Commonly misheard word lists

Eggcorns people say · part 120 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
For all intents and purposes	fur awl ihn-TEHNTS uhnd PUR-puh-sihz	Often comes out as “For all intensive purposes”. In every practical sense; effectively.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world	ihts uh daw-geet-DAWG wurld	Often comes out as “It’s a doggy-dog world”. A situation marked by ruthless competition.
Scapegoat	SKAYP-goht	Often comes out as “Escape goat”. A person or group unfairly blamed for others’ problems.
Nip it in the bud	nihp iht ihn thuh buhd	Often comes out as “Nip it in the butt”. Stop a problem before it develops further.
A moot point	uh moot poynt	Often comes out as “A mute point”. A debatable or practically irrelevant issue.
Take it for granted	tayk iht fur GRA-nihd	Often comes out as “Take it for granite”. Assume something is true or fail to appreciate it.
Pass muster	pas MUHS-tur	Often comes out as “Pass mustard”. Meet an expected standard or requirement.
One and the same	wuhn uhnd thuh saym	Often comes out as “One in the same”. Exactly the same person or thing.
Toe the line	toh thuh leyen	Often comes out as “Tow the line”. Conform to a rule, standard, or authority.
Whet your appetite	weht yoor A-puh-teyet	Often comes out as “Wet your appetite”. Increase someone’s interest or desire for something.
Pique my interest	peek meye IHNT-ruhst	Often comes out as “Peak my interest”. Arouse or stimulate my curiosity.
With bated breath	wihth BAY-tihd brehth	Often comes out as “With baited breath”. While waiting in suspense or anticipation.
Give someone free rein	gihv SUHM-wuhn free rayn	Often comes out as “Give someone free reign”. Allow someone broad freedom to act.
Deep-seated belief	deep-SEE-tihd bih-LEEF	Often comes out as “Deep-seeded belief”. A belief that is firmly established.
A shoo-in	uh SHOO-ihn	Often comes out as “A shoe-in”. A person or thing almost certain to succeed.
At someone’s beck and call	at SUHM-wuhnz behk uhnd kawl	Often comes out as “At someone’s beckon call”. Always ready to obey or provide service.
An old wives’ tale	uhn ohld weyevz tayl	Often comes out as “An old wise tale”. A traditional belief that is often unscientific or false.
Case in point	kays ihn poynt	Often comes out as “Case and point”. A clear example supporting the statement being made.
Statute of limitations	STA-choot uhv lih-mih-TAY-shuhnz	Often comes out as “Statue of limitations”. The legal deadline for bringing a claim or charge.
Alzheimer’s disease	AHLTS-heye-murz dih-ZEEZ	Often comes out as “Old-timer’s disease”. A progressive brain disorder that damages memory and thinking.

Eggcorns people say · part 220 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
All of a sudden	awl uhv uh SUH-duhn	Often comes out as “All the sudden”. Suddenly and unexpectedly.
Could have / could’ve	kuud hav	Often comes out as “Could of”. Indicates a past possibility or unrealized option.
Should have / should’ve	shuud hav	Often comes out as “Should of”. Indicates a past duty, expectation, or better choice.
Would have / would’ve	wuud hav	Often comes out as “Would of”. Introduces a conditional or imagined past result.
Supposed to	suh-POHZD tih	Often comes out as “Suppose to”. Expected, required, or intended to do something.
Used to	YOOST tuh	Often comes out as “Use to”. Describes a past habit or state that no longer applies.
Per se	pur SAY	Often comes out as “Per say”. By or in itself; intrinsically.
Voilà!	vwah-LAH	Often comes out as “Walla!”. An expression used when presenting or revealing something.
Bona fide	boh-nuh FEYE-dee	Often comes out as “Bonified”. Genuine, authentic, or made in good faith.
Prima donna	pree-muh DAH-nuh	Often comes out as “Pre-Madonna”. A temperamental or self-important person.
Espresso	ehsp-REH-soh	Often comes out as “Expresso”. Strong coffee brewed by forcing hot water through fine grounds.
Et cetera	eht SEH-tur-uh	Often comes out as “Ex cetera”. And the other similar things; and so forth.
Coleslaw	KOHLS-lah	Often comes out as “Cold slaw”. A salad made mainly from finely shredded raw cabbage.
Acorn	AY-korn	Often comes out as “Egg corn”. The nut produced by an oak tree.
Wheelbarrow	WEEL-bair-oh	Often comes out as “Wheel barrel”. A small one-wheeled cart pushed by hand.
Chest of drawers	chehst uhv drorz	Often comes out as “Chester drawers”. A piece of furniture containing stacked drawers.
Eavesdrop	EEVZD-rahp	Often comes out as “Ease-drop / ear-drop”. Secretly listen to a private conversation.
A damp squib	uh damp skwihb	Often comes out as “A damp squid”. An event or result that is disappointingly unimpressive.
A hair’s breadth	uh hairz brehdth	Often comes out as “A hair’s breath”. An extremely small distance or margin.
Sleight of hand	sleyet uhv hand	Often comes out as “Slight of hand”. Skillful hand movements used to deceive or perform tricks.

