| Heteronyms, Homonyms, Homographs and Homophones; Lee Masterson | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Jan 24 2018, 10:10 AM (5 Views) | |
| Avid Writers | Jan 24 2018, 10:10 AM Post #1 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
by Lee Masterson The English language is peppered with many anomalous words and spellings, many of which can make life difficult for a non-native to the language, attempting to learn it as a second language. However, it can also be just as confusing to those who have lived their whole lives speaking and writing English as native-users. Spellings and meanings differ, accents can summon a completely new meaning and a missing letter can create an embarrassing mistake! It seems that almost every source of research I looked up on the internet has a mild case of confusion over what words can be classified as what. So I took the literal meanings of each of the following definitions from the Oxford Concise Dictionary on my desk. Let's take a look at some of the more commonly confused types of words. Heteronyms are words that are spelled identically but have different meanings when pronounced differently, usually through accenting different parts of the same word. For example: Lead, pronounced LEED, means to guide. However, lead, pronounced LED, means a metallic element. Heteronyms are specific types of homographs in which the different pronunciations are associated with different meanings. Basically, words with one spelling, but two pronunciations and two unrelated meanings. Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings. In other words, Homonyms are words with one spelling and one pronunciation, but two unrelated meanings, such as bear or left or just or pole. Homographs are words that are spelled the same but differ in meaning, derivation, or pronunciation. Basically, Homographs are words which have one spelling but two pronunciations and two distinct meanings or usages. For example: Consider the word tear. Does it rhyme with pear/pair/pare? Or with hear/here? Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation, or spelling. In other words, Homophones are classified as words with two spellings and two meanings, but only one pronunciation. For example: Like pear and pair. And pare. These words are spelled differently but sound the same. The English language is riddled with such aural ambiguities. Unfortunately, many school teachers still teach that homonyms are words that sounds the same, regardless of spelling, such as to, too and two. This is technically incorrect - those three words are actually homophones, so please don't email me and tell me that I'm wrong - I'm simply quoting from sources that I trust far more than I would trust myself. (Oxford English Concise Dictionary, Tenth Edition) If you've been paying attention, you should have noticed that the definitions for Heteronym and Homograph are the same! Only the homophone focuses on words spelled differently AND have different meanings, yet have the ability to sound the same. Confused yet? Great! Let's get to the examples. Rather than supply an endless page of words and meanings, I've only listed the most obvious words for each category. For more detailed listings, please see the links at the bottom of the page. Heteronyms/Homographs Affect (ehFEKT)- to change; (AFFekt)- a person's feelings or emotion Alternate (ALternit)- the next choice; (ALternait)- switch back and forth Bass BASE- a string instrument; BASS (rhymes with mass)- a fish Close CLOZE- to shut; CLOS- near Desert dihZURT- to leave ; DEZert- arid region Dove DUV- a bird; DOEV- jumped off Excuse EKskyooz- to let someone off; EKskyoos- a reason or explanation House HAUS- a building that serves as living quarters; HOWZ- to provide with living quarters Invalid inVALLid- not valid; INvallid- an ill person Lead LEED- to guide; LED- a metallic element Minute MINNit- 60 seconds; myNOOT- tiny Number NUMber- one, two, three …; NUMMER- more numb [many dictionaries do not list this use, which suggests that "more numb" is preferred; however, the listed use is given in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, Electronic version.] Perfect PERfekt- exactly correct; perFEKT- to make correct Produce PROdoos- vegetables; proDOOS- bring forth Record RECKord- a list; reKORD- to write down Row ROH- a line; ROUW- a fight Separate SEPerATE- to divide into groups; SEPret- not joined together Tier TEER - layer TYER - a person who ties Tear TARE- to rip; TEER- fluid in eye Wind WHINEd- to coil up; WINd- the blowing air Wound WOOND- to injure; WOWND- coiled up True Homonyms Bark - cry of a dog, fox or seal; outer protective sheath of the trunk of a tree Bat - a bit of wood used in a game; a little furry critter Bear Large mammal; to tolerate or support Dear - regard with deep affection; expensive Down - towards a lower place; soft fine feathers of a young bird Exact - precise or accurate; inflict (revenge) on someone Fawn - a baby deer; a colour; to be servile Fine - of very high quality; a sum of money exacted as a penalty Grave - Hole dug in ground to receive a coffin; giving cause for alarm. Just - morally right and fair; barely or simply Kind - considerate and generous; class or type of things having similar characteristics Left opposite of right; departed Mead - a drink made from honey; and a meadow Order - arrangement of things to a particular sequence or method; authorative command or directive Peak - pointed top of a mountain; stiff brim at front of a cap. Pile a heap, the nap of velvet; or a haemorrhoid! Pole ends of the axis of rotation; fishing rod; long piece of metal or wood, Trip - to stumble or fall; journey or excursion Wave - Motion with hand in greeting; ridge of water curling into shore Homophones accede, exceed accept, except acclamation,acclimation ad,add adds,adze adieu,ado adherence, adherents adolescence, adolescents aery,airy affect,effect aid,ade,aide ail,ale air,ere,err,heir airs,errs,heirs airy,aery aisle,I'll,isle ale,ail all,awl allied,elide allowed,aloud allude,elude allusion,illusion aloud,allowed altar,alter ant,aunt arc,ark are,r assent,ascent ate,eight auger,augur aught,ought aunt,ant aural,oral away,aweigh awed,odd awful,offal awl,all awn,on ax,axe,acts ay,aye,eye,I,i ayes,eyes b's,bees b,be,bee bach,batch bad,bade bade,bad bail,bale bait,bate bald,bawled balks,box ball,bawl balm,bomb band,banned bans,banns bard,barred bare,bear baron,barren base,bass based,baste bask,Basque batch,bach bawl,ball bawled,bald bay,bey bazaar,bizarre beach,beech beat,beet beau,bow been,bin beer,bier beetle,betel bell,belle belle,bell benzene,benzine berry,bury berth,birth better,bettor bey,bay bier,beer bight,bite,byte billed,build bin,been bird,burred birth,berth bite,bight,byte bizarre,bazaar blew,blue bloc,block blue,blew boar,Boer,bore board,bored boatswain,bosun Boer,boar,bore bogey,bogie,bogy bold,bowled bolder,boulder bole,boll,bowl bomb,balm boos,booze booze,boos bore,boar,Boer bored,board born,borne,bourn,bourne bosun,boatswain bough,bow boulder,bolder bow,beau bow,bough bowl,bole,boll bowled,bold box,balks boy,buoy brae,bray braid,brayed braise,brays,braze brake,break bray,brae brayed,braid brays,braise,braze breach,breech bread,bred break,brake bream,brim bred,bread breech,breach brewed,brood brews,bruise bridal,bridle brim,bream broach,brooch brood,brewed brows,browse bruise,brews brute,bruit buckle,buccal build,billed buoy,boy bur,burr burgh,borough,burro,burrow burley,burly burr,bur burred,bird bury,berry bus,buss bussed,bust but,butt buy,by,bye byte,bight,bite c's,seas,sees,seize c,sea,see cache,cash Cain,cane calendar,calender calk,caulk call,caul can't,cant canape,canopy cane,Cain cannon,canon canopy,canape canter,cantor capitol,capital carat,caret,carrot,karat cash,cache cask,casque