homophone

homophone, one of two or more words that sound the same but have distinctly different meanings. Homophones may be spelled differently, as in the words here and hear, or identically, as in the different meanings of the word bat, which can be defined as a stout stick or club or as a nocturnal flying mammal. The term homophone derives from the Greek words homos, meaning “same,” and phōnē, meaning “sound.”

Homophones can be confusing for those trying to learn a new language and for native speakers alike. Some commonly confused homophones are your (the possessive form of the pronoun you) and you’re (a contraction of you are); compliment (an expression of praise) and complement (something that completes or enhances); it’s (a contraction for it is) and its (the possessive form of the pronoun it); and the homophones brake (a device used to slow something down or stop movement) and break (an interruption of continuity or conformity).

English speakers sometimes confuse the distinct terms homophone, homograph, and homonym, which begin with the homo- prefix and refer to words that are similar in some way. Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, and, in some instances, different pronunciations, such as the noun wind (the natural movement of air) and the verb wind (to turn completely or repeatedly around an object). The term homonym, which refers to any two similar words that differ in meaning, may be used to refer to either homophones or homographs. However, some scholars suggest that its use should be restricted to words that are spelled the same but have both different pronunciations and different meanings, such as the words lead (a heavy metallic element) and lead (to guide or direct).