Heteronym (linguistics)

For other uses, see Heteronym (disambiguation).

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

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 (the metal) and lead (a leash) are heteronyms, but mean (average) and mean (intend) are not, since they are pronounced the same. Heteronym pronunciation may vary in vowel realisation, in stress pattern, or in other ways.

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 in the US state of Oregon is pronounced /-ən/ (or /-ɪn/), while in the name of the village of Oregon in Wisconsin, the final syllable is pronounced /-ɒn/. 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 also occur in non-alphabetic languages. For example, 20% of the 2400 most common Chinese characters have multiple readings; e.g., 行 can represent háng 'profession' or xíng 'OK'. In Arabic, vowels are normally not written, leading to ambiguous written words such as <كتب> /ktb/, which can be read /kataba/ 'he wrote', /kutubun/ 'books', or /kutiba/ 'it was written'; it is unclear whether these should be considered heteronyms, since they are unambiguous when fully vocalized.

Examples

Heteronyms with definitions

English

In some of these cases, American and British English pronunciations differ. One systematic case appears in the stress pattern of some deverbal nouns. Many of these words have the same origin, and similar meanings, and are essentially the same word. True heteronyms require the two words to be completely unrelated, which is a rare occurrence.

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

Examples of heteronyms in English

Spelling	Pronunciation	Part of speech	Meaning
abstract	/ˈæbstrækt/	adjective	existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
	/æbˈstrækt/	verb	consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else
abuse	/əˈbjuːs/	noun	improper treatment
	/əˈbjuːz/	verb	to use improperly
address	AmE and BrE /əˈdrɛs/	verb	to direct speech, a letter or a consignment (to)
	AmE /ˈædrɛs/ BrE /əˈdrɛs/	noun	a descriptor of location
advocate	/ˈædvəkeɪt/	verb	to argue for someone else
	/ˈædvəkɪt/	noun	a person who speaks in support of something
affect	/əˈfɛkt/	verb	to have an effect on
	/ˈæfɛkt/	noun	mood, emotional state
affiliate	/əˈfɪliət/	noun	a company, organization etc that is connected with or controlled by a larger one
	/əˈfɪlieɪt/	verb	if a group or organization affiliates to or with another larger one, it forms a close connection with it
agape	/əˈɡeɪp/	adverb	open wide
	/ˈæɡəpiː/, /əˈɡɑːpeɪ/	noun	altruistic, beneficial love
allied	/əˈlaɪd/	verb	join for a common purpose (past tense)
	/ˈælaɪd/; /æˈlaɪd/	adjective	joined for a common purpose, especially by treaty
alternate	/ˈɔːltərnət/ or /ɔːlˈtərnət/	adjective	alternating, alternative
	/ˈɔːltərneɪt/	verb	to take turns
alum	/ˈæləm/	noun (or verb)	a type of astringent salt (or to chemically impregnate with that salt)
	/əˈlʌm/	noun	a past attendee or graduate (of either gender) of an educational institution
analyses	/əˈnælɪsiːz/	noun	plural of analysis
	/ˈænəlaɪzɪz/	verb	third person singular present of analyse
appropriate	/əˈproʊpriət/	adjective	suitable
	/əˈproʊprieɪt/	verb	to set apart for
attribute	/ˈætrɪbjuːt/	noun	a characteristic
	/əˈtrɪbjuːt/	verb	to associate ownership
articulate	/ɑːrˈtɪkjʊleɪt/	verb	to speak clearly
	/ɑːrˈtɪkjʊlɪt/	adjective	well-spoken
august/August	/ɔːˈɡʌst, əˈ-/	adjective	awe-inspiring, majestic, noble, venerable
	/ˈɔː.ɡəst/	noun	the eighth month of the Roman, Julian, and Gregorian calendars
