An open list of 182 words by chelster.
- swingeing was added by erinmckean and appears on 5 other lists
- affiant was added by ruzuzu and appears on 7 other lists
- dahlia was added by ruzuzu and appears on 46 other lists
- hydrangea was added by ruzuzu and appears on 17 other lists
- re was added by ruzuzu and appears on 19 other lists
- clematis was added by ruzuzu and appears on 19 other lists
- Nabokov was added by ruzuzu and appears on just this list
- casu marzu was added by Prolagus and appears on 24 other lists
- schadenfreudgeon was added by Prolagus and appears on 17 other lists
- nefarious was added by yarb and appears on 256 other lists
- mewl was added by ruzuzu and appears on 29 other lists
- manteion was added by Telofy and appears on 1 other list
- housewife was added by Telofy and appears on 8 other lists
- basil was added by Telofy and appears on 39 other lists
- Copenhagen was added by Telofy and appears on 3 other lists
- Iraq was added by Telofy and appears on 3 other lists
- Iran was added by Telofy and appears on 2 other lists
- Pakistan was added by Telofy and appears on 1 other list
- Afghanistan was added by Telofy and appears on 2 other lists
- you are awesome was added by ruzuzu and appears on just this list
- litotes was added by john and appears on 98 other lists
- you're something of a hotdog, aren't you was added by Prolagus and appears on 11 other lists
- SHAZAM! was added by Prolagus and appears on 8 other lists
- choo choo train was added by Telofy and appears on 2 other lists
- praetorian was added by Telofy and appears on 13 other lists
- bologna was added by frogapplause and appears on 7 other lists
- baloney was added by frogapplause and appears on 24 other lists
- forte was added by Telofy and appears on 54 other lists
- err was added by Telofy and appears on 42 other lists
- jalapenos was added by ruzuzu and appears on just this list
- almoner was added by Telofy and appears on 14 other lists
- buoyant was added by Telofy and appears on 59 other lists
- rondure was added by frogapplause and appears on 8 other lists
- swai was added by ruzuzu and appears on just this list
- emendation was added by Telofy and appears on 27 other lists
- guido was added by Prolagus and appears on 7 other lists
- dago was added by Prolagus and appears on 7 other lists
- apotheosize was added by Telofy and appears on 14 other lists
- apotheosis was added by Telofy and appears on 256 other lists
- algae was added by Prolagus and appears on 10 other lists
- Fourdrinier was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- nihilist was added by ruzuzu and appears on 25 other lists
- a priori was added by ruzuzu and appears on 58 other lists
- garrulity was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 7 other lists
- Hottentottenpotentatentantenattentat was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 4 other lists
- advertisement was added by ruzuzu and appears on 10 other lists
- Chile was added by ruzuzu and appears on 4 other lists
- qroqqa was added by Prolagus and appears on 3 other lists
- enfeoff was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 9 other lists
- sanguineous was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 20 other lists
- sanguine was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 417 other lists
- clout was added by Prolagus and appears on 56 other lists
- Wednesday was added by rabbitwho and appears on 6 other lists
- behemoth was added by larry_kunz and appears on 109 other lists
- pecan was added by larry_kunz and appears on 18 other lists
- peccable was added by 723234785 and appears on 15 other lists
- overwhelmed was added by Prolagus and appears on 15 other lists
- capricious was added by ruzuzu and appears on 332 other lists
- applicable was added by jwjarvis and appears on 13 other lists
- volatile was added by jwjarvis and appears on 95 other lists
- ask was added by jwjarvis and appears on 29 other lists
- strength was added by jwjarvis and appears on 34 other lists
- beslubber was added by frogapplause and appears on 2 other lists
- incommensurable was added by frogapplause and appears on 14 other lists
- morate was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- teetotally was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- skein was added by ruzuzu and appears on 71 other lists
- mauve was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 88 other lists
- with was added by Telofy and appears on 24 other lists
- planemo was added by erinmckean and appears on 3 other lists
- secateurs was added by Prolagus and appears on 10 other lists
- bathe was added by ruzuzu and appears on 16 other lists
- bath was added by ruzuzu and appears on 19 other lists
- unguent was added by ruzuzu and appears on 62 other lists
- Qatar was added by Telofy and appears on 4 other lists
- emend was added by frogapplause and appears on 30 other lists
- lagniappe was added by frogapplause and appears on 94 other lists
