- Special words
- Words beginning with a vowel but don’t use the «an» article
These words seem to begin with a vowel, but they’re actually pronounced with a consonant sound. That’s why they use the «a» article instead of «an».
Most of these words begin with letter u and are actually spelled with the semivowel j (http://teflpedia.com/IPA_phoneme_/j/). They sound like a vowel, but they share the same phonologic paradigm of consonants.
See the full list below:
| Word | Pronunciation (IPA) |
|---|---|
|
use |
/juːs/ |
|
union |
/ˈjuːnjən/ |
|
university |
/juːnɪˈvɜːsətiː/ |
|
unit |
/ˈjuː.nɪt/ |
|
user |
/ˈjuːzə(ɹ)/ |
|
unity |
/ˈjuːnɪti/ |
|
universe |
/ˈjuːnɪˌvɜːs/ |
|
uniform |
/ˈjuːnɪfɔːm/ |
|
usage |
/ˈjuːsɪd͡ʒ/ /ˈjuːzɪd͡ʒ/ |
|
utility |
/juːˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/ |
|
urine |
/ˈjʊɹɪn/ /ˈjɝɪn/ |
|
uranium |
/jʊˈɹeɪniəm/ |
|
unison |
/ˈjunɨsən/ /ˈjunɨzən/ |
|
euphoria |
/juːˈfɔːɹi.ə/ |
|
utopia |
/juˈtəʊpɪə/ |
|
unanimity |
/juːnəˈnɪmɪti/ |
|
uterus |
/ˈjuː.təɹ.əs/ |
|
euthanasia |
/juː.θəˈneɪ.zɪ.ə/ |
|
ewe |
/juː/ |
|
ufo |
/ˈju.fo/ |
|
unicorn |
/ˈjuːnɪkɔːn/ |
|
urea |
/jʊˈɹiːə/ /ˈjʊəɹɪə/ |
|
urethra |
/jʊˈɹiːθɹə/ |
|
euphemism |
/ˈjuː.fəˌmɪ.z(ə)m/ |
|
eugenics |
/juːˈdʒɛnɪks/ |
|
usurper |
/juˈsɜɹpə(ɹ)/ |
|
usability |
/ˌjuːzəˈbɪlɪti/ |
|
eunuch |
/ˈjuː.nʌk/ |
|
uni |
/ˈjuː.niː/ |
|
eucalyptus |
/ˌjuːkəˈlɪptəs/ |
|
usury |
/ˈjuːʒəɹi/ |
|
eulogy |
/ˈjuːlədʒi/ |
|
ubiquity |
/juˈbɪkwɪti/ |
|
universalism |
/ˌjuːnəˈvɝsəlˌɪzəm/ |
|
urinal |
/juːˈɹaɪnəl/ |
|
universal |
/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl/ |
|
ewer |
/ˈjuː.ə/ /ˈjʊə/ |
|
euro |
/ˈjʊəɹəʊ/ |
|
utensil |
/juˈtɛn.səl/ |
|
ufology |
/ˌjuːˈfɑlədʒi/ /ˌjuːɛfˈɑlədʒi/ |
|
uniformitarianism |
/juːnɪfɔːmɪˈtɛːɹɪənɪzm/ |
|
upsilon |
/juːpˈsaɪ.lən/ /ˈʌp.sɪˌlɒn/ |
|
