English spellings/Catalogs/C

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	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list
Common misspellings

This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with C. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.^[e]

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C = sêe look

c. = cïrca, not normally spelt out

cabál makes a minimal pair with kebáb; cf. câble

cáche arms = cásh money

cadét

Cadíz is the traditional English pronunciation, though the Spanish stresses the first syllable

càdrê AmE, BrE *càdə

cáddie golf = cáddy tea

cáfè can be written with a French accent: café *cáfây

cáfè au lâit can be written with a French accent: café au lait *cáfâyô-lây

cáffêine

cãirn

Caîro *Kŷro

Caìus Cambridge = kêys lock; otherwise regularly Caîus, rhyming with its variant Gaîus

Cálâis *Cállay

Calcútta old spelling = Kolkàta new

Caledônia

cálendar is not spelt -er, cf. còlander

Cálgary *Cálgəri

Califŏrnia -nyə

cåll name, phone, shout = cåul birth, cf. Cál person

Cállaghán: silent g, *Cállahán

callígraphy -ll-, cf. Calígula

Callîopê = Kallîopê = Kallîopi

cállous uncaring = cállus skin ≈ Cállas Maria (or Cállás)

càlm -àm, BrE and AmE

Câmbridge

camêllia or caméllia cf. chamaêleon *camêliən

cámera

cameráderie

Cámeron

Cameroôn

cámouflàge -àzh

campâign *campâin, cf. champâgne *shám-pâin, and words in -èign, all of which rhyme

Cámpbell *Cámble, rhyming with gámble

cán able, tin = Cánnes France

cán nót: see cánnot

Cânaan *Câynən, aa as schwa

Cánada

Canâdian

canál

cánapè cf. cánopy

canãry

canásta

Cánberra -bərə, BrE *Cámborough

cáncer illness = Cáncer constellation

cándidate BrE -ət, AmE -âte (unsurprisingly, the AmE version is common among British broadcasters)

câne stick, sugar = Câin Abel

cánister: one n

cánnabis

cánnibal rhymes with Hánnibal

cánnon = cánon

cannót; or cánnot for emphasis, but always one word when (as it almost always is) nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…; cf. contracted form cān't

canoe -noô

cánon church, œuvre, music = cánnon war

cánopy cf. cánapè

cánt cliche = Kánt philosopher = AmE cán’t impossible

cantàta

cánvas paint, tent = cánvass election

cányon cf. ònion, both -yən

câpable

Câpe Tòwn, two words, first stressed as if it were one, *Câpetown

Câpe Vërde or Câpe Vërdê

capíllary BrE; AmE cápillãry

cápital city = cápitol legislature = Cápitol Washington

capítulate

cappuccìno -chêeno

cáptain -ptin

cáption -pshn

Cápricorn

càr vehicle = Càrr = Kàrr persons

*cáracter is spelt cháracter; cf. cáricature

càr-lôad noun

cárapâce

cárat gold = cárrot food

càrbon dióxîde

càrcass body cf. Carácas

cãre

cãrefree one word

carêer profession, speed BrE = Korêa country, cf. cárrier carry

cãrer

Cãrey = Cãry cf. Kérry (minimal pair)

Cáríbbêan *Cárri-bêeən is the usual pronunciation outside the area, where some say *Cəríbbêən, and Rŏyal Caríbbean is normal

cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-

Carlîsle city, person = Carlŷle person

Càrnaby

Carnègiê, hard g (the family pronunciation, though one often hears it echoing the stress pattern of Càrnaby: Càrnegie; also Carnêgie)

càrnivore

Cárolîne

Cárolýn

caròusal carouse *cəròuzəl

carousél round *carəssél

cárrom or cárom

cárry bring = Cárrie person

càrt horse = kàrt race

cartél

càrton

cartoôn cf. Khartoûm, minimal pair: n and m only different sounds

cásh money = cáche weapons

cashìer *cashêer

cáshmêre wool = Kashmìr Asia

cassàva

cāst drama, throw, eye = cāste India

Castílian cf. Castìlle

cāstle -ssl

cásual cf. cåusal

cásualty

cát animal = qát drug

Cátalan

Catalônia ("Catalunya" is Catalan)

catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátar

catástrophê

catastróphic

cátchphrase probably one word more common than cátch phrâse

Câte Blanchett; but Kâte is the usual spelling of this abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine etc.