axes	/ˈæksiːz/	noun	pl. of axis
	/ˈæksɪz/	noun	pl. of axe
bases	/ˈbeɪsɪz/	noun	plural of base
	/ˈbeɪsiːz/	noun	plural of basis
bass	/ˈbeɪs/	noun	low in pitch
	/ˈbæs/	noun	a fish
blessed	/ˈblɛsɪd/	adjective	having divine aid
	/ˈblɛst/	verb	past tense of bless
bow	/ˈboʊ/	noun	a stringed weapon, or the initiator of sound in some stringed musical instruments.
		noun	an object that you clip or tie on to your hair to keep it from falling into your face
	/ˈbaʊ/	verb	to bend in respect
		noun	the front of a boat or ship
buffet	/bəˈfeɪ/ or /ˈbʊfeɪ/	noun	sideboard meal
	/ˈbʌfɪt/	verb	to strike
close	/ˈkloʊz/	verb	to shut
	/ˈkloʊs/	adjective	nearby
combine	/ˈkɒmbaɪn/	noun	A farm machine that harvests and threshes
	/kəmˈbaɪn/	verb	To bring two or more things together, mix
compact	/kəmˈpækt/	verb	to compress
	/ˈkɒmpækt/	adjective	small
complex	/ˈkɒmplɛks/	noun	A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base
	/kəmˈplɛks/, /ˈkɒmplɛks/	adjective	Made up of multiple parts
compound	/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/	noun	A substance having definite proportions of elements
	/kəmˈpaʊnd/	verb	To make a situation worse
concert	/ˈkɒnsərt/	noun	We saw the band in concert.
	/kənˈsɜːrt/	verb	We had to concert all our energy to stay awake.
conduct	/ˈkɒndəkt/	noun	action
	/kənˈdʌkt/	verb	to lead
coop	/ˈkuːp/	noun	enclosure for chickens
	/ˈkoʊ.ɒp/	noun	abbreviation of cooperative
	/kaʊp/	noun	a cart with closed sides or ends, also spelled cowp.
confines	/ˈkɒnfaɪnz/	noun pl.	Work within the confines of the contract.
	/kənˈfaɪnz/	verb	But the contract confines my creativity!
conflict	/ˈkɒnflɪkt/	noun	The mother said to her belligerent son, "Violence is no way to resolve conflict!"
	/kənˈflɪkt/	verb	The two news reports seem to conflict with each other.
console	/kənˈsoʊl/	verb	provide comfort from grief
	/ˈkɒnsoʊl/	noun	control unit
content	/ˈkɒntɪnt/	noun	information
	/kənˈtɛnt/	adjective, verb	satisfied, satisfy
contract	/ˈkɒntrækt/	noun	The contract was supposed to expire seven years after it was signed.
	/kənˈtrækt/	verb	Derek firmly stated that he would rather contract pneumonia and die than stand outside wearing that ridiculous pink and green poncho.
convict	/kənˈvɪkt/	verb	to find guilty
	/ˈkɒnvɪkt/	noun	one convicted
crooked	/ˈkrʊkt/	verb	I crooked my arm to show the sleeve.
	/ˈkrʊkɪd/	adjective	Unfortunately, that just made the sleeve look crooked.
decrease	/dɪˈkriːs/	verb	To lessen
	/ˈdiːkriːs/	noun	A diminution
defense	/dɪˈfɛns/	noun	The attorney gave a strong defense.
	/ˈdiːfɛns/	noun	The coach put out his best defense. (dialectal, used in sports contexts)
desert	/ˈdɛzərt/	noun	an arid region
	/dɪˈzɜːrt/	verb	to abandon
discard	/ˈdɪskɑːrd/	noun	Toss it in the discard pile.
	/dɪsˈkɑːrd/	verb	But I don't want to discard it!
do	/ˈduː/, /də/	verb	What do you think you are doing?
	/ˈdoʊ/	noun	To warm-up, the singer sang the scale from do.
does	/ˈdoʊz/	noun	pl. of doe
	/ˈdʌz/	verb	form of do
	/ˈduːz/	noun	one spelling of the plural of do as a noun - e.g. hair does
dogged	/ˈdɒɡd/	verb	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/	adjective	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/	noun	a bird
	/ˈdoʊv/	verb	Mainly American past tense of dive
ellipses	/ɪˈlɪpsɪz/	noun	Plural of ellipse
	/ɪˈlɪpsiːz/	noun	Plural of ellipsis
entrance	/ˈɛntrəns/	noun	way in
	/ɛnˈtrænsˌɪn-ˈˌ-trɑːns/	verb	to delight
excuse	/ɪkˈskjuːs, ɛkˈ-/	noun	explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault
