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
X 158 entries
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- x numeral, conjunction, proper noun, noun, adjective(sometimes humorous) An unknown or unspecified number of.
- X chromosome noun(genetics) A mammalian sex chromosome: in the XY sex-determination system, cells of females typically have a pair of X chromosomes, while c…
- x-axis noun(analytic geometry) The axis on a graph that is usually drawn left to right and usually shows the range of values of an independent variabl…
- X-linked adjective(genetics) Associated with the X chromosome.
- X-linked gene noun(genetics) Any gene located on the sex chromosomes. Typically, these genes are found on the X chromosome and not on the Y chromosome.
- x-radiation nounSynonym of X-ray radiation.
- x-ray noun, verb, adjectiveA ray of short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the…
- X-ray diffraction noun(physics) The scattering of X-rays by the regular lattice of atoms or molecules in a crystal.
- X-ray photograph nounradiograph
- X-ray therapy nounThe therapeutic use of controlled doses of X-rays.
- X-ray tube nounA device that produces X-rays by directing energetic electrons into a metal target.
- x-raying verbpresent participle and gerund of x-ray
- x-scid nounSCID in male children resulting from mutation of a gene that codes for a protein on the surface of T cells that allows them to develop a gr…
- Xanax proper noun(trademark, pharmacology) A brand name for alprazolam.
- xanthate noun(chemistry) Any salt or ester of xanthic acid.
- xanthelasma nounA deposit of cholesterol on the eyelid.
- xanthemia noun(pathology) The occurrence of yellow matter in the blood.
- xanthic acid noun(chemistry) any of a class of organic sulphur-containing acids of general formula ROCS₂H
- xanthine noun(chemistry) Any of a group of alkaloids that include caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine as well as the parent compound, a precursor of…
- xanthium nouncoarse herbs having small heads of greenish flowers followed by burrs with hooked bristles
- xanthoma noun(medicine) A small, yellow nodule, rich in cholesterol and other lipids, that occurs in the skin, often near a joint
- xanthomatosis noun(medicine) A disorder in which excess lipid accumulates in the body and produces xanthomas
- xanthomonad nounAny of the genus Xanthomonas of proteobacteria.
- xanthomonas nouna genus of bacteria similar to Pseudomonas but producing a yellow pigment that is not soluble in water
- xanthophyceae nounyellow-green algae
- xanthophyl noun(US) Dated spelling of xanthophyll.
- xanthophyll noun(organic chemistry, countable) Any of various hydroxy, carbonyl or carboxylic acid derivatives of carotenes.
- xanthopsia nounA visual defect, a form of chromatopsia in which everything appears yellow.
- xanthorrhoeaceae nounone of many subfamilies into which some classification systems subdivide the Liliaceae but not widely accepted
- xanthorroea noungrass trees; sometimes placed in family Xanthorrhoeaceae
- xanthosis noun(pathology) A yellowish discolouration of tissues undergoing degeneration.
- xanthosoma nountropical American tuberous perennials
- xanthous adjectiveYellow-brown; yolk-colored.
- xantusiidae nounnight lizards
- Xavier proper nounA male given name from Spanish [in turn from Basque].
- xc adjective(finance) Without a coupon.
- xci adjectivebeing one more than ninety
- xcii adjectivebeing two more than ninety
- xciii adjectivebeing three more than ninety
- xciv adjectivebeing four more than ninety
- xcl adjectivebeing ten more than one hundred eighty
- xcv adjectivebeing five more than ninety
- xcvi adjectivebeing six more than ninety
- xcvii adjectivebeing seven more than ninety
- xcviii adjectivebeing eight more than ninety
- xe pronoun(nonstandard) they (singular); gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.
- xenarthra nounarmadillos; American anteaters; sloths
- xenicidae nounalternative names for the family comprising the New Zealand wrens
- xenicus nountype genus for the Xenicidae
- xenogeneic adjective(genetics) Derived from a different species and therefore genetically and immunologically incompatible
- xenogenesis nounA foreign origin or source.