- irony was added by Telofy and appears on 84 other lists
- archaizer was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- delitescency was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- coyote was added by ruzuzu and appears on 32 other lists
- suasible was added by frogapplause and appears on 5 other lists
- sauvegarde was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- migniard was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- appetent was added by frogapplause and appears on 2 other lists
- goujere was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- quadrireme was added by frogapplause and appears on 3 other lists
- unctuousnesses was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- montre was added by frogapplause and appears on 2 other lists
- sipe was added by frogapplause and appears on 5 other lists
- pharisaical was added by frogapplause and appears on 12 other lists
- onychauxis was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- secle was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- flèche was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- anacolutha was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- opprobriousnesses was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- lesses was added by frogapplause and appears on 5 other lists
- seghol was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- gyro was added by ruzuzu and appears on 15 other lists
- hibernacle was added by frogapplause and appears on 7 other lists
- promotory was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- assart was added by frogapplause and appears on 5 other lists
- magnalia was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- periculous was added by frogapplause and appears on 2 other lists
- pily was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- pestilentious was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- lumbricine was added by frogapplause and appears on 6 other lists
- prenomen was added by frogapplause and appears on 2 other lists
- wergild was added by frogapplause and appears on 3 other lists
- penuriously was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- coppet was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- pogonology was added by frogapplause and appears on 5 other lists
- Stokoe was added by 671232040 and appears on just this list
- the was added by ruzuzu and appears on 81 other lists
- amanous was added by frogapplause and appears on 3 other lists
- symphily was added by frogapplause and appears on 4 other lists
- synecthry was added by frogapplause and appears on just this list
- metochy was added by frogapplause and appears on 1 other list
- anorrhorrhea was added by Prolagus and appears on 2 other lists
- tumult was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 60 other lists
- medieval was added by Telofy and appears on 37 other lists
- hemisphere was added by ruzuzu and appears on 14 other lists
- egg was added by milosrdenstvi and appears on 57 other lists
- spanakopita was added by ruzuzu and appears on 10 other lists
- thaumaturgic was added by frogapplause and appears on 19 other lists
- socius was added by frogapplause and appears on 4 other lists
- quay was added by ruzuzu and appears on 61 other lists
- gratis was added by bilby and appears on 19 other lists
- Huguenot was added by willf and appears on 1 other list
- Artemide was added by symptomatic and appears on just this list
- Moleskine was added by symptomatic and appears on just this list
- Pomegranate was added by delirium and appears on 2 other lists
- Equine was added by Inmybook and appears on just this list
- Eustachian was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- Boötes was added by ruzuzu and appears on 2 other lists
- decorative was added by ruzuzu and appears on 6 other lists
- Missouri was added by ruzuzu and appears on 4 other lists
- magnanimity was added by ruzuzu and appears on 31 other lists
- sine die was added by ruzuzu and appears on 11 other lists
- surtout was added by frogapplause and appears on 13 other lists
- resource was added by Telofy and appears on 23 other lists
- aunt was added by ruzuzu and appears on 13 other lists
- fasces was added by ruzuzu and appears on 10 other lists
- synechdochically was added by Ed_Jogg and appears on 1 other list
- router was added by Telofy and appears on 6 other lists
- suggest was added by Telofy and appears on 13 other lists
- caramelized was added by ruzuzu and appears on 5 other lists
- temporal was added by ruzuzu and appears on 60 other lists
- processes was added by Telofy and appears on 1 other list
- harass was added by ruzuzu and appears on 18 other lists
- cuneiform was added by chelster and appears on 41 other lists
- Eubulides was added by kimatcabin and appears on just this list
- hemipygian was added by pterodactyl and appears on 3 other lists
- cicisbeo was added by ruzuzu and appears on 32 other lists