caste,cast caster,castor caught,cot caul,call caulk,calk cause,caws cawed,cod cay,key,quay cedar,seeder cede,seed ceil,seal ceiling,sealing cell,sell cellar,seller censer,censor,sensor cent,scent,sent cents,scents,sense cereal,serial cession,session champagne,champaign chance,chants chanty,shanty chased,chaste cheap,cheep check,cheque,Czech chews,choose chic,sheikh Chile,chili,chilly choir,quire choler,collar choose,chews choral,coral chord,cord chute,shoot cite,sight,site clack,claque claws,clause click,clique climb,clime close,clothes coal,cole coaled,cold coarse,course coat,cote coax,cokes cocks,Cox coco,cocoa cod,cawed coffer,cougher coin,quoin cokes,coax cold,coaled cole,coal collar,choler colonel,kernel color,culler complement,compliment complimentary, ~complementary con,khan conch,conk confidence,confidents conformation, ~confirmation conk,conch coo,coup coolie,coolly coop,coupe coral,choral cord,chord core,corps corps,core correspondence, ~correspondents cot,caught cote,coat cougher,coffer council,counsel councilor,counselor counsel,council course,coarse cousin,cozen coward,cowered cozen,cousin crape,crepe crawl,kraal creak,creek crepe,crape crewel,cruel crews,cruise,cruse cruise,crews,cruse crumby,crummy cue,q,queue cues,q's,queues culler,color currant,current cygnet,signet cymbal,symbol dam,damn Dane,deign days,daze dear,deer dense,dents descent,dissent deuce,douce dew,do,due die,dye dine,dyne dire,dyer discreet,discrete dissidents,dissidence do,doe,dough doc,dock dock,doc does,doughs,doze done,dun douce,deuce doughs,does,doze doze,does,doughs draft,draught dual,duel ducked,duct dun,done dye,die e's,ease earn,urn ease,e's eave,eve effect,affect eight,ate elicit,illicit elide,allied ell,l elude,allude enumerable,innumerable ere,air,err,heir errs,airs,heirs ewe,u,yew,you ewes,u's,use,yews eye,ay,aye,I,i eyed,I'd eyelet,islet eyes,ayes facts,fax faery,fairy,ferry faint,feint fair,fare faker,fakir fakir,faker fane,fain,feign faro,Pharaoh fate,fete faun,fawn fawned,fond Fay's,faze,phase fay,fey faze,Fay's,phase feat,feet fellow,felloe felt,veldt fennel,phenyl ferrule,ferule fey,fay fiance,fiancee file,faille,phial filet,fillet fill,Phil filter,philtre fin,Finn find,fined Homophones finish,Finnish fir,fur fisher,fissure fizz,phiz flair,flare flee,flea flew,flu,flue flier,flyer flocks,phlox floe,flow flour,flower foaled,fold fond,fawned for,fore,four foreword,forward fort,forte forte,fort forth,fourth forward,forewordfoul,fowl fouler,fowler fourth,forth fowler,fouler franc,frank frays,phrase freeze,frees,frieze friar,fryer fungous,fungus fur,fir fuse,fuze Gael,Gail,gale gaff,gaffe gage,gauge gait,gate gale,Gael,Gail gall,Gaul gamble,gambol gambol,gamble gamin,gammon gaze,Gay's,gays gel,jell genes,Jean's,jeans gibe,jibe gild,guild gilt,guilt gneiss,nice gnu,knew,new gored,gourd gorilla,guerilla grade,grayed graft,graphed graphed,graft grate,great graze,grays grease,Greece greaves,grieves grill,grille grip,grippe grisly,grizzly groan,grown guessed,guest guide,guyed guild,gild guilt,gilt guise,guys hail,hale hair,hare hairy,harry hall,haul halve,have handsome,hansom hangar,hanger hare,hair harry,hairy hart,heart hawk,hock hay's,haze hay,hey haze,hay's he'll,heal,heel hear,here heard,herd heed,he'd heir,air,ere,err heirs,airs,errs heroin,heroine hertz,hurts hew,hue,Hugh hey,hay hi,hie,high hide,hied,Hyde higher,hire him,hymn ho,hoe hoard,horde hoarse,horse hock,hawk hoes,hose hole,whole holey,holy,wholly hoop,whoop hostel,hostile hour,our house,hows humorous,humerus hurts,hertz I'd,eyed I'll,aisle,isle I,i,ay,aye,eye idol,idle,idyll illicit,elicit illusion,allusion immanent,imminent impassible,impassable in,inn indict,indite inflection,inflexion innumerable,enumerable installation,instillation isle,aisle,I'll islet,eyelet it's,its j,jay jam,jamb Jean's,genes,jeans jell,gel jewel,joule jibe,gibe Jim,gym jinks,jinx jury,Jewry k,Kay,quai