ShortPronunciation, vowel sounds & meaning
Word Meanings & Pronunciation
Say it right, hear every vowel, and know what it means
Dictionaries give you a definition and a string of IPA symbols. Each page here goes further: it lets you hear the word, breaks it into syllables, and explains which letters make each vowel sound, linked to the phonics lesson behind it.
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Treacle/ˈtriːkəl/ · nounTreacle is a thick, sticky, dark syrup made during sugar refining. It is mainly a British English word; the closest American equivalent is molasses.Meaning & pronunciation →Detain/dɪˈteɪn/ · verbTo detain someone means to keep them from leaving, either by delaying them briefly or by holding them in official custody. Detained is the past tense and past participle.Meaning & pronunciation →Perfidy/ˈpɜrfɪdi/ · nounPerfidy is deliberate betrayal of trust: the act or quality of being faithless and treacherous toward someone who relied on you.Meaning & pronunciation →Erudite/ˈɛrjəˌdaɪt/ · adjectiveErudite describes a person, or a piece of writing, that shows deep knowledge gained from extensive reading and study. It means scholarly and well-read.Meaning & pronunciation →Thesis/ˈθiːsɪs/ · nounA thesis is either a long piece of academic writing based on original research, usually for a university degree, or the main claim an essay or argument sets out to prove. The plural is theses.Meaning & pronunciation →Anarchy/ˈænərki/ · nounAnarchy is a state of disorder in which there is no effective government or authority. It can also name the political idea that a society should have no ruling government.Meaning & pronunciation →Larceny/ˈlɑrsəni/ · nounLarceny is the legal term for theft: the unlawful taking of another person's property with the intent to keep it permanently.Meaning & pronunciation →Rage bait/ˈreɪdʒˌbeɪt/ · nounRage bait is online content deliberately made to provoke anger or outrage, so that people react, comment, and share it, which increases engagement and traffic.Meaning & pronunciation →Sublime/səˈblaɪm/ · adjectiveSublime describes something of such outstanding excellence, beauty, or grandeur that it inspires awe.Meaning & pronunciation →Audacity/ɔˈdæsəti/ · nounAudacity is a willingness to take bold risks, or a shocking, disrespectful boldness. Context decides whether it is admiration or criticism.Meaning & pronunciation →Nonchalant/ˌnɑnʃəˈlɑnt/ · adjectiveNonchalant describes a person who is calm and casual, seeming not to be worried, interested, or excited about something.Meaning & pronunciation →Limerence/ˈlɪmərəns/ · nounLimerence is an involuntary state of intense romantic infatuation, marked by obsessive thoughts about another person and a strong longing for them to return the feeling.Meaning & pronunciation →FOMO/ˈfoʊmoʊ/ · noun (informal)FOMO stands for fear of missing out: anxiety that other people are having rewarding experiences that you are not part of, often triggered by social media.Meaning & pronunciation →Larper/ˈlɑrpər/ · noun (informal)A larper is someone who takes part in LARP, or live action role-playing, acting out a character. Online, larper and larping are also slang for pretending to be something you are not.Meaning & pronunciation →Faux pas/foʊ ˈpɑː/ · nounA French phrase for a social blunder: an embarrassing mistake in manners or behavior.Meaning & pronunciation →
How to use these pages
Reading a pronunciation breakdown
1Hear the wordTap the speaker and listen before you read the symbols.
2Find the stressThe highlighted syllable is the one you say loudest and longest.
3Check each vowelEvery card shows the letters, the sound, and the pattern behind it.
Spelling patterns are the key. Once you recognise a vowel team, a silent e, or an r-controlled vowel, new words stop being surprises.