English spellings/Catalogs/C

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This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with C. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.

C

C = sêe look

cabál cf. câble

cáche arms = cásh money

càdre *càder; AmE càdrê

cáddie golf = cáddy tea

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

cáfè au lâit also: café au lait *cáfâyô-lây

cáffêine

Caîro *Kŷro

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

Calcútta

Caledônia

cálendar is not spelt -er, cf. còlander

Cálgary *Cálgəri

Califŏrnia -nyə

cåll name, phone cf. Cál person

callígraphy -ll-, cf. Calígula

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

càlm -àm, BrE and AmE

Câmbridge

camêllia or caméllia cf. chamaêleon *camêliən

cameráderie

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

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

câne stick, sugar = Câin Abel

cánister - one n

cánnabis

cánnibal cf. Hánnibal

cannót - or cánnot for emphasis, but always one word when nót is modifying cán, cf. ít cán nót ônly…but ålsô…

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, *Câpetown

capíllary BrE; AmE cápillãry

cápital city = Cápitol Washington

capítulate

cappuccìno -chêeno

Cápricorn

càr vehicle = Càrr = Kàrr persons

càr-lôad noun

cárat gold = cárrot food

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 (some say 'Cəríbbêən')

cáricature cf. cháracter, both k-

Carlîsle city, person = Carlŷle person

Carnêgìê hard g

caròusal carouse *cəròuzəl

carousél round *carəssél

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

cáshmêre wool = Kashmìr Asia

cassàva

cāst drama, throw, eye = cāste India

Castílian cf. Castìlle

cāstle -ssl

cásual cf. cåusal

cásualty

Cátalan

Catalônia - ‘Catalunya’ is Catalan

catàrrh *catàr, cf. Qátàr

catástrophê

catastróphic

cátchphrase one word

Câte - although Kâte is the traditional abbreviation of Cátherine, Kátharine, etc.

câter

cáterpillar

cáttle cows cf. kéttle boil (minimal pair)

cåucus rhymes with råucous

cåught catch = BrE cŏurt tennis, law

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

Câyman Islands

cêase stop *sêess, cf. sêize hold

cêasefîre (no need to hyphenate)

cêde yield = sêed plant

cèilidh *kâlêy

cêiling floor = sêaling shutting

centrífugal s-

célebrâte

celébrity

célibate

céll prison, biology = séll money

céllar wine = séller sales

céllo ch-

Céltic or céltic civilisation K-, cf. Céltic, S- football club

cémetery *sémətry, not -ary

cénsor censorship = sénsor feel ≈ cénsure blame

cént money = sént send = scént perfume

céntral s-

céntre s- BrE, AmE cénter

centrífugal or céntrifugal

centrípetal

céntrist s-

cêreal cornflakes = sêrial series

cérebral s- BrE; AmE cerêbral

Ceres planet *Sírêez, cf. Sírius star, seríes string

céremony s-

cërvical s- or cervîcal

cesãrian cf. Caêsar, both s-

césspit one word

césspool one word

ch- mostly tch-; sh- where stated

chà tea - or chàr as other meanings

chà-chà or cha-cha-chà dance

Chádian *Cháddian

chãir sit = Chér person

chaise lóngue *shézz-lóng

chágrín sh- BrE; AmE *shəgrêen

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

châmber tch-, cf. Châmbers person

chámois *shámwà

champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)

chandelìêr sh-

Chandrasèkhar Tch-

chánnel rhymes with pánel, cf. Chanél, Cahnnél persons

châós *kâyóss

chápel church = Cháppell person

cháperôn sh-

chàplain church = Cháplin person

chárabanc *shárabang, cf. shebáng

charàde sh- BrE; AmE charâde

cháracter k-

Cháring Cróss Tch-

charivàri sh-

chàrlatan sh-

Chàrlotte Sh-

chásm *kázzəm

chássis *shássy

châste virgin = châsed chase

Chátham -təm

chauffëur *shôfër

chauvinist shô-

chêap cost = chêep bird both tsh-

chêapskâte one word

chêat tch-

Chéchnya Tch-

chéckpoint one word

chêetah tch-

chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound: tch-

Chélsêa *Tchélsì

chéque money tch-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch nationality

