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 “off-”
- off-day nounAlternative form of off day.
- off-key adjective, adverb(music) Above or below the correct note sequence; especially a vocalist out of sync with a separately recorded musical accompaniment
- off-base adjectiveAlternative form of off base.
- off-hand adjectiveAlternative spelling of offhand.
- off-line adjectiveAlternative form of offline.
- off-site adjective, adverbAway from a particular site.
- off-color adjectiveOf the wrong color.
- off-guard adjectiveAlternative form of off guard.
- off-white noun, adjectiveAny pale colour that is almost white.
- off-and-on adjectiveAlternative form of on-and-off.
- off-center adjectiveAlternative spelling of off-centre.
- off-colour adjectiveAlternative spelling of off-color.
- off-limits adjectiveNot to be entered or used; restricted.
- off-roader noun(idiomatic) A vehicle that is designed to drive off the road.
- off-season noun, adverbThe part of the year when business is most slack and there are fewest clients or visitors.
- off-street adjectiveNot situated on a street; e.g. off-street parking, in contrast to parking on a street.
- off-licence noun(UK, Ireland) A shop selling alcohol for consumption only off the premises.
- off-putting adjectiveDisconcerting, annoying or repulsive; tending to put off.
- off-the-peg adjective(of clothing, UK, Ireland) Ready-made in a range of standard sizes (not tailor-made).
- off-Broadway noun, adjective(often capitalized) In the New York City area, a small theater with fewer than 300 seats, or a production in such a theater, usually away f…
- off-centered adjectivesituated away from the center or axis
- off-the-cuff adjective(idiomatic) Extemporaneous; without prior preparation; spontaneous; impromptu.
- off-the-rack adjective(clothing, US) Ready-made in a range of standard sizes.
- off-the-wall adjective(idiomatic) Wildly unconventional; bizarre; absurd.
- off-the-clock adverbovertime without extra compensation
- off-the-shelf adjective(idiomatic) As purchased or as commonly available, without modification or customization.
- off-the-shoulder adjective(of a garment) Not quite covering the shoulders.