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 “frain”
- refrain verb, noun(transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
- abstain verb(transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
- abstemious adjectiveRefraining from freely consuming food or strong drink; sparing in diet; abstinent, temperate.
- abstention noun(obsolete) The act of restraining oneself.
- abstinence nounThe act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
- abstinent adjective, nounRefraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite.
- ballade noun(music) Any of various genres of single-movement musical pieces having lyrical and narrative elements.
- bottle noun, verbA container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids.
- buy off verb(transitive) To pay off, convince to refrain etc. by corrupt payment or other service.
- celebrate verb(transitive) To extol or honour in a solemn manner.
- cheese noun, verb, interjection, proper noun(uncountable) A dairy product made from curdled or cultured milk.
- chorus noun, verb, proper nounA group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song.
- court order noun(law) A legally binding directive issued by a judge or authorized judicial officer that requires an individual or an entity to fulfill or p…
- cut out verb, adjectiveUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cut, out. To sever from something larger, with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument.
- decline noun, verb(dynamically, of an event or occurrence): Downward movement, fall.
- disability noun(countable, medical model of disability) A condition characterised by a significant limitation in a person's physical or intellectual power…
- faster nounOne who fasts, or voluntarily refrains from eating.
- forbear verb(transitive) To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from.
- forbearance noun(uncountable) The action of forbearing (“abstaining or refraining from doing something”); (countable) an instance of this.
- forgo verbTo do without (something enjoyable); to relinquish.
- help noun, verb, interjection(uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
- hospice noun(countable, dated) A lodging for pilgrims or the destitute, normally provided by a monastic order.
- hostage noun, verbA person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or similar agreement, such as to ensure the status…
- injunction nounThe act of enjoining; the act of directing, commanding, or prohibiting.
- internalize verb(transitive) To make something internal; to incorporate it in oneself.
- Jew noun, proper noun, adjective, verbAn adherent of Judaism.
- keep away verb(intransitive) To refrain from coming (near).
- keep back verb(transitive) To hold back; to refuse to give or share.
- keep down verb(transitive) To repress.
- keep one's distance verb(intransitive) To refrain from familiarity with somebody or something; to stay aloof.
- keep one's mouth shut verb(idiomatic) To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether.
- keep out verb(intransitive) To refrain from entering a place or condition.
- keep quiet verb(intransitive) To remain silent.
- keep to oneself verb(intransitive) To purposely avoid interaction with others; to be introverted.
- kindly adjective, adverbHaving a kind personality; kind, warmhearted, sympathetic.
- last adjective, determiner, adverb, verb, noun, proper nounFinal, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.
- leave verb, noun(transitive) To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or o…
- leave alone verb(transitive) To stop bothering (a person).
- neutrality nounThe state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side.
- numerous determiner, adjectiveAn indefinite large number of.
- pairing nounThe combination or union of two things.