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
Results for “donk”
- donkey nounA domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse.
- Donkin proper nounA surname transferred from the given name.
- donkeywork nounAlternative form of donkey work.
- donkey pump nounA pump, in the form of a nodding donkey, for pumping water
- donkey boiler nounA water-heating system for domestic use, consisting of a drum of water mounted above a fire.
- donkey engine noun(chiefly historical) A steam-powered winch, once widely used in logging operations, also found in the mining and maritime industries.
- donkey jacket noun(UK) A type of thick jacket, usually dark blue, often worn by men who work outside (though originally worn by donkeymen)
- African wild ass nounAny member of species Equus asinus of wild members of the horse family (Equidae), thought to be the ancestor of the domestic donkey.
- asinine adjectiveVery foolish; failing to exercise intelligence or judgement or rationality.
- bray verb, noun, proper noun(intransitive) Of an animal (now chiefly of animals related to the ass or donkey, and the camel): to make its cry.
- brownstone noun, verb(uncountable) A variety of brown to red-brown sandstone once popular as a building material.
- brunt noun, verb, proper nounThe full adverse effects; the chief consequences or negative results of a thing or event.
- burro nounA small donkey, especially when used as a pack animal or one that is feral and lives in the southwestern United States or northern Mexico.
- canoodle verb, nounTo caress, fondle, or pet (someone); also, to have sexual intercourse with (someone); to make love with.
- colt noun, verb, proper nounA young male horse.
- cuddy noun, proper noun(nautical) A cabin, for the use of the captain, in the after part of a sailing ship under the poop deck.
- derby noun, proper nounAny of several annual horse races.
- Epona proper noun(mythology) In Gallo-Roman religion, a goddess of fertility and protector of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules.
- equine adjective, nounOf, relating to, or reminiscent of horses.
- geronimo interjection, proper nounA cry before jumping out of or into something.
- glanders nounAn infectious disease of horses, mules, and donkeys caused by the bacterium Burkholderia, one species of which may be transmitted to humans.
- heavy adjective, adverb, noun, verb(of any physical thing) Having great weight.
- hee-haw noun, interjection, verb(countable) The cry of an ass or donkey.
- hinny noun, verb, proper nounThe hybrid offspring of a stallion (male horse) and a she-ass (female donkey).
- hunter noun, proper nounOne who hunts game for sport or for food; a huntsman or huntswoman.
- jackass noun, verb(countable) A male donkey.
- jennet nounA female ass or donkey; a jenny.
- jenny noun, verb, proper nounA device for spinning thread from fiber onto multiple spindles (also called spinning jenny).
- mammoth noun, adjectiveAny species of the extinct genus Mammuthus, of large, usually hairy, elephant-like mammals with long curved tusks and an inclined back, whi…
- moke noun(colloquial, dialectal) A donkey.
- mule noun, verb, proper nounThe generally sterile male or female hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
- pace noun, adjective, verb, preposition, proper nounA step taken with the foot.
- protohippus nounPliocene horse approaching donkeys in size
- pule noun, verbA plaintive melancholy whine.
- rogue noun, adjective, verb, proper nounA scoundrel, rascal or unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person.
- runaway noun, adjectiveA person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions.
- saddlebag noun, verbA covered pouch, usually one of a pair, laid across the back of a horse, donkey, or mule behind its saddle, or hanging over the rear wheel …
- straddle verb, noun, adverb(transitive) To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
- wild ass nounAny of several wild equine mammals closely related to donkey, endemic to Asia and northeast Africa.
- wooden horse nounA toy horse made of wood.