook nounA soft, fine muslin of South Asian origin, sometimes used to make baby clothes.
- naira nounThe official currency of Nigeria. Equal to 100 kobo. (The naira replaced the pound in 1973.)
- Nairobi proper nounThe capital city of Kenya.
- Naismith proper nounA surname originating as an occupation.
- naive adjective, nounLacking worldly experience, wisdom, or judgement; unsophisticated.
- naïve realism noun(philosophy) The theory that perception supplies direct awareness of the external world
- naively adverbIn a naive manner.
- naïveness nounAlternative spelling of naiveness.
- naïveté nounLack of sophistication, experience, judgement or worldliness; artlessness; gullibility; credulity.
- naivety nounnaïveté
- naja noun, proper nounA member of the Naja genus of venomous snakes; cobras
- najadaceae nounmonotypic family of aquatic plants having narrow leaves and small flowers
- najas nounplural of naja
- Najd proper nounThe central region of Saudi Arabia.
- naked adjectiveBare, not covered by clothing.
- naked as a jaybird adjective(simile, colloquial) Stark naked; nude; especially, naked in a public setting and without embarrassment.
- naked as the day one was born phraseCompletely naked.
- naked eye nounEyesight, unaided by equipment such as a telescope or microscope.
- naked lady nounEuphorbia tirucalli, a tree found in semi-arid tropical climates
- naked mole rat nounA burrowing rodent of the genus Heterocephalus, native to parts of East Africa.
- naked-muzzled adjectivehaving a muzzle that is hairless
- naked-tailed adjectivehaving a tail that is hairless
- nakedly adverbIn a naked manner; without concealing anything; blatantly or openly.
- nakedness nounThe state or condition of being naked; nudity; bareness; defenselessness; undisguisedness.
- nakedwood nounAny of various plants in the genus Colubrina.
- Nakuru proper nounA city, the capital of Nakuru County, Kenya.
- Nalchik proper nounThe capital of Kabardino-Balkariya, Russia.
- nalfon nouna nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (trade name Nalfon) used in the treatment of arthritis and other painful inflammatory disorders
- nalidixic acid noun(pharmacology) A synthetic quinolone antibacterial which inhibits the multiplication of bacteria, used to treat genitourinary infections.
- nalline nouna narcotic antagonist (trade name Nalline) that counteracts the effects of narcotics (especially the effects of poisoning by morphine)
- nalorphine noun(pharmacology) A drug used to reverse opioid overdose.
- naloxone noun(pharmacology) An opioid inverse agonist used to counter the effects of an overdose on opioids (such as heroin or morphine).
- naltrexone noun(pharmacology) A synthetic drug, similar to morphine, which blocks opiate receptors in the nervous system and is used chiefly in the treatm…
- namby-pamby adjective, noun, verbInsipid and sentimental.
- name noun, verbAny nounal word or phrase which indicates a particular person, place, class, or thing.
- name calling noun, verbAlternative form of name-calling.
- name day nounThe feast day of the saint after whom one is named.
- name dropper nounAlternative spelling of namedropper.
- name part nounSynonym of title role.
- name tag nounAlternative form of nametag.
- name-dropping nounThe practice of casually mentioning famous or important people or the titles of their works, subtly implying familiarity or association, in…
- named adjectiveHaving a name.
- namedrop nounAn instance of name-dropping.
- nameko nounPholiota microspora; a type of edible mushroom used in Japanese cookery
- nameless adjective, nounNot having a name.
- namelessness nounThe state or quality of being nameless.
- namely adverb, adjectiveSpecifically; that is to say.
- nameplate nounA plate or plaque inscribed with a name.
- namer nounOne who names, or calls by name.
- names noun, verbplural of name
- namesake noun, verbAn entity that lends its name to another entity.
- Namibia proper nounA country in Southern Africa. Official name: Republic of Namibia. Capital: Windhoek.
- Namibian adjective, noun, proper nounOf, from, or pertaining to Namibia, the Namibian people or the Namibian language.
- naming noun, adjectiveThe process of giving names to things.
- nammad nounan embroidered rug made from a coarse Indian felt
- Nammu proper noun(Sumerian mythology) The goddess of the primeval sea that gave rise to heaven and earth.
- namoi nouna river in southeastern Australia that flows generally northwest to join the Darling River
- Namoi River proper nounA locality in the Tamworth council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.
- Nampa proper nounThe largest city in Canyon County, Idaho.
- namtar nouna demon personifying death; messenger of the underworld goddess Ereshkigal bringing death to mankind
- namtaru nouna demon personifying death; messenger of the underworld goddess Ereshkigal bringing death to mankind
- Namur proper nounThe capital city of Wallonia, Belgium.
- nan noun, proper noun(obsolete) Synonym of maid: a servant girl.
- nan-chang nouna walled city in southeastern China on the Gan Jiang
- Nan-ning proper nounAlternative form of Nanning.
- Nanaimo proper nounA city on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
- nanak nounIndian religious leader who founded Sikhism in dissent from the caste system of Hinduism; he taught that all men had a right to search for …
- nance verb, noun, proper noun(uncommon, slang) To move in a prissy or stereotypically effeminate manner.
- nancere nouna Chadic language spoken in Chad
- Nanchang proper nounA prefecture-level city, the provincial capital of Jiangxi, China.