Eggcorns people say · part 320 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
Tongue in cheek	tuhng ihn cheek	Often comes out as “Tongue and cheek”. Expressed ironically or not meant to be taken seriously.
In one fell swoop	ihn wuhn fehl swoop	Often comes out as “In one foul swoop”. All at once through a single action.
Get your just deserts	geht yoor juhst dih-ZURTS	Often comes out as “Get your just desserts”. Receive the reward or punishment one deserves.
Vocal cords	VOH-kuhl kordz	Often comes out as “Vocal chords”. Two folds in the larynx that vibrate to produce the voice.
Pore over a document	por OH-vur uh DAHK-yuh-mehnt	Often comes out as “Pour over a document”. Study or examine a document very carefully.
Bear with me	bair wihth mee	Often comes out as “Bare with me”. Please be patient with me.
Sight unseen	seyet uhn-SEEN	Often comes out as “Site unseen”. Without seeing or inspecting something beforehand.
A rite of passage	uh reyet uhv PA-sihj	Often comes out as “A right of passage”. A ceremony or experience marking a life transition.
Rein it in	rayn iht ihn	Often comes out as “Reign it in”. Restrain, control, or reduce something.
Wreak havoc	reek HA-vuhk	Often comes out as “Wreck havoc”. Cause extensive damage, disruption, or confusion.
Wring your hands	rihng yoor hanz	Often comes out as “Ring your hands”. Twist or clasp the hands, often from worry.
The worse for wear	thuh wurs fur wair	Often comes out as “The worst for wear”. In poorer condition after use or hardship.
When all is said and done	wihn awl ihz sehd uhnd duhn	Often comes out as “When all is set and done”. After everything has been considered or completed.
A new lease on life	uh noo lees awn leyef	Often comes out as “A new leash on life”. A renewed chance to live with energy or purpose.
A zero-sum game	uh ZEE-roh suhm gaym	Often comes out as “A zero-sum gain”. A situation where one side’s gain equals another’s loss.
A foregone conclusion	uh for-GAWN kuhnk-LOO-zhuhn	Often comes out as “A far-gone conclusion”. A result regarded as inevitable.
In the throes of passion	ihn thuh throhz uhv PA-shuhn	Often comes out as “In the throws of passion”. In the midst of an intense emotional experience.
In the midst of things	ihn thuh mihst uhv thihngz	Often comes out as “In the mist of things”. In the middle of an activity or situation.
Lactose-intolerant	LAK-tohs ihn-TAH-lur-uhnt	Often comes out as “Lack-toast-and-tolerant”. Unable to digest lactose comfortably.
An optical illusion	uhn AHP-tih-kuhl ih-LOO-zhuhn	Often comes out as “An optical delusion”. A visual perception that differs from physical reality.

Eggcorns people say · part 420 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
Anecdotal evidence	a-nihk-DOH-tuhl EH-vuh-duhns	Often comes out as “Antidotal evidence”. Evidence based on personal stories rather than systematic data.
An out-of-body experience	uhn owt uhv BAH-dee ihks-PEER-ee-uhns	Often comes out as “An outer-body experience”. A sensation of perceiving oneself from outside the body.
The wind-chill factor	thuh WIHND-chihl FAK-tur	Often comes out as “The windshield factor”. The perceived cold caused by wind lowering exposed-skin temperature.
The vast majority	thuh vast muh-JOR-uh-tee	Often comes out as “The fast majority”. A very large proportion of a group.
A fly in the ointment	uh fleye ihn thuh OYNT-muhnt	Often comes out as “A flaw in the ointment”. A small problem that spoils an otherwise good situation.
Cut to the chase	kuht tih thuh chays	Often comes out as “Cut to the cheese”. Get directly to the important point.
Nerve-racking	nurv RA-kihng	Often comes out as “Nerve-wrecking”. Causing great stress, tension, or anxiety.
Going to hell in a handbasket	goh-ihng tih hehl ihn uh HAND-bas-kiht	Often comes out as “Going to hell in a handbag”. Deteriorating rapidly toward disaster.
Happy as a clam	HA-pee ehz uh klam	Often comes out as “Happy as a clown”. Very happy and content.
Spread like wildfire	sprehd leyek WEYELD-feye-ur	Often comes out as “Spread like wildflowers”. Spread extremely quickly.
Rabble-rouser	RA-buhl row-zur	Often comes out as “Rebel-rouser”. A person who stirs a crowd toward anger or action.
Wrought iron	rawt eye-urn	Often comes out as “Rot iron / rod iron”. Iron shaped by working or hammering, often decoratively.
Self-deprecating humor	sehlf DEHP-ruh-kay-tihng HYOO-mur	Often comes out as “Self-depreciating humor”. Humor that modestly criticizes or makes fun of oneself.
En route	ahn ROOT	Often comes out as “On route”. On the way to a destination.
In lieu of	ihn loo uhv	Often comes out as “In lew of”. Instead of; in place of.
Due diligence	doo DIH-lih-juhns	Often comes out as “Do diligence”. Reasonable investigation performed before a decision or transaction.
Make do	mayk doo	Often comes out as “Make due”. Manage with the limited resources available.
Reap the benefits	reep thuh BEH-nuh-fihts	Often comes out as “Reek the benefits”. Receive favorable results from an action or investment.
Reap what you sow	reep wuht yoo soh	Often comes out as “Reap what you sew”. Experience the consequences of your own actions.
Put the pedal to the metal	puut thuh PEH-duhl tih thuh MEH-tuhl	Often comes out as “Put the pedal to the medal”. Accelerate or proceed at maximum effort.

