English spellings/Catalogs/P

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Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list
Common misspellings

This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with P. 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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P = p pence = pêa eat = pêe urine

pâce speed

pàcè peace *pàhtchay

pâced = pâste

páchydërm *pákidërm

pácifist, cf. pássive

páct peace = pácked pack

paêan

paediatrícian BrE, AmE ped-

paêdophile BrE, AmE péd-

pâge

págeant: ea as schwa, *pádjənt

pâid pay *pâyed, *pâde, rhyming with regularly formed plâyed, swâyed, etc.

Pâignton Devon *Pâinton

pâin hurt = pâne window = Pâyne = Pâine

pâinstâking

pãir two = péãr fruit = pãre nails

Pakistān *Pàki-stàn, *Páki-stàn or *Páki-stán

pál friend, cf. pâll weary

pálatal palate

pálate mouth = pálette paint = pállet mattress

palâtial palace -shəl

pâle pallid = pâil bucket

Pálestîne

Palestínian

påll, cf. Páll Máll, pál, måll

pállet mattress = pálette paint = pálate mouth

Palmŷra (traditional), Palmỳra

Pámela

panáche *pənásh

Pánamà, -mə

Panamânian

páncake *pángcake

Páncho, cf. póncho

pánda animal = BrE pánder serve

pandemônium

panegýric, panegŷric

pánel, cf. chánnel

pánoply

panoràma

pàpa, Pàpa; archaic Papà, papà

paparázzi *pápərátsy

pâper-thín

páprika BrE; AmE paprìka

papŷrus

parábola

párachute -shû-

páradigm -dîme

Páraguay -gwî

párallel *párralel, cf. désiccate, a similar case, where one would expect double s

páralyse

parálysis

paralýtic

parámeter

paraphernâlia

pãre cut = pãir two = péãr fruit

pãrent

paréntheses -sêez, -síz brackets; parénthesis -síss aside. A typical example of incorrect usage from a Wikipedia edit summary: changed a bracket to a parentheses. See also their entries in the retroalphabetical list.

parenthétical

parîah

Páris rhymes with Hárris

párish = Párrish

paríshioner

Parísian -ízì-

párity, cf. párrot

pàrk = Pàrk

pàrliament *pàrləmənt

parliaméntary *parləméntry

parôle, cf. patrôl

párrot bird = Párrott person

pàrse -z

partícipate

partícularly BrE can sound like *partículy

partisán BrE -zán, AmE pàrtisan -zən

Pásschendâele *Pássiondale

pássè can have French accent: passé

pāssed pass = pāst time, tense, go

pāsser-bŷ, pāssers-bŷ, hyphenated

pássion *páshən

pássive, cf. pácifist

pāst = passed

pâste copy, glue = pâced pace

pástel *pástle (t pronounced)

pāsteurise from Pastëur; cf. pāsture field

pastìche -ìsh

pastìlle

pāstime hobby one s, one t, one word, stress on first syllable, cf. pàss tîme, even stress

pátè can have French accents: pâté

pâtent noun, adjective, also pátent noun

pàth

Pathé, with French accent, *Páthây

pathétic, cf. përfect

pathológical *páthə-lójikle

pathólogy

pâthós

pâtience virtue, cards ≈ pâtients hospital

pátois *pátwà, cf. fátwà

pâtriàrch -k

Pátrick

Patrícia -ísha

pátriot or pâtriot, and in patriótic

patrôl, cf. pétrol, parôle

pátronise condescend

pâtronise patron

påuse stop = påws animal

påwnbrôker, cf. pornógrapher

pâyback noun one word

pây-óff noun

pêa vegetable = pêe urine = P letter = p pence

pêal bell = pêel fruit = Pêel person

pêak summit = pêek cheat = pìque annoyance

péãr fruit = pãir two = pãre cut, cf. Pêter Pêars

Pêarson

Pêarce person = Pìêrce = Pêirce persons, pìêrce hole, cf. Pìêrs, -z person = pìêrs pier

pëarl stone = pürl knit, liquid

pêase pudding -z: = pêas pea

pêat bog = Pête Peter

pecàn, pecán (pê-, pí-), *pêcən, etc.