cátegory

câter

cáterpillar

Cátheríne is the most common spelling; also K-, -thar-

cáttle cows cf. kéttle boil (minimal pair)

cåucus rhymes with råucous

cåught catch = BrE cŏurt tennis, law

cåul birth = cåll name, phone, shout

cåuldron or cåldron

cauliflòur *cóllyflower

cåuse reason -z = BrE Cŏrrs persons, cf. cŏurse -ss, cf. because *bicóz, ’cós because *cóz

cause celébre can have French accents: cause célèbre *côz-celébrə

cavalìêr

cávêát (or a as schwa)

Câyman Islands

ce- mostly s-

cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold

cêased rhymes and makes a minimal pair with êast

cêasefîre (no need to hyphenate)

cêde yield = sêed plant

cèilidh *kâlêy

cêiling floor = sêaling shutting

célebrâte s-

celébrity s-

célibate s-

céll prison, biology = séll money

céllar wine = séller sales

céllo tch-

céllophane s-, cf. sêal, séllotape

Céltic or céltic civilisation K-; Céltic football club S-

cémetery BrE -try, AmE -téry: not spelt -ary

cénsor censorship = sénsor feel ≈ cénsure blame

cént money = sént send = scént perfume

céntral s-

céntre s- BrE, AmE cénter

céntre-léft, céntre-rîght politics, hyphen

centrífugal or céntrifugal

centrípetal

céntrist s-

céntury is not automatically capitalised after an ordinal: 20th céntury

cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series

cérebral s- BrE; AmE cerêbral

Cêrês planet makes a minimal pair with sêríes string, or Céres, cf. Sírius star

céremony s-

cërvical s- (some say cervîcal)

cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s-

césspit one word

césspool one word

cf. compare *cêe-éff

ch- tch- unless otherwise stated; sh-, often from French, where stated

chà tea

chà-chà or cha-cha-chà dance

Chádian *Cháddian

chádŏr

chãir sit = Chér person, making a minimal pair with shãre divide

chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng

chágrín sh- BrE; AmE *shəgrêen

chamaêleon k-; AmE -mêl- = Chamaêleon constellation, cf. camêlia, where -n is the only extra sound (a minimal pair)

châmber cf. Châmbers person

chámois *shámwà

champâgne *shámpâin makes a minimal pair with campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)

chāncellor

chandelìêr sh-

Chandrasèkhar is much more common than Chandrasèkar

chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Channél persons, both sh-

châós *kâyóss

chápel church = Cháppell person

cháperôn sh-

chàplain church = Cháplin person

chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng

charàde sh- BrE; AmE charâde

cháracter cf. cáricature, both k-

Cháring Cróss

charivàri sh-

chàrlatan sh-

Chàrlotte Sh-

chãry cf. chãir

Charýbdis *Kəríbdiss

chásm *kázzəm

chássis *shássy

châste virgin = châsed chase

Chátham -təm

chauffëur *shô-fër

chauvinist shô-

chêap cost = chêep bird

chêapskâte one word

chêat

Chéchnya

chéckered

chéckers = Chéquers

chéckpoint one word

chêek cf. chíck

chêetah

chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound: tch-

Chélsêa *Tchélsì

chémistry k-

Chèney

chéque BrE money = chéck verify, AmE money = Czéch nationality

Chér = shãre

Chernóbyl

Cherokêe

chérry-píck

chérub

cherúbic

chévron sh-

cheŵ cf. words beginning tû-, which can have the same tch- sound, e.g. tûbe

*chewítion tuítion

Cheyenne *Shŷ Ánn

chèz *shây

chìc sh-

Chicàgo Shí-, à sound in both BrE and AmE

chíck

chíckpêa one word or two

chìêf tch-, cf. chéf, sh-

chihuàhua *tchiwàwa

chîld singular

chîldbïrth one word

chíldren plural

Chílê country = chílì or (mostly BrE) chíllì bean = chílly cold

Chílean *Tchíllian (some say "Tchilâyan", perhaps in homage to the Spanish Chileno)