Eggcorns people say · part 520 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
The Medal of Honor	thuh MEH-duhl uhv AH-nur	Often comes out as “The Metal of Honor”. The highest United States military decoration for valor.
Test your mettle	tehst yoor MEH-tuhl	Often comes out as “Test your metal”. Test your courage, character, or resilience.
Without further ado	wih-THOWT FUR-thur uh-DOO	Often comes out as “Without further adieu”. Without any more delay or ceremony.
Chalk it up to experience	chawk iht uhp tih ihks-PEER-ee-uhns	Often comes out as “Chock it up to experience”. Treat an event as a lesson learned.
A tough row to hoe	uh tuhf roh tih hoh	Often comes out as “A tough road to hoe”. A difficult task or situation to handle.
Above or beyond reproach	uh-BUHV ur bih-awnd reep-ROHCH	Often comes out as “Above or beyond approach”. So proper that no criticism is deserved.
A figment of your imagination	uh FIHG-mihnt uhv yoor ih-ma-juh-NAY-shuhn	Often comes out as “A pigment of your imagination”. Something imagined rather than real.
Curled into the fetal position	kurld IHN-too thuh FEE-tuhl puh-ZIH-shuhn	Often comes out as “Curled into the feeble position”. Curled tightly with the limbs drawn toward the torso.
Go at it hammer and tongs	goh at iht HA-mur uhnd tawngz	Often comes out as “Go at it hammer and thongs”. Act or argue with great energy and force.
A shot over the bow	uh shaht OH-vur thuh boh	Often comes out as “A shot over the bough”. A warning intended to discourage future action.
Opposable thumb	uh-POH-zuh-buhl thuhm	Often comes out as “A posable thumb”. A thumb able to touch the other fingers for gripping.
An ad hominem attack	uhn ad HAH-mih-nehm uh-TAK	Often comes out as “An ad homonym attack”. An attack on a person instead of their argument.
Ad nauseam	ad NAW-zee-uhm	Often comes out as “At nauseam”. To a tiresome or excessive degree.
Ad infinitum	ad ihn-FIH-nih-tuhm	Often comes out as “At infinitum”. Without end or limit.
First of all	furst uhv awl	Often comes out as “Firstable”. Before anything else; as the first point.
Dust it off	duhst iht awf	Often comes out as “Dusk it off”. Remove dust or prepare something for renewed use.
Single someone out	SIHNG-guhl SUHM-wuhn owt	Often comes out as “Signal someone out”. Select one person for special attention.
Saddled with debt	SA-duhld wihth deht	Often comes out as “Straddled with debt”. Burdened with debt or financial obligation.
The death knell	thuh dehth nehl	Often comes out as “The final death nail”. A sign that something is ending or doomed.
Front and center	fruhnt uhnd SEH-nur	Often comes out as “Front in center”. In the most prominent or important position.

