Homophonous

/həˈmɑːfənəs/
adjective

When two or more words sound the same but may have different spellings or meanings.

The words 'knight' and 'night' are homophonous in English.
Visual representation of "homophonous" - When two or more words sound the same but may have different spellings or meanings.

Often appears as...

  • homophonous words
  • homophonous pairs

Usage tips

General,Linguistic

adjective

When two or more words sound the same but may have different spellings or meanings.

The words 'knight' and 'night' are homophonous in English.
Visual representation of "homophonous" - When two or more words sound the same but may have different spellings or meanings.

Often appears as...

  • homophonous words
  • homophonous pairs

Usage tips

General,Linguistic

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "homophonous"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Pronunciation Focus

Listening is key to distinguishing homophonous words, especially in verbal communication.

Illustration for Pronunciation Focus
Through attentive listening, one can tell homophonous pairs apart, as context reveals meaning.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Context Clues

Context is crucial. Homophonous words often rely on the surrounding words for their intended meaning.

Illustration for Context Clues
In the sentence 'I need to write a report,' 'write' is understood instead of the homophonous 'right'.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Spelling Challenges

When writing, be extra cautious with homophonous words to choose the correct spelling.

Illustration for Spelling Challenges
She guessed the homophonous 'flower' instead of 'flour' in the recipe context.
Visual representation of the word "Homophonous"

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