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Homophone: meaning, definitions and examples

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homophone

 

[ ˈhɒməfoʊn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

linguistics, sound

A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning, and often different spelling. They can create confusion in spoken language and are frequently used in puns and jokes.

Synonyms

same-sounding word, sound-alike

Examples of usage

  • The words 'two', 'to', and 'too' are homophones.
  • She couldn’t tell the difference between the homophones 'bare' and 'bear'.
  • In poetry, homophones can be used cleverly to create rhyme.
  • The teacher explained the homophones that often confuse students.
  • He made a mistake using a homophone during his presentation.

Translations

Translations of the word "homophone" in other languages:

🇵🇹 homófono

🇮🇳 समध्वनि

🇩🇪 Homophon

🇮🇩 homofon

🇺🇦 омофон

🇵🇱 homofon

🇯🇵 同音異義語

🇫🇷 homophone

🇪🇸 homófono

🇹🇷 eşses

🇰🇷 동음이의어

🇸🇦 المتجانسات الصوتية

🇨🇿 homofon

🇸🇰 homofón

🇨🇳 同音异义词

🇸🇮 homofon

🇮🇸 hómófón

🇰🇿 гомофон

🇬🇪 ჰომოფონი

🇦🇿 homofon

🇲🇽 homófono

Etymology

The term 'homophone' is derived from the Greek words 'homo', meaning 'same', and 'phone', meaning 'voice' or 'sound'. The concept has roots in the study of linguistics and phonetics, where the focus is on the sounds of words and their meanings. These types of words have been recognized in language studies for centuries, as they play a significant role in spoken language and can often lead to humorous or ambiguous situations when used in conversation. The recognition of homophones has become increasingly important in education, particularly in teaching reading and writing, helping students to differentiate between words that sound the same but have different meanings or spellings. This is crucial in developing language skills and understanding nuances in communication.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,656, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.