	/ɪkˈskjuːz, ɛkˈ-/	verb	to forgive; to pardon
exploit	/ˈɛksplɔɪt/	noun	a heroic or extraordinary deed
	/ɛksˈplɔɪt/	verb	to make use of or take advantage of
house	/ˈhaʊs/	noun	a residential building
	/ˈhaʊz/	verb	to place in residence
incense	/ˈɪnsɛns/	noun	Dad, I bought this incense at the temple.
	/ɪnˈsɛns/	verb	Big mistake. If you burn it here, you'll incense your mother.
increase	/ɪnˈkriːs/	verb	To get greater
	/ˈɪnkriːs/	noun	An augmentation
intimate	/ˈɪntɪmeɪt/	verb	to suggest
	/ˈɪntɪmət/	adjective	very close
invalid	/ɪnˈvælɪd/	adjective	incorrect
	/ˈɪnvəlɪd/	noun	a disabled person
laminate	/ˈlæmɪneɪt/	verb	to assemble from thin sheets glued together
	/ˈlæmɪnət/	noun	material formed of thin sheets glued together
lead	/ˈliːd/	verb	to guide
	/ˈlɛd/	noun	a metal
learned	/ˈlɜːrnɪd/	adjective	having much learning
	/ˈlɜːrnd/	verb	past tense of learn
lima/Lima	/ˈlaɪmə/	noun or attributive	A vegetable
		proper noun	A city in Ohio, United States
	/ˈliːmə/	proper noun	The capital city of Peru
live	/ˈlɪv/	verb	to be alive
	/ˈlaɪv/	adjective	having life
merchandise	/ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪs/	noun	goods available for sale
	/ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪz/	verb	to make (something) available for sale
minute	/maɪˈnjuːt/	adjective	small
	/ˈmɪnət/	noun	unit of time
mobile/Mobile	AmE /ˈmoʊbiːl/, BrE /ˈmoʊbaɪl/	noun	The baby sat in awe at the bright colors on the mobile.
	AmE /ˈmoʊbəl/, BrE /ˈmoʊbaɪl/	adjective	Although most animals are mobile, the sponge is sessile.
	/moʊˈbiːl/	proper noun	A city in Alabama
moped	/ˈmoʊpɛd/	noun	a small motorcycle
	/ˈmoʊpt/	verb	past tense of mope
mow	/ˈmaʊ/	noun	a stack of hay, or the part of a barn where hay is stored
	/ˈmoʊ/	verb	To cut something (especially grass or crops) down or knock down
multiply	/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/	verb	to increase
	/ˈmʌltɪpli/	adverb	in multiple ways
number	/ˈnʌmbər/	noun	a numeral
	/ˈnʌmər/	adjective	more numb
object	/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/	noun	a thing
	/əbˈdʒɛkt/	verb	to protest
overall	/oʊvərˈɔːl/	adjective	Overall, we didn't do too badly.
	/ˈoʊvərɔːl/	noun	I need new overalls.
periodic	/ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪk/	adjective	Temperature shows periodic variation.
	/pɜːrˈaɪɒdɪk/	adjective	Periodic acid is an oxoacid of iodine.
polish/Polish	/ˈpɒlɪʃ/	verb	to shine
	/ˈpoʊlɪʃ/	adjective	of, from, or native to Poland
present	/prɪˈzɛnt/	verb	to reveal
	/ˈprɛzənt/	noun	a gift; the current moment
		adjective	existing in the immediate vicinity (e.g. Santa is present.)
primer	AmE /ˈprɪmər/, BrE /ˈpraɪmər/	noun	book that covers the basic elements of a subject
	/ˈpraɪmər/	noun	an undercoat of paint
proceeds	/ˈproʊsiːdz/	noun	revenue
	/prəˈsiːdz/	verb	Third person singular of the verb "proceed"
produce	/proʊˈdjuːs/	verb	to make
	/ˈproʊdjuːs/	noun	fruit and vegetables
progress	/prəˈɡrɛs/	verb	I hope things will progress faster.
	AmE /ˈprɒɡrɛs/, BrE /ˈproʊɡrɛs/	noun	I haven't made any progress.
project	/ˈprɒdʒɪkt/	noun	an undertaking
	/proʊˈdʒɛkt/	verb	to cast an image
protest	/ˈproʊtɛst/	noun	an organized event opposing something
	/proʊˈtɛst/	verb	to vociferously object
putting	/ˈpʊtɪŋ/	verb	pr. part. of to put
	/ˈpʌtɪŋ/	verb	pr. part. of to putt
ragged	/ˈræɡd/	verb	She ragged on me about my ragged jeans.
	/ˈræɡɪd/	adjective	But my ragged jeans are my trademark, I responded.
read	/ˈriːd/	verb	present tense
	/ˈrɛd/	verb	past tense