- xenograft noun, verbA tissue graft taken from a species different from that of the recipient.
- xenolith noun(geology) Any piece of rock having a different origin to that of the igneous rock in which it is found.
- xenon nounThe chemical element (symbol Xe) with an atomic number of 54. It is a colorless, odorless, unreactive noble gas, used notably in camera fla…
- Xenophanes proper nounA Greek given name.
- xenophobia nounA fear, antipathy, or hatred of strangers or foreigners.
- xenophobic adjective, nounExhibiting or characterised by xenophobia, a fear or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or extraterrestial life.
- Xenophon proper nounAthenian historian and philosopher born 427 B.C.E. and author of the Anabasis and Memorabilia. He was a pupil of Socrates and became a gene…
- xenopodidae nounin some classifications the family of the genus Xenopus which is otherwise included in the family Pipidae
- xenopus nounan African clawed frog; in some classifications made the type genus of a separate family Xenopodidae
- xenorhyncus nounEast Indian and Australian storks
- xenosauridae nounmonotypic family of Mexican lizards
- xenosaurus nountype and sole genus of Xenosauridae: slender-bodied Mexican lizards having the upper surface covered with tiny granules and tubercles
- xenotime noun(mineralogy) A yellow-brown mineral, yttrium phosphate (YPO₄)
- xenotransplant noun, verbAn instance of xenotransplantation.
- xenotransplantation noun(surgery) The transplantation of biological or organic matter from a given species into a different one, especially when this matter has be…
- xeranthemum nounAny of the genus Xeranthemum of flowering plants native to Southern Europe.
- xeric adjective(of an environment or habitat) Very dry, lacking humidity and water.
- xerobates nounpossible new genus for desert and Texas tortoises based on recent research
- xeroderma noun(pathology) Any of various skin diseases characterised by dry, hard, scaly skin, especially ichthyosis.
- xeroderma pigmentosum noun(medicine) A rare genetic disorder in which DNA damaged by ultraviolet light is not repaired and the skin becomes sensitive to such light, …
- xerodermia noun(medicine, dated) Xeroderma.
- xerographic adjectiveof, relating to, or produced by xerography
- xerography nounA photocopying process in which a negative image formed on an electrically charged plate is transferred as a positive to paper and thermall…
- xeroma noun(medicine) Dryness of the eye.
- xerophile nounAny xerophilic organism.
- xerophthalmia noun(ophthalmology) A condition due to a deficiency of vitamin A where the conjunctiva and cornea become dry. The condition starts with conjunc…
- xerophthalmus nounAlternative form of xerophthalmia.
- xerophyllum nounsmall genus of North American herbs having grasslike basal leaves: squaw grass; sometimes placed in family Melanthiaceae
- xerophyte noun(botany) Any plant suited for life in a habitat where water is scarce, such as in a desert or chaparral. Such plants may be succulent, have…
- xerophytic adjective, noun(botany) Of, pertaining to, or being a xerophyte
- xeroradiography nounA method of X-ray photography which uses an electrically charged metal plate instead of film.
- xerostomia noun(medicine) Abnormal dryness of the mouth.
- xerotes noun(pathology) A general dryness of the body.
- xerox noun, verb(colloquial, informal) A xerograph (copy).
- xerox copy noun(slang, US, Philippines) A xerox; a photocopy.
- xerox machine noun(Philippines, India, dated in Canada, US) Synonym of xerographer.
- Xhosa noun, proper noun, adjectiveA member of a Bantu people from South Africa, most of whom live in the Eastern Cape.
- xi noun, proper nounThe 14th letter of Classical and Modern Greek. The 15th in Ancient and Old Greek.
