Each of the words in the survey is given two or more possible pronunciations. They are indicated in a number of complementary ways. First, to the left, you will see a phonetic transcription of each pronunciation variant. (In this WWW version the phonetic symbols are replaced by their SAMPA equivalents.) Then there is an explanation of how the variant sounds. Then, to the right, there is a common-sense respelling. All these forms of explanation are intended to indicate the same thing. Follow whichever you find the easiest.
absorb (take into oneself, suck in) Focus on the -s-.
1a /@b"sO:b/ the word ends like sorb ab-SORB
1b /@b"zO:b/ the word ends like zorb ab-ZORB
absurd (ridiculous, unreasonable) Focus on the -s-.
2a /@b"s3:d/ the word ends like surd ab-SURD
2b /@b"z3:d/ the word ends like zurd ab-ZURD
chrysanthemum (a flower) Focus on the -san-.
3a /krI"s{nTIm@m/ the middle bit is like san kri-SAN-themum
3b /krI"z{nTIm@m/ the middle bit is like zan kri-ZAN-themum
newspaper (daily or Sunday paper) Focus on the -s-.
4a /"nju:s-/ the first part is as in nuis(ance) NYOOSS-paper
4b /"nju:z-/ the first part is as in news NYOOZ-paper
Asia (name of continent) Focus on the -s-.
5a /"eIS@/ the consonant sound is as in pressure AYSH-uh
5b /"eIZ@/ the consonant sound is as in measure AYZH-uh
luxurious (comfortable, full of luxury)
Focus on the first half of the word.
NB. Two separate questions, both about consonant sounds. Please answer both.
(i)
6a /lVk-/ the word starts like luck LUCK-xurious
6b /lVg-/ the word starts like lug LUG-xurious
(ii)
6e /-"SU@ri@s/ the next sound is like sh -SHOORious
6f /-"sjU@ri@s/ the next sound is like s, then a y-sound -SYOORious
6g /-"ZU@ri@s/ the next sound is like zh (= s in measure) -ZHOORious
6h /-"zjU@ri@s/ the next sound is like z, and then a y-sound -ZYOORious
booth (stall, telephone box) Focus on the end of the word, -th.
7a /bu:T/ the word rhymes exactly with truth BOOTH
7b /bu:D/ the word rhymes exactly with smooth BOOTH
with (in the company of, using, etc.) Focus on the end of the word.
8a /wIT/ the word rhymes exactly with pith WITH
8b /wID/ the word is like the beginning of wither (=fade) WITH
youths (young men) Focus on the end of the word.
9a /ju:Dz/ the word rhymes exactly with soothes YOOTHZ
9b /ju:Ts/ the word is like youth plus an s-sound YOOTH-SS
to associate (to combine, connect) Focus on the -oci-.
10a /@"s@UsieIt/ the consonant sound is as in (neur)osis, gross
a-SOASS-iate
10b /@"s@USieIt/ the consonant sound is as in ocean, notion
a-SOASH-iate
association (connection, society) Focus on the -oci-.
11a /@%s@Usi"eIS(@)n/ the consonant sound is as in (neur)osis, gross
a-SOASS-iation
11b /@%s@USi"eIS(@)n/ the consonant sound is as in ocean, notion
a-SOASH-iation
Polynesia (islands in the south Pacific)
Focus on the third syllable (-nes-)
12a /%pQlI"ni:zi@/ the sound is like knees poly-NEEZ-i-a
12b /%pQlI"ni:Z@/ the sound is like neezh (zh like s in vision)
poly-NEEZH-a
12c /%pQlI"ni:si@/ the sound is like niece poly-NEESS-i-a
12d /%pQlI"ni:S@/ the sound is like neesh poly-NEESH-a
perpetual (constant, eternal) Focus on the middle of the word.
13a /p@"petju@l/ the middle is like pet plus you per-PET-YOO-al
13b /p@"petSu@l/ the middle is like petch plus oo per-PETCH-OO-al
13c /p@"petS(@)l/ the middle is like petch, followed immediately by al
per-PETCH-al
situation (position, circumstances) Focus on the -tu-.
14a /%sItSu"eIS(@)n/ the word starts like sich plus oo SICH-OO-ation
14b /%sItju"eIS(@)n/ the word starts like sit plus you SIT-YOO-ation
tune (melody) Focus on the beginning of the word.
15-a /tSu:n/ the word starts the same as chew CHOON
15-b /tju:n/ the word starts with a t-sound plus you TYOON
15-c /tu:n/ the word starts like the number two TOON
during (in the time of) Focus on the first syllable.
NB: Two separate questions: one about consonant sounds, one about vowels.
Please answer both.
(i)
16-a /"dZ-/ the word begins like jury, with a j-sound JUR-ing etc.
16-b /"dj-/ the word begins with a d-sound followed by a y-sound
DYUR-ing etc.
16-c /"d-/ the word begins with a d-sound, no y-sound DOOR-ing etc.
(ii)
16-x /-O:rIN/ the word rhymes with boring JOR-ing etc.
16-y /-3:rIN/ the word rhymes with spurring JUR-ing etc.