ukulele |
/juː.kə.ˈleɪ.li/ |
|
urinalysis |
/jʊəɹɪˈnælɪsɪs/ |
|
usurer |
/ˈjuːʒəɹə/ /ˈjuːzjəɹə/ |
|
ureter |
/jʊəˈɹiːtəɹ/ |
|
uridine |
/ˈjʊə.ɹɪ.din/ |
|
ute |
/juːt/ |
|
eugenist |
/juːˈdʒɛnɪst/ |
|
eutectic |
/juˈtɛk.tɪk/ |
|
eukaryote |
/juˈkæɹi.əʊt/ /juˈkæɹi.əɒt/ |
|
ufologist |
/ˌjuːˈfɑlədʒɪst/ |
|
ululation |
/juːljʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ /ʌljʊ./ |
|
usufruct |
/ˈjuːz(j)ʊfɹʌkt/ |
|
eustasy |
/ˈjuːstəsi/ |
|
unary |
/ˈjunəɹi/ |
|
uvula |
/ˈjuːv.jʊ.lə/ |
|
urus |
/ˈjʊəɹəs/ |
|
eucatastrophe |
/ˌjuːkəˈtæstɹəfi/ |
|
uraeus |
/jʊˈɹiː.əs/ |
|
ouabain |
/ˈwɑːbeɪn/ /ˈuːəbeɪn/ |
|
one |
/wʌn/ /wɐn/ |
|
using |
/ˈjuːzɪŋ/ |
|
Ucalegon |
/juːˈkælɨɡɒn/ |
|
oncer |
/ˈwʌnsə/ |
|
Usanian |
/ˌjuːˈseɪni.ən/ |
|
usufruction |
/juːz(j)ʊˈfɹʌkʃən/ |
|
Eusebius |
/juˈsibi.əs/ |
|
USAR |
/ˈju.sɑɹ/ |
|
usufructuary |
/ˌjuːz(j)ʊˈfɹʌktʃʊˌəɹi/ /.tjʊ./ |
|
Amazigh |
/ʔæ.mæːˈziːʁ/ /ʔɑ.mɑːˈziːʁ/ /ʔa.maːˈziːʁ/ |
|
usuress |
/ˌjuːʒəˈɹɛs/ /ˌjuːzjəˈɹɛs/ |
|
euouae |
/juːˈuːɪ/ |
|
ukase |
/juːˈkeɪz/ |
|
euclidianness |
/juːˈklɪdi.ən.nɛs/ |
|
uke |
/juːk/ |
|
uke |
/juːk/ |
|
Uke |
/juːk/ |
|
Ukie |
/ˈjuːki/ |
|
ureteroureterostomy |
/jʊˌriːtəroʊjʊˌriːtəˈrɒstəmi/ |
|
usurping |
/juːˈsɜː(ɹ)pɪŋ/ |
|
eustress |
/juːˈstɹɛs/ |
|
Unakas |
/juˈneɪkəs/ |
|
eudaemon |
/juˈdimən/ |
|
Ukrainian |
/juːˈkɹeɪnɪən/ |
|
unidirectionality |
/ˌjuː.ni.də.ɹek.ʃənˈɛl.ɪ.ti/ |
|
Utahn |
/ˈjuːtɑːn/ /ˈjuːtɔːn/ |
|
unite |
/juˈnaɪt/ /jʊˈnaɪt/ /ju̟ˈnaɪ̯ʔ/ /ju̟ˈnaɪ̯(ʔ)t̚/ |
|
uranism |
/ˈjʊəɹənɪzəm/ |
|
uranist |
/ˈjʊəɹənɪst/ |
|
eudemonia |
/ˌjuːdɪˈməʊnɪə/ |
|
euth |
/juθ/ |
|
Ute |
/ˈjuːt/ |
|
European bison |
/jʊɹəˌpiːən ˈbaɪsn̩/ |
|
uranophobia |
/ˈjuɹənoˌfəʊbi.ə/ |
|
euphoriant |
/juˈfɔɹi.ənt/ |
|
uvular |
/ˈjuːvjʊləɹ/ |
|
Ouija |
/ˈwiːdʒə/ /ˈwiːdʒi/ |
|
uropygium |
/jʊəɹəˈpɪd͡ʒɪəm/ |
|
eugarie |