High risk substitutions20 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
can	KUHN	Often comes out as “can’t”. Be able to or be permitted to.
did	DIHD	Often comes out as “didn’t”. Past tense of ‘do.’
does	DIHZ	Often comes out as “doesn’t”. Third-person singular present form of ‘do.’
is	IHZ	Often comes out as “isn’t”. Third-person singular present form of ‘be.’
was	WAHZ	Often comes out as “wasn’t”. First- or third-person singular past form of ‘be.’
should	SHUUD	Often comes out as “shouldn’t”. Expresses duty, expectation, or probability.
would	WUUD	Often comes out as “wouldn’t”. Expresses a conditional result, preference, or future in the past.
could	KUUD	Often comes out as “couldn’t”. Expresses past ability, possibility, or a polite request.
now	NOW	Often comes out as “not”. At the present time or immediately.
no	NOH	Often comes out as “know”. A negative answer or expression of refusal.
fifteen	fihf-TEEN	Often comes out as “fifty”. The cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one.
fourteen	for-TEEN	Often comes out as “forty”. The cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one.
thirteen	thur-TEEN	Often comes out as “thirty”. The cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one.
sixteen	sihks-TEEN	Often comes out as “sixty”. The cardinal number that is the sum of fifteen and one.
seventeen	seh-vuhn-TEEN	Often comes out as “seventy”. The cardinal number that is the sum of sixteen and one.
eighteen	ay-TEEN	Often comes out as “eighty”. The cardinal number that is the sum of seventeen and one.
nineteen	neyen-TEEN	Often comes out as “ninety”. The cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one.
A-six	ay sihks	Often comes out as “A6 / AI”. The letter A followed by the number six.
email	ee-MAYL	Often comes out as “female”. A message sent electronically over a computer network.
recognition	reh-kihg-NIH-shuhn	Often comes out as “reckon ignition”. Identification of someone or something previously encountered.

Homophones · part 122 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
their	THAIR	Often comes out as “there / they’re”. Belonging to or associated with them.
your	YOOR	Often comes out as “you’re”. Belonging to or associated with the person addressed.
its	IHTS	Often comes out as “it’s”. Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned.
to	TIH	Often comes out as “too / two”. Expresses direction, destination, relationship, or an infinitive.
than	THUHN	Often comes out as “then”. Introduces the second part of a comparison.
affect	uh-FEHKT	Often comes out as “effect”. Influence or produce a change in something.
accept	uhk-SEHPT	Often comes out as “except”. Receive willingly or agree that something is valid.
advice	uhd-VEYES	Often comes out as “advise”. A proposal for an appropriate course of action.
aloud	uh-LOWD	Often comes out as “allowed”. Using the voice; not silently.
altar	AWL-tur	Often comes out as “alter”. A table or raised structure used in religious worship.
ascent	uh-SEHNT	Often comes out as “assent”. An upward movement or climb.
brake	BRAYK	Often comes out as “break”. A restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle.
buy	BEYE	Often comes out as “by / bye”. Purchase something in exchange for money.
capital	KA-pih-tuhl	Often comes out as “capitol”. A seat of government or assets used to create wealth.
cereal	SEER-ee-uhl	Often comes out as “serial”. A food made from grain, often eaten at breakfast.
coarse	KORS	Often comes out as “course”. Rough in texture or made of relatively large particles.
complement	KAHMP-luh-muhnt	Often comes out as “compliment”. A thing that completes, balances, or improves another thing.
council	KOWN-suhl	Often comes out as “counsel”. A group that meets to govern, advise, or make decisions.
discreet	dihsk-REET	Often comes out as “discrete”. Careful, private, and unlikely to attract attention.
dual	doo-uhl	Often comes out as “duel”. Consisting of two parts or aspects.
elicit	ih-LIH-siht	Often comes out as “illicit”. Draw out a response, fact, or reaction.
ensure	ihn-SHOOR	Often comes out as “insure”. Make certain that something happens.

Homophones · part 222 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
flair	FLAIR	Often comes out as “flare”. A natural talent.
flour	FLOW-UR	Often comes out as “flower”. Fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain.
forth	FORTH	Often comes out as “fourth”. Forward, onward, or out from a starting point.
grate	GRAYT	Often comes out as “great”. Shred by rubbing against a rough surface; also a metal framework.
hear	HEER	Often comes out as “here”. Perceive (sound) via the auditory sense.
hole	HOHL	Often comes out as “whole”. An opening into or through something.
idle	EYE-duhl	Often comes out as “idol”. Not active, working, or in use.
knew	NOO	Often comes out as “new”. Be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.
knight	NEYET	Often comes out as “night”. Originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit.
mail	MAYL	Often comes out as “male”. Letters and packages sent through a delivery system.
main	MAYN	Often comes out as “mane”. Most important, largest, or central.
meat	MEET	Often comes out as “meet”. The flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food.
morning	MOR-nihng	Often comes out as “mourning”. The time period between dawn and noon.
none	NUHN	Often comes out as “nun”. Not any; no person or thing.
one	WUHN	Often comes out as “won”. The smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number.
pair	PAIR	Often comes out as “pear / pare”. A set of two similar things considered as a unit.
peace	PEES	Often comes out as “piece”. The state prevailing during the absence of war.
plain	PLAYN	Often comes out as “plane”. Extensive tract of level open land.
principal	PRIHN-suh-puhl	Often comes out as “principle”. Main or most important; also the head of a school.
profit	PRAH-fiht	Often comes out as “prophet”. The excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses).
rain	RAYN	Often comes out as “reign / rein”. Water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere.
raise	RAYZ	Often comes out as “rays / raze”. Lift, increase, or bring to a higher position.