peccadíllo

pédal foot = péddle sell

pédalo

péderasty, péderast AmE; BrE pêderasty, pêderast

pédestal

pédigree

pédlar or péddler seller

pêe urine = pêa vegetable = p pence = P letter

pêek cheat = pêak summit = pìque annoyance

pêer look, lord = pìêr jetty

pêeved

pejórative, cf. përjury

Pekíng duck = pêa kíng, cf. pêaking peak

péll-méll, cf. Páll Máll

pén write = Pénn person

péncil

Penélopê

penicíllin

península noun = BrE penínsular adjective

Pennsylvânia *Pencilvânia

péntagon

Péntateûch -yoôk

Péntecóst

pénury

pêony *pêənỳ

pêople pêep-, cf. stêeple

Pêpys Samuel = pêeps looks

për normally weak, but when strong = pürr cat

per cént = percént

percéntage

perchānce one word

Përdita

përfect adjective

perféct verb

përfume BrE, AmE perfûme

périgêe -jì

perímeter

pêriod

përjury, cf. pejórative

përk up, perquisite

përmanent

permíssion

permít verb, përmit noun

Perôt -rô

përpetrate not perper-

për sè *persây, cf. sây

përson

persôna, plural -aê

personálity

persôna nón gràtis

personnél staff *personéll, cf. përsonal private

persuâde -swâde

*persûe pursûe

përt

Perû

perûse

pervërse

përvërt noun, pervërt verb

pervërted

péssimistic usually péz-

Peshàwar

pétrol oil = pétrel bird, cf. patrôl

petrôleum

Pëugeôt ™ -zhô

peŵ church = Pûgh person

pH acidity *peeâitch

ph- = f-

phâeton

phálanx

phãraôh Egypt = Fãrôe Islands

pharaónic

phàrma chemical = BrE farmer agriculture

pharmacôpoêia BrE, AmE pharmacôpêia, rhyming with cornucôpia

phàrming chemicals = fàrming farm

phâse period = fâze puzzle

phênix ashes (AmE) *fêenix = Phoênix Arizona = BrE phoênix or phœnix

phenómena plural

phenómenal rhymes with nóminal

phenómenon singular

pheŵ relief = feŵ many

phîal liquid = fîle papers, nails

Phìlâe *Fêelay

philanthrópic, philánthropy

Phílip given name = fíllip stimulus; Phílips and Phíllips are both surnames, while Phíllip is an unusual given name

Philìppe

Phílippìnes

phíshing internet = físhing water

phlégm *flém

phlegmátic (g pronounced)

Phnóm Pénh *P(ə)nóm Pén

Phoêbê *Fêeby

Phoênix Arizona *Fêenix = phoênix or phœnix or (AmE) phênix ashes

phôney or phôny; phôneys or phônies

phôtograph

photógrapher

photógraphy

phrâse -âze

phút

phýsical -zí-, cf. físcal, -ss-

physiógnomy *fízzy-ónomy

pî number π, pious = pîe food

pìanist, piánist

piáno

píc picture = píck select

Piccadílly - cc, ll

píccolo

pícked = Píct

pídgin language = pígeon bird

pìêr jetty = pêer look, lord, cf. Pêter Pêars, péar

pìêrce cut = Pìêrce, Pêarce, Pêirce persons (though some Pëirces = pürses)

piérrot *pyérrô

pígeonhole one word

píllage -íj

pîlot plane = Pîlate Pontius

pîneápple -eá-

pínnacle

Pínochèt usually -shây in English, though -tché in Spanish

pînt, cf. línt, mínt

pîonêer

pîous religious = Pîus Popes

pipétte BrE pí-, AmE pî-

pìque annoy = pêak summit = pêek look

pîracy

pîrate

Pîscês *Pŷsêez

pìste, cf. píssed

píttance

píty

pívot

pìzza *pìtsa

pizzázz píz-

pizzerìa *pìtsarìa, *pizzarìa, cf. ballerìna

pizzicàto píts-

plácard

placâte

plâce where = plâice fish

placêbo *pləssêebo

plácid

*pláck is spelt plāque

plâgiarise, -îze

pláid cloth rhymes with clád, not with plâyed play

Plaîd Cymru *Plîde Cúmry (approximation of Welsh pronunciation)

