15 Homophones in English
As an ESL student, one of the most confusing things about learning English is mastering all of the different spellings and pronunciations of words that sound the same. Some are synonyms and antonyms. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this blog post, we’ll go over 15 common English homophones and how to use them correctly. Hang in there — with a little bit of practice, you’ll be sounding like a native speaker in no time!
Homophones in English
1- Accept/Except
Accept is a verb that means to receive or take something, while except is a preposition that means excluding or omitting something.
2- Advise/Advice
Advise is a verb that means to give advice or recommend a course of action, while advice is a noun that refers to the guidance or recommendation itself.
3- Affect/Effect
Affect is a verb that means to influence or change something, while effect is a noun that refers to the result or consequence of an action.
4- Allusion/Illusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that references something without directly mentioning it, while an illusion is a false belief or perception.
5- Bare/Bear
Bare can be an adjective that means naked or unclothed, or a verb that means to uncover or reveal something. Bear, on the other hand, is a verb that means to carry or endure something.
6- Capital/Capitol
A capital refers to a city where a government is located, while a capitol refers to the building in which a government meets.
7- Cite/Site/Sight
Cite is a verb that means to quote or refer to someone or something, while sight is a noun that refers to the act of seeing or something that has been seen. Site is a noun that refers to a location.
8- Compliment/Complement
A compliment is an expression of praise or admiration, while a complement is something that completes or enhances something else.
9- Council/Counsel
A council is a group of people who have been assembled for consultation or deliberation, while counsel is advice or guidance, especially from a lawyer.
10- Desert/Dessert
A desert is a dry, barren area of land, while a dessert is a sweet course typically served at the end of a meal.
11- Discreet/Discrete
Discreet means cautious or prudent, while discrete means separate or distinct.
12- Dual/Duel
Dual means two, while duel is a formal, pre-arranged fight between two people.
13- Farther/Further
Farther refers to physical distance, while further can mean either physical or metaphorical distance.
14- Flair/Flare
Flair is a natural talent or aptitude, while flare is a sudden burst of light or intensity.
15- Gauge/Gage
Gauge is a verb that means to measure something, while gage is a noun that refers to a security deposit or token.