Homophones · part 322 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
read	REHD	Often comes out as “reed”. Look at and understand written or printed words.
read (past tense)	REHD	Often comes out as “red”. Looked at and understood written or printed words.
right	REYET	Often comes out as “write / rite / wright”. Correct, morally proper, or legally entitled.
road	ROHD	Often comes out as “rode / rowed”. An open way (generally public) for travel or transportation.
role	ROHL	Often comes out as “roll”. The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group.
sale	SAYL	Often comes out as “sail”. A particular instance of selling.
scene	SEEN	Often comes out as “seen”. The place where some action occurs.
sea	SEE	Often comes out as “see”. A division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land.
seam	SEEM	Often comes out as “seem”. Joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces.
sole	SOHL	Often comes out as “soul”. The underside of footwear or a golf club.
some	SUHM	Often comes out as “sum”. An unspecified amount, number, or portion.
stationary	STAY-shuh-nair-ee	Often comes out as “stationery”. Not moving; remaining in one place.
steal	STEEL	Often comes out as “steel”. Take something without permission or legal right.
suite	SWEET	Often comes out as “sweet”. A connected set of rooms or a coordinated group of things.
tail	TAYL	Often comes out as “tale”. The posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body.
team	TEEM	Often comes out as “teem”. A cooperative unit (especially in sports).
threw	THROO	Often comes out as “through”. Past tense of ‘throw’; sent something through the air.
throne	THROHN	Often comes out as “thrown”. The chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.
vain	VAYN	Often comes out as “vein / vane”. Characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
waist	WAYST	Often comes out as “waste”. The narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips.
wait	WAYT	Often comes out as “weight”. Time during which some action is awaited.
waive	WAYV	Often comes out as “wave”. Voluntarily give up a right, claim, or requirement.

Homophones · part 422 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
weak	WEEK	Often comes out as “week”. Wanting in physical strength.
weather	WEH-thur	Often comes out as “whether”. The atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation.
which	WIHCH	Often comes out as “witch”. Asks about or identifies one or more members of a set.
wood	WUUD	Often comes out as “would”. The hard fibrous material forming a tree’s trunk and branches.
yoke	YOHK	Often comes out as “yolk”. A crosspiece used to join working animals; also a burden or bond.
berry	BAIR-ee	Often comes out as “bury”. A small, pulpy fruit that often contains several seeds.
board	BORD	Often comes out as “bored”. A flat piece of material or a group that directs an organization.
ceiling	SEE-lihng	Often comes out as “sealing”. The overhead upper surface of a covered space.
cell	SEHL	Often comes out as “sell”. Any small compartment.
cent	SEHNT	Often comes out as “scent / sent”. A fractional monetary unit of several countries.
dear	DEER	Often comes out as “deer”. Loved, valued, or expensive.
die	DEYE	Often comes out as “dye”. Cease to live.
fair	FAIR	Often comes out as “fare”. Impartial, reasonable, or acceptable.
heal	HEEL	Often comes out as “heel / he’ll”. Heal or recover.
herd	HURD	Often comes out as “heard”. A group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans.
higher	HEYE-UR	Often comes out as “hire”. At a greater level, amount, or position.
loan	LOHN	Often comes out as “lone”. The temporary provision of money (usually at interest).
made	MAYD	Often comes out as “maid”. Past tense and past participle of ‘make.’
miner	MEYE-nur	Often comes out as “minor”. Laborer who works in a mine.
missed	MIHST	Often comes out as “mist”. Fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind.
muscle	MUH-suhl	Often comes out as “mussel”. One of the contractile organs of the body.
naval	NAY-vuhl	Often comes out as “navel”. Relating to a navy or warships.