rebel	/rɪˈbɛl/	verb	to resist
	/ˈrɛbəl/	noun	one who rebels
record	AmE /ˈrɛkərd/, BrE /ˈrɛkɔːrd/	noun	stored information
	/rɪˈkɔːrd/	verb	to make a record
recreate	/ˈrɛkrieɪt/	verb	to relax by leisure activity
	/ˌriːkriˈeɪt/	verb	to give new life or create again (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: re-create)
refund	/ˈriːfʌnd/	noun	an amount of money that is given back to you if you are not satisfied with the goods or services that you have paid for
	/rɪˈfʌnd/	verb	to give someone their money back
refuse	/ˈrɛfjuːs/	noun	garbage
	/rɪˈfjuːz/	verb	to decline
reject	/ˈriːdʒɛkt/	noun	a product that has been rejected because there is something wrong with it
	/rɪˈdʒɛkt/	verb	to refuse to accept, believe in, or agree with something
resign	/rɪˈzaɪn/	verb	1. to quit 2. to accept that something undesirable cannot be avoided
	/riːˈsaɪn/	verb	to sign again; re-sign
resume	/rɪˈzjuːm/	verb	to start again
	/ˈrɛzjʊmeɪ/	noun	curriculum vitae (sometimes distinguished with acute accents; résumé)
retreat	/rɪˈtriːt/	verb	to fall back from a battle front
	/riːˈtriːt/	verb	to treat again (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: re-treat)
root	/ˈruːt/ or /ˈrʊt/)	noun	The tree's root was rotted.
	/ˈruːt/	verb	A pig can be trained to root for mushrooms.
row	/ˈroʊ/	noun, verb	a line; to paddle a boat
	/ˈraʊ/	noun	an argument
sake	/ˈseɪk/	noun	benefit
	/ˈsɑːki/	noun	rice wine
second	/ˈsɛkənd/	adjective, noun, verb	ordinal of "two", 1/60 of a minute, to endorse a motion
	/səˈkɒnd/	verb	to transfer temporarily to an alternative employment
separate	/ˈsɛpərət/	adjective	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/	verb	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/	noun	drainage pipes
	/ˈsoʊ.ər/	noun	one who sews
shower	/ˈʃaʊ.ər/	noun	precipitation
	/ˈʃoʊ.ər/	noun	one who shows
sin/Sin	/ˈsɪn/	noun	a moral error
	/ˈsaɪn/	noun	abbrev. for sine
	/ˈsiːn/	noun	Sumerian god of the moon; Arabic letter
slough	/ˈslʌf/	verb	to shed
	/ˈsluː/	noun	a small waterway
	/ˈslaʊ/	proper noun	a town in Berkshire
sow	/ˈsoʊ/	verb	to plant seeds
	/ˈsaʊ/	noun	a mature female in the swine species
subject	/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/	noun	a topic
	/səbˈdʒɛkt/	verb	to cause to undergo
supposed	/səˈpoʊz(ɪ)d/	adjective	being assumed to be
	/səˈpoʊst/	verb	obliged to do
	/səˈpoʊzd/	verb	past sense of suppose
tarry	/ˈtæri/	verb	to linger
	/ˈtɑːri/	adjective	similar to tar
tear	/ˈtɪər/	noun	liquid produced by crying
	/ˈtɛər/	verb, noun	to separate
tier	/ˈtɪər/	noun	level or rank
	/ˈtaɪ.ər/	noun	one who ties
transfer	/ˈtrænsfər/	noun	a movement of something from one place to another
	/trænsˈfɜːr/	verb	to move something from one place to another (the verb can be accented on either syllable)
use	/ˈjuːs/	noun	function, benefit
	/ˈjuːz/	verb	employ, utilize
unionized	/ˈjuːniənaɪzd/	adjective	formed into a union
	/ʌnˈaɪənaɪzd/	adjective	not ionized (some style guides specify a hyphen for this sense, to increase clarity: un-ionized)
whoop	/ˈhwʊp/	verb	Pa says he's gonna whoop you good if you don't learn some manners!
	/ˈhwuːp/	verb	When they scored a goal, he began to whoop and holler.
wicked	/ˈwɪkɪd/	adjective	bad, evil
	/ˈwɪkt/	verb	past tense of wick (e.g. to wick away some liquid)
wind	/ˈwɪnd/	noun	air movement
	/ˈwaɪnd/	verb	to tighten a mechanical spring
wound	/ˈwaʊnd/	verb	past tense of wind (e.g. tightened a mechanical spring)
	/ˈwuːnd/	noun, verb	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 IPA: [ɑ̃].

