Know Your English (May 2001)

Know your English

What is the difference between ``homophone'' and ``homonym''?

In everyday contexts these two words are used interchangeably. But there is a difference in meaning between the two. The word ``homophone'' comes from the Greek ``homo'' meaning ``same'' and ``phone'' meaning ``sound''. Strictly speaking therefore, the word homophone is used to refer to words which sound alike, although they have a different spelling and meaning. Here are a few examples: mail, male; wear, ware; metal, mettle; etc. A homonym, on the other hand, is used to refer to words which have the same spelling and pronunciation but have a different meaning. For example May (month), may (possibility); can (be able), can (put something in container); bear (the animal), bear (to carry). As I mentioned earlier, this distinction is seldom maintained in everyday conversation. People in general tend to use ``homonym'' to mean ``homophone''.
A note about the pronunciation. The first ``o'' in both the words is pronounced like the ``o'' in ``hot'', ``pot'', and ``got''. The second ``o'' is like the ``a'' in ``China''. It's the first syllable which has the stress in both words. This is one way of pronouncing the words.


Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, May 01, 2001