- nancy noun, proper noun(UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, US, derogatory, slang, offensive) An effeminate man, especially a homosexual.
- NAND gate noun(electronics) A logic gate performing a Boolean logic NAND operation.
- Nanda Devi proper nounThe second-highest mountain in India, after Kangchenjunga, and the highest located entirely within the country.
- nandrolone noun(pharmacology) A semisynthetic anabolic steroid C₁₈H₂₆O₂ derived from testosterone that is used in the form of its ester derivatives medica…
- nandu nounrhea (large, flightless birds)
- Nanga Parbat proper nounA mountain in the Himalayas, the ninth highest mountain in the world.
- nanism noun(biology, medicine) Unusually small size, as the result of a developmental abnormality.
- Nanjing proper nounA major subprovincial city, the provincial capital of Jiangsu, China, on the lower Yangtze; a former capital of China.
- nankeen nounA type of cotton cloth originally from Nanking in China.
- nanking verb, proper nounpresent participle and gerund of nank
- nanna noun, proper noungrandmother
- Nanning proper nounA prefecture-level city, the capital of the Guangxi autonomous region, China.
- nanny noun, verb, proper nounA child's nurse.
- nanny-goat nounAlternative spelling of nanny goat.
- nanocephalic adjective(medicine) Having an abnormally small head.
- nanocephaly nounThe condition of having an abnormally small head.
- nanogram noun(metrology) An SI unit of mass equal to 10⁻⁹ grams. Symbol: ng
- nanometer nounUS spelling of nanometre.
- nanometre nounAn SI subunit of length equal to 10⁻⁹ metres.
- nanomia nounsmall creatures resembling pieces of fuzzy rope; each with a cluster of swimming bells serving as the head and long elastic tentacles for d…
- nanophthalmos nounSynonym of nanophthalmia.
- nanosecond noun(metrology) An SI unit of time equal to 10⁻⁹ seconds. Symbol: ns
- nanotechnology nounThe science and technology of creating nanoparticles and of manufacturing machines which have sizes within the range of nanometres (1–100 n…
- nanotube nounShortening of carbon nanotube; A carbon molecule, in the shape of a tube, having a fullerene structure and a diameter of about 1 or 2 nanom…
- nanovolt noun(metrology) An SI unit of electromotive force equal to 10⁻⁹ volts. Symbol: nV
- Nansen proper nounA Scandinavian surname. Often refers to Norwegian explorer and diplomat Fridtjof Nansen.
- Nantes proper nounThe prefecture of the department of Loire-Atlantique, France; the capital city of the region of Pays de la Loire, in historical Brittany.
- Nanticoke noun, proper nounA member of an indigenous American Algonquian people whose traditional homelands are in Chesapeake Bay and Delaware.
- Nantua proper nounA commune in Ain department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
- Nantucket proper nounA resort island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States, formerly a major whaling port.
- nanus nouna person who is markedly small
- Naomi proper noun(biblical) The mother-in-law of the Biblical figure Ruth.
- nap verb, nounTo have a nap; to sleep for a short period of time, especially during the day.
- napa noun, proper nounBrassica rapa subsp. pekinensis, a kind of Chinese cabbage.
- Napaea nounA woodland nymph
- napalm noun, verbA highly flammable, viscous substance, designed to stick to the body while burning, used in warfare as an incendiary especially in wooded a…
- nape noun, verb(anatomy) The back part of the neck.
- napery nounHousehold linen, especially table linen.
- naphazoline noun2-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride, a sympathomimetic agent used as a vasoconstrictor.
- naphtha noun(dated) Naturally occurring liquid petroleum.
- naphthalene nounA white crystalline hydrocarbon manufactured from coal tar; used in mothballs.
- naphthol noun(organic chemistry) Either of two isomeric phenols derived from naphthalene; they are used in the preparation of dyes and many other compou…
- naphthoquinone noun(organic chemistry) Either of two isomers of polycyclic aromatic ketones derived from naphthalene.
- Napier proper nounA Scottish surname originating as an occupation for someone who sold table linen, or was in charge of the linen of a great house.
- Napier's bones noun(arithmetic) A set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division (see the Wikipedia article for a fuller explanation).
- Napier's rods noun(arithmetic) Napier's bones
- Napierian logarithm noun(mathematics) The logarithm to the base e, named after John Napier.
- napkin nounA serviette; a (usually rectangular) piece of cloth or paper used at the table for wiping the mouth and hands for cleanliness while eating.
- napkin ring nounA ring for holding napkins along with cutlery.
- Naples proper nounA port city and comune, the capital of the Metropolitan City of Naples and the region of Campania, Italy.
- napoleon noun, proper noun(historical numismatics, slang) The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
- Napoleonic adjectiveOf or pertaining to Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Napoleonic Wars proper nounThe series of wars (1803–1815) between France (ruled by Napoleon) and other European countries.
- Napoli proper nounA port city and comune, the capital of the Metropolitan City of Naples and the region of Campania, Italy.
- napped verbsimple past and past participle of nap
- napping nounThe act of taking a nap or short sleep.
- nappy noun, verb, adjective(UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand) An absorbent garment worn by a baby or toddler who does not yet have voluntary control …