Homophones · part 522 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
pause	PAWZ	Often comes out as “paws”. A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something.
peer	PEER	Often comes out as “pier”. A person who is of equal standing with another in a group.
pray	PRAY	Often comes out as “prey”. Address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer.
root	ROOT	Often comes out as “route”. The underground part of a plant; also the origin or base of something.
soar	SOR	Often comes out as “sore”. Fly or rise high in the air.
stair	STAIR	Often comes out as “stare”. Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway.
stake	STAYK	Often comes out as “steak”. (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something.
straight	STRAYT	Often comes out as “strait”. Extending in one direction without bending or curving.
way	WAY	Often comes out as “weigh / whey”. How something is done or how it happens.
aisle	eye-uhl	Often comes out as “I’ll / isle”. A passage between rows of seats, shelves, or other objects.
band	BAND	Often comes out as “banned”. An unofficial association of people or groups.
beach	BEECH	Often comes out as “beech”. An area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake.
blew	BLOO	Often comes out as “blue”. Exhale hard.
canvas	KAN-vuhs	Often comes out as “canvass”. A heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents).
canon	KA-nuhn	Often comes out as “cannon”. A rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy.
chord	KORD	Often comes out as “cord”. A straight line connecting two points on a curve.
days	DAYZ	Often comes out as “daze”. Plural of ‘day’; periods of twenty-four hours.
dew	DOO	Often comes out as “do / due”. Water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air.
faze	FAYZ	Often comes out as “phase”. Disturb the composure of.
genes	JEENZ	Often comes out as “jeans”. (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity.
gorilla	gur-IH-luh	Often comes out as “guerrilla”. Largest anthropoid ape; terrestrial and vegetarian; of forests of central west Africa.
hangar	HA-ngur	Often comes out as “hanger”. A large structure at an airport where aircraft can be stored and maintained.

Homophones · part 622 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
leased	LEEST	Often comes out as “least”. Rented for an agreed period and payment.
medal	MEH-duhl	Often comes out as “meddle”. An award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event.
patience	PAY-shuhns	Often comes out as “patients”. Good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence.
pedal	PEH-duhl	Often comes out as “peddle”. A foot-operated lever on a machine, bicycle, or instrument.
presence	PREH-zuhns	Often comes out as “presents”. The state of being present; current existence.
rap	RAP	Often comes out as “wrap”. Strike sharply or deliver words in a rhythmic vocal style.
air	AIR	Often comes out as “heir”. A mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of.
arc	ARK	Often comes out as “ark”. A curved line or part of a circle.
bail	BAYL	Often comes out as “bale”. (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial.
ball	BAWL	Often comes out as “bawl”. Round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games.
base	BAYS	Often comes out as “bass”. Installation from which a military force initiates operations.
be	BEE	Often comes out as “bee”. Exist, occur, or have a particular state.
beet	BEET	Often comes out as “beat”. Biennial Eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop.
bloc	BLAHK	Often comes out as “block”. A group of countries in special alliance.
boar	BOR	Often comes out as “bore”. Old World wild swine having a narrow body and prominent tusks from which most domestic swine come; introduced in United States.
born	BORN	Often comes out as “borne”. Brought into life by birth.
bread	BREHD	Often comes out as “bred”. Food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked.
bridal	BREYE-duhl	Often comes out as “bridle”. Relating to a bride or wedding.
cache	ka-SHAY	Often comes out as “cash”. A hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons).
chews	CHOOZ	Often comes out as “choose”. Bites and grinds food with the teeth.
clause	KLAWZ	Often comes out as “claws”. (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence.
colonel	KUR-nuhl	Often comes out as “kernel”. A commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general.

Homophones · part 722 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
creak	KREEK	Often comes out as “creek”. A squeaking sound.
cue	KYOO	Often comes out as “queue”. An actor's line that immediately precedes and serves as a reminder for some action or speech.
dam	DAM	Often comes out as “damn”. A barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea.
descent	dih-SEHNT	Often comes out as “dissent”. A movement downward.
earn	URN	Often comes out as “urn”. Receive money, recognition, or another result through effort.
eye	EYE	Often comes out as “I”. The organ of sight.
faint	FAYNT	Often comes out as “feint”. Lose consciousness briefly; also weak or barely perceptible.
flea	FLEE	Often comes out as “flee”. Any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap.
flew	FLOO	Often comes out as “flu / flue”. Past tense of ‘fly.’
for	FUR	Often comes out as “fore / four”. Indicates purpose, destination, duration, or benefit.
groan	GROHN	Often comes out as “grown”. An utterance expressing pain or disapproval.
hair	HAIR	Often comes out as “hare”. A covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss.
hall	HAWL	Often comes out as “haul”. An interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open.
hoarse	HORS	Often comes out as “horse”. Deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion; ; ; ; - Virgil Thomson.
in	IHN	Often comes out as “inn”. Inside, within, or during something.
jam	JAM	Often comes out as “jamb”. Preserve of crushed fruit.
knead	NEED	Often comes out as “need / kneed”. Work dough or another soft substance by pressing and folding it.
knows	NOHZ	Often comes out as “nose”. Has knowledge or awareness of something.
lain	LAYN	Often comes out as “lane”. Past participle of ‘lie,’ meaning to have rested or been situated.
links	LIHNGKS	Often comes out as “lynx”. Connections or relationships between people, things, or places.
maize	MAYZ	Often comes out as “maze”. Corn; a cereal plant and its grain.
mall	MAWL	Often comes out as “maul”. A public area set aside as a pedestrian walk.

