The technical name for the 'ef' sound, regardless of the letter or letter combination that produces it, is a 'voiceless labiodental fricative'.
But it can also just be called the 'ef' sound!
'ph': The letter combination 'ph' is an example of a digraph, which means a combination of two letters to make one sound.
Every letter or letter combination that makes just one sound is called a phoneme. The name of the 'ph' sound when the ph signifies an 'ef' sound is described as 'phoneme /f/', which is pronounced 'phoneme ef'.
(In some words the digraph 'ph' is pronounced as a 'v', e.g. Stephen. In this case it is called 'phoneme /v/', i.e. 'phoneme vee.' The sound of a 'v' is called a 'voiced labiodental fricative.)
The spelling of English words with 'ph' to represent the 'f' sound comes from the Greek letter Phi Φ
For more information, see Related links below.
Some English words that contain 'ph' pronounced as 'f':
Some English words that contain the letter combination 'ph' that is NOT pronounced as 'f':
(Relatively) Common Words Beginning with Ph (F-sound)
phalange, phalanges
phalanx, phalanxes
phallic
phallus, phalluses
phantasm, phantasms
phantasmagoria
phantasmagoric
phantasmal
phantasmic
phantom, phantoms
pharaoh, pharaohs
pharisee, pharisees
pharmaceutical, pharmaceuticals
pharmacy, pharmacies
pharmacist, pharmacists
pharmacologic
pharmacological
pharmacologically
pharmacology, pharmacologies
pharmacologist, pharmacologists
pharmacopeial
pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeias
pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapies
pharyngitis
pharynx, pharynxes
phase, phases, phased
phasic
phasing
phat
pheasant, pheasants
phenom
phenomena
phenomenal
phenomenalism, phenomenalisms
phenomenalist, phenomenalists
phenomenalistic
phenomenalistically
phenomenally
phenomenological
phenomenologically
phenomenology, phenomenologies
phenomenologist, phenomenologists
phenomenon, phenomenons
phenoms
phenothiazine, phenothiazines
phenotype, phenotypes
phenotypic
phenotypical
phenotypically
phenoxide, phenoxides
phenoxy
phenytoin, phenytoins
pheochromocytoma, pheochromocytomas
pheromonal
pheromone, pheromones
phew
philander, philanders
philandered
philanderer, philanderers
philandering
philanthropic
philanthropical
philanthropically
philanthropy, philanthropies
philanthropist, philanthropists
philatelies
philatelist, philatelists
philharmonic, philharmonics
philistine, philistines
philodendra
philodendron, philodendrons
philosopher, philosophers
philosophic
philosophical
philosophically
philosophy, philosophies
philosophise, philosophises, philosophised
philosophising
philosophize, philosophizes, philosophized
philosophizer, philosophizers
philosophizing
philtrum
phiz, phizes
phlebitis
phlebotomy, phlebotomies
phