English spellings/Catalogs/P
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| 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]
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
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