Here are the notes for the letters "or" in words where they represent the sound /ɔ:/. This is the most common sound represented (in stressed syllables). In unstressed syllables, where they represent the sound /ə/, there are many words that I haven't listed, using exclusions such as these:
- words ending -or with the sense of an agent (eg actor or director, but not pallor)
- polysyllabic words ending -ory; in words with two syllables (like dory, gory , story, or abhor) the -or- does not represent /ə/.
- ...
Life's too short to list all these, which are both common and largely consistent; inconsistencies are covered in the Notes.
Notes for -or- representing /ɔ:/
- chlorinated
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample uses the sound /ɒr/ – a common alternative pronunciation.
- con amore
This is included because - unlike most other
"-ore" endings - the final "e" is sounded.
- corpora, corporal, corporate, corporation, and corporatism
This sound is in the first syllable. See also under /ə/.
- corporeal
This sound is in both the first and the second syllables.
- corridor
This sound is in the third syllable. See also under /ɒ/.
- deformation
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this
transcription, but the audio sample has /ə/ (risking a pun with defamation).
- for
This sound is used when the word has stress. See also under /ə/.
- for[e]bear
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample has a hint of /ə/. Some speakers reserve the schwa pronunciation for the "decide against doing" sense,
with /ᴐ:/ used in the sense "genealogical antecedent" .
- forearm
This is the sole representative of the many words that use "fore-"
as a prefix.
- forebear
This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds in order to highlight the possible pun with "forbear"
with /ə/ in the first syllable.
- forehead
This escapes the usual exclusion of "fore-" compounds, because it is
also sometimes (but increasingly rarely) pronounced with /ɒ/. When Longfellow
rhymed "forehead" with "horrid" the /ɒ/ pronunciation was much more common.
- fortepiano
Not in the Macmillan English Dictionary. The link is to the Collins English Dictionary
- horseback
This is the sole representative of the many compounds forThe Macmillan English Dictionary with the "horse-" prefix
- incorporate and incorporated
This sound is in the second syllable. See also under /ə/.
- The Koran
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is something between /ə/ and /ɒ/.
- mortify
The Macmillan English Dictionary does not have "mortify" as a headword.
The link is to the Collins English Dictionary.
- orang-utan
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample is something between schwa and /ɒ/.
- oratorio
The third syllable has this sound. See also /ɒ/.
- organized and organizer
The Macmillan English Dictionary does not list the -ised version but it exists.
- orthodontics
This is the sole representative of the many compound words that use the prefix ortho-.
- porn
This is an informal abbreviation of both "pornography" and a cluster of related
words, not included here individually as they behave entirely predictably.
- restorative
The Macmillan English Dictionary has this transcription, but the audio sample uses /ɒ/, a common alternative.
- shortbread
This is the sole representative of other compound words that use the prefix "short".
- spoilsport
This is the sole representative of the many compound words that use either "sport"
or "sports" as an affix.
- stormtrooper
This is the sole representative of many other words that use "storm" as an affix.
- swordfish
This is the sole representative of compound words that use either "sword"or "swords"
as a prefix.
- waterborne
This is the sole representative of the many words that use the suffix "-borne". And as this is a productive mechanism the number is growing, and limited
only by the number of suitable vehicles.
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