English pronunciation can be pretty weird:Maybe you were surprised to discover that the number “two” was pronounced the same as the word “to,” or perhaps you thought it was strange that “ate” was pronounced the same as the number “eight.”<\/p>\n
Words like these, which sound the same but have different meanings, are called homophones.\u00a0In this post, we’ll teach you 25 pairs of common English homophones with example sentences to compare their uses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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As mentioned above, sets of words like “you’re” and “your” are\u00a0called\u00a0homophones<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0The root of that word, homo-<\/em>, means “same,” and the root –phone<\/em> means “sound.” Homophones are two words that sound the same but have different meanings.\u00a0So the words “two” and “to”\u00a0<\/em>are homophones, as are “ate”\u00a0and “eight.”<\/p>\n There’s another word that begins with homo-,<\/em> which native speakers often confuse<\/a> with homophone: homonym<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0Again, the root\u00a0homo-<\/em>\u00a0means “same,” but –nym\u00a0<\/em>means “name.” A\u00a0homonym is a single word (with one spelling) that has more than one meaning.<\/p>\n An example of a homonym is the word “bear.” You probably know about the animal called a “bear,” but the word “bear” can also be a verb that means to tolerate. For example, “I’m so nervous about watching this game, I can’t bear<\/em> to watch the last minute!”\u00a0But today we’ll just focus on homophones.<\/p>\n Depending on how long you’ve been learning English, you may know a lot of these already. But I created\u00a0this list so that even high-level English learners can find some new or interesting words. So hopefully there will be at least a few words that you didn’t know before!<\/p>\n For each set of words, I’ll include a short definition and an example of the words in use. Then I’ll include an interesting note related to the words, like a similar word or a link to a video, comic or website.<\/p>\n Most of these are homophones in any dialect of English, but because of small pronunciation differences, there are some words that are homophones in American English but not in British English<\/a>, and vice-versa.<\/p>\n Also, there are a few homophones that are more common in American English than in British English, and vice-versa. You can find\u00a0a list\u00a0of specifically British homophones here<\/a>, but again, most of them are also homophones in American English. Phew! Don’t worry if that sounded complicated, we’ll only focus on clear homophones today.<\/p>\n ate (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>This is the simple past tense of the verb “to eat.”<\/p>\n I ate<\/strong> an entire pizza and now I’m really full and tired.<\/em> <\/p>\n eight (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>The number after seven and before nine.<\/p>\n Charles will wake up at eight<\/strong> o’clock tomorrow morning.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>There is a popular children’s joke that goes like this:<\/p>\n Q: Why was 6 afraid of 7? <\/em><\/p>\n A: Because 7 ate\u00a09.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, it’s pronounced “because 7 8 9,” and yes, it’s a pretty bad joke. But most kids’ jokes are bad.<\/p>\n bare (adjective):\u00a0<\/strong>If something is bare, it means that it’s not covered or not decorated.<\/p>\n Tom likes to walk around his house in bare<\/strong> feet. He says it’s more comfortable than wearing shoes.<\/em> <\/p>\n bear (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>A large mammal.<\/p>\n When you go camping, you should be careful to not leave any food in your tent because it can attract bears<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>Bears are often popular characters\u00a0in stories and cartoons<\/a>.<\/p>\n to buy (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>A synonym of “to purchase.” It’s probably one of the first verbs you learned.<\/p>\n I forgot my money at home. Do you think you could buy<\/strong> me lunch and I’ll pay you back tomorrow?<\/em> <\/p>\n by (preposition):\u00a0<\/strong>This can be used in many different ways. It’s commonly used to mean “next to” or “near” when describing a location. It can also indicate who created something.<\/p>\n My favorite autobiography is “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” written by<\/strong> Malcolm X and Alex Haley.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n bye (exclamation):\u00a0<\/strong>This is a shortening of “goodbye.”<\/p>\n I’ve got to go now, so bye<\/strong>! See you on Sunday!<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This is a set of three homophones, but you could also possibly include the prefix “bi-.” It\u00a0means “two,” as in “bipedal” (something that uses two legs), but it can also be an adjective as an abbreviation for “bisexual.”<\/a>\u00a0 So if you include “bi,” then this can actually be a set of four homophones!<\/p>\n cell (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>A cell is a small area or room, usually in a prison. A cell can also be one of the smallest divisions of a living organism.<\/p>\n The prisoner spent 10 years in his cell<\/strong>.