karat,carat,caret,carrot Kay,k,quai kernel,colonel key,cay,quay khan,con knap,nap,nape knave,nave knead,kneed,need knew,gnu,new knight,night knit,nit knock,nock knot,not know,no knows,no's,nose kraal,crawl l,ell lac,lack lacks,lax lade,laid lain,lane lam,lamb lap,Lapp laps,lapse lay,lei lea,lee leach,leech lead,led leaf,lief leak,leek lean,lien leased,least lessen,lesson levee,levy liar,lyre licker,liquor lie,lye lieu,Lew,Lou limb,limn links,lynx lo,low load,lode,lowed loan,lone loch,lock locks,lox lode,load,lowed loop,loupe loos,Lew's,Lou's,lose loot,lute lose,Lew's,loos,Lou's loupe,loop lumbar,lumber lye,lie made,maid magnate,magnet mail,male main,Maine,mane Maine,main,mane maize,May's,maze mall,maul mane,main,Maine manner,manor manor,manner mantel,mantle mantle,mantel marks,Marx marry,Mary,merry marshal,martial marten,martin massed,mast me,mi mead,meed mean,mien meat,meet,mete meatier,meteor medal,meddle meddle,medal metal,mettle mews,muse might,mite mil,mill mince,mints mind,mined minor,miner mints,mince missal,missile missed,mist misses,Mrs. moan,mown moat,mote mode,mowed moo,moue mood,mooed moose,mousse morn,mourn mow,mot muscle,mussel muse,mews mussed,must mustard,mustered nape,knap,nap naval,navel nave,knave nay,nee,neigh need,knead,kneed new,gnu,knew nice,gneiss night,knight nit,knit no's,knows,nose no,know nock,knock none,nun not,knot o,oh,owe oar,o'er,or,ore odd,awed ode,owed offal,awful oleo,olio on,awn one,won oral,aural ought,aught our,hour p's,peas,pees p,pea,pee paced,paste packed,pact pail,pale pain,pane pair,pare,pear palate,palette pall,Paul,pawl parish,pearish,perish passed,past patience,patients pause,paws pawed,pod pawned,pond paws,pause pea,p,pee peace,piece peak,peek,pique peal,peel pearl,purl peat,Pete pedal,peddle peer,pier per,purr petrel,petrol pew,phew Pharaoh,faro phase,Fay's,faze phenyl,fennel phial,faille,file Phil,fill philtre,filter phiz,fizz phlox,flocks phrase,frays pi,pie pick,pic picks,pix pidgin,pigeon pilot,Pilate pistil,pistol place,plaice plain,plane plait,plate plantar,planter pleas,please pleural,plural plum,plumb pole,poll polled,poled pommel,pummel poor,pore,pour populace,populous praise,prays,preys pray,prey precisian,precision presents,presence pride,pried prier,prior prince,prints principal,principle prize,prise profit,prophet pros,prose Psalter,salter q's,cues,queues q,cue,queue quai,k,Kay quarts,quartz quay,cay,key quean,queen quire,choir quoin,coin r,are rabbet,rabbit rack,wrack raid,rayed rain,reign,rein raise,Ray's,rays,raze raiser,razer,razor Homophones rap,wrap rapped,rapt,wrapped rapper,wrapper rapping,wrapping ray,re real,reel red,read reed,read reek,wreak residence,residents rest,wrest retch,wretch review,revue rex,wrecks rheum,room rheumy,roomy rhyme,rime rigger,rigor right,rite,wright,write ring,wring ringer,wringer road,rode,rowed roam,Rome roe,row role,roll rood,rude,rued root,route rose,roes,rows rot,wrought rote,wrote rough,ruff rouse,rows rout,route rue,roux rumor,roomer rung,wrung rustle,Russell rye,wry sac,sack sachet,sashay sacks,sax sail,sale salter,Psalter sandhi,sandy sane,seine saver,savor sawed,sod sax,sacks scalar,scaler scene,seen scent,cent,sent scents,cents,sense scull,skull sea,c,see seal,ceil sealing,ceiling seam,seem seaman,semen sear,seer,sere seas,c's,sees,seize seed,cede seeder,cedar seek,Sik sell,cell seller,cellar sensor,censer,censor serf,surf serge,surge serial,cereal session,cession sew,so,sow sewer,suer sewn,sown sex,sects shanty,chanty shear,sheer sheikh,chic shoe,shoo shone,shown shoot,chute sic,sick side,sighed sigher,sire sighs,size sight,cite,site sign,sine signet,cygnet Sikh,seek sine,sign sink,sync Sioux,sue sire,sigher size,sighs slay,sleigh sleight,slight slew,slough,slue sloe,slow slough,slew,slue soar,sore soared,sword socks,sox sod,sawed sol,sole,soul sold,soled some,sum son,sun sonny,sunny soot,suit sot,sought sough,sow sown,sewn spade,spayed