Heteronym (linguistics)

A heteronym (also known as a heterophone) is a word that has a different pronunciation and meaning from another word but the same spelling. These are homographs that are not homophones. Thus, lead (a metal element) and lead (a leash or halter to direct an animal) are heteronyms, but mean (intend) and mean (average) are not, since they are pronounced the same. Heteronym pronunciation may vary in vowel realisation, in stress pattern, or in other ways.

Euler diagram showing the relationships between heteronyms and related linguistic concepts.

Description

A heteronym is a homograph that is not a homophone, a word that has a different pronunciation and meaning from another word with the same spelling. Heteronym pronunciation may vary in vowel realisation, in stress pattern, or in other ways.

"Heterophone" literally just means "different sound", and this term is sometimes applied to words that are just pronounced differently, irrespective of their spelling. Such a definition would include virtually every pair of words in the language, so "heterophone" in this sense is normally restricted to instances where there is some particular reason to highlight the different sound. For example, puns normally involve homophones, but in the case of heterophonic (or imperfect) puns, the two words sound different, and yet similar enough for one to suggest the other (for example, mouth and mouse).

Types

Most heteronyms are doubles. Triple heteronyms are extremely rare in English; three examples, sin, mobile and does, are listed below.

Proper nouns can sometimes be heteronyms. For example, the final syllable of Oregon is pronounced like the word in by residents of that state in the United States, while in the name of the village of Oregon in Wisconsin, the final syllable is pronounced like the word on. Other examples include local pronunciations of Cairo, Georgia; Versailles, Kentucky; and Milan, Tennessee—compared to the more well-known Cairo, Versailles, and Milan—or the difference between the pronunciation of Louisville, Kentucky (/ˈluːəvəl/) and the town of Louisville, New York (/ˈluːɪsvɪl/).

There are also pairs which ignore case and include both initialisms and regular words, e.g., US and us.

Heteronyms can also occur in non-alphabetic languages. For example, the Chinese character 行 can be pronounced háng, meaning "profession", or xíng, meaning "OK".

Examples

English

In some of these cases, American and British English pronunciations differ. One systematic case appears in the stress pattern of some deverbal nouns.

For a longer list, see wikt:Category:English heteronyms.

