Okay, so how many words can you think of in the English language that are spelt exactly the same, yet are pronounced differently, and have different meanings?
Someone asked me this recently, and my sister and I could only come up with eleven. It was rather amusing when we were sitting at the dinner table and my brother pronounced a word the "wrong" way (for the context he was using it in), and my sister and I both corrected him and then looked at each other and shouted "that's a WORD!" and started giggling crazily.
We're perfectly normal people, I swear.
So, I've given you one example to get you started. Aaaand GO!
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
Bat.
Actually, not even, because it's always pronounced the same. So my example is no good.
[ March 11, 2005, 08:32 PM: Message edited by: digging_holes ]
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
read
Posted by bunbun (Member # 6814) on :
close
In Japanese there are alot of these, like hashi means chopsticks and bridge, depending on the intonation.
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Ooh. Read was on my list, but close wasn't. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
polish
affect
lead
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
lives
and live, I guess
[ March 11, 2005, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Okay, lead and live/s were on the list. Polish I'll give you, even though it has to be capitalised one way. But what's the other pronunciation of affect?
'Course, I'm one of those people who frequently think they know how to pronounce something because of only ever reading it and not hearing it. (I do know how to pronounce affectation, which was my first thought of the other meaning of affect - is it pronounced differently when it means that?)
[ March 11, 2005, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: tt&t ]
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Affect? Maybe where you're from...
Wind. Number. Intimate.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Hm, although I intially thought the pronunciation was different, now I realise that affect and affect are actually only different inside my head- how disappointing.
EDIT:
I think the distinction is slight.
To me, the affect as in "he tried to affect a English accent" has a slightly purer "a" and more stress on the FECT.
[ March 11, 2005, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
actually, I get the affect one. The first definition is, you know, affecting something. The second is describing a person's look in psychological terms, what their "affect" is, and is pronounced differently.
At least here in New England.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
aFFECT (verb): to influence
AAH-fect (noun): the facial expression or body language that displays an emotion
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Invalid. Minute is as well, but I can't tell if that was on purpose...
Oh, and these are heteronymns.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
BtL what's the other pronunciation of "Number"?
Posted by starlooker (Member # 7495) on :
Not just in New England. Also in the Midwest, Midsouth, and Texas.
Maybe not in California, though...
*random: a professor of mine threatened not to let us graduate if we couldn't tell the difference between affect and effect.*
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
When my number came up the doc gave me a shot to make my arm number.
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Yeah, I know the different meanings of affect. As far as I can tell though, we pronounce them the same here. I do anyway... let's not let that affect how we view Kiwi intelligence though. Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
Canada stands with Kiwikiwiland on this one. I pronounce them both the same.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Ooooh, right.
Hm, I would never use that. I think I'd say "more numb". *goes off to dictionary*
Dove is another one.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
I'm with Mack on that one.
resume.
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Minute was on purpose.
I had to think a bit about the other "number". too. I don't think I've ever heard numb-er used before, heh.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
How do you pronounce them? Like Ahffect and ehffect?
Heh. Good one, Beren.
[ March 11, 2005, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Bob the Lawyer ]
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
My favorite "trio" of words is:
1. desert (a dry place) 2. desert (as in "our just deserts) and 3. dessert (a confection)
1&2 are spelled the same but sound different.
2&3 are spelled different but sound the same.
How cool is that?
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Abuse
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Oh I just thought of one that I didn't already have: content.
And wow, there are some good ones coming out! Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Okay, this is a stretch but
youths (as in more than one young person: "the youths liked to hang around the 7-11 making trouble") youths (as in more that one period of being young "many politicians had wild youths")
Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
*I* want more than one youth (period of being young)! Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
Ugh. I don't.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
0. desert: abandon or run away from
[ March 11, 2005, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
As soon as I got to the doctor's office, I knew from her dour affect that the news was not good.
I try not to let his obnoxious behavior affect me in any way.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
There's always "tear".
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Resume doesn't really fall into this category, because it has to have the accent over the 'e' to take its other form. Not that I can think of any better examples that haven't been mentioned yet, but if I can't build myself up I can always tear someone else down. Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote:Resume doesn't really fall into this category, because it has to have the accent over the 'e' to take its other form.
I disagree. I prefer to write it résumé, just to show off that I know how to write it "correctly," but it is quite acceptable to write it without the accents. Accordine to m-w.com, while résumé is preferred, resumé and resume are both accepted variants as well.
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
It's amusing to note that while résumé is a french word, a résumé is not called that in french.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Speed is picking on me!
bass (Thank Ryoko for this one: "Female Bass Players unite!") digest compact present intern (I think this is right, but then again, no coffee yet.)
*Three from my friend* proceeds exploit wound
quote:youths (as in more than one young person: "the youths liked to hang around the 7-11 making trouble") youths (as in more that one period of being young "many politicians had wild youths")
Did anyone think of this?
quote:Vinny: It is possible that the two utes...
Judge: ...Ah, the two what? Uh... uh, what was that word?
Vinny: Uh... what word?
Judge: Two what?
Vinny Gambini: What?
Judge: Uh... did you say "utes"?
Vinny: Yeah, two utes.
Judge: What is a ute?
Vinny: Oh, excuse me, Your Honor... [exaggerated] two YOUTHS.
[ March 12, 2005, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: Beren One Hand ]
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Yes! Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :
Beren
Also: bow row sow
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ic gave exactly the pronunciations of affect I had in mind. Thanks! Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
Beren took mine! (bass) I was so disappointed because that's the only one I could come up with.
But lo and behold, miracle of miracles, I think of another without even trying a mere two minutes later: address. Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
Attribute, present, console, moderate, combine, convert, object, produce, sewer, record
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