Homophones · part 817 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
manner	MA-nur	Often comes out as “manor”. How something is done or how it happens.
marshal	MAR-shuhl	Often comes out as “martial”. Organize or assemble resources; also a high-ranking official.
moan	MOHN	Often comes out as “mown”. An utterance expressing pain or disapproval.
packed	PAKT	Often comes out as “pact”. Filled, wrapped, or arranged closely together.
pain	PAYN	Often comes out as “pane”. A symptom of some physical hurt or disorder.
passed	PAST	Often comes out as “past”. Moved beyond, went through, or successfully completed something.
real	REEL	Often comes out as “reel”. Actually existing or genuine rather than imaginary.
shear	SHEER	Often comes out as “sheer”. Cut wool, hair, or another material from a surface.
side	SEYED	Often comes out as “sighed”. A place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location.
son	SUHN	Often comes out as “sun”. A male human offspring.
tea	TEE	Often comes out as “tee”. A beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water.
vice	VEYES	Often comes out as “vise”. Moral weakness.
ware	WAIR	Often comes out as “wear / where”. Manufactured articles or goods of a specified kind.
watt	WAHT	Often comes out as “what”. A unit of power equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a resistance of 1 ohm.
we	WEE	Often comes out as “wee”. The speaker together with one or more other people.
we’ll	WIHL	Often comes out as “wheel”. Contraction of ‘we will’ or ‘we shall.’
who’s	HOOZ	Often comes out as “whose”. Contraction of ‘who is’ or ‘who has.’

Near homophones · part 120 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
abdominal	uhb-DAH-muh-nuhl	Often comes out as “abominable”. Relating to the abdomen or belly area.
access	AK-sehs	Often comes out as “excess”. The ability or right to enter, use, or obtain something.
addition	uh-DIH-shuhn	Often comes out as “edition”. The act or result of adding something.
adopt	uh-DAHPT	Often comes out as “adept”. Take up, choose, or begin using an idea, method, or plan.
allusion	uh-LOO-zhuhn	Often comes out as “illusion”. Passing reference or indirect mention.
amend	uh-MEHND	Often comes out as “emend”. Change a text, rule, or proposal to improve or correct it.
annual	AN-yoo-uhl	Often comes out as “annul”. Happening once every year.
appraise	uhp-RAYZ	Often comes out as “apprise”. Assess the quality, condition, or value of something.
audible	AH-duh-buhl	Often comes out as “edible”. Able to be heard.
averse	uh-VURS	Often comes out as “adverse”. Strongly opposed or unwilling.
bazaar	buh-ZAR	Often comes out as “bizarre”. A marketplace or sale offering many kinds of goods.
breath	BREHTH	Often comes out as “breathe”. Air taken into or expelled from the lungs.
casual	KA-zhuh-wuhl	Often comes out as “causal”. Relaxed, informal, or occurring without regular commitment.
climactic	kleye-MAK-tihk	Often comes out as “climatic”. Consisting of or causing a climax.
collision	kuh-LIH-zhuhn	Often comes out as “collusion”. An impact in which moving objects strike one another.
conscience	KAHN-shuhns	Often comes out as “conscious”. A person’s inner sense of right and wrong.
contagious	kuhn-TAY-juhs	Often comes out as “contiguous”. Able to spread from one person or organism to another.
credible	KREH-duh-buhl	Often comes out as “credulous”. Capable of being believed.
defuse	dihf-YOOZ	Often comes out as “diffuse”. Remove a fuse or make a dangerous situation less tense.
device	dih-VEYES	Often comes out as “devise”. A tool, machine, or piece of equipment made for a purpose.