chimêra kî-

chímney

chimpanzêe

Chîna country = chîna crockery

chîropractic k-, first syllable = Caîro

chirópody k-

chïrp

Chíswick *Tchízzick

chívalry sh-

chívy or chívvy

chlamýdia kl-

Chlôê *Klôwie

chlóroform kl-

chóc chocolate = chóck wedge

chóck-a-blóck

choîr singers = quîre paper

chólera k-, cf. cóllar (minimal pair)

choléstorol k-

choôse select = cheŵs masticates

chŏral k-

chorāle chorus = corrāl animals

chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal

chŏrus k-

chòw dog, food = ciàô goodbye

chòw miên

chr- kr- (words that sound as if they begin 'chr-' may begin tr-)

Chrîst Kr-

chrísten *kríssen

Chrístian *Kríshtchən or *Krístchen cf. crýstal

Christiáne *Kristiánn

Chrístmas *Kríssməss

Chrístopher *Krístəfər

chrôme kr-

chrónic kr-

chrýsalis kríss-

chrysánthemum kríz-

chthônian, chthónic, kth-, th-

chürch

chürn

chûte fall = shoôt gun

chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur

ci- s-

ciàô goodbye = chòw dog, food

Cícely person = Sícily Italy

cîder

cigàr

címbalóm is perhaps the most common of several spellings, cf. cýmbal

Cincinnáti

cínema

cínnamon

Cínque Ports = sínk wash, down

cïr-

cïrca is usually abbreviated to c. (not *ca.)

cïrcle

cïrcuit *sërkit

circûítous

cïrcumcîse

circumcísion -zhən

circúmference cf. interfêrence

cïrcumstance

císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak

citâtion cf. situâtion

cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place

cítizen

Citizéndium

Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon, making minimal pairs with cítrous

cíty

cívil

civílian: one l

Clãir = Clãire = Clãre

clámour BrE; AmE clámor

clámpdown noun one word

clándestîne; some say clandéstíne

clánger has the normal ng sound, rhyming with hánger, cf. ánger, *áng-ger, dânger, -njer

Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them

cláptrap one word

Clãre = Clãir = Clãire

cláret

clárify

clárity

clássical music is not capitalised when referring to any period; only Clássical when referring particularly to the period between Baroque and Romantic (and not necessarily music)

clāssroom one word

clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa

claustrophôbia clós-

clêan

cléanliness

cléanse -nz

clêaver cf. cléver

Clêese -z

clërgy

cléric

clërk AmE; BrE = Clàrk = Clàrke persons

clìchè *clêeshây

clîmb up = clîme weather

clìque *clêek, cf. clíck

clóckwörk one word

clôse shut = clôze test; clôse near, cul-de-sac *clôce

clôser more -ss-, clôser end -z-

clóset -z-

clôse-up near, -ss-, cf. clôse up shut, -z-

clóstr- claustrophôbia

clóth unvoiced th

clôthe voiced th

clôthes voiced th

Cloúgh = Clúff

Clŵýd rhymes with flûíd

cô and co = Côe

côach transport, trainer

côal fuel = Côle person

coalésce *côwəl-éss

coalítion *côwəl-íshən

côalman coal = Côleman person

côalmine or côal mîne, but côal mîning is two words

cŏarse crude = cŏurse route, study

côast cf. cóst

côastguard one word or two

côax

cóbra or côbra

cóchineal

Côckburn = Côburn persons

cóck-up

côco tree = côcoa tree, powder, drink

Côco the Clòwn

côconut or côcoanut

cocoôn

côdêine

côdicil

coêlacanth sêel- BrE, AmE cêlacanth

coërce

CofÊ Church of England *sêeyəvêe

cóffee drink = Cóffey = Cóffee persons

cógnac *cónyák

cohábit no hyphen

Côhen *Côwen, rhymes with Ôwen

côhêre

Coìmbra *Quêenborough

côíncidence no hyphen

cojônes *cohôniz

còlander cf. cálendar

Côle person = côal burn

côleslaw is probably more common nowadays than côle slåw

Cólin

colláborate

cóllàge art *cóllàzh, cf. cóllege school *cóllij

collápse

cóllar cf. chólera *cóllara

colléctable BrE, AmE colléctible

cóllier coal = Cóllier, Cólyer

Cóllins

collóssal

collûde

Colôgne Germany = colôgne perfume *kəlôan

Colòmbia country = Colúmbia company, British (-ló- is the Spanish pronunciation)