/juːɡəɹi/ /juːɡaːɹi/ |
|
eugenesis |
/ˈju.ˌd͡ʒɛn.ə.sɪs/ |
|
UW |
/ˈjuˈdʌb/ |
|
Iatmul |
/ˈjɒtmʊl/ |
|
eutripsia |
/juːˈtɹɪpsɪə/ |
|
uey |
/ˈjuː.i/ |
|
eugeny |
/ˈjuːd͡ʒəni/ |
|
euglena |
/juːˈɡliːnə/ |
|
UFO |
/ju ɛf ˈəʊ/ |
|
unigeniture |
/ˌjuːnɪˈdʒɛnɪtjʊə/ /ˌjuːnɪˈdʒɛnɪtʃə/ |
|
univalence |
/ˌjuːnɪˈveɪləns/ /juːˈnɪvələns/ |
|
univalent |
/ˌjuːnɪˈveɪlənt/ /juːˈnɪvələnt/ |
|
utile |
/ˈjuː.taɪl/ |
|
utilitarian |
/juˌtɪl.ɪˈteɪɹ.i.ən/ |
|
ubac |
/ˈjuː.bæk/ |
|
eulachon |
/ˈjuːləkɒn/ |
|
unique |
/juːˈniːk/ |
|
Usonian |
/juːˈsoʊni.ən/ |
|
Appendix:English dictionary-only terms/zzxjoanw |
/ʃɔː/ |
|
Eurasian wigeon |
/jʊ.ɹeɪʒən.wɪd͡ʒən/ |
|
Oaxaca |
/wɑːˈhɑː.kɑː/ /wəˈhɑː.kɑː/ |
|
uniquity |
/juˈnɪkwɪti/ |
|
eureka |
/juˈɹikə/ |
|
onesie |
/ˈwʌn.zi/ |
|
Universalism |
/ˌjuːnəˈvɝsəlˌɪzəm/ |
|
uberty |
/ˈjuːbəti/ |
|
uni |
/ˈjuː.niː/ |
|
ubication |
/juːbɪˈkeɪʃən/ |
|
Utonian |
/juːˈtoʊ.ni.ən/ |
|
ubicity |
/juːˈbɪsɪti/ |
|
Euboean |
/juːˈbiːən/ |
|
Uniate |
/ˈjuː.nɪ.ət/ |
|
euro |
/ˈjʊəɹəʊ/ |
|
utopographer |
/ˌjuːtə(ʊ)ˈpɒɡɹəfə/ |
|
accidental abortion |
/spɑnˈteɪ.ni.əs əˈbɔɹ.ʃn̩/ |
|
esclop |
/slɒp/ |
|
Euro-American |
/ˈjʊɹ.oʊ.əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/ /ˈjɝ.oʊ.əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/ |
|
Eumenides |
/juˈmɛnɪdiːz/ |
|
Eucharist |
/ˈjuːkəɹɪst/ |
|
univocal |
/juːnɪˈvəʊkəl/ /juːˈnɪvək(ə)l/ |
|
US-ian |
/ˌjuːˈɛsi.ən/ |
|
Appendix:List of protologisms/Long words/Titin |
/mə.ˌθaɪ.ə.nɪl.ˌθri.ə.nɪl.ˌθri.ə.nɪl.glu.ˌtæm.ə.nɪl.ˌæl.ə.(ˌ)nɪl.ˌproʊ.lɪl.ˌθri.ə.nɪl.ˌfɛ.n(ə)l…ˌlu/ |
|
euchologion |
/juːkə(ʊ)ˈləʊdʒɪən/ |
|
euchre |
/ˈjuːkəɹ/ |
|
eunoia |
/juːˈnɔɪ.ə/ |
|
Unix |
/ˈjuːnɪks/ |
Note: these words have been obtained from Wiktionary and have been classified and improved through automated computer linguistics processes.
