/ɜ:/ Notes
- circuitous
Students of ESOL should note that this has 4 syllables, the second and third being /ju:ɪ/ (although the word circuit has only 2). Note also that the Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has /ə/ in the first syllable. - extirpate
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has /ə/. The word is rarely used, and when it is a precise enunciation (with /ɜ:/) is common. - firsthand
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is entirely metaphorical. - headfirst
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is largely metaphorical - always, except when referring to an actual physical plunge. - jailbird
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because a jailbird is not a bird. - lovebird
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because a lovebird is not - in the more common, metaphorical sense - a bird. - stillbirth
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because what is born is more than just "still". - yardbird
This escapes the usual exclusioin of compounds because it is not a bird (and the "yard" in question is of a particular sort).
/ɪ/ Notes
- aspirateɪ
In the adjective. the last syllable is /ət/. In the verb. the last syllable is /eɪt/. - direct, direction, directionless, directive, directly, directorate, directorial, directorship, directory, indirect. indirectly
See also /aɪ/. - directorial
See also /aɪ/. (Although the Macmillan English Dictionary does not, in this one case, give two possible pronunciations - giving only the /aɪ/ variant - common usage does not observe this exception.) - indirectly
The Macmillan English Dictionary does not have the /aɪ/ version, although it is common.
/aɪə/ Notes
- campfire
Escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because of its frequent collocation with "song". A "campfire song" is not necessarily sung in the presence of ("around" is the customary preposition) a campfire (or indeed any kind of fire). - desirous
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/, a commonly heard variant. - dog-tired, hard-wired, live wire, quick-fire, sure-fire
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is entirely metaphorical. - entirety
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/ (in the second syllable). although that is commonly heard. Students of ESOL should use this word with caution (if at all!): 'the entirety of' is usually (perhaps always) a grandiloquent way of saying'the whole', 'the whole of' or 'all'. - expiry, retiree, retirement, retiring
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/ (in the second syllable). - firebrand
This escapes the usual exclusion of compound words, for two reasons. The "brand" part scarcely exists as a freestanding word (with a concrete referent, that is), and the word as a whole is - more often than not - used to refer metaphorically to a sort of person. - grappling iron, iron, ironing, soldering iron
Note that the "r" is not pronounced. - gridiron
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because of its metaphorical use (to refer to a field marked out for American football.) - haywire
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds, because it refers neither to hay nor to wire. - hot-wire
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds, because the wires involved are not hot . - wiretap
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because the "tap" in question is metaphorical. - wiry
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has very little (if any) /ə/.
/aɪ/ Notes
- direct, direction, directionless, directive, directly, director, directorate, directorship, directory, indirect
See also /ɪ/. - directorial
See also /aɪ/. (Although the Macmillan English Dictionary does not, in this one case, give two possible pronunciations - giving only the /aɪ/ variant - common usage does not observe this exception). - indirectly
See also /ɪ/. The Macmillan English Dictionary does not have the /aɪ/ version (although it is not uncommon).
/ə/ Notes
- admirable
Note that the stress is on the first syllable. - circumference
Students of ESOL should note that, unlike other words formed with the "circum-" prefix, stress is on the second syllable. - elixir
The Macmillan English Dictionary gives this but /i:ə/ and /Iə/ are both common and acceptable. - giraffe
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has a trace of /ɪ/ - a common and acceptable alternative. - miraculous
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample uses /ɪ/. - piranha
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample uses /ɪ/. Both are acceptable, and in some speech communities the /ɪ/ variant is the more common. - satiri[s|z]e, satirist
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, as does the audio sample, but /ɪ/ is also common. - tapir
The Macmillan English Dictionary gives this pronunciation, as do most other online dictionaries, but a version with /Iə/ is common and acceptable (some might even think it preferable - as it avoids a pun with "taper". - triumvirate, virility
The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, as does the audio sample,, but a version with /ɪ/ is common.
