English spellings/Catalogs/W: Difference between revisions

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{{subpages}}
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}


'''W''' *dúblyû ('double U'; former [[President of the United States of America|US President]] [[George W. Bush]] liked to be known as 'Dubya', a casual pronunciation of the name of the letter)
'''W''' *dúblyû ("'''doúble Û'''"; former [[President of the United States of America|US President]] [[George W. Bush|George '''W.''' Bush]]—son of former President George Bush, who therefore and thereafter became known as [[George H.W. Bush]]—likes to be known as '''Dúbya''', a casual pronunciation of the name of the letter)


'''wácky''' cf. '''wháck  
'''wácky''' cf. '''wháck  


'''ẁad
'''ẁad
'''wâde''' ''water'' = '''Wâde''' = '''wèighed''' ''weigh''


'''ẁaffle
'''ẁaffle
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<nowiki>*</nowiki>Wagadûgu is spelt '''Ouagadoûgou''', in the French style
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Wagadûgu is spelt '''Ouagadoûgou''', in the French style


'''Wágner''', but *Vàgner for [[Richard Wagner|the composer]]
'''Wágner''', but *Vàgner for [[Richard Wagner|Richard, the composer]]


'''wágon''' ("waggon" is French)
'''wágon''' ("waggon" is French)
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'''wàh-wah
'''wàh-wah
'''wâin''' ''cart'' = '''wâne''' ''smaller'' = '''Wâin''' = '''Wâyne'''


'''wâil''' ''cry'' = BrE '''whâle''' ''sea''
'''wâil''' ''cry'' = BrE '''whâle''' ''sea''
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'''wâit''' ''time'' = '''wèight''' ''heavy'' = '''Wâite''' ''person''
'''wâit''' ''time'' = '''wèight''' ''heavy'' = '''Wâite''' ''person''
'''wâiter'''


'''wâive''' ''dismiss'' = '''wâve''' ''hand, sea''
'''wâive''' ''dismiss'' = '''wâve''' ''hand, sea''
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'''Ẁallace''' = '''Ẁallis''', rhyming with '''Hóllis
'''Ẁallace''' = '''Ẁallis''', rhyming with '''Hóllis


'''[[David Walliams|Wálliams''' ''David]]
[[David Walliams|'''Wálliams''' ''David'']]


'''Wallônia''' Wó-
'''Wallônia''' Wó-
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'''Wålsåll
'''Wålsåll
'''Wålsh


'''Wåltham''' -təm
'''Wåltham''' -təm
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'''ẁan''' ''pale'' *wón cf. '''wòn''' ''win''   
'''ẁan''' ''pale'' *wón cf. '''wòn''' ''win''   
'''ẁand'''


'''ẁander''' ''roam'' *wónder,  BrE = '''Ẁanda''', cf. '''wònder''' ''what?''
'''ẁander''' ''roam'' *wónder,  BrE = '''Ẁanda''', cf. '''wònder''' ''what?''


'''wâne''' ''less'' = '''Wâyne''' ''person'' = '''wâin''' ''wagon''
'''wâne''' ''less'' = '''Wâyne''' '''Wâin''', ''persons'' = '''wâin''' ''wagon''


'''ẁannabê''' cf. '''ẁallabỳ  
'''ẁannabê''' ''person'', cf. '''ẁanna bê''' ''want to be'', '''ẁallabỳ  


'''ẁant''' ''desire'' cf. '''wôn’t''' ''will not''
'''ẁant''' ''desire'' cf. '''wôn’t''' ''will not''
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'''wårhéad''' one word  
'''wårhéad''' one word  
'''Wårhôl'''


'''wårm''' ''hot'' cf. '''wörm''' ''wriggle''
'''wårm''' ''hot'' cf. '''wörm''' ''wriggle''
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'''ẁatchtòwer''' one word  
'''ẁatchtòwer''' one word  


