F (letter): Difference between revisions
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'''F''' is the sixth letter of the [[English alphabet]]. Its name is pronounced ''eff''. | '''F''' is the sixth letter of the [[English alphabet]]. Its name is pronounced ''eff''. | ||
==Use in English== | ==Use in English== | ||
'''f''' is a labiodental fricative, air being pushed through the upper teeth and lower lip. It is an unvoiced v: feŵ and vieŵ are a [[minimal pair]]. | '''f''' is a labiodental fricative, air being pushed through the upper teeth and lower lip. It is an unvoiced '''v''': '''feŵ''' and '''vieŵ''' are a [[minimal pair]]. | ||
Further examples: (the accents show stress and pronunciation: see [[English phonemes]]): fún, féather, férry, fîght, forty, fífty, fílth, fíckle, fád, flóp, frét, físt, óff, óften (*offen) fát, fïrst, déaf, friénd. | Further examples: (the accents show stress and pronunciation: see [[English phonemes]]): '''fún, féather, férry, fîght, forty, fífty, fílth, fíckle, fád, flóp, frét, físt, óff, óften (*offen) fát, fïrst, déaf, friénd'''. | ||
It likes to double itself at the end of words, after a single vowel letter: óff, stúff, clíff, whíff, múff though not always: íf, óf (*ov), déaf (two vowel letters). | It likes to double itself at the end of words, after a single vowel letter: '''óff, stúff, clíff, whíff, múff''', though not always: '''íf, óf''' (*ov), '''déaf''' (two vowel letters). | ||
And also in the middle of words: ráffle, óffer, íffy, báffle, éffort, Clífford, múffle, stúffing, stúffed. | And also in the middle of words: '''ráffle, óffer, íffy, báffle, éffort, Clífford, múffle, stúffing, stúffed'''. | ||
f begins consonant clusters: Áfghan, aflôat, frîght, shíft. | '''f''' begins consonant clusters: Áfghan, aflôat, frîght, shíft. | ||
The f sound, however, is spelt ph in words from Greek: epíphany, Dáphne, grāph, élephant; however, Stêphen is pronounced exactly like its variant spelling Stêven. | The f sound, however, is spelt ph in words from Greek: epíphany, Dáphne, grāph, élephant; however, Stêphen is pronounced exactly like its variant spelling Stêven. | ||
Revision as of 14:39, 27 November 2008
F is the sixth letter of the English alphabet. Its name is pronounced eff.
Use in English
f is a labiodental fricative, air being pushed through the upper teeth and lower lip. It is an unvoiced v: feŵ and vieŵ are a minimal pair.
Further examples: (the accents show stress and pronunciation: see English phonemes): fún, féather, férry, fîght, forty, fífty, fílth, fíckle, fád, flóp, frét, físt, óff, óften (*offen) fát, fïrst, déaf, friénd.
It likes to double itself at the end of words, after a single vowel letter: óff, stúff, clíff, whíff, múff, though not always: íf, óf (*ov), déaf (two vowel letters). And also in the middle of words: ráffle, óffer, íffy, báffle, éffort, Clífford, múffle, stúffing, stúffed.
f begins consonant clusters: Áfghan, aflôat, frîght, shíft.
The f sound, however, is spelt ph in words from Greek: epíphany, Dáphne, grāph, élephant; however, Stêphen is pronounced exactly like its variant spelling Stêven.
In some words the f sound is written gh: enoúgh, tróugh. See GH.