squalor,squaller staff,staph staid,stayed stair,stare stake,steak stalk,stock stanch,staunch staph,staff stationary,stationery steal,steel step,steppe stile,style straight,strait straighten,straiten sty,stye subtler,sutler succor,sucker sue,Sioux suer,sewer suit,soot suite,sweet sundae,Sunday sunny,sonny sword,soared symbol,cymbal t's,teas,tease,tees t,tea,tee tacked,tact tacks,tax tail,tale tapir,taper taught,taut,tot taupe,tope team,teem tear, tare tear,tier tense,tents tern,turn Thai,tie the,thee their,there theirs,there's thrash,thresh threw,through throe,throw throes,throws throne,thrown thyme,time tic,tick tide,tied tie,Thai timbre,timber time,thyme to,too,two toad,toed,towed tocsin,toxin toe,tow told,tolled ton,tun tool,tulle tooter,tutor tope,taupe tot,taut,taught tow,toe towed,toad,toed toxin,tocsin tracked,tract travail,travel tray,trey trays,treys troop,troupe trussed,trust turban,turbine turn,tern tutor,tooter u's,ewes,use,yews u,ewe,yew,you undo,undue unreal,unreel urn,earn vail,vale,veil vain,vane,vein vary,very veldt,felt venous,Venus versed,verst vial,vile,viol vice,vise victual,vittle villous,villus viscous,viscus wade,weighed wail,wale,whale wailer,whaler wain,wane,Wayne waist,waste wait,weight waive,wave waiver,waver wale,wail,whale walk,wok wane,wain,Wayne want,wont war,wore ward,warred ware,wear,weir,where wares,wears,where's warn,worn warred,ward wary,wherry waste,waist wax,whacks way,weigh,whey Wayne,wane,wain we'd,weed we'll,weal,wheal,wheel we're,weir we've,weave we,wee weak,week weal,we'll,wheal,wheel weald,wield weaner,wiener weather,wether,whether weave,we've weed,we'd weighed,wade weight,wait weir,ware,wear,where weir,we're weld,welled were,whir wet,whet wether,weather,whether whacks,wax whale,wail,wale whaler,wailer wheal,wheel,we'll,weal wheel,we'll,weal,wheal where's,wares,wears where,weir,ware,wear wherry,wary whet,wet whether,weather,wether whey,way,weigh which,witch whicker,wicker whig,wig while,wile whin,win whined,wind,wined whinny,Winnie whir,were whirl,whorl whirled,whorled,world whirred,word whish,wish whit,wit whither,wither Whittier,wittier who's,whose whoa,woe whole,hole wholly,holey,holy whoop,hoop whop,wop whorl,whirl whorled,whirled,world whose,who's why,y whys,wise,y's wicker,whicker wield,weald wiener,weaner wig,whig wild,wiled wile,while win,whin wind,whined,wined Winnie,whinny wish,whish wit,whit witch,which with,withe withe,with wither,whither wittier,Whittier woe,whoa wok,walk won,one wont,want wood,would wop,whop word,whirred wore,war world,whirled,whorled worn,warn worst,wurst wrack,rack wrap,rap wrapped,rapped,rapt wrapper,rapper wrapping,rapping wreak,reek wrecks,rex wrest,rest wretch,retch wright,right,rite,write wring,ring wringer,ringer write,right,rite,wright wrote,rote wrought,rot wrung,rung wry,rye wurst,worst y's,wise,whys y,why yawn,yon yew,ewe,u,you yews,ewes,u's,use yoke,yolk yon,yawn yore,you're,your you'll,yule you,ewe,u,yew Resources: ~ Oxford Concise Dictionary Tenth Edition Heteronyms - http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cellis/heteronym.html ~ http://www.toby-churchill.demon.co.uk/heteronyms.html ~ http://www.csar.cfs.ac.uk/staff/pickles/heteronyms.html Homographs - http://www.marlodge.supanet.com/wordlist/homogrph.html ~ http://members.tripod.com/~davespeed/homgrafs.htm Homonyms - http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html ~ http://www.write101.com/W.Tips67.htm Homophones - ftp://svr-ftp.eng.cam.ac.uk/pub/comp.speech/dictionaries/homophones-1.01.txt ~ http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/homofone.htm |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() Join the millions that use us for their forum communities. Create your own forum today. Learn More · Register Now |
|
| « Previous Topic · Articles on Writing · Next Topic » |





![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)




2:05 AM Jul 11