'''wåter''' cf. '''Wålter
'''wåter''' cf. '''Wålter''', '''wâiter'''


'''Ẁatson
'''Ẁatson
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'''wáxwörk''' one word
'''wáxwörk''' one word


'''wê''' ''us'' = '''wêe''' ''little, toilet''
'''wê''' ''us'' = '''wêe''' ''little, toilet'' = '''Wiê''' = '''Wìi'''


'''wêak''' ''feeble'' = '''wêek''' ''days''
'''wêak''' ''feeble'' = '''wêek''' ''days''
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'''wéapon
'''wéapon
'''wéar''' ''clothes'' = BrE '''whére''' ''place''


'''Wêar''' ''River'' = '''Wêir''' ''person'' = '''wêir''' ''water'', rhyming with '''êar''', '''hêar''' and '''fêar
'''Wêar''' ''River'' = '''Wêir''' ''person'' = '''wêir''' ''water'', rhyming with '''êar''', '''hêar''' and '''fêar


'''wéars''' ''clothes'' = '''wâres''' ''shop''
'''wêaried''' ''weary''
 
'''wéaring'''
 
'''wéars''' ''clothes'' = '''wãres''' ''shop''


'''wêary
'''wêary
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'''wéb''' ''net'' = '''Wébb''' ''person
'''wéb''' ''net'' = '''Wébb''' ''person
'''Wèbern''' *Vâybërn, Vâybən


'''wébsite''' one word  
'''wébsite''' one word  
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'''wélcome''' = '''Wéllcome
'''wélcome''' = '''Wéllcome
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Wéllbeck '''''Ouellebecq
'''Wélles''' ''Orson'' = '''Wélls''' = '''wélls'''


'''wén''' ''lump'' = BrE '''whén''' ''time''
'''wén''' ''lump'' = BrE '''whén''' ''time''
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'''whereás''' one word, *wéəráz  
'''whereás''' one word, *wéəráz  
'''wheréver'''


'''whérewithål
'''whérewithål
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'''whîlst
'''whîlst
'''whímper''' cf. '''wímp'''


'''whîne''' ''moan'' BrE = '''wîne''' ''drink
'''whîne''' ''moan'' BrE = '''wîne''' ''drink
Line 228: Line 255:
'''whínge''' -nj, cf. '''wíng
'''whínge''' -nj, cf. '''wíng


'''whïrl
'''whïrl''' ''round'' = '''whörl''' ''spiral''


'''whïrlwind''' one word  
'''whïrlwind''' one word  
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'''who''' ''person'' *hoô, cf. '''WHO''' ''World Health Organisation'' *doúble-yoû-âitch-ô
'''who''' ''person'' *hoô, cf. '''WHO''' ''World Health Organisation'' *doúble-yoû-âitch-ô
'''whôa''' ''stop'' BrE = '''wôe''' ''sad''


'''whodúnit''', '''whodúnnit''' *hudúnnit, after [[Cockney]] "who done it?"  
'''whodúnit''', '''whodúnnit''' *hudúnnit, after [[Cockney]] "who done it?"  
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'''whŏre''' ''prostitute'' = '''hŏar''' ''frost'' = '''Hŏare''' ''person'' = AmE '''hórror
'''whŏre''' ''prostitute'' = '''hŏar''' ''frost'' = '''Hŏare''' ''person'' = AmE '''hórror
'''whörl''' ''spiral'' = '''whïrl''' ''round''


'''whose''' ''belonging'' = '''who's''' ''who is/has'' *hoôz: as with the more notorious '''íts''' ''of it'' and '''ít's''' ''it is/has''  
'''whose''' ''belonging'' = '''who's''' ''who is/has'' *hoôz: as with the more notorious '''íts''' ''of it'' and '''ít's''' ''it is/has''  
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'''wìêld''' = '''Wêald''', cf. '''wêir''', '''wêird
'''wìêld''' = '''Wêald''', cf. '''wêir''', '''wêird
'''wîfî'''