<\/em> <\/p>\n to sell (verb):<\/strong>\u00a0To exchange a product\u00a0or service for money. Like “buy,” it was probably one of the first verbs you learned.<\/p>\n We would like to sell<\/strong> our car, but we don’t think we’d get very much money for it.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note: <\/strong>Monks<\/a> (men) and nuns<\/a> (women) are two groups of religious people who live in monasteries or convents. Their rooms are also called “cells,”<\/a> and they actually do look a bit similar to a prison cell!<\/p>\n dew (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>Dew is the name for small drops of water that accumulate (gather) on plants and other objects outside during the night.<\/p>\n When I went outside early in the morning, the dew<\/strong> on the grass made my shoes wet.<\/em> <\/p>\n to do (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>This common verb\u00a0is used to indicate an action. It can also be an auxiliary verb.<\/p>\n What do<\/strong> you usually\u00a0do\u00a0<\/strong>on Friday nights?<\/em> <\/p>\n due (adjective):\u00a0<\/strong>This is used to indicate the deadline (final day) that something can happen. It’s also used to indicate when a baby will probably be born.<\/p>\n My friend is pregnant. Her baby is due<\/strong> in October.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>The soft drink company Mountain Dew played with this homophone set with its motto “Do the Dew.<\/a>“<\/p>\n eye (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>The part of your body that you use to see.<\/p>\n My eyes<\/strong> hurt when I read. I think I need a pair of glasses.<\/em> <\/p>\n I (pronoun):\u00a0<\/strong>A first person singular subject pronoun.<\/p>\n I<\/strong> really hope you know what this word means.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This can actually be a three-word homophone if you include the word “aye.” That’s an old-fashioned way of saying “yes.” You might hear people on boats show\u00a0that they’re following an order by saying “Aye-aye, captain<\/a>!” And there’s a strange-looking animal\u00a0called an “aye-aye<\/a>,” also. I learned that just\u00a0a\u00a0minute ago, so even native speakers learn new words every day!<\/p>\n fairy (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>A mythical creature that can often do magic.<\/p>\n There is a fairy<\/strong> named Tinkerbell\u00a0in the story “Peter Pan.”<\/em> <\/p>\n ferry (noun):\u00a0<\/b>A ferry is a boat that moves passengers and vehicles across water. It’s used for long distances or places where there are no bridges.<\/p>\n The ferry<\/strong> in Costa Rica is really hot and incredibly badly organized. At least the trip only takes an hour.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>There is a common mythical fairy in some parts of the world called the Tooth Fairy<\/a>. She’s especially popular in the USA. The story is that when a child loses a tooth, he or she should put the tooth under their pillow. Then, while they sleep, the Tooth Fairy will replace the tooth with a coin.<\/p>\n flour (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>This is the main ingredient in bread. It’s a powder made from ground grains.<\/p>\n Tony wanted to make a cake, but he didn’t have any flour<\/strong>, so he couldn’t.<\/em> <\/p>\n flower (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>The decorative, colorful part of a plant.<\/p>\n If you want to give flowers<\/strong> to somebody you love, avoid white roses. They are often given when someone dies. <\/em><\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>In some languages, there is an element that has a name similar to “flour.” But in English, the element is called “fluoride<\/a>,” and the “u” is silent.<\/p>\n for (preposition):\u00a0<\/strong>This preposition is usually used to indicate a person who receives something, or to indicate a purpose.<\/p>\n We wanted to buy a chocolate cake for<\/strong> Cheryl’s birthday but the bakery didn’t have any for<\/strong> sale.<\/em> <\/p>\n four (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>The number after three and before five.<\/p>\n The Beatles, one of the most famous bands ever, had four<\/strong> members: George, John, Paul and Ringo.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This is another set of homophones that can also include a third: If you’re playing golf, you should yell “Fore!<\/a>” right before\u00a0you hit the ball. This warns other people to look out for your ball.<\/p>\n to hear (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>This is the action that you do with your ears. The sense is called “hearing.”<\/p>\n I can’t hear<\/strong> the TV. Can you please turn up the volume?<\/em> <\/p>\n here (adverb):\u00a0<\/strong>“Here” indicates the place where you are at any moment. It’s the opposite of “there,” basically.<\/p>\n Can you set the boxes down over here<\/strong> please? Yes, right here<\/strong> next to the door.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>The expression “Hear, hear!<\/a>” is used to indicate that you agree with something. But it’s usually used in formal situations, and it’s not very common in modern English.<\/p>\n hour (noun):\u00a0<\/b>A period of time that lasts 60 minutes.<\/p>\n It takes about six\u00a0hours<\/strong> to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles.<\/em> <\/p>\n our (pronoun):\u00a0<\/strong>This is the possessive pronoun form of “we.”<\/p>\n We should study for our<\/strong> exams.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>Depending on a speaker’s accent and the way they’re using the word, these two might not always<\/a> sound like homophones. Also, to make things more confusing, the word “our” is sometimes pronounced as a homophone to “are<\/a>.”<\/p>\n to know (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>To have knowledge or understanding about something.<\/p>\n Reggie knows<\/strong> how to speak French.<\/em> <\/p>\n no (determiner):\u00a0<\/b>This indicates a negation or something that’s not true.<\/p>\n There is no<\/strong> good reason to listen to Justin Bieber.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This pair of words\u00a0made me think of some interesting songs. Radiohead has a song called “A Punchup at a Wedding (No no no no no no no no),”<\/a>\u00a0Beirut has one called “No No No”<\/a>\u00a0and Destiny’s Child has two songs called “No, No, No”<\/a>\u00a0(part 1<\/a> and part 2<\/a>.\u00a0Personally, I like part 2 better).<\/p>\n Also, I discovered that there is a Swedish band (that sings in English) called NONONO<\/a>. See, you learn something new every day!<\/p>\n knight (noun):\u00a0<\/b>A man given a special honor (or rank) by a king or queen. Their title is usually “Sir.”<\/p>\n One popular English legend talks about King Arthur and the Knights<\/strong> of the Round Table.<\/em> <\/p>\n night (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>The period of time when it’s dark and most people sleep.<\/p>\n I prefer to work at night<\/strong>, since it’s quieter and not as hot. I can concentrate better.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/b>There was a popular TV show in the 1980s called “Knight Rider,”<\/a>\u00a0but many people thought it was “Night Rider.” It was actually called “Knight Rider” because the main character, played by David Hasselhoff, was named Michael Knight.<\/p>\n Also, an additional fun note: I live in Costa Rica, and here “Knight Rider” was called “El Auto Fant\u00e1stico,”<\/a><\/em>\u00a0or “The Fantastic Car”!<\/p>\n (to) mail (verb or noun): <\/strong>As a noun, this is a collective noun for letters and packages. As a verb, this means to send something to somebody. Email also comes from this word.<\/p>\n I haven’t gotten the mail<\/strong> yet today, but I was expecting a letter from grandma. Can you please check the mailbox?<\/em> <\/p>\n male (adjective or noun):<\/b>\u00a0An adjective (or noun) indicating that something is masculine or has masculine reproductive organs.<\/p>\n People always ask if our cat is pregnant. I tell them he can’t be, since he’s a male<\/strong>. He’s just fat.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>In British English, they usually use the word “post” as a verb or a noun, instead of “mail.”<\/p>\n to marry (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>The action when two people have a wedding; also called “to get married.”<\/p>\n My grandpa told me to be sure to marry<\/strong> a good woman.<\/em> <\/p>\n merry (adjective):\u00a0<\/strong>A synonym for “happy,” but less common in modern English. Mostly used in phrases like “Merry Christmas!”<\/p>\n In December the song “We Wish You a Merry<\/strong> Christmas” always gets stuck in my head.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This is another example of a three-word homophone set, if you include the name “Mary.”<\/p>\n meat (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>Edible flesh from an animal.<\/p>\n Vegetarians don’t eat meat<\/strong>.<\/em> <\/p>\n to meet (verb):\u00a0<\/strong>When you are introduced to a person for the first time. It can also refer to later meetings.<\/p>\n I’m excited to travel to England so I can meet<\/strong> some new people!<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>In English, you can generally only meet people, but not places. If you want to talk about seeing a place for the first time, you could say something like “I want to see<\/em> Paris,” “I want to go to<\/em> Paris,” or “I want to visit<\/em> Paris.” But we generally don’t use the words “meet” or “know” with places.<\/p>\n pair (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>A set of two things that go together.<\/p>\n Most of these examples of homophone sets are\u00a0pairs<\/strong> of words, but some are groups of three or four words.<\/em> <\/p>\n pear (noun):\u00a0<\/strong>A delicious fruit<\/a>.<\/p>\n I wanted to buy pears<\/strong> for my fruit salad, but they only had winter pears, so I decided to get peaches instead.<\/em> <\/p>\n Interesting note:\u00a0<\/strong>This can\u00a0also be a\u00a0set of three words if you include the less-common verb\u00a0to pare<\/a><\/strong>. It\u00a0means to cut something to make it smaller.<\/p>\nSets of English Homophones\u00a0<\/h2>\n
1. ate , eight <\/h3>\n
2. bare , bear <\/h3>\n
3. buy , by , bye <\/h3>\n
4. cell , sell <\/h3>\n
5. dew , do , due <\/h3>\n
6. eye , I <\/h3>\n
7. fairy , ferry <\/h3>\n
8. flour , flower <\/h3>\n
9. for , four <\/h3>\n
10. hear , here <\/h3>\n
11. hour , our <\/h3>\n
12. know , no <\/h3>\n
13. knight , night <\/h3>\n
14. mail , male <\/h3>\n
15. marry , merry <\/h3>\n
16. meat , meet <\/h3>\n
17. pair , pear <\/h3>\n
18. right , write <\/h3>\n