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
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 tsh-, cf. Châmbers person
chámois *shámwà
champâgne *shámpâin, cf. campâign *cámpâin (no capital c for the drink in BrE)
chandelìêr sh-
Chandrasèkhar
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-
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 tsh-
Chéchnya Tsh-
chéckpoint one word
chêetah tsh-
chéf sh-, cf. chìêf, ch sound
Chélsêa *Tshélsì
chéque money tsh-; BrE = chéck verify, Czéch nationality
Cherokêe Tsh-
chérry-píck -tsh
chévron -sh
cheŵ tsh-; cf. words beginning tû-
chèz *shây
chìc sh-
Chicàgo Shí-, à in both BrE and AmE
chíck
chìêf tsh-, cf. chéf, sh-
chihuàhua *tshiwàwa
chîld singular tsh-
chîldbïrth one word
chíldren plural tsh-
Chílê country tsh-, = chílì or chíllì bean = chílly cold
Chílêan Tsh-
chimêra kî-
chímney tsh-
Chíswick *Chízzick
chívalry sh-
chívy or chívvy tsh-
chlamýdia kl-
Chlôê *Klôwie
chlóroform kl-
chóc chocolate tsh- = chóck wedge
chóck-a-blóck
choîr singers = quîre paper
chólera k-, cf. cóllar
choléstorol k-
choôse select = cheŵs masticates
chŏrd music = cŏrd rope, vocal
chŏrus k-
chòw miên
Chrîst Kr-
chrísten *kríssen
Chrístian *Kríshtchən, or *Krístchen cf. crýstal
Chrístmas *Kríssməss
Chrístopher *Krístəfə
chrôme kr-
chrónic kr-
chrysánthemum kríz-
chûte fall sh-; = shoôt gun
chútzpah *hùtspə, cf. Hótspur
ci- s-
Cícely person = Sícily Italy
cîder
cigàr
cínema
cínnamon
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
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
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
cråwl ground = Kråll person
crêak noise = crêek water
crêam
crêâte
crêâtion -êâshən
crêature -ch-
créche *crésh, cf. crásh
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