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Confusing English words

Words that look alike

Pairs like lose and loose or quiet and quite, where one letter changes the meaning and often the sound.

Word pairs

  1. 1Lose vs LooseLose (one o, /luːz/) is a verb: you lose a game or your phone. Loose (two o's, /luːs/) is an adjective meaning not tight.lose /luːz/loose /luːs/
  2. 2Quiet vs QuiteQuiet (two syllables, KWAI-et) means not noisy. Quite (one syllable, rhymes with white) means fairly or rather.quiet /ˈkwaɪət/quite /kwaɪt/
  3. 3Desert vs DessertA desert (DEZ-ert) is a dry, sandy place. A dessert (di-ZERT) is the sweet course after a meal.desert /ˈdezət/dessert /dɪˈzɜːt/
  4. 4Advice vs AdviseAdvice (with c, ending /s/) is the noun: you give or get advice. Advise (with s, ending /z/) is the verb: you advise someone.advice /ədˈvaɪs/advise /ədˈvaɪz/
  5. 5Breath vs BreatheBreath (rhymes with death) is the noun: take a breath. Breathe (rhymes with seethe) is the verb: breathe in and out.breath /breθ/breathe /briːð/
  6. 6Cloth vs ClothesCloth (/klɒθ/) is material or a piece of fabric. Clothes (/kləʊðz/) are the things you wear, and the word is always plural.cloth /klɒθ/clothes /kləʊðz/
  7. 7Choose vs ChoseChoose (/tʃuːz/, rhymes with shoes) is the present: I choose. Chose (/tʃəʊz/, rhymes with nose) is the past: yesterday I chose.choose /tʃuːz/chose /tʃəʊz/
  8. 8Later vs LatterLater (/ˈleɪtə/, LAY-ter) means after some time. Latter (/ˈlætə/, LAT-ter) means the second of two things already mentioned.later /ˈleɪtə/latter /ˈlætə/
  9. 9Adapt vs AdoptAdapt means change to fit something new. Adopt means take something as your own, like a child, a pet or an idea.adapt /əˈdæpt/adopt /əˈdɒpt/
  10. 10Conscious vs ConscienceConscious is an adjective meaning awake or aware. Conscience is a noun: the inner voice that tells you right from wrong.conscious /ˈkɒnʃəs/conscience /ˈkɒnʃəns/
  11. 11Personal vs PersonnelPersonal (PER-son-al) means about one person or private. Personnel (per-son-NEL) means the staff of an organisation.personal /ˈpɜːsənəl/personnel /ˌpɜːsəˈnel/
  12. 12Then vs ThanUse then for time or order (first this, then that). Use than to compare (bigger than, better than).then /ðen/than /ðæn/
  13. 13Through vs Though vs ThoroughThrough (/θruː/) means from one side to the other. Though (/ðəʊ/) means although. Thorough (/ˈθʌrə/) means careful and complete.through /θruː/though /ðəʊ/thorough /ˈθʌrə/
  14. 14Device vs DeviseA device (with c, ending /s/) is a gadget or tool. To devise (with s, ending /z/) is to invent or plan something.device /dɪˈvaɪs/devise /dɪˈvaɪz/
  15. 15Dairy vs DiaryDairy (/ˈdeəri/, rhymes with hairy) means milk products. A diary (/ˈdaɪəri/, DIE-a-ree) is a book for your daily notes or plans.dairy /ˈdeəri/diary /ˈdaɪəri/
  16. 16Angel vs AngleAn angel (/ˈeɪndʒəl/, AIN-jel) is a winged spirit or a very kind person. An angle (/ˈæŋɡəl/) is the space between two lines.angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/angle /ˈæŋɡəl/