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RSSHomonyms, Homophones, Homographs and Heteronyms
There is some confusion and controversy around the definition of homonyms, homophones, homographs and heteronyms. In this article we will explore the difference between those terms.
Homonym comes from the Greek homo which means “same” and onym which means “name.” When we talk about words, however, what should we use to define their names? The spelling or the pronunciation? Probably both. Homonyms, therefore, can be defined as two or more words that share the same spelling, or the same pronunciation, or both, but have different meanings.
Since there are several “types” of homonyms (e.g., same spelling but different pronunciation, same pronunciation but different spelling, same spelling and same pronunciation), further categorization is needed. We can say that homonyms represent the big category, from which 3 sub-categories emerge:
Homophones: two or more words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings. They may or may not be spelled on the same way.
Examples: write and right, desert (to abandon) and desert (a thing deserved)
Homographs: homonyms that share the same spelling. They may or may not have the same pronunciation.
Examples: present (a gift) and present (to introduce), row (argument) and row (propel with oars)
Heteronyms: those are homonyms that share the same spelling but have different pronunciations. That is, they are homographs which are not homophones.
Example: desert (to abandon) and desert (arid region)
Summing up
The Wikipedia article on homonyms has a quite useful graph illustrating all the different combinations. As you can see some homophones are also homographs, and some homographs are also heteronyms.
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Great post – and I love the chart, which makes it easy to tell the difference.
Thanks Sharon. Still I find that there should be a standard definition for those terms.
While the view I used is the most used one, there are sources (even important ones like the Britanica) presenting a different definition.
can i search for the homonyms of a word/s
Do you have any homographs?^,^ I am doing a homework. I need to find 3 homographs. Can u giv me 2 more examples? So far, i have ‘Row’. Please…>
I need lessons in vocabulary in different situations more exercises
Thanks
Djelloul
hey i need 5homographs for a homework.Do u have any?
.,uhm. . . thank you whoever made this article ..it help me a lot… im one of a lot of people who confuses me in their meanings…. i like the graph that summarizes it all…thank you
Thanks for the article.
When I further read the Wikipedia page you referenced, I find your definition of homonym is different from the Wikipedia page you cited.
In particular, your def. of homonyms makes it the super-set of homographs and homophones. The definition in Wikipedia is that homonyms is the intersection of homophones and homographs.
Thanks.
this saite is very nice and i love this sate i hope you to see this siteee
hmMMmm????can u help me to find 10 examples of heteronym and 10 examples of homographs and also 10 examples of homophones for my homework in english111…..plsss help me
I checked in your site hoping to find the difference between homonyms and homophones and ended up getting even more confused.
I wish there was a standard definition which defined things straight.
Can anybody help me by giving 10 words with different meanings(Homonyms) to complete my son’s homework.
Thanks and Regards