- xian noun, proper noun(China, Taiwan) An administrative subdivision of imperial, republican, and communist China roughly equivalent to counties, now distinguishe…
- xii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
- xiii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
- Xinjiang proper nounA Uyghur autonomous region of China, located in the sparsely populated northwest. Official name: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Capital:…
- xiphias noun, proper nounSynonym of swordfish.
- xiphiidae nouncomprising the common swordfishes
- xiphium iris nounSynonym of Spanish iris.
- xiphoid process noun(anatomy, medicine) The small cartilaginous extension to the lower part of the sternum, usually ossified in the adult human.
- xiphosura nounhorseshoe crabs and extinct forms
- xiv noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
- xix noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
- Xizang proper nounTibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.
- XL noun(automotive) A designation for a trim level within a model of trucks; it denotes midrange features.
- xli adjectivebeing one more than forty
- xlii adjectivebeing two more than forty
- xliii adjectivebeing three more than forty
- xliv adjectivebeing four more than forty
- xlv adjectivebeing five more than forty
- xlvi adjectivebeing six more than forty
- xlvii adjectivebeing seven more than forty
- xlviii adjectivebeing eight more than forty
- xmas noun, proper noun, verb(informal) Alternative form of Xmas.
- XOR gate noun(electronics) A logic gate performing a Boolean logic XOR operation.
- XT noun, proper nounAbbreviation of extraterrestrial.
- XTC noun(informal) Abbreviation of ecstasy (“the drug”).
- xv noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
- xvi noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of fifteen and one
- xvii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of sixteen and one
- xviii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of seventeen and one
- xx noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
- xxi noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
- xxii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one
- xxiii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-two and one
- xxiv noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-three and one
- xxix noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-eight and one
- xxv noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-four and one
- xxvi noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-five and one
- xxvii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-six and one
- xxviii noun, adjectivethe cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-seven and one
- xxx noun, adjective, verbAn abbreviation for kisses, usually placed at the end of a letter or text message, often alongside ooo (hugs).
- xxxi adjectivebeing one more than thirty
- xxxii adjectivebeing two more than thirty
- xxxiii adjectivebeing three more than thirty
- xxxiv adjectivebeing four more than thirty
- xxxv adjectivebeing five more than thirty
- xxxvi adjectivebeing six more than thirty
- xxxvii adjectivebeing seven more than thirty
- xxxviii adjectivebeing eight more than thirty
- XXY adjectiveHaving an aneuploidy in the configuration of chromosomes by having an extra Y chromosome.
- xxy-syndrome nounsyndrome in males that is characterized by small testes and long legs and enlarged breasts and reduced sperm production and mental retardat…
- XY proper noun(fandom slang) Initialism of Pokémon X and Y.
- xylaria nounplural of xylarium
- xylariaceae nounfamily of fungi characterized by dark brown to black spores
- xylem noun(botany) A vascular tissue in land plants primarily responsible for the distribution of water and minerals taken up by the roots; also the …
- xylene noun(chemistry) Any of a group of three isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons, found in coal and wood tar.
- xylocaine nounLidocaine.
- xylocopa nouncarpenter bees
- xylol nounXylene.
- xylomelum nounsmall species of Australian trees or shrubs; grown for their fruit and flowers
- xylophone noun, verb(music) Any musical instrument (percussion idiophone) made of wooden slats graduated so as to make the sounds of the scale when struck with…
- xylophonist nounSomeone who plays a xylophone.
- xylopia nounAny plant of the genus Xylopia, trees of Africa.
- xylose noun(biochemistry) One of the pentoses, C₅H₁₀O₅, a white crystalline sugar, derived from wood.
- xylosma nounAny of various evergreen shrubs and small trees in the genus Xylosma
- xyphophorus nounswordtails
- xyridaceae nounplants of tropical to temperate regions; usually in wet places
- xyridales nounan order of monocotyledonous herbs
- xyris noun(botany) Any member of the plant genus Xyris.
- xyy noun(genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male who has two Y chromosomes