Examples of heteronyms in English

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
abstract	/ˈæbstrækt/	a.	existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
	/æbˈstrækt/	v.	consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else
abuse	/əˈbjuːs/	n.	improper treatment
	/əˈbjuːz/	v.	to use improperly
address	AmE and BrE /əˈdrɛs/	v.	to speak to (address) the crowd
	AmE /ˈædrɛs/ BrE /əˈdrɛs/	n.	a postal address
advocate	/ˈædvəkeɪt/	v.	to argue for someone else
	/ˈædvəkɪt/	n.	a person who speaks in support of something
affect	/əˈfɛkt/	v.	to have an effect on
	/ˈæfɛkt/	n.	mood, emotional state
agape	/əˈɡeɪp/	adv.	open wide
	/ˈæɡəpiː/, /əˈɡɑːpeɪ/	n.	altruistic, beneficial love
allied	/əˈlaɪd/	v.	They allied themselves with the French.
	/ˈælaɪd/	a.	The Treaty of Vienna had bound the Allied Powers to make war together upon Napoleon.
alternate	/ˈɔːltərnət/ or /ɔːlˈtərnət/	adj.	other
	/ˈɔːltərneɪt/	v.	to take turns
alum	/ˈæləm/	n. (or v.)	a type of astringent salt (or to chemically impregnate with that salt)
	/əˈlʌm/	n.	a past attendee or graduate (of either gender) of an educational institution
analyses	/əˈnælɪsiːz/	n.	plural of analysis
	/ˈænəlaɪzəz/	v.	third person singular present of analyse
appropriate	/əˈproʊpriət/	adj.	suitable
	/əˈproʊprieɪt/	v.	to set apart for
attribute	/ˈætrɪbjuːt/	n.	a characteristic
	/əˈtrɪbjuːt/	v.	to associate ownership
articulate	/ɑːrˈtɪkjʊleɪt/	v.	"The tourists are the ones who always try to articulate every syllable when they speak the language."
	/ɑːrˈtɪkjʊlɪt/	a.	"In one decade, the image of youth went from radicals uttering rage-filled rhetoric to the much less articulate valley girl or surfer wannabe."
august/August	/ɔːˈɡʌst, ə-/	adj.	awe-inspiring, majestic, noble, venerable
	/ˈɔː.ɡəst/	n.	the eighth month of the Roman, Julian, and Gregorian calendars
axes	/ˈæksiːz/	n.	pl. of axis
	/ˈæksɪz/	n.	pl. of axe
bases	/ˈbeɪsɪz/	n.	plural of base
	/ˈbeɪsiːz/	n.	plural of basis
bass	/ˈbeɪs/	n.	low in pitch
	/ˈbæs/	n.	a fish
blessed	/ˈblɛsɪd/	adj.	having divine aid
	/ˈblɛst/	v.	past tense of bless
bow	/ˈboʊ/	n.	a stringed weapon, or the initiator of sound in some stringed musical instruments.
		n.	an object that you clip or tie on to your hair to keep it from falling into your face
	/ˈbaʊ/	v.	to bend in respect
		n.	the front of a boat or ship
buffet	/bəˈfeɪ/ ~ /ˈbʊfeɪ/	n.	sideboard meal
	/ˈbʌfɪt/	v.	to strike
close	/ˈkloʊz/	v.	to shut
	/ˈkloʊs/	adj.	nearby
combine	/ˈkɒmbaɪn/	n.	A farm machine that harvests and threshes
	/kəmˈbaɪn/	v.	To bring two or more things together, mix
compact	/kəmˈpækt/	v.	to compress
	/ˈkɒmpækt/	adj.	small
complex	/ˈkɒmplɛks/	n.	A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base
	/kəmˈplɛks/, /ˈkɒmplɛks/	adj.	Made up of multiple parts
compound	/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/	n.	A substance having definite proportions of elements
	/kəmˈpaʊnd/	v.	To make a situation worse
concert	/ˈkɒnsərt/	n.	We saw the band in concert.
	/kənˈsɜːrt/	v.	We had to concert all our energy to stay awake.
conduct	/ˈkɒndəkt/	n.	action
	/kənˈdʌkt/	v.	to lead
confines	/ˈkɒnfaɪnz/	n. pl.	Work within the confines of the contract.
	/kənˈfaɪnz/	v.	But the contract confines my creativity!
conflict	/ˈkɒnflɪkt/	n.	The mother said to her belligerent son, "Violence is no way to resolve conflict!"
	/kənˈflɪkt/	v.	The two news reports seem to conflict with each other.
console	/kənˈsoʊl/	v.	provide comfort from grief
	/ˈkɒnsoʊl/	n.	control unit
content	/ˈkɒntɪnt/	n.	information
	/kənˈtɛnt/	adj., v.	satisfied, satisfy
contract	/ˈkɒntrækt/	n.	The contract was supposed to expire seven years after it was signed.
	/kənˈtrækt/	v.	Derek firmly stated that he would rather contract pneumonia and die than stand outside wearing that ridiculous pink and green poncho.
