Phonetics Guide
Use the key below to advise us how your name should be pronounced when you cross the stage at Commencement.
Phonetic spelling instructions
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
Example
- Raul Gonzalez: rah-OOL gon-SAH-les
- Ngoc Nguyen: nahk nuhWEN or sounds like “knock” “WIN”
- Sohphia 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 |
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, Europe |
| ohr | force, wore |
| or or awr | north, war |
| orr | orange |
| ou | out |
| ow | mouth |
| oy | choice, toy |
| u | strut |
| uu | foot, put |
| uh | mother, comma |
| ur | nurse |
| urr | hurry |
| ye | price |
Other
| 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 |