Colòmbo Sri Lanka = Colúmbo TV series

côlon

cölonel army = kërnel nut

colônial

colonnâde

cólonise

cólony

Coloràdo in both BrE and AmE, Có-

colorâtion or colourâtion cú-

coloratùra

còlour tint cf. cóllar neck

Colúmbia British, commercial = Colòmbia South America

Colúmbus

cólumn *cóllum

cólumnist *cólumist, though some pronounce the n

côma cf. cómma

cômb hair *kôam, cf. còme here (minimal pair)

cómbat noun, verb, combát verb; verb forms -ing and -ed may have one t or two

cómbatant or combátant

còmeback noun, adjective one word

cómedy

comeúppance one word

còmfortable -ft-

comfortably-óff

còming come = Cúmming, cf. Cúmmings, persons

cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious

commānd

commandêer

comménd

cómment

commërcial

commít

commíttee

commûnal

cómmune noun

commûne verb

cómmunism

commûnity

còmpany

compãre contrast cf. cómpére (where French accent can be written: compère) host

cómparable or compárable

compárative

compárison

compàrtment

compássion

cómpensâte

compensâtion

cómpére (or with written French accent compère) show, cf. compãre contrast

complâint complain

cómplement together = cómpliment praise

cómplex BrE; AmE compléx

compléxion not -ct-

complîant comply

cómpóst

cómpromîse pronounced but never written -ize, cf. prómise *prómíss

Còmpton, Cómpton

Còmpton-Bürnett

cómráde, cf. Cónrád (minimal pair), some BrE cómrâde

Cónakry

concêde

concentrâte cf. consént

cóncrete

concatenâtion: e, not i

cóncentrâte cf. consént

concéntric cf. consénsus

cóncept

concéptual

concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto

concéssion

cónch shell -nch or -nk

cónch, Cónch Bahamian -nk

concörd

Cóncord

cóncrete

concússion

condémn, cf. dámn, both -m

condemnâtion ends like nâtion

condîgn -dîne

condôlences

cóndom

cóndŏr

condûcíve

cóndûít or -dwít; BrE was once *cóndit or *cúndit, but now regularised

confër

conféss

conféssion -féshən

cónfidànt person BrE -dónt

cónfident adjective -dənt

Confûcian -shən

confûsion -zhən

cónger hard g

cóngeries soft g

cóngruent or congrûent

cóniìne -iì-

cònjure

Cónnåcht *Cónåwt

connéct

Connécticut *Cənétikət

connéction: BrE can be connéxion

connîve

connoissëur: -oi- as schwa: *connəssür

cónquer win = cónker nut

cónquest cf. quést

consciéntious *cónshì-énshəs, *cónshénshəs

cónscious

consénsus cf. consént, cénsus, concéntric

consént cf. concentrâte

cónsequence

consërvative

conservâtion

consigliérê *consíl-yãry

consístent cf. cónstant

cónsôle noun

consôle comfort

consólidate

cónsonant

cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa

consŏrt verb

conspíracy

conspírator

conspîre

cònstable

constábulary

cónstant cf. consístent

constítuency

consûme -syû-

cónsummate

cóntact noun and verb, cf. cóntract, contráct

contémptible

contént happy

cóntént contain

cóntext

contéxtual

contínûùm -nyû-

cóntoûr

cóntract noun, contráct verb, cf. cóntact

contradíct

cóntra, cf. controvërsial, etc.

cóntrary opposed

contrãry awkward

cóntribûte or contríbûte

contribûtion

*contributer contríbûtor

contrôl

contrôller

controvërsial

cóntrovërsy or contróversy

conúndrum

cónvoy

coòk kitchen = Coòk = Coòke persons

Coômbs = Coômbes *Coûmz

cooperâtion côwóp-, cf. cŏrporation

coóperative côwóp-

Copenhâgen Cô-; or -hàgen

cóps police = Kóp Liverpool

cóp-òut

cóps police = cópse wood

cópy cf. côpe

cópyédit can be one word or two

cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing

córal

cŏr ànglâis *cŏróng-glây

cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music

cŏrdon

cŏre apple = cŏrps army

cŏrnerstône one word

coróllary

corôna

córonary

córoner

cŏrporate

cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following

cŏrpse

corrāl AmE animals; BrE = chorāle choral

correspóndence, correspóndent (unlike French, which has -ance, -ant)