16-z /-U@rIN/ the word rhymes with curing, but not with boring or spurring
JEUR-ing etc
gradually (bit by bit) Focus on the first half of the word.
17-a /"gr{dju@li/ it starts with grad plus a y-sound GRAD-YOO-ally
17-b /"gr{dZu@li/ it starts like graj-, then -oo- GRAJ-OO-ally
17-c /"gr{dZ@li/ it starts like graj-, then goes straight to -ally
GRAJ-ally
coupon (voucher, form, stub) Focus on the first syllable.
18-a /"kju:pQn/ the word starts like Kew KEWpon
18-b /"ku:pQn/ the word starts like coo KOOpon
questionnaire (this document!) Focus on the first syllable.
19-a /%kestS@"ne@, %keS-/ the word starts like kes(trel) KEStionnaire
19-b /%kwestS@"ne@, %kweS-/ the word starts like ques(tion) KWEStionnaire
February (name of month) Focus on the second syllable, then on the third.
NB: Two separate questions: one about consonant sounds, one about vowels. Please
answer both.
(i)
20-a /"febju-/ the beginning sounds like febbew- FEBBEW-ary
20-b /"febru-/ the beginning sounds like febbroo- FEBBROO-ary
(ii)
20-x /-eri/ the end part rhymes with berry febru-ERRY
20-y /-@ri/ the sound of the vowel -a- is obscured febru-URRY
20-z /-ri/ the sound of the vowel -a- disappears entirely
febru-RY
nuclear (relating to a nucleus, to splitting the atom)
Focus on the second and third syllables.
21-a /"nju:kjUl@/ the word ends like the end of circular NUCU-lar
21-b /"nju:kli@/ the word ends like the end of likelier NUCLI-er
palm (flat part of the hand; kind of tree)
Focus on the middle of the word.
22-a /pA:m/ the word contains no l-sound; may rhyme with harm
PAHM
22-b /pA:lm/ includes an l-sound; the vowel is as in part PAHLM
22-c /pQlm/ includes an l-sound; the vowel is as in pot POLLM
22-d /p{lm, pelm/ includes an l-sound; the vowel is an in pat or pet
PAL-M, PEL-M
forehead (brow) Focus on the whole word.
23-a /"fQrId, -@d/ the word rhymes with horrid FORRid
23-b /"fO:hed/ the word sounds like four plus head FORE-head
historic (as in the phrase this historic moment)
Focus on the start of the word.
24-a /hI"stQrIk/ the word starts with an h-sound HIstoric
24-b /I"stQrIk/ there is no h-sound 'Istoric
gibberish (nonsense) Focus on the first syllable.
25-a /"dZIb@rIS/ the g is like the j in jib JIBBerish
25-b /"gIb@rIS/ the g is as in gibbon GHIBBerish
longitude (latitude and longitude) Focus on the -ongi-.
26-a /"lQn(d)ZItju:d/ the consonant sounds are as in plunger LONJ-itude
26-b /"lQNgItju:d/ the consonant sounds are as in stronger LONGG-itude
jumped (leapt, sprang) Focus on the end of the word.
27-a /dZVmt/ the word is like jum plus t JUMMT
27-b /dZVmpt/ the word is like jump plus t JUMPT
length (long-ness) Focus on the end of the word.
28-a /len(t)T/ the word rhymes exactly with tenth LENTH
28-b /leNkT/ the word is like lenk plus th LENK-TH
28-c /leNT/ the word is like leng plus th LENG-TH
puncture (flat tyre) Focus on the middle of the word.
29-a /"pVNktS@/ the word is like punk plus cher PUNK-CHer
29-b /"pVNtS@/ the word is like pung plus cher PUNG-CHer
29-c /"pVNkS@/ the word is like punk plus sher PUNK-SHer
29-d /"pVNS@/ the word is like pung plus sher PUNG-SHer
29-e /"pVntS@/ the word is like punch plus er PUNCH-er
restaurant (eating-house, café) Focus on the end of the word.
30-a /"rest@rQN/ the last part sounds like wrong restau-RONG
30-b /"rest@rQnt/ the last part rhymes exactly with want restau-RONT
30-c /"rest@rA:nt/ the last part rhymes with can't restau-RAHNT
30-d /"rest@rQ~/ the last vowel-sound is nasalized, as in French grand
restau-RAHng
30-e /"rest@r@nt/ the last vowel is obscured, as in cormorant
restau-RUHNT
schedule (list, timetable)
Focus on the beginning and middle of the word.
31-a /"skedju:l/ the word sounds like sked plus yool SKED-YOOL
31-b /"skedZu:l/ the word sounds like skedge plus ool SKEJ-OOL
31-c /"Sedju:l/ the word sounds like shed plus yool SHED-YOOL
31-d /"SedZu:l/ the word sounds like shedge plus ool SHEJ-OOL
white (colour, opposite of black) Focus on the beginning of the word.
32-a /waIt/ the word sounds exactly like (Isle of) Wight WITE
32-b /hwaIt/ no, there's an h-sound at the beginning HWITE