convict	/kənˈvɪkt/	v.	to find guilty
	/ˈkɒnvɪkt/	n.	one convicted
crooked	/ˈkrʊkt/	v.	I crooked my arm to show the sleeve.
	/ˈkrʊkɪd/	a.	Unfortunately, that just made the sleeve look crooked.
decrease	/dɪˈkriːs/	v.	To lessen
	/ˈdiːkriːs/	n.	A diminution
defense	/dɪˈfɛns/	n.	The attorney gave a strong defense.
	/ˈdiːˈfɛns/	n.	The coach put out his best defense. (dialectal, used in sports contexts)
desert	/ˈdɛzərt/	n.	an arid region
	/dɪˈzɜːrt/	v.	to abandon
discard	/ˈdɪskɑːrd/	n.	Toss it in the discard pile.
	/dɪsˈkɑːrd/	v.	But I don't want to discard it!
do	/ˈduː/, /də/	v.	What do you think you are doing?
	/ˈdoʊ/	n.	To warm-up, the singer sang the scale from do.
does	/ˈdoʊz/	n.	pl. of doe
	/ˈdʌz/	v.	form of do
	/ˈduːz/	n.	one spelling of the plural of do as a noun - e.g. hair does
dogged	/ˈdɒɡd/	v.	At night proctors patrolled the street and dogged your steps if you tried to go into any haunt where the presence of vice was suspected. (Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh)
	/ˈdɒɡɪd/	a.	Still, the dogged obstinacy of his race held him to the pace he had set, and would hold him till he dropped in his tracks. (Jack London, The Son of the Wolf)
dove	/ˈdʌv/	n.	a bird
	/ˈdoʊv/	v.	Mainly American past tense of dive
ellipses	/ɪˈlɪpsɪz/	n.	Plural of ellipse
	/ɪˈlɪpsiːz/	n.	Plural of ellipsis
entrance	/ˈɛntrəns/	n.	doorway
	/ɛnˈtræns/	v.	to delight
exploit	/ˈɛksplɔɪt/	n.	a heroic or extraordinary deed
	/ɛksˈplɔɪt/	v.	to make use of or take advantage of
house	/ˈhaʊs/	n.	a residential building
	/ˈhaʊz/	v.	to place in residence
incense	/ˈɪnsɛns/	n.	Dad, I bought this incense at the temple.
	/ɪnˈsɛns/	v.	Big mistake. If you burn it here, you'll incense your mother.
increase	/ɪn-ˈkriːs/	v.	To get greater
	/ˈɪn-kriːs/	n.	An augmentation
intimate	/ˈɪntɪmeɪt/	v.	to suggest
	/ˈɪntɪmət/	adj.	very close
invalid	/ɪnˈvælɪd/	adj.	incorrect
	/ˈɪnvəlɪd/	n.	a disabled person
laminate	/ˈlæmɪneɪt/	v.	to assemble from thin sheets glued together
	/ˈlæmɪnɪt/	n.	material formed of thin sheets glued together
lead	/ˈliːd/	v.	to guide
	/ˈlɛd/	n.	a metal
learned	/ˈlɜːrnɪd/	adj.	having much learning
	/ˈlɜːrnd/	v.	past tense of learn
lima/Lima	/ˈlaɪmə/	n. or attributive	A vegetable
		pn.	A city in Ohio, United States
	/ˈliːmə/	pn.	The capital city of Peru
live	/ˈlɪv/	v.	to be alive
	/ˈlaɪv/	adj.	having life
merchandise	/ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪs/	n.	goods available for sale
	/ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪz/	v.	to make (something) available for sale
minute	/maɪˈnjuːt/	adj.	small
	/ˈmɪnət/	n.	unit of time
mobile/Mobile	AmE /ˈmoʊbiːl/, BrE /ˈmoʊbaɪl/	n.	The baby sat in awe at the bright colors on the mobile.
	AmE /ˈmoʊbəl/, BrE /ˈmoʊbaɪl/	a.	Although most animals are mobile, the sponge is sessile.
	/moʊˈbiːl/	pn.	A city in Alabama
moped	/ˈmoʊpɛd/	n.	a small motorcycle
	/ˈmoʊpt/	v.	past tense of mope
mow	/ˈmaʊ/	n.	a stack of hay, or the part of a barn where hay is stored
	/ˈmoʊ/	v.	To cut something (especially grass or crops) down or knock down
multiply	/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/	v.	to increase
	/ˈmʌltɪpli/	adv.	in multiple ways
number	/ˈnʌmbər/	n.	a numeral
	/ˈnʌmər/	adj.	more numb
object	/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/	n.	a thing
	/əbˈdʒɛkt/	v.	to protest
overall	/oʊvərˈɔːl/	a.	Overall, we didn't do too badly.
	/ˈoʊvərɔːl/	n.	I need new overalls.
periodic	/pɪəriˈɒdɪk/	a.	Temperature shows periodic variation.
	/pɜːrˈaɪɒdɪk/	a.	Periodic acid is an oxoacid of iodine.
polish/Polish	/ˈpɒlɪʃ/	v.	to shine
	/ˈpoʊlɪʃ/	adj.	of, from, or native to Poland
present	/prɪˈzɛnt/	v.	to reveal
	/ˈprɛzənt/	n.	a gift
		n.	the current moment (e.g. At present)
		adj.	existing in the immediate vicinity (e.g. Santa is present.)