corróborate

córrugate BrE; AmE cörrugate

cóst cf. côast

Cósta Rìca

côsy BrE = AmE côzy = Côsey

Côte d'Ivoire (French accent may be retained in English) *Côat-divwàr, also known as Îvory Côast

cóttage -íj

còuch; the surname is, however, Coûch in the names of John Couch Adams and Arthur Quiller-Couch

còuchant

couchétte cûsh-

coûgar *coôger

cóugh *cóff

coùld rhymes with goòd

còuncil committee = còunsel advice

còuncillor

còunt

còunty cf. coúntry

còunterfeít

còunter-productive hyphenated

coúntry *cúntry, cf. còunty and còunt, which begin with the còw sound ("còwntry" is, understandably, a common mispronunciation among foreign learners)

coûp d’état = coô bird

coúple rhymes with súpple (minimal pair)

coúrage; AmE can be cöurage

courâgeous

cŏurse route, study = cŏarse crude, -ss, cf. cåuse, -z, cürse, -s

cŏurt tennis, monarch, woo; BrE = cåught catch

cöurteous

cöurtesy politeness cf. cürtsey bow (minimal pair)

coúsin *cúzzen

Cóvent Gàrden

còver

côvert cf. ovërt

còvet -ít

Còwen = Còwan, minimal pair with Côhen

còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight, cf. kowtòw

Coŵper = Coôper; or Còwper

Cóx = cócks

cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat

cráckpot noun one word

crâdle

crāft skill = Krāft person

cravát ('cravate' is French)

cråwl ground = Kråll person

crêak noise = crêek water

crêam

crêâte

crêâtion -êâshən

crêature -ch-

créche *crésh, cf. crásh, crúsh (minimal pairs)

crêdence

credéntials

crédibílity

crêed

crêek water = crêak noise

créme can have French accent: crème

créme de menthe can have French accent: crème de menthe *crémdə-mónt

Creôle (êô) = creôle

crêosote

crèpe = crèpe

crescéndo -sh-

créscent *crézzənt, *créssənt

crévíce

crevásse

creŵ ship = Creŵe England

creŵ-cut

Crîchton *Crŷtən

crîme cf. crêam (minimal pair)

críminal

Crimêa *Crî-mêə

críss-cróss, cf. Chrís, cróss

critêrion (plural critêria) crî-

crític

critìque -êek

crôak = Crôke

Crôát *Crôwát

Croâtia *Crôw-âyshə

cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old

crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet

crócodîle

croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón

Crómarty

crône

crôny

cróss-examinâtion

cròtch genitals = crútch support

crótchet irritable, music regular pronunciation, cf. crôchèt *crôshây

crûcible

crûcifíxion

crûise -ûz

crúmb -m

crúmble

crúx

crýpt

crýstal, t sounded, cf. whístle, grístle, silent t

cúckold

cùckoô cf. coòk

cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line = Keŵ Gardens

Cûi *QE

cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən

cúl-de-sác

cúlprit

cúm with = còme here

Cúmmings person = còmings and goings

cûneífŏrm rhymes with ûniform

cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard

curaçào *curassòw

cûrate person

curâte museum

cürb stop, street = kërb street

cûre-åll noun, adjective

cûrious

cürly = Cürley

cúrrant eat = cúrrent now, flow BrE; AmE cür-

currículum vìtaê

cürse cf. cŏurse

cürt blunt = Kürt person

cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness

curvâceous

cürve

cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən

cústard

cústody BrE *cústardy

cútback noun one word

cút-prîce

cy- s-

cýclamen s-

cŷcle s-

cýclical s-

cŷclist s-

cýgnet swan = sígnet ring

cýlinder

cýmbal drums = sýmbol sign

cŷpher or cîpher, cf. decîpher

cŷpress tree = Cŷprus country s-

Cýpriot

cýst s-

cýnic s-

cýnicism

czàr or tsàr *zàr

Czéch nationality = chéck verify = BrE chéque cash