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Alphabet Homophones

Pronouncing the English alphabet - with homophones and matching sounds, common uses, rhyming letters, rhyming words and common confusions

Many learners find it difficult to say and/or remember the English alphabet, either because the sounds used in English don't exist in their language or because the letters are pronounced differently in their language. This table is designed to give five different kinds of help to such people.

The pronunciations below are for British English. Note that in American English some of the homophones and rhyming words may be different, and Z is pronounced "zee" (not "zed").
words with that sound (in them) common uses rhyming letters rhyming words common confusions
A able, ache ABC, AD, A.M., A4, AGM J, K pay, hey E, R
B be, bee B&B, BC, b4, B-movie, B2B, BA C, D, E, G, P, T, V fee, me V
C sea, see CNN, BBC, CIF, cc B, D, E, G, P, T, V we, flea S, K
D delighted, deep CD, ID, PhD B, C, E, G, P, T, V knee, glee  
E feet, geek e-mail, e.g., QED B, C, D, G, P, T, V he, key A
F effort, left F16, FBI, FA Cup, FOB   deaf, chef V
G gee G20, GMT, G-spot B, C, D, E, P, T, V free, we J
H   H-bomb, HTML, HQ     ash, itch, hatch
I aye, eye IBM, MI6, ISBN Y buy, fly E
J jay JFK, DJ A, K say, day gee
K cable, cane, cake KGB, OK, UK A, J pray, grey C
L elegant, sell LP, BLT, L/C, LA   hell, bell R
M empty, empire MP, MC, ATM, MA   them, hem N
N end UN, NATO, NB, n/a   ten, when M
O oh, owe OTT, OHP, O-ring   no, go on
P pea, pee asap, PC, PLC B, C, D, E, G, T, V she, he B
Q cue, queue IQ, Q&A, QED U, W few, mew coup, K
R ah, ask, heart RSVP, RIP, RAF   far, bar A
S estate, essay SOS, USA, PS   dress, chess C
T tea, tee TNT, TLC, PTO B, C, D, E, G, P, V free, tree D
U you, yew UFO, EU, U-boat, UAE, U-turn Q, W do, new W
V vegan VIP, V-neck, V-sign, VAT B, C, D, E, G, P, T ski, three B, fee, we
W   WHO, WWF, WWW Q, U flew, blue double, we
X ex, ex- X Men, X-ray, X-chromosome   sex, checks Z
Y why YKK, YMCA, Y-chromosome I fly, buy E, I
Z       bed, dead said