NRTC English: ‘Suite’ is pronounced just like ‘sweet’ and other uncommon homophones

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In English, many words sound the same but have different meanings. These words are called homophones. One example is “suite,” which sounds just like “sweet.”

“Suite” usually means a set of rooms in a hotel or a group of related things. For example, a hotel suite might have a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. On the other hand, “sweet” means something that tastes sugary or pleasant.

Flour and flower?

Another example of homophones that often confounds learners is “flour” and “flower.” Both words sound identical when spoken, but they represent vastly different things. “Flour” is a powdery substance used in baking, while “flower” refers to the colorful reproductive part of a plant.

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Similarly, “knead” and “need” are homophones

Similarly, it will interest you that “knead” and “need” have the same pronunciation /niːd/. “Knead” means to work the dough with your hands, while “need” signifies a requirement or necessity.

“Ball” and “bawl”

If you can pronounce “ball”, then know that “bawl” is pronounced the same way. “Bawl” means to cry loudly, while “ball” refers to a spherical object used in various games or sports.

“Guessed” and “guest”

The reason “guessed” and “guest” sound alike is due to the way certain letters are pronounced in English. When the letters “ed” follow a sibilant “s” or “ss” (making or characterized by a hissing sound), it results in “ssed” being pronounced as “st”.

Other examples of uncommon homophones

1. Cereal and Serial /ˈsɪərɪəl/:
   “Cereal” refers to a breakfast food made from grains, while “serial” describes something that occurs in a series or sequence, often used to refer to a story or TV show.
2. Soar and Sore /sɔː//:
   “Soar” means to fly high in the air, often with little effort, while “sore” describes a feeling of pain or discomfort, typically in a specific part of the body.
3. Sew and Sow /səʊ/: “Sew” means to stitch fabric together with a needle and thread, while “sow” refers to planting seeds in the ground.
4. Pique and Peak /piːk/: “Pique” means to arouse curiosity or resentment, while “peak” refers to the highest point of a mountain or a maximum value.
5. Bare and Bear /beər/: “Bare” means naked or uncovered, while “bear” refers to the large mammal found in forests.
6. Bough and Bow /baʊ/: A “bough” is a branch of a tree, while “bow” can mean to bend forward as a gesture of respect or a decorative knot tied with ribbon.
7. Flew and Flu /fluː/: “Flew” is the past tense of “fly,” meaning to move through the air, while “flu” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
8. Principle and Principal: “Principle” signifies a fundamental truth or belief that guides behavior or decision-making, while “principal” can mean the main or most important person or thing, or the head of a school.
9. Wreak and reek /riːk/: “Wreak” means to cause something to happen, especially something harmful or damaging, while “reek” refers to a strong, unpleasant smell.
10. Hoarse and Horse /hɔːs/: “Hoarse” describes a rough or husky voice, often due to illness or strain, while “horse” is a large, four-legged animal used for riding, racing, or pulling loads.

These examples showcase the intricacies of homophones in English, where words that sound alike can have distinct meanings and applications in different contexts.