Comments (17)
Write a comment about this list
Page 1: orange, ER, one, AL, about, IN, identical, again, on, Ate, ay, AR, en, OR, ab, ad, ion, AN, Es, ace, ap, alliteration, ae, el, et, op, ice, else, America, at, art, AS, end, US, Ag, over, Angel, AM, assonant, os, em, up, EST, able, Africa, air, all, UN, ain, and ana
| Word | Length | Consonants | Vowels | Syllables | Origin | Favourite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Middle English | |
| ER | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| One | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Middle English | |
| AL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| About | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Middle English | |
| IN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Identical | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Again | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Middle English | |
| On | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Middle English | |
| Ate | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Ay | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Old Turkic | |
| AR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| En | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| OR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ab | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Persian | |
| Ad | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| Ion | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Ancient Greek | |
| AN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Es | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ace | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Middle English | |
| Ap | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| Alliteration | 12 | 6 | 6 | 5 | Latin | |
| Ae | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Middle English | |
| El | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| Et | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Proto Indo European | |
| Op | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Dutch | |
| Ice | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Middle English | |
| Else | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Middle English | |
| America | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Latin | |
| At | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Middle English | |
| Art | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Middle English | |
| AS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| End | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Middle English | |
| US | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ag | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| Over | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Old English | |
| Angel | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Latin | |
| AM | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Assonant | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Os | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Latin | |
| Em | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Old Portuguese | |
| Up | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Old English | |
| EST | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Able | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Middle English | |
| Africa | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Latin | |
| Air | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Middle English | |
| All | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Middle English | |
| UN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ain | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Arabic | |
| Ana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Latin |
Prefix: vowel-. List of words that begin like vowel / start with vowel.
-
#1
I ate an apple
I was walking down an one way street?
THe second sentence doesn’t sound right. Are there exceptions to the ‘an’ rule?
-
#3
You know… now that I think on it, in speech I don’t really say «an» ever, I wonder if that’s a regional thing, I talk really fast so maybe I just have time for the extra «n» (?) Maybe the rule changes for words that would mess up the flow of the sentence, maybe that the stressed would land on the wrong words so we just take out the «n» in «an» and make it «a». Or maybe because in your example the vowel is followed by another «n»?
When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we link the words with a sort of Y or W sound. It depends on the shape of our mouth at the end of the first word.
Lips wide
When the first word ends in an a, e, i vowel sound [ eɪ / i: / aɪ ], our lips are wide. Then we insert a Y sound at the beginning of the next word:
| we write | first word ends with |
we say |
|---|---|---|
| pay all | /eɪ/ | payyall |
| the end | /i:/ | theyend |
| lie on | /aɪ/ | lieyon |
| write | They all buy at the arcade. |
|---|---|
| say | theyyall buyyat theyarcade |
Here are some more examples of word pairs that are linked with Y.
- lay out, may I, say it
- he ate, she is, we are
- high up, my arm, why ever
Lips round
When the first word ends in an o, u vowel sound [ əʊ / u: ], our lips are round. Then we insert a W sound at the beginning of the next word:
| we write | first word ends with |
we say |
|---|---|---|
| go out | /əʊ/ | gowout |
| too often | /u:/ | toowoften |
| write | You all go out too often. |
|---|---|
| say | youwall gowout toowoften |
Here are some more examples of word pairs that are linked with W.
- no other, show off, grow up
- you are, too often, throw it
Vowel Words FAQ
1. What words use all five vowels?
Unfortunately, most of the words that contain all five vowels are too long to be useful in Scrabble and Words With Friends. They include unequivocally, abstemious, and unquestionably. Eulogia, miaoued, and miauos all use all five vowels and are eminently playable.
2. Are there five or seven vowels?
When it comes to speaking, there could be as many as 20! Even in writing, there could be more than A—E—I—O—U—Y—W. Archaeology, for example, could treat the ae as a single vowel similar to the ä in German. Generally, for crossword games, A—E—I—O—U are considered vowels, and the other letters are considered consonants.
3. What is the longest word that consists of only vowels?
The words with only A—E—I—O—U that are legal to play are all short vowel words of two or three letters. Examples include aa, ae, and eau. If you include Y, then you can get long vowel words like ayaya. You might read about other long vowel words, like a medieval musical term, euouae, but these are not legal in the Official Scrabble Players’ Dictionary.