- gasometer was added by ruzuzu and appears on 7 other lists
- lapis lazuli was added by pterodactyl and appears on 43 other lists
- catarrhy was added by blafferty and appears on 1 other list
- saccadic was added by blafferty and appears on 14 other lists
- oblomovism was added by blafferty and appears on 17 other lists
- cthulhu was added by jamesmcn and appears on 18 other lists
- iouea was added by surlyteabag and appears on 1 other list
- golem was added by ruzuzu and appears on 44 other lists
- hodiernal was added by blafferty and appears on 10 other lists
- tharu was added by erinmckean and appears on just this list
- Aloysius was added by raygunshaun and appears on 2 other lists
- atlatl was added by actung and appears on 21 other lists
- broccoli was added by ruzuzu and appears on 18 other lists
- Cicero was added by ruzuzu and appears on 6 other lists
- Talairach was added by gilleti and appears on just this list
- omniregency was added by agenttgirl and appears on 5 other lists
- timbre was added by mjk and appears on 74 other lists
- glomerular was added by ruzuzu and appears on 3 other lists
- xylophone was added by ruzuzu and appears on 37 other lists
- Taliesin was added by ruzuzu and appears on 2 other lists
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was added by ruzuzu and appears on just this list
- dyscalculia was added by bourbonmots and appears on 11 other lists
- nychthemeron was added by bourbonmots and appears on 31 other lists
- sherbet was added by ruzuzu and appears on 23 other lists
- rural was added by ruzuzu and appears on 32 other lists
- caught was added by ruzuzu and appears on 10 other lists
- argiope was added by blafferty and appears on 1 other list
- Cruithne was added by ruzuzu and appears on 1 other list

chelster You're most welcome! And thanks -- happy to oblige. Keep those requests coming. Jun 21, 2011
pterodactyl I want to thank Mr. Helster, and Wordnik, for providing this service. I love being able to get pronunciations on demand, and I'm amazed that we get this service for free. Thank you! I really appreciate it! Jun 21, 2011
ruzuzu Taht exmaple is teh alsome, moullsque. Jan 12, 2011
mollusque Czech out the Herzog example under hrad. Jan 12, 2011
ruzuzu Oh! Chelster added a note and a pronunciation to quay.
*is thoroughly amused* Jan 12, 2011
ruzuzu *is sad that nobody noticed attempt to stir the pot by listing quay, but consoles self by giggling about yarb's fortress.* Jan 12, 2011
yarb I suppose the reason KWAY-sy makes me so queasy is that in most English words beginning qua- (quag, quality, quadrangle, qualm, etc), the first syllable is pronounced KWAH or KWO. I can think of very few pronounced KWAY where the /a/ is not part of a different phoneme (e.g. quail, quake).
I think it's best for all if I keep my hrad /s/ to myself. Jan 12, 2011
milosrdenstvi hrad is Czech for fortress. Just saying. Jan 12, 2011
bilby Exactly, not slovenly at all, but non-standard. It's completely pointless attaching pejoratives like pretentious to pronunciations, unless the miracle of orthoepiechucking is to magically know a speaker's state of mind/intent vis-a-vis social mobility. Jan 12, 2011
chelster Just as, I suppose, that there's nothing slovenly about saying liberry or nucular if that's what one acquired from one's upbringing. After all, as Merriam-Webster informs us, U.S. presidents and college presidents have pronounced these words that way.
Pronunciations acquired during one's upbringing (mine was in hardscrabble Queens, New York City) are not de facto standard. You may not agree with it or like it, but my job, as an orthoepist, is to discriminate for those who want to be discriminating speakers. Jan 12, 2011
ruzuzu Yeah, yarb really is a hrad /s/. Jan 12, 2011
bilby That's a ridiculous throwaway. There's nothing pretentious about GRAH-tis if it's the way a person acquired the pronunciation during their upbringing.
I'm hoping yarb will demonstrate a hrad /s/ soon but I'm open minded! Jan 12, 2011
chelster Quasimodo is a long-established holdover, no doubt because it's a name and we tend not to mess with the pronunciation of names (which is good). But loanwords tend to get anglicized (which makes sense), and once they have been it is generally inadvisable to re-adopt the foreign pronunciation (for example, the pretentious GRAH-tis for gratis). Again, KWAH-zee and KWAH-see are acceptable pronunciations, but they are de-anglicizations, which is why I said they have little to recommend them.
For what it's worth, the Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation, which gives British and American pronunciations, lists KWAY-zy and KWAH-zee as British, and KWAH-zee and KWAY-zy as American. Jan 12, 2011
yarb I'm not following you, chelster. You seem to be saying:
"Quasi-" - loanword (i.e. directly) from Latin, so we use the English system of pronunciation.
"Quasimodo" - comes directly from Latin, so it's an exception.