pláit hair = Plátt person, cf. plâte food

plâne air, tree, tool, surface = plâin straightforward

plánet rhymes with gánnet

plástic - some BrE speakers say plàstic

pláteau flat *pláttô, cf. Plâto philosopher

pláteaux plural *pláttôze

plátinum

Plâto

plátypus

plâyboy one word

plâywright

plêa

plêase thanks = plêas plea

pléasant

pléasure -ézher

Plêiadês, Pleîadês

plébíscîte

plêad rhymes with blêed

plêas plural = plêase permission

plîght *plîte

plòugh BrE = plòw

plòver

plòw AmE = plòugh

plúm fruit = plúmb vertical, depths, plumber

plûmage

plúmbing *plúmming

Plûtarch -k

plŷ

Plýmouth -məth

pm, p.m. afternoon, evening (post meridian) = PM Prime Minister *pê-ém

pneumátic neû-

póckmàrked, cf. póx

pŏignant *pŏinyant

pôker cards, fire, cf. pôlka dance

Polàris

Pôle Poland = pôle wood = pôll election

polìce *plêece, cf. plêase *plêeze

poliomyelîtis

pólish shine

Pôlish Poland

pólitburo, cf. bûreau

polîte

polítical

politícian

políticking

político

pólitics

pôlka dance, cf. pôker cards, fire

pôll vote = pôle wood = Pôle Poland, cf. tôll, knóll

póll, pólly parrot

Pólly person

pólythene *póllithêen

polyéthylene -éthílêen

pólýp

polyphónic

polýphony

polystŷrene

pómêgránate, cf. gránite

Pompèii ruins = Pompèi city

Pómpêy person

pontíficâte demand, cf. Pontíficate Pontiff -ət, minimal pair

Pontyprídd -ídh

poôl swim = Poôle place, person

pŏor impecunious, unfortunate = pŏre skin, examine = pŏur liquid (though some rhyme it with pûre: poôr)

póp-úp (first stressed) noun, cf. póp úp (second) verb

póplar tree, cf. pópular popularity

pópulace noun = pópulous adjective *pópulus

pŏring examining = pŏuring out

pŏrn pornography BrE = påwn pawnshop

pornográphic

pornógraphy

pŏrous

Pŏrsche car = Pŏrtia person or *Pŏrsh

Port-au-Prínce *Portoprínce

Pŏrtugal Pŏrch-

Portuguêse *Pŏrchə-gêez: silent second u to harden g

Poseîdon

posëur pseud, cf. pôser puzzle

póssê

posséss *pozéss

pôst write, wood = pôst- after, which must be followed by a hyphen

pósthumous

postpône pôsp-

pôtable drink

potâtoes, cf. tornâdos, both -ôz

Potômac

pótsherd - sh sound

PÔTUS, acronym for Président of the Unîted Stâtes, cf. pôtentate

poùffe

Poughkeepsie *Pəkípsy

póverty

Pòwell

pòwer

póx, cf. póckmàrked

práctical

práctíce AmE noun, verb, BrE noun = práctíse BrE verb: in view of the pronunciation (í, not î, and with the first syllable stressed: *práctíss, never "práctîze") AmE using only the -íce spelling is more phonetic and logical

practítioner -tíshoner

Pràgue *Pràhg

prây prayer = prèy victim

prãyer *prãir, one syllable, cf. plâyer, lâyer, two

prêacher rhymes with crêature

precêde before ≈ procêed start *prə-sêed: in rapid speech they sound the same; in slow speech can be *prí-sêed and prô-sêed

précedent before préss- *précident, cf. président head, préz-, minimal pair

precêding, cf. procêeding

précious *préshəss, cf. prêvious

prècìs French accent sometimes written précis *prâycêe

prècìs’d past *prâysêed

precîse *precîce

prê-dâte

prédator, prédatory

prêdecessor BrE; AmE pré-

predóminantly (not -ately)

prê-émpt hyphenated

prê-éminent hyphenated

prêféct

préferable, cf. prefër

prélude, AmE also prè-, prê-

prémier government, league, BrE; AmE premíer = premíere

prémiére performance BrE, cf. thére; AmE premíere = premíer

prémíse or prémíss

prémíses *prémisses

preóccupied - prê-

prepãre

preréquisíte

présent gift, now, here préz-

presént give príz-

prestìge -êezh

prestígious -íjəss

presûmably

presûme

presúmptive

preténce

preténd

preténsion

preténtious

pretty prí-

prevâil

prévalent

prevént

prêview

Prévín

prêvious, cf. précious

prèy victim = prây prayer

PRÌ = prê-

prîce cost = Prîce = Prŷce persons

prìma dónna *prê-madónna

prîma fâcìê *prîma-fâyshêe/fâycêe

prîmâte

prîme mínister *prymínister

prímitíve, cf. prîmâte

prínces = prínce’s = prínces’ male, cf. príncéss female - second syllable stressed if required to contrast with prínce

príncipal main = prínciple reason

principálity

prìón

prîor before, priory = Prîor, Prŷor persons

prívacy BrE; AmE prîvacy, cf. prîmacy in both

prîvate = Prîvate = BrE Pte. = AmE Pvt.