primer	AmE /ˈprɪmər/, BrE /ˈpraɪmər/	n.	Book that covers the basic elements of a subject
	/ˈpraɪmər/	n.	An undercoat of paint
proceeds	/ˈproʊsiːdz/	n.	Revenue
	/prəˈsiːdz/	v.	Third person singular of the verb "proceed"
produce	/proʊˈdjuːs/	v.	to make
	/ˈproʊdjuːs/	n.	fruit and vegetables
progress	/prəˈɡrɛs/	v.	I hope things will progress faster.
	/ˈprɑɡrɛs/	n.	I haven't made any progress.
project	/ˈprɒdʒɪkt/	n.	an undertaking
	/proʊˈdʒɛkt/	v.	to cast an image
putting	/ˈpʊtɪŋ/	v.	pr. part. of to put
	/ˈpʌtɪŋ/	v.	pr. part. of to putt
ragged	/ˈræɡd/	v.	She ragged on me about my ragged jeans.
	/ˈræɡɪd/	a.	But my ragged jeans are my trademark, I responded.
read	/ˈriːd/	v.	present tense
	/ˈrɛd/	v.	past tense
rebel	/rɪˈbɛl/	v.	to resist
	/ˈrɛbəl/	n.	one who rebels
record	/ˈrɛkərd/	n.	physical information
	/rɪˈkɔːrd/	v.	to make a record
recreate	/ˈrɛkrieɪt/	v.	to relax by leisure activity
	/ˌriːkriˈeɪt/	v.	to give new life or create again (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: re-create)
refuse	/ˈrɛfjuːs/	n.	garbage
	/rɪˈfjuːz/	v.	to decline
resign	/rɪˈzaɪn/	v.	to quit
	/riːˈsaɪn/	v.	to sign again; re-sign
resume	/rɪˈzjuːm/	v.	to start again
	/ˈrɛzjʊmeɪ/	n.	curriculum vitae (sometimes distinguished with acute accents; résumé)
retreat	/riˈtriːt/	v.	to fall back from a battle front
	/ˌriːˈtriːt/	v.	to treat again (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: re-treat)
root	/ˈruːt/ or /ˈrʊt/)	n.	The tree's root was rotted.
	/ˈruːt/	v.	A pig can be trained to root for mushrooms.
row	/ˈroʊ/	n.; v.	a line; to paddle a boat
	/ˈraʊ/	n.	an argument
sake	/ˈseɪk/	n.	benefit
	/ˈsɑːkiː/	n.	rice wine
second	/ˈsɛkənd/	adj., n., v.	ordinal of "two", 1/60 of a minute, to endorse a motion
	/səˈkɒnd/	v.	to transfer temporarily to an alternative employment
separate	/ˈsɛprɪt/	a.	This should be divided into packets of ten cartridges each, which should be rolled up in flannel and hermetically sealed in separate tin canisters. (Samuel W. Baker, The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia)
	/ˈsɛpəreɪt/	v.	To stalk these wary antelopes I was obliged to separate from my party, who continued on their direct route. (Samuel W. Baker, The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia)
sewer	/ˈsjuːər/	n.	drainage pipes
	/ˈsoʊ.ər/	n.	one who sews
shower	/ˈʃaʊ.ər/	n.	precipitation
	/ˈʃoʊ.ər/	n.	one who shows
sin/Sin	/ˈsɪn/	n.	a moral error
	/ˈsaɪn/	n.	abbrev. for sine
	/ˈsiːn/	n.	Sumerian god of the moon
sow	/ˈsoʊ/	v.	to plant seeds
	/ˈsaʊ/	n.	a mature female in the swine species
subject	/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/	n.	a topic
	/səbˈdʒɛkt/	v.	to cause to undergo
supposed	/səˈpoʊz(ɪ)d/	adj.	being assumed to be
	/səˈpoʊst/	v.	obliged to do
	/səˈpoʊzd/	v.	past sense of suppose
tear	/ˈtɪər/	n.	liquid produced by crying
	/ˈtɛər/	v. , n.	to separate
tier	/ˈtɪər/	n.	Our seats are in the third tier of the stadium.
	/ˈtaɪ.ər/	n.	Will the tier be around to make these knots?
transfer	/ˈtrænsfər/	n.	a movement of something from one place to another
	/trænsˈfɜːr/	v.	to move something from one place to another (the verb can be accented on either syllable)
use	/ˈjuːs/	n.	function, benefit
	/ˈjuːz/	v.	employ, utilize
unionized	/ˈjuːniənaɪzd/	adj.	formed into a union
	/ʌnˈaɪənaɪzd/	adj.	not ionized (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: un-ionized)
whoop	/ˈhwʊp/	v.	Pa says he's gonna whoop you good if you don't learn some manners!
	/ˈhwuːp/	v.	When they scored a goal, he began to whoop and holler.
wicked	/ˈwɪkɪd/	adj.	bad, evil
	/ˈwɪkt/	v.	past tense of wick (e.g. to wick away some liquid)
wind	/ˈwɪnd/	n.	air movement
	/ˈwaɪnd/	v.	to tighten a spring
wound	/ˈwaʊnd/	v.	past tense of wind
	/ˈwuːnd/	n. , v.	an injury