'''wíg''' ''head'' = BrE '''Whíg''' ''politics''
'''wíg''' ''head'' = BrE '''Whíg''' ''politics''
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'''Wígan
'''Wígan


'''WíkiLeaks''' (note "[[camel case]]")
'''wíkì''' rhymes with '''stícky'''
 
'''WíkiLeaks''': "[[camel case]]" '''L'''


'''Wikipêdia''': capital '''W
'''Wikipêdia''': capital '''W
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'''wíll''' ''verb'' = '''Wíll''' ''William''
'''wíll''' ''verb'' = '''Wíll''' ''William''
'''will-o'-the-wísp''' *wíllədhə-wísp
'''Wíllesden''' *Wílsdon


'''wílly-nílly'''
'''wílly-nílly'''


'''wîly''' ''cunning'' = '''Wŷlie'''
'''wîly''' ''cunning'' = '''Wŷlie'''
'''wímp''' cf. '''whímper'''


'''wînd''' ''round''
'''wînd''' ''round''
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'''wók
'''wók
'''Wôking


'''wol'''- usually = '''woòl''' *wùl
'''wol'''- usually = '''woòl''' *wùl
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'''womb''' *woôm, rhymes with '''roôm'''
'''womb''' *woôm, rhymes with '''roôm'''


'''women''' *wímmin
'''women''' *wímmin; some dialects of New Zealand and South Africa = '''woman''' *wùmən


'''wòn''' ''game'' = '''òne''' ''only''
'''wòn''' ''game'' = '''òne''' ''only''


'''wònder''' ''what?'' cf. '''ẁander''' *wónder ''roam''
'''wònder''' ''what?'' cf. '''ẁander''' *wónder ''roam''
'''wònderlánd'''


'''wòndrous
'''wòndrous
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'''wónky
'''wónky


'''wôn’t''' ''will not'' = '''wônt''' ''habit'', cf. '''ẁant''' ''require''
'''wôn't''' ''will not'' = '''wônt''' ''habit'', cf. '''ẁant''' ''require''


'''woòd''' ''tree'' = '''woùld''' ''if''
'''woòd''' ''tree'' = '''woùld''' ''if''
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'''Woòdward''' *Woòdwərd
'''Woòdward''' *Woòdwərd
'''woòf''' ''dog, fabric'' = '''wùff''' ''dog''


'''woòl''' cf. [[Mary Wollstonecraft|'''Wollstonecraft''']], '''Wolsey''', etc., same first vowel sound
'''woòl''' cf. [[Mary Wollstonecraft|'''Wollstonecraft''']], '''Wolsey''', etc., same first vowel sound
'''woòllen''' BrE = AmE '''woòlen'''


'''woòlly''' BrE = AmE '''woòly''' ''wool'' = '''Woòlley''' ''person'', rhyming with '''fùlly
'''woòlly''' BrE = AmE '''woòly''' ''wool'' = '''Woòlley''' ''person'', rhyming with '''fùlly
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'''wŏre''' ''wear'' = '''wår''' ''fight''
'''wŏre''' ''wear'' = '''wår''' ''fight''


'''wörk''' cf. '''wålk''' (a [[British English]] [[minimal pair]])
'''wörk''' makes a [[British English]] [[minimal pair]] with '''wålk''' (BrE *wök and *wŏk)


'''wörkingmán''' in AmE can be one word, BrE '''wörking mán
'''wörkingmán''' in AmE can be one word, BrE '''wörking mán


'''wörld
'''wörld''' makes a BrE [[minimal pair]] with '''wålled'''


'''Wörld Wår II''' ''the Second World War'' *Tû: not '2', but pronounced 'Two'; cf. '''II''' pronounced 'The Second' following the names of monarchs and popes, etc. (similarly with WWI)
'''Wörld Wår II''' ''the Second World War'' *Tû: not '2', but pronounced 'Two'; cf. '''II''' pronounced 'The Second' following the names of monarchs and popes, etc. (similarly with WWI)
Line 438: Line 487:
'''wörst
'''wörst