prívet hedge

prívilege

prívy

prîze present = prîse apart, with prîce value a minimal pair

prô in favour, a word in its own right as for example in prôs and cóns, but prô and ánti are always hyphenated to the word they modify: prô-wår and ánti-wår

próbably

probóscis -skís

procêdure

procêed go ≈ precêde first; spelling pronunciations can distinguish them

prôcess BrE; AmE prócess

Prôcol Hàrum, cf. procul (Latin: "far away"), Bóko Haràm

procreâte

proféss

prófit money = próphet prophecy

prodûce verb

pródûce noun

pródúct

prodúctive

proféssional

próffer offer, cf. profër pronounce

prôgram - AmE uses this spelling for all meanings, while BrE only uses it with regard to computers, using prôgramme for all other meanings

progréss verb

prôgress noun BrE; AmE prógress

próject activity - some say prôject

projéct stick out

prôle

prolóng one word

prómenàde BrE, AmE -âde

próminent rhymes with dóminant

prómise -íss

prônòun

pronunciâtion -núnce-: cf. pronòunce ("pronounciation" is a common mispronunciation)

proôf noun, cf. prove verb *proôve (minimal pair)

propagánda

própagate

próper

próphecỳ noun

próphesŷ verb

próphet religion = prófit gain

prophyláctic, -áxis

propônent

prôs pro = prôse verse

próspect future

prospéct gold

próstate gland

prostrâte lie

prôtêa -êə

Prôtêa -êə South Africa

prôtêan -êə

protéct

protéctor

prôtegè male, prôtegèe female, can be written with a French accent: protegé, protegée *prôtezhây

prôtest noun

protést verb

prótestant

protéster or, less often, protéstor, cf. invéstor

prôtocól

prove verb *proôve, cf. proôf noun (minimal pair)

prôven or *proôvən

próvenance

Provence *Provónce

Provençal *Provón-sàl

provîde

próvince

províncial -shl

provísion

provîso

provocatëur

provocâtion

provócative

provôke

pròwess

pròwl

prŷ

Prŷor person = prîor priory

ps- mostly with silent p: s-

psàlm *sàhm

pseûd person, adjective - but psêudo- is not a separate word and requires a hyphen:

pseûdo-intelléctual

pseûdo-scîence

psî Greek: optional to pronounce the p, or = sîgh breath

psilocŷbin *cŷlô-cŷbin

psorîasis, cf. cirrhôsis

psst, pssst etc., p pronounced, number of s’s to taste

psŷch *sîke

psŷchê *sîky

psychedélic

psychîatrist

psychólogist, cf. sýcophánt

psychólogy

psychométric

psŷchopáth

psychopáthic

psychópathy

ptàrmigan silent p

pterodáctyl térə-

públicly, cf. bâsically

púcker lips BrE = púkka real

pùdding

púddle

pûerile -yû-

Puerto Rìco BrE Pwãir-, AmE Pŏr-, cf. Pŏrto

Pûgh person = peŵ church

pugnácious

pùll push, cf. poôl water

pùllover clothing, cf. pùll ôver car

púlsàr

púmíce

púnchline one word

punctuâtion

púnish

pûnitive -yû-

pûny -yû-

Pürcell

pûre -yû-

pürgatory

pürge

pürl knit, liquid = pëarl stone

pürpose *pürpus

pürr

pürse, cf. pîerce, Pêarce, etc.

pursûe

Pürves = Pürvís

pús yellow, cf. pùss cat

pùsh

pùt place, cf. pútt golf

putâtive -yû-

pûtrefy, cf. pétrify

pûtrid -yû-, cf. hâtred, both -íd

pùtsch makes minimal pairs with poôch dog and pùsh pull

pùtting put

pútting putt

púzzle

pýgmy

pyjàmas BrE; AmE pajámas

pŷlon

Pyongyáng, two syllables

pŷre

Pýrrhic

pŷthon BrE, AmE also pŷthón