French

In French, most heteronyms result from certain endings being pronounced differently in verbs and nouns. In particular, -ent as a third person plural verb ending is silent while as an adjective ending, it is pronounced French pronunciation: ​[ɑ̃].

Examples of heteronyms in French

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
affluent	[afly]	v.	they pour in
	[aflyɑ̃]	n.	a tributary of a river
as	[ɑ]	v.	you have
	[ɑs]	n.	an ace
bout	[bu]	n.	length
	[but]	n.	rope (in nautical usage)
content	[kɔ̃t]	v.	they recount
	[kɔ̃tɑ̃]	adj.	happy
convient	[kɔ̃vi]	v.	they invite
	[kɔ̃vjɛ̃]	v.	it is suitable
couvent	[cuv]	v.	they brood (eggs)
	[cuvɑ̃]	n.	a convent
éditions	[editjɔ̃]	v.	we edited
	[edisjɔ̃]	n.	publications
est	[ɛ]	v.	he/she is
	[ɛst]	n.	the East
excellent	[ɛksɛl]	v.	they excel
	[ɛksɛlɑ̃]	adj.	excellent
expédient	[ekspedi]	v.	they send
	[ekspedjɑ̃]	n.	an expedient
fier	[fje]	v.	to trust
	[fjɛʁ]	adj.	proud
fils	[fis]	n.	son, sons
	[fil]	n.	wires
négligent	[neɡliʒ]	v.	they neglect
	[neɡliʒɑ̃]	adj.	negligent
objections	[obʒektjɔ̃]	v.	we objected
	[obʒeksjɔ̃]	n.	objections
oignons	[wa.ɲɔ̃]	v.	we anoint
	[ɔ.ɲɔ̃]	n.	onions
parent	[pa.ʁ]	v.	they adorn
	[pa.ʁɑ̃]	n.	parent
portions	[portjɔ̃]	v.	we carried
	[porsjɔ̃]	n.	portions
relations	[ʁəlatjɔ̃]	v.	we recounted
	[ʁəlasjɔ̃]	n.	relations
résident	[ʁezid]	v.	they reside
	[ʁe.zi.dɑ̃]	n.	resident
violent	[vjɔl]	v.	they violate
	[vjɔlɑ̃]	adj.	violent
vis	[vi]	v.	I live, I saw (passé simple)
	[vis]	n.	screw, screws