Near homophones · part 219 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
emigrate	EH-muhg-rayt	Often comes out as “immigrate”. Leave one's country of residence for a new one.
eminent	EH-muh-nuhnt	Often comes out as “imminent”. Distinguished, respected, or prominent.
formally	FOR-muh-lee	Often comes out as “formerly”. In an official or conventionally proper manner.
human	YOO-muhn	Often comes out as “humane”. A person or a member of the species Homo sapiens.
ingenious	ihn-JEEN-yuhs	Often comes out as “ingenuous”. Showing inventiveness and skill.
later	LAY-tur	Often comes out as “latter”. At a time after the present or after another specified time.
lightning	LEYET-nihng	Often comes out as “lightening”. Abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light.
loath	LOHTH	Often comes out as “loathe”. Reluctant or unwilling.
lose	LOOZ	Often comes out as “loose”. Fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense.
mediation	mee-dee-AY-shuhn	Often comes out as “meditation”. A negotiation to resolve differences that is conducted by some impartial party.
moral	MOR-uhl	Often comes out as “morale”. A lesson about right conduct, especially from a story or event.
personal	PUR-sih-nuhl	Often comes out as “personnel”. Relating to a particular person or their private life.
precede	prih-SEED	Often comes out as “proceed”. Come before something in time, order, or position.
prescribe	pruhsk-REYEB	Often comes out as “proscribe”. Recommend, authorize, or lay down a treatment or course of action.
prostate	PRAHS-tayt	Often comes out as “prostrate”. A male reproductive gland located below the bladder.
quiet	kweye-uht	Often comes out as “quite”. Making little or no noise; calm.
respectfully	rihs-PEHKT-fuh-lee	Often comes out as “respectively”. In a respectful manner.
track	TRAK	Often comes out as “tract”. A line or route along which something travels or moves.
veracious	vuh-RAY-shuhs	Often comes out as “voracious”. Habitually speaking the truth.

Words that run together · part 118 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
a lot	uh lawt	Often comes out as “allot”. A large amount or large number.
a part	uh part	Often comes out as “apart”. One piece or portion of a larger whole.
all ready	awl REH-dee	Often comes out as “already”. Completely prepared.
all together	awl tuh-GEH-thur	Often comes out as “altogether”. All in one place or all at the same time.
any one	EH-nee wuhn	Often comes out as “anyone”. Any single person or thing from a group.
every day	EH-vur-ee day	Often comes out as “everyday”. On each day; daily.
in sight	ihn seyet	Often comes out as “insight”. Visible or within the range of vision.
may be	may bee	Often comes out as “maybe”. Might exist or might be true.
some day	suhm day	Often comes out as “someday”. An unspecified individual day.
some time	suhm teyem	Often comes out as “sometime”. An unspecified amount or point of time.
work out	wurk owt	Often comes out as “workout”. Exercise, solve something, or develop successfully.
set up	seht uhp	Often comes out as “setup”. Arrange, establish, or prepare something for use.
log in	lawg ihn	Often comes out as “login”. Enter credentials to access a computer system or account.
back up	bak uhp	Often comes out as “backup”. Support, duplicate data, or move backward.
check in	chehk ihn	Often comes out as “check-in”. Register an arrival or make contact with someone.
follow up	FAH-loh uhp	Often comes out as “follow-up”. Take further action after an earlier event or contact.
pick up	pihk uhp	Often comes out as “pickup”. Lift, collect, acquire, or improve.
sign up	seyen uhp	Often comes out as “signup”. Register or agree to participate.

Words that run together · part 217 words

Word	How to say it	What it means
shut down	shuht down	Often comes out as “shutdown”. Close, stop, or turn off a system or operation.
take out	tayk owt	Often comes out as “takeout”. Remove, obtain, or carry food away from a business.
break down	brayk down	Often comes out as “breakdown”. Stop functioning, divide into parts, or lose emotional control.
call back	kawl bak	Often comes out as “callback”. Return a telephone call.
clean up	kleen uhp	Often comes out as “cleanup”. Make a place or thing clean and orderly.
hand off	hand awf	Often comes out as “handoff”. Transfer responsibility, possession, or control.
look out	luuk owt	Often comes out as “lookout”. Be watchful or alert to danger.
make up	mayk uhp	Often comes out as “makeup”. Create, invent, reconcile, or apply cosmetics.
print out	prihnt owt	Often comes out as “printout”. Produce a paper copy from a computer or device.
roll out	rohl owt	Often comes out as “rollout”. Introduce or launch something gradually or publicly.
start up	start uhp	Often comes out as “startup”. Begin operating or cause something to begin.
turn over	turn OH-vur	Often comes out as “turnover”. Rotate, transfer, or surrender something.
write up	reyet uhp	Often comes out as “write-up”. Prepare a written account or report.
ice cream	eyes kreem	Often comes out as “I scream”. A sweet frozen food made from dairy or similar ingredients.
a name	uh naym	Often comes out as “an aim”. A word or phrase used to identify someone or something.
for rent	fur rehnt	Often comes out as “foreign”. Available for temporary use in exchange for payment.
address	AD-rehs	Often comes out as “a dress”. Details identifying a location or a way to contact someone.

Commonly misheard

Every word, in text