Cherokêe Tch-

chérry-píck tch-

chévron sh-

cheŵ tch-; cf. words beginning tû-

chèz *shây

chìc sh-

Chicàgo Shí-, à sound in both BrE and AmE

chíck

chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh-

chihuàhua *tchiwàwa

chîld singular tch-

chîldbïrth one word

chíldren plural tch-

Chílê country tch-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold

Chílêan Tch-

chimêra kî-

chímney tch-

Chíswick *Tchízzick

chívalry sh-

chívy or chívvy tch-

chlamýdia kl-

Chlôê *Klôwie

chlóroform kl-

chóc chocolate tch- = chóck wedge

chóck-a-blóck

choîr singers = quîre paper

chólera k-, cf. cóllar (minimal pair)

choléstorol k-

choôse select = cheŵs masticates

chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal

chŏrus k-

chòw miên tch-

Chrîst Kr-

chrísten *kríssen

Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal

Chrístmas *Kríssməss

Chrístopher *Krístəfə

chrôme kr-

chrónic kr-

chrysánthemum kríz-

chûte fall = shoôt gun

chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur

ci- s-

Cícely person = Sícily Italy

cîder

cigàr

cínema

cínnamon

cïr-

cïrcle

cïrcuit *sërkit

circûítous s-

cïrcumcîse sër-

circumcísion s-; -zhən

cïrcumstance s-

císsy weak = Císsy person = síssy weak

citâtion cf. situâtion

cîte quote = sîght see = sîte place

Cítroen ™ car = cítron lemon

cíty s-

cívil s-

civílian s-; one l

clándestîne; some say clandéstíne

Clãir = Clãire = Clãre

clámour - AmE clámor

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

Clápham London = cláp ’em clap them

cláptrap one word

cláret cf. Clãre

clāssroom one word

clåuse words = clåws claw = Clåus Santa

claustrophôbia clós-

clêan

cléanliness

cléanse -nz

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 end -z-

clôser more -s-

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

clóth unvoiced th

clôthe voiced th

clôthes voiced th

côach transport, trainer

côalésce

cŏarse rough = cŏurse sport, eduation

côal mine = Côle person

côalman coal = Côleman person

cŏarse crude = cŏurse route, study

côast cf. cóst

côastguard one word

côax

cóbra or côbra

cóchineal

Côckburn = Côburn persons

cóck-up

côco tree

Côco the Clòwn

côcoa tree, powder, drink

côconut or côcoanut

cocoôn

côdêine

côdicil

coêlacanth sêel-, AmE cêlacanth

coërce

CofÊ Church of England *sêeyəvêe

cóffee *cóffy

cógnac *cónyák

Côhen *Côwen, rhymes with Ôwen

côíncidence no hyphen

côhêre

còlander cf. cálendar

Côle person = côal burn

Cólin

colláborate

cóllàge art *cóllàzh, cf. cóllege school *cóllij

collápse

cóllar cf. chólera *cóllara

Cóllins

collóssal

collûde

Colôgne Germany = colôgne perfume *kəlôan

Colòmbia country = Colúmbia British, company; or ó

Colòmbo

côlon

cölonel army = BrE kërnel nut

colônial

colonnâde

cólonise

cólony

Coloràdo in both BrE and AmE

colorâtion or colourâtion cú-

coloratùra

còlour tint cf. cóllar neck

Colúmbus

cólumn *cóllum

cólumnist *cólumist - though some pronounce the n

côma cf. cómma

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

cómbat

cómbatant or combátant

cómedy

comeúppance one word

còmfortable -ft-

comfortably-óff

cómma punctuate, cf. côma unconscious

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

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

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

