Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the way in which words or names are spoken or pronounced.

Some languages have fixed rules of pronunciation. For example, in French, the same letters and syllables are almost invariably pronounced the same way whenever they occur. In English, however, letters can be pronounced in many different ways. For example, there are approximately twenty-five different vowel sounds, which can be conveyed by only five vowels (or six if Y is counted), and the combination 'ough' can be pronounced at least eight different ways.

Dictionaries use various notation systems and sometimes esoteric symbols to convey how a word is pronounced.

Pronunciation of some words differs widely according to accent, dialect, and cultural and religious background. This is conveyed in the famous song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", from the musical Shall We Dance?, which includes the line: "you say toma[y]to, I say toma[h]to". The 'tomayto' pronunciation of 'tomato' is most common in the America, while the 'tomahto' pronunciation is more common in Britain.