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 “ure”
- urea noun(organic chemistry, biochemistry, uncountable) A water-soluble organic compound, CO(NH₂)₂, formed by the metabolism of proteins and excrete…
- urex nounantibacterial agent (trade names Mandelamine and Urex) that is contained in many products that are used to treat urinary infections
- Urey proper nounA surname.
- urease noun(chemistry) the enzyme, found in soil bacteria and some plants, that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide
- uremia noun(pathology) Blood poisoning resulting from the retention of waste products usually excreted as urine.
- uremic adjective(pathology) Of, relating to, or causing uremia.
- ureter noun(anatomy) Either of the two long, narrow ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
- urethra noun(anatomy) The tube through which urine exits the body and, in male placental mammals, through which semen is ejaculated.
- urethane noun, verb(organic chemistry, uncountable) A white crystalline organic compound, ethyl-carbamate, NH₂COOC₂H₅, used in the synthesis of other organic …
- urethral adjective(anatomy) Pertaining to the urethra.
- uredinales nounrust fungi: parasitic fungi causing rust in plants; sometimes placed in
- ureteritis noun(medicine) Inflammation of the ureter.
- urethritis noun(pathology) Inflammation of the urethra, a finding possible in many diseases (e.g., STI and non-STI, including UTI) but often in gonorrhea …
- ureterocele noun(medicine) A congenital abnormality of the urinary bladder, in which the distal ureter balloons at its opening into the bladder, forming a …
- urethrocele noun(medicine) Prolapse of the female urethra into the vagina.
- ureterostenosis noun(surgery) stenosis of the ureter
- urethral sphincter noun(anatomy) The collective muscles used to control the flow of urine from the urinary bladder. These muscles surround the urethra, so that wh…
- cure noun, verb, proper nounA method, device or medication that restores good health.
- dure verb, adjective(archaic, intransitive) To last, continue, endure.
- lure noun, verb(also figurative) Something that tempts or attracts, especially one with a promise of reward or pleasure.
- pure adjective, adverb, verb, nounFree of flaws or imperfections; unsullied.
- sure adjective, adverb, interjectionPhysically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
- azure noun, adjective, verb, proper noun(countable and uncountable) The clear blue colour of the sky; also, a pigment or dye of this colour.
- buret nounAlternative spelling of burette.
- cured verbsimple past and past participle of cure
- curet proper nounA surname.
- durer nouna leading German painter and engraver of the Renaissance (1471-1528)
- inure verb(transitive) To cause someone to become accustomed to something that requires prolonged or repeated tolerance of one or more unpleasantries.
- puree noun, verbA food that has been ground or crushed into a thick liquid or paste.
- abjure verbTo solemnly reject (someone or something); to abandon (someone or something) forever; to disavow, to disclaim, to repudiate.
- adjure verbTo formally command or request (someone) to do something, either in the name of a deity, or to suffer a curse or punishment if they do not …
- allure noun, verbThe power to attract, entice; the quality causing attraction.
- assure verb(transitive) To make sure and secure; ensure.
- bureau noun, proper nounAn administrative unit of government; office.
- demure adjective, verb(chiefly of a woman) Modest, quiet, reserved, or serious.
- duress noun, verb(obsolete) Harsh treatment.
- endure verb(intransitive) To continue or carry on, despite obstacles or hardships; to persist.
- ensure verb(intransitive) To make sure or certain of something (usually some future event or condition).
- enured verbsimple past and past participle of enure
- eureka interjection, noun, proper nounAn exclamation indicating a sudden discovery.
- figure noun, verbA drawing or diagram conveying information.
- future noun, adjectiveThe time ahead; those moments yet to be experienced.
- immure verb, noun(transitive) To cloister, confine, imprison or hole up: to lock someone up or seclude oneself behind walls.
- impure adjective, verbContaining undesired intermixtures
- injure verb(transitive) To wound or cause physical harm to a living creature.
- insure verb(transitive) To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation i…
- inured adjectiveAccustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
- laurel noun, verb, proper nounAn evergreen shrub of species Laurus nobilis, having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers…
- manure verb, noun(archaic, literary) To cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by culture.
- mature adjective, verbFully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
- nature noun, verb, proper noun(uncountable, often capitalized) The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the ph…
- ordure nounDung, excrement.
- purely adverb, adjective(now US regional) Wholly; really, completely.
- saurel nounAny carangoid fish of the genus Trachurus, especially Trachurus trachurus, of Europe and America, and Trachurus picturatus of California; t…
- secure adjective, verbFree from attack or danger; protected.
- soured adjectiveThat has become or been made sour.
- surely adverbWithout fail.
- surety nounCertainty.
- suture noun, verbA seam formed by sewing two edges together, especially to join pieces of skin in surgically treating a wound.
- tenure noun, verbA status of possessing a thing or an office; an incumbency.