Modern Greek

Modern Greek spelling is largely unambiguous, but there are a few cases where a word has distinct learned and vernacular meaning and pronunciation, despite having the same root, and where <ia> is pronounced /ja/ vs. /i.a/;[1][2] there are also a few cases where the different readings of <μπ> and <ντ> give different words.[3] Some of these distinctions are being neutralized in modern speech.[4]

Examples of heteronyms in Greek

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
άδεια	[aðja]	adj.	empty
	[aðji.a]	n.	leave, day off
βεντέτα	[ven'deta]	n.	vendetta
	[ve'deta]	n.	star (artist)
βιάζω	[vjazo]	v.	I hasten
	[vi.azo]	v.	I rape
καμπάνα	[kam'bana]	n.	bell
	[ka'bana]	n.	cabana
λόγια	['loʝa]	n.	words
	['loɣi.a]	adj.	learnèd

Italian

Italian spelling is largely unambiguous, with a few exceptions:

• open and closed <e> and <o> are not distinguished;
• the voiced and unvoiced pronunciations of <z> are not distinguished;
• stress is not marked except when it is on the final syllable.

When stress is on the final, the vowel is written with an accent: mori 'mulberries' and morì 'he/she died'. Some monosyllabic words are also differentiated with an accent:e /e/ 'and' and è /ɛ/ 'he/she is'. These cases are not heteronyms.

Some common cases:[5]

Pronunciations are shown using standard Italian orthography with the diacritic <´> for closed vowels <é> /e/ and <ó> /o/; and the diacritic <`> for open vowels <è> /ɛ/ and <ò> /ɔ/.

Examples of heteronyms in Italian

Vowel quality difference

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
affetto	affètto	n.	affection
	affétto	v.	I slice
arena	arèna	n.	arena
	aréna	n.	sand
botte	bòtte	n.	attacks, blows
	bótte	n.	barrel
collega	collèga	n.	colleague
	colléga	v.	he/she connects
corresse	corrèsse	v.	he/she corrected (correggere)
	corrésse	v.	he/she ran (subj.) (correre)
credo	crèdo	n.	creed
	crédo	v.	I believe
colto	còlto	ppl.	gathered
	cólto	adj.	cultivated
corso	còrso	n.	a Corsican
	córso	n.	a course
	córso	ppl.	run
esca	èsca	v.	he/she exits
	ésca	n.	bait
esse	èsse	n.	the letter S
	ésse	pron.	they (f.)
foro	fòro	n.	forum, court
	fóro	n.	a hole
fosse	fòsse	n.	pits
	fósse	v.	were (imperfect subj.)
indotto	indòtto	adj.	ignorant
	indótto	ppl.	induced
legge	lègge	v.	he/she reads
	légge	n.	law
mento	mènto	v.	I lie
	ménto	n.	chin
messe	mèsse	n.	harvest
	mésse	n.	religious mass
pesca	pèsca	n.	peach
	pésca	n.	fishing
	pésca	v.	he/she fishes
peste	pèste	n.	plague
	péste	adj.	crushed (f.pl.)
	péste	n.	footprints
re	rè	n.	re (music)
	ré	n.	king
scopo	scòpo	n.	goal
	scópo	v.	I sweep
sorta	sòrta	n.	kind
	sórta	v.	I rose
te	tè	n.	tea
	té	pron.	you
tema	tèma	n.	theme, subject
	téma	n.	fear
torta	tòrta	adj., ppl.	twisted (f. sing.)
	tórta	n.	a torte
venti	vènti	n.	winds
	vénti	n.	twenty
volgo	vòlgo	v.	I turn
	vólgo	n.	the people
volto	vòlto	ppl.	turned
	vólto	n.	face