Examples of heteronyms in French

Spelling	Pronunciation	Part of speech	Meaning
affluent	[afly]	verb	they pour in
	[aflɥɑ̃]	noun	a tributary of a river
as	[ɑ]	verb	you have
	[ɑs]	noun	an ace
bout	[bu]	noun	length
	[but]	noun	rope (in nautical usage)
content	[kɔ̃t]	verb	they recount
	[kɔ̃tɑ̃]	adjective	happy
convient	[kɔ̃vi]	verb	they invite
	[kɔ̃vjɛ̃]	verb	it is suitable
couvent	[kuv]	verb	they brood (eggs)
	[kuvɑ̃]	noun	a convent
éditions	[editjɔ̃]	verb	we edited
	[edisjɔ̃]	noun	publications
est	[ɛ]	verb	he/she is
	[ɛst]	noun	the East
excellent	[ɛksɛl]	verb	they excel
	[ɛksɛlɑ̃]	adjective	excellent
expédient	[ɛkspedi]	verb	they send
	[ɛkspedjɑ̃]	noun	an expedient
fier	[fje]	verb	to trust
	[fjɛʁ]	adjective	proud
fils	[fis]	noun	son, sons
	[fil]	noun	wires
négligent	[neɡliʒ]	verb	they neglect
	[neɡliʒɑ̃]	adjective	negligent
objections	[ɔbʒektjɔ̃]	verb	we objected
	[ɔbʒeksjɔ̃]	noun	objections
oignons	[waɲɔ̃]	verb	we anoint
	[ɔɲɔ̃]	noun	onions
parent	[paʁ]	verb	they adorn
	[paʁɑ̃]	noun	parent
plus	[plys]	adverb	more
	[ply]	adverb	no more
portions	[pɔʁtjɔ̃]	verb	we carried
	[pɔʁsjɔ̃]	noun	portions
relations	[ʁəlatjɔ̃]	verb	we recounted
	[ʁəlɑsjɔ̃]	noun	relations
résident	[ʁezid]	verb	they reside
	[ʁezidɑ̃]	noun	resident
violent	[vjɔl]	verb	they violate
	[vjɔlɑ̃]	adjective	violent
vis	[vi]	verb	I live, I saw (present)
	[vis]	noun	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/; Some of these distinctions are being neutralized in modern speech.

Examples of heteronyms in Greek

Spelling	Pronunciation	Part of speech	Meaning
άδεια	[ˈaðʝa]	adjective	empty
	[ˈaði.a]	noun	leave, day off
βεντέτα	[venˈdeta]	noun	vendetta
	[veˈdeta]	noun	star (artist)
βιάζω	[ˈvʝazo]	verb	I hasten
	[viˈazo]	verb	I rape
καμπάνα	[kamˈbana]	noun	bell
	[kaˈbana]	noun	cabana
λόγια	[ˈloʝa]	noun	words
	[ˈloʝi.a]	adjective	learnèd

Italian

Italian spelling is largely unambiguous, althouɡh there are some exceptions:

• open and closed ⟨e⟩ and ⟨o⟩ (/ɛ, e/ and /ɔ, o/) are not distinguished;
• the voiced and unvoiced pronunciations of ⟨s⟩ and ⟨z⟩ (/s, z/ and /ts, dz/) are not distinguished;
• stress, which is usually but not always on the penult, is not marked except when it is on the final syllable;
• in some cases, digraphs and trigraphs like ⟨sci⟩ (/ʃ(i)/), ⟨ci⟩ (/tʃ(i)/), ⟨gi⟩ (/dʒ(i)/), ⟨gli⟩ (/ʎ(i)/) are pronounced using the values of their component letters;
• ⟨i⟩ and ⟨u⟩ may have a vocalic (/i, u/) or a consonantal (/j, w/) value.

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:

Vowel quality difference

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

Stress difference

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

Voicing difference

Spelling	Pronunciation	Part of speech	Meaning
razza	[ˈrattsa]	noun	race, breed
	[ˈraddza]	noun	ray, skate (fish)

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:

• Some vary in stress position: umfahren 'to knock down' vs. umfahren '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
• Homonym
• Synonym
• Shibboleth