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

pálace makes a minimal pair with Páris

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

pàlm *pàm

Palmŷra is traditional; the modern Palmỳra contains a rare example of stressed ỳ (= ê)

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 France, Greek = Párris Matthew; rhymes with Hárris

párish = Párrish

paríshioner

Parísian -ízì-

párity, cf. párrot

pàrk = Pàrk

Pàrk Geùn-hyè, ending like hây in the usual English pronunciation

pàrliament *pàrləmənt

parliaméntary *parləméntry

parôle, cf. patrôl

párrot bird = Párrott person

pàrse -z

partícipate

partícularly BrE can sound like *partículy

pàrtisan -z-; BrE also partisán

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

pástie, pásty pie, cf. pâsty paste

pastìlle

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

pâsty paste, cf. pásty, var. of pástie pie

pátè can have French accents: pâté

pâtent adjective, noun, 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

pêach makes a minimal pair with pítch

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

Përsian *Përshən

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

phálánx BrE; AmE phâlánx

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

phósphorus element = phósphorous adjective

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

pítch makes a minimal pair with pêach

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

Pràa Sánds

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 makes a minimal pair with repãir

preréquisíte

présent gift, now, here préz-

presént give príz-

prestìge -êezh

prestígious -íjəss

presûmably

presûme

presúmptive

preténce

preténd

preténsion

preténtious

pretty = Príti

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

priórity

prîory

prísm makes a minimal pair with príson

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 (not to mention meaning professional), 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

prodígious

pródigy, cf, prógeny

prodûce verb

pródûce noun

pródúct

prodúctive

proféssional

próffer offer, cf. profër pronounce

prógeny, cf. pródigy

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

prosciûtto *proshûto

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

prô tém

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