'''wörsted''' ''worst''
'''wörsted''' ''worst'', ''wool'' -íd
 
'''worsted''' ''cloth'' wû-


'''wörth
'''wörth
Line 491: Line 538:


'''wrôte''' ''write'' = '''rôte''' ''learning''
'''wrôte''' ''write'' = '''rôte''' ''learning''
'''Wrotham''' ''Kent'' *Roôtəm


'''wrúng''' ''wring'' = '''rúng''' ''ring, ladder''
'''wrúng''' ''wring'' = '''rúng''' ''ring, ladder''
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'''wrŷlỳ''' ''wry'' = '''Rîley, Reîlly'''  
'''wrŷlỳ''' ''wry'' = '''Rîley, Reîlly'''  


'''wùff
'''wùff''' ''dog'' = '''woòf''' ''fabric, dog''


'''Wŷatt''' *Wŷət, cf. '''whîte
'''Wŷatt''' *Wŷət, cf. '''whîte

Latest revision as of 22:58, 10 August 2017

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with W. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]

W *dúblyû ("doúble Û"; former US President George W. Bush—son of former President George Bush, who therefore and thereafter became known as George H.W. Bush—likes to be known as Dúbya, a casual pronunciation of the name of the letter)

wácky cf. wháck

ẁad

wâde water = Wâde = wèighed weigh

ẁaffle

wág

*Wagadûgu is spelt Ouagadoûgou, in the French style

Wágner, but *Vàgner for Richard, the composer

wágon ("waggon" is French)

Wahhàbi

wàh-wah

wâin cart = wâne smaller = Wâin = Wâyne

wâil cry = BrE whâle sea

wâist body = wâste spend

wâit time = wèight heavy = Wâite person

wâiter

wâive dismiss = wâve hand, sea

Wâles Welsh = wâils cries = BrE whâles sea

Walésa *Vawénsa

wålk -åk, cf. wörk

wåll

Ẁallace = Ẁallis, rhyming with Hóllis

Wálliams David

Wallônia Wó-

Walloôn Wó-

ẁalrus, wålrus

Wålsåll

Wålsh

Wåltham -təm

wåltz *wålse

ẁan pale *wón cf. wòn win

ẁand

ẁander roam *wónder, BrE = Ẁanda, cf. wònder what?

