Phonetic Spelling Guide
Although the pronunciation of many names is obvious, some require special attention. If your name is one that is pronounced in a special way, please use the key below to advise us 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 |
Others
| 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 |
Vowels
| Respelling Symbol(s) | Example |
|---|---|
| a | trap, cat |
| ah or aa | palm, pot |
| air | square |
| ar | start |
| arr | marry |
| aw | thought, 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, especially 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 or Europe |
| ohr | force or wore |
| or or awr | north or war |
| orr | orange |
| ou | out |
| ow | mouth |
| oy | choice, toy |
| u | strut |
| uu | foot, put |
| uh | mother, comma |
| ur | nurse |
| urr | hurry |
| ye | price |