LoginThe Letter C
"C" is the third letter in the English alphabet. It is a consonant in the English language.
Consonants are the letters that are produced by stopping the letter from flowing easily.
Uppercase Form | C |
|---|---|
Lowercase Form | c |
Name | si (pronounced /ˈsi:/) |
Common Sounds | /s/, /k/, /Ø/, /ʃ/ |
The Letter C: Sounds
Common Sounds
In English, the letter "c" mainly has four sounds:
Sound 1: /s/
"c" before "e," "i," and "y" mainly sounds /s/:
city /ˈsɪt̬.i/
certificate /sɚˈtɪf.ə.kət/
cinema /ˈsɪn.ə.mə/
cylinder /ˈsɪl.ɪn.dɚ/
Sound 2: /k/
"c" before other vowels has the /k/ sound:
car /kɑːr/
cactus /ˈkæk.təs/
camp /kæmp/
Sound 3: /Ø/
"c" can be silent too:
indict /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
Tucson /ˈtuːsɒn/
Connecticut /kəˈnɛt.ɪ.kət/
Sound 4: /ʃ/
There are also a few instances in English where "c" can produce a /ʃ/ sound:
ocean /ˈoʊ.ʃən/
social /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
sufficient /səˈfɪʃənt/
Tip!
The letter "c" is pronounced as /tʃ/ primarily in words borrowed from Italian or Latin. This pronunciation is uncommon in English and generally appears only in specific loanwords:
cello /ˈtʃɛloʊ/
cappuccino /ˌkæpəˈtʃinoʊ/
The Letter C: Multigraphs
Letter "c" can sometimes be combined with other vowels or consonants to produce a different sound:
cc
"cc" before "i," "e," and "y" generally represents /ks/:
accident /ˈæk.sə.dənt/
succeed /səkˈsiːd/
coccyx /ˈkɑːk.sɪks/
ch
"ch" commonly has three sounds:
/tʃ/
/ʃ/
/k/
1. "c" in combination with "h" generally represents /tʃ/:
torch /tɔːrtʃ/
church /tʃɝːtʃ/
chop /tʃɑːp/
cheer /tʃɪr/
2. "ch" also has the /ʃ/ sound in French loanwords:
machine /məˈʃiːn/
moustache /ˈmʌs.tæʃ/
chef /ʃef/
3. "c" combined with "h" also sounds /k/:
choreography /ˌkɔːr.iˈɑː.ɡrə.fi/
choir /ˈkwaɪ.ɚ/
chord /kɔːrd/
Tip!
Remember that in the word schedule /sk/ is pronounced in American English; however, in British English, "s" is pronounced with "che" as /ʃ/.
schedule /ˈskɛdʒʊl/
ck
"c" in "ck" has the sound /k/, in other words, "ck" sounds /k/:
bucket /ˈbʌk.ɪt/
sock /sɑːk/
duck /dʌk/
sc
"sc" has the sound /s/:
scientist /ˈsaɪən.tɪst/
scent /sent/
sci
"sc" in "sci" has the /ʃ/ sound:
conscious /ˈkɑːn.ʃəs/
luscious /ˈlʌʃ.əs/
conscience /ˈkɑːn.ʃəns/
cqu
"cq" in "cqu" has the sound /k/:
acquire /əˈkwaɪɚ/
acquaint /əˈkweɪnt/
racquet /ˈræk.ɪt/
cio
"c" in "cio" has the /ʃ/ sound:
vicious /ˈvɪʃ.əs/
delicious /dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/
The Letter C: Uses
The letter "C" is also:
An abbreviation used instead of Celsius or centigrade after numbers: 10°C
A computer programming language
A grade or mark at universities like C+ C-
A musical note
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