wâne less = Wâyne Wâin, persons = wâin wagon

ẁannabê person, cf. ẁanna bê want to be, ẁallabỳ

ẁant desire cf. wôn’t will not

wår battle = wŏre wear

wårble

wãrehouse cf. whŏrehouse, h-

wãres market = weãrs clothes

wårhéad one word

Wårhôl

wårm hot cf. wörm wriggle

wårn caution = wŏrn wear = Wårne person

Wårner

wårp

ẁarrant BrE *wórrənt, AmE *wårrənt

ẁarranty cf. guarantêe from same root

wårring

ẁarrior cf. wòrrier

Ẁarrington *Wórrington, cf. Dórrington, Nórrington

wårt

wårthog: accidental t and h pronounced separately

wårtîme one word

Ẁarwick *Wórrick

wãry

ẁas *wóz

ẁash

Ẁashington

ẁasp

wâste loss = wâist body

ẁatchlist one word

ẁatchtòwer one word

wåter cf. Wålter, wâiter

Ẁatson

ẁatt electricity = BrE ẁhat question

ẁattage *wóttij

wâvelength one word

wáxwörk one word

wê us = wêe little, toilet = Wiê = Wìi

wêak feeble = wêek days

wêal mark = BrE whêel traffic

Wêald England = wìêld

wéapon

wéar clothes = BrE whére place

Wêar River = Wêir person = wêir water, rhyming with êar, hêar and fêar

wêaried weary

wéaring

wéars clothes = wãres shop

wêary

wêasel cf. mêasles

wéather cloudy = wéther ram = BrE whéther if

wéb net = Wébb person

Wèbern *Vâybërn, Vâybən

wébsite one word

Wédgwood *Wédgewood, *wéjwùd

Wédnesday Wénz-

wèigh heavy = wây route, manner = BrE whèy curds

wèighed past = wâde water = Wâde

wèight heavy = wâit time

Weîll = vîle disgusting

wêir water = Wêir person = wê’re are, cf. wìêld, fìêld

wêird odd cf. wìêld carry

wélcome = Wéllcome

*Wéllbeck Ouellebecq

Wélles Orson = Wélls = wélls

wén lump = BrE whén time

wëre was = BrE whïrr noise, cf. whére place, wê’re we are

wêrewolf or wêrwolf -wùlf

wéstern west = Wéstern genre

wéther animal = wéather rain = BrE whéther if

wê’ll shall cf. wéll good

wê’re we are, cf. wëre was, whére place

wh- BrE w-, AmE hw-

wháck cf. wácky

whâle sea BrE = wâil cry

whám

ẁhat question BrE = wót jocular = ẁatt electric

whatsoéver

whêedle

whêel round BrE = wêal mark

whêelchair one word

whén time BrE = wén tumour

whére place cf. wëre was

whereás one word, *wéəráz

wheréver

whérewithål

whét appetite BrE = wét water

whéther if BrE = wéather rain = wéther ram

whèy curds BrE = wèigh weight = wây method

whích what BrE = wítch wizard

Whíg Liberal BrE = wíg hair

whîle (a whîle = awhîle, though usage is quite different: see the latter's entry)

whîlst

whímper cf. wímp

whîne moan BrE = wîne drink

whínge -nj, cf. wíng

whïrl round = whörl spiral

whïrlwind one word

whïrr noise BrE = wëre be

whísk

whísker

whískey Bourbon, Canadian, Irish

whísky Scotch

whísper

whíst

whístle *whíssle

whít small = Whít Whitsun BrE = wít humour

whîte colour BrE = Wîght Isle

Whîtehouse person = Whîte Hòuse USA

whîteẁash one word

whíther where BrE = wíther decay

Whítsun -u-

who person *hoô, cf. WHO World Health Organisation *doúble-yoû-âitch-ô

whôa stop BrE = wôe sad

whodúnit, whodúnnit *hudúnnit, after Cockney "who done it?"

whôle all = hôle gap

wholeheàrted, h-, one word

whôlesâle, h-, one word

whôlly completely: both l’s pronounced; ≈ hôly sacred – where only one l is heard

whoôp (= hoôp circle), whoòp; or h-

whoôping-cóugh hoô-

whoòps!

whoòsh rhymes with pùsh

whópping big BrE = Ẁapping London

whŏre prostitute = hŏar frost = Hŏare person = AmE hórror

whörl spiral = whïrl round

whose belonging = who's who is/has *hoôz: as with the more notorious íts of it and ít's it is/has

whŷ reason AmE *hwŷ; BrE = Wŷe river

*wích: a very common misspelling, especially by non-anglophones, of whích, perhaps influenced by the spelling of wíth, and maybe also by Ípswich, etc.