Stress difference

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
ancora	àncora	n.	anchor
	ancòra	adv.	again
ambito	àmbito	n.	ambit, scope
	ambìto	ppl.	longed-for
compito	cómpito	n.	task
	compìto	ppl.	polite, completed
cupido	cùpido	adj.	covetous
	cupìdo	n.	Cupid
nocciolo	nòcciolo	n.	kernel
	nocciòlo	n.	hazelnut tree
principi	prìncipi	n.	princes
	princìpi	n.	principles
retina	rètina	n.	retina
	retìna	n.	small net
seguito	sèguito	n.	sequel
	seguìto	ppl.	followed
Sofia	Sòfia	n.	Sofia (Bulgaria)
	Sofìa	n.	Sofia (name)
subito	subìto	v.	undergone
	sùbito	adv.	immediately

Voicing difference

Spelling	Pronun.	PoS	Meaning
razza	/'rattsa/	n.	race, breed
	/'raddzsa/	n.	ray, skate

Dutch

Dutch has heteronyms which vary in stress position, known as klemtoonhomogramen 'stress homograms', such as appel: /ˈɑpəl/ 'apple' vs. /ɑˈpɛl/ 'appeal' (formerly written appèl). Other examples include beamen, bedelen, hockeyster, kantelen, misdadiger, overweg, verspringen, verwerpen.

The word plant is generally pronounced /plɑnt/, but may be pronounced /plɛnt/ in the sense 'he/she plans'.

German

German has few heteronyms, for example:[6]

• Some vary in stress position: umfahren 'to knock down' vs. 'to bypass'; übersetzen 'to translate' vs. 'to traverse'; Spiegelei 'fried egg' vs. 'mirroring'.
• Some are compounded differently: Staubecken as Stau-becken vs. Staub-Ecken or Wachstube as 'Wach-stube' vs. 'Wachs-tube'; etc.
• Several are borrowings: modern 'to molder' (derived from Moder) vs. 'modern' (borrowed from French) or Montage 'Mondays' vs. 'mounting, installing, assembling' (the latter borrowed from French).

See also

• Homograph
• Shibboleth

Notes

1. David Holton, Peter Mackridge, Irene Philippaki-Warburton, Vassilios Spyropoulos, Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language, 2nd edition, 2012, ISBN 1136626387, p. 11
2. Nick Nicholas, answer to "In modern Greek, are there any two words with different spellings but with exactly the same pronunciation? Also, is there any single spelling which has two different pronunciations?", Quora.com, May 23, 2019
3. Demetrios E. Lekkas, comment to cited Nick Nicholas Quora answer
4. Nick Nicholas, "The hiatus of διαζύγιο 'divorce'", Ἡλληνιστεύκοντος: Set Union of Greek and Linguistics (blog), January 5, 2011
5. John J. Kinder, Vincenzo M. Savini, Using Italian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage, 2004, ISBN 0521485568, p. 83-87
6. Tatjana Lackner, "Homographe", Die Schule des Sprechens, January 12, 2018,

External links

• List and analysis of English homographs/heteronyms by John Higgins
• The Home of the Heteronym, featuring There's a Sewer in the Sewer
• www.onetrickwords.com
• The Heteronym Page