cómrâde BrE; AmE cómráde, cf. Cónrád

concêde

concentrâte cf. consént

cóncrete

concatenâtion - e, not i

cóncentrâte cf. consént

concéntric cf. consénsus

cóncept

concéptual

concërtô *cənshërto, *cənshérto

concörd

Cóncord

condîgn -dîne

cóndom

cóndŏr

condûcíve

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

conféss

conféssion -féshən

cónfidant person -dónt

cónfident adjective -dənt

Confûcian -shən

confûsion -zhən

cónger hard g

cóngeries soft g

cóniìne -iì-

Cónnacht *Cónåwt

connéct

Connécticut *Cənétikət

connéction BrE can be connéxion

connîve

connoissëur -oi- as schwa: *connəssür

cónquer win = cónker nut

cónquest cf. quést

cónscious

consénsus cf. cénsus

consént cf. concentrâte

consërvative

conservâtion

consigliérê *consíl-yãry

cónsôle noun

consôle comfort

consólidate

cónsŏrt noun cf. cóncert, e as schwa

consŏrt verb

conspírator

conspîre

constábulary

constítuency

consûme -syû-

contémptible

cóntext

contéxtual

contínûùm -nyû-

cóntrary opposed

contrãry awkward

cóntribûte or contríbûte

contribûtion

contríbutor

contrôl

contradíct

contríbute

cóntribûtion

cóntrovërsy or contróversy - controvërsial?

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

cópyrîght *cópywrîte: it’s a rîght about writing

córal

cŏr ànglâis *cŏ-rónglây

cŏrd vocal, string = chŏrd music

cŏrdon

cŏre apple = cŏrps army

cŏrnerstône one word

corôna

córonary

córoner

cŏrps army = cŏre apple, cf. following

cŏrpse

corràl

córrugate BrE; AmE cörrugate

cóst cf. côast

Cósta Rìca

cóttage -íj

còuch

còuchant

couchétte cûsh-

cóugh *cóff

còuncil committee = còunsel advice

còuncillor

còunt

còunty cf. coúntry

còunterfeít

còunter-productive hyphenated

coúntry cf. còunty, còunt, which begin with the còw sound

coûp d’état = coô bird

coúple

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

còver

côvert cf. ovërt

còvet -ít

còws animals = Còwes Isle of Wight; cf. kowtòw

Coŵper = Coôper; or Còwper

cŏyôtê AmE *kîôat

cráckpot noun one word

cravát ('cravate' is French)

cråwl ground = Kråll person

crêak noise = crêek water

crêam

crêâte

crêâtion -êâshən

crêature -ch-

créche *crésh, cf. crásh (minimal pair)

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

Crêôle

crêosote

crèpe = crèpe

crescéndo -sh-

créscent *crézzənt

crévíce

crevásse

creŵ ship = Creŵe England

creŵ-cut

Crîchton *Crŷtən

crîme

críminal

Crimêa *Crî-mêə

crític

critìque -êek

Crôát *Crôwát

Croâtia *Crôw-âyshə

cróc crocodile = cróck pot, old

crôchet knit *crôshây, cf. crótchet

crócodîle

croissant *kwússón, French nasal -ón

crône

crôny

cróss-examinâtion

cròtch genitals = crútch support

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

crûcible

crûcifíxion

crûise -ûz

crúx

crýpt

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

cùckoô

cûe snooker, theatre = queûe line

cuisìne *quizêen, cf. cóusin *cúzzən

cúl-de-sác

cúlprit

cúm with = còme here

cúpboard rhymes with Húbbard

curaçào *curassòw

cûrate person

curâte museum

cürb stop, street = kërb street

cûre-åll noun, adjective

cûrious

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

currículum vìtaê

cürse cf. cŏurse

cürt blunt = Kürt person

cürtsey bow cf. cöurtesy politeness

cùshion cf. percússion, both -shən

cústard

cústody BrE *cústardy

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