Wíchitå

wícked evil *wíckíd cf. wíki

wícked wick *wíct

Wíckham = Wýcombe *Wíkəm

wîdespréad one word

Wídnes makes a minimal pair with wítness

wìêld = Wêald, cf. wêir, wêird

wîfî

wíg head = BrE Whíg politics

Wígan

wíkì rhymes with stícky

WíkiLeaks: "camel case" L

Wikipêdia: capital W

wîld càrd cards, sport two words

wîldcard computing one word

wîldcát adjective one word

wíldebeest *wíldəbêast

wílderness

wîles stratagems cf. whîle during

wílful in AmE can be wíllful, which is unusual: in most words it is the BrE spelling which has the double l before a suffix, as in dîalling

wíll verb = Wíll William

will-o'-the-wísp *wíllədhə-wísp

Wíllesden *Wílsdon

wílly-nílly

wîly cunning = Wŷlie

wímp cf. whímper

wînd round

wínd blow

wíndbag one word

Wíndsor *Wínzər

wîne drink = BrE whîne moan

wínter = Wíntour

wîred makes a minimal pair with wêird

Wísbêch *Wízbêech

Wiscónsin

wîsecrack one word

wísp

wít humour = BrE whít small = BrE Whít Whitsun

wítch wizard = BrE whích what

wítch-húnt may appear without its hyphen: wítchhúnt

wíther decay = BrE whíther where

withhéld second h aspirated

withhôld second h aspirated

withín one word

withòut one word

Wodehouse PG = Woòdhouse Emma, etc.

wôe sad = BrE whôa horse, cf. wòw surprise

wók

Wôking

wol- usually = woòl *wùl

wolf *wùlf = Woòlf, Wolf, Wolfe, Woòlfe persons

Wollstonecraft Mary Woòl-

Wolseley *Wùlzly

Wolsey *Wùlzy

woman *wùmən

womb *woôm, rhymes with roôm

women *wímmin; some dialects of New Zealand and South Africa = woman *wùmən

wòn game = òne only

wònder what? cf. ẁander *wónder roam

wònderlánd

wòndrous

wónky

wôn't will not = wônt habit, cf. ẁant require

woòd tree = woùld if

Woòdàrd

Woòdward *Woòdwərd

woòf dog, fabric = wùff dog

woòl cf. Wollstonecraft, Wolsey, etc., same first vowel sound

woòllen BrE = AmE woòlen

woòlly BrE = AmE woòly wool = Woòlley person, rhyming with fùlly

Worcester England = Woòster Bertie *Wùster

wörd cf. wård

wŏre wear = wår fight

wörk makes a British English minimal pair with wålk (BrE *wök and *wŏk)

wörkingmán in AmE can be one word, BrE wörking mán

wörld makes a BrE minimal pair with wålled

Wörld Wår II the Second World War *Tû: not '2', but pronounced 'Two'; cf. II pronounced 'The Second' following the names of monarchs and popes, etc. (similarly with WWI)

wŏrldwide one word

wörm

wòrry BrE; AmE wörry

wörse

wörship cf. wårship

wörst

wörsted worst, wool -íd

wörth

woùld if = woòd tree

woùld-bê adjective hyphenated

woûnd injury

wòund wînd

wòw excitement cf. wôe depression

wráck pain = ráck frame, stretch

wrâith ghost = Râith Rovers

wráp parcel = ráp knock, speak

ẁrath anger BrE = Róth person; AmE wráth

wrêak make = rêek smell, cf. wréck collapse, réckless careless

wrêath noun unvoiced th as in bréath, different vowel sound

wrêathe verb voiced th, as in brêathe

wréck cf. réckless

wrécks = Réx

wrést wrestle = rést repose

wrétch miserable = rétch vomit

Wréxham

wrîght artesan as in plâywright; = Wrîght person = wrîte letter = rîght side, correct = rîte ritual

wríng squeeze = ríng finger, bell

wrínkle cf. ránkle

wrîte written = wrîght etc.

wróngdoing noun one word, *róngdûing

wróng-foòt verb

wrôte write = rôte learning

Wrotham Kent *Roôtəm

wrúng wring = rúng ring, ladder

wrŷ humour = rŷe crop

wrŷlỳ wry = Rîley, Reîlly

wùff dog = woòf fabric, dog

Wŷatt *Wŷət, cf. whîte

Wýcombe High = Wíckham West

Wŷe river = BrE whŷ reason

Wýndham

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