In my experience it's simply that KWAY-sy (or -zy) is the American pronunciation, while KWAH-sy is normal in England and Australia (don't know about other Anglophone countries). Jan 11, 2011
chelster As I explain in my Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations, the proper name Quasimodo is an exception. "Because Quasimodo is formed from the first words of the Latin Introit, Quasi modo geniti infantes ("As newborn babes . . ." 1 Pet. 2:2), it is pronounced either like the classical Latin, kwah-si-MOH-doh, or--more often in American speech--like the Italian, kwah-zee-MOH-doh." Jan 11, 2011
yarb Never mind newfangled things like quasars. How about good old quasimodo? Surely he doesn't answer to KWAY-zee-modo? That would be kwazy indeed.
How about plain qua? Jan 11, 2011
chelster A postscript to my previous comment: How do you pronounce the word quasar? Most people say KWAY-zahr, or sometimes KWAY-sahr. Interesting, because the word is formed from quasi and stellar. Jan 11, 2011
chelster KWAY-zee is unattested, milosrdenstvi, so I'd avoid that variant if I were you.
Re KWAH-see and KWAH-zee: I didn't mean to imply that there was something wrong or bad about them; they're common and standard pronunciations. But I think it's fair to ask why one would pronounce a Latin loanword that has been English since the mid-17th century in classical Latin or pseudo-Latin when there are two well-established anglicized pronunciations that dictionaries have listed first and orthoepists have preferred for many years.
I think you will agree, bilby, that it would be strange if we went out of our way to give all our Latin loanwords classical pronunciations. The variants KWAY-zy and KWAY-sy follow the English system of Latin pronunciation, which has long been the standard for anglicizing loanwords. As W. H. P. Phyfe explained it in 18,000 Words Often Mispronounced (1926), "Vowels, when ending accented syllables, have always their long English sounds, as pater (PAY-tur), homo (HOH-moh)."
I choose to follow this rule with quasi- because there is a great deal of lexical authority for doing so, and because, unlike yarb, I like the sound of it. Jan 10, 2011
milosrdenstvi Funny, the pronunciation I've most often heard is "KWAY-zee". Jan 8, 2011
bilby Why does a classical Latin pronunciation for a Latin loanword 'have little to recommend it'? *curious*
I can't recall ever hearing the pronunciation as you have suggested it should be; bits of it in other combinations, yes. Around these parts KWAH-see (or KWAH-zee) fan tutti. Jan 8, 2011
yarb Please! "Quasi-" with an a as in "quake" and an i as in "sigh" not only has little to recommend it, but it makes me retch.
The first vowel should be as in "quad", and the "i" should be short. A hrad /s/ is preferred but I'm open minded. Jan 7, 2011
chelster "Hemi-" and "demi-" should be HEM-ee and DEM-ee. "Quasi" is treated differently because it's a Latin loanword. The /a/ should be long, as in "quake"; the /i/ should be long, as in "sigh"; and the /s/ may be either soft, as in "rose," or hard, as in "case." Older sources generally prefer the hard /s/; most current ones prefer the soft /s/, which is my preference. The classical Latin KWAH-see and the pseudo-Latin KWAH-zee are recognized by dictionaries but have little to recommend them. Jan 7, 2011
bilby How 'bout quasi, the president of Afghanistan? Jan 7, 2011
chelster In cultivated speech, anti-, semi-, and multi- are pronounced like long /e/ in "me," not like long /i/ ("eye"). Orthoepists have endorsed the long /e/ and denounced the long /i/ for a long time. Jan 7, 2011
Prolagus I would recommend that you focus on my pronunciation of the S in casu marzu. Something between the z in "zoo" and the French j. ;-) Sep 30, 2010
Telofy Seconded. Thanks for the guidance with those country names, but especially, thanks for manteion. Throughout seven of Gene Wolfe’s tomes I couldn’t settle on one pronunciation, which made my sub-vocalization stumble every time I hit upon it—and every time was pretty often.
Do you know how American native speakers decide whether to say /ˈæntaɪ/ or /ˈænti/ for the prefix anti- in spontaneously formed compounds? (Similarly for semi-, multi, etc.) Sep 29, 2010
ruzuzu These are fantastic--it's surprisingly difficult for me to avoid adding "Hi ruzuzu" or "bilby is a big, hairy, fat, beachcombing, dreamy, frog-mincing, grumpy-when-tired, brainstem-chewing liar." (Though I wonder whether I could get away with requesting a simple "you are awesome.")
Thank you! Sep 29, 2010