Phonetic Spelling Guide
Although the pronunciation of many names is obvious, some require special attention. Please use the key below to advise how your name should be pronounced.
Indicate either the phonetic spelling of your name OR a familiar word that rhymes with your name.
- Syllables are separated by dashes
- Stressed syllables are capitalized
For example:
- Raul Gonzalez:
- rah-OOL gon-SAH-les
- Ngoc Nguyen:
- nahk nuhWEN or sounds like “knock” “WIN”
- Sophia Lamagna:
- so-FEE-uh sounds like “lasagna”
Phonetic Spelling Key
Consonants
| Respelling symbol(s) | Example |
|---|---|
| b | but, web |
| ch | church, nature |
| d | do, odd |
| dh | this, breathe, father |
| f | fool, enough, leaf |
| g | go, beg |
| h | ham, ahead |
| j | gin, joy, edge |
| k | cat, kiss, queen, skin, thick |
| kh | loch |
| l | left, bell |
| m | man, ham |
| n | no, tin |
| ng | ring, singer, sink |
| ng-g | finger |
| p | pen, spin, tip |
| py | pupil |
| r | run, very |
| s or ss | see, city, pass |
| sh | she, sure, emotion, leash |
| t | two, sting, bet |
| th | thing, teeth |
| v | voice, have |
| w | we |
| wh | what |
| y | yes |
| z | zoo, rose |
| zh | pleasure, vision, beige |
Vowels
| Respelling symbol(s) | Example |
|---|---|
| a | trap, cat |
| ah or aa | palm, pot |
| air | square |
| ar | start |
| arr | marry |
| aw | tought, saw |
| ay, ai | face, ape |
| er | letter, Peter |
| e, eh | dress, met |
| ee | fleece, tree |
| eer | near |
| err | merry |
| ew | ewe, dew |
| eye | item |
| i or ih (Use ih at end of syllable, esp. if I yields a real word, e.g. "hi", "ski") |
kit, bit |
| irr | mirror |
| o | lot |
| oh or oe | goat, toe, go |
| oo | food, boot, shoe |
| oor | cure, Europe |
| ohr | force, wore |
| or or awr | north, war |
| orr | orange |
| ou | out |
| ow | mouth |
| oy | choice, toy |
| u | strut |
| uu | foot, put |
| uh | mother, comma |
| ur | nurse |
| urr | hurry |
| ye | price |
Other
| Respelling symbol(s) | Example |
|---|---|
| UR | further |
| AIR | hair, bare |
| EER | beer, hear |
| OOR | poor |
| OR | door, for |
| AR | car |
| IKE | bike |
| INE | line |
| ITE | light, bite |
| ICE | dice |
| AL | pal |
| ALL | ball |
| AIL | pail |
| ULL | hull |
| OOL | tool |
| OAL | coal |
| EEL or EAL | deal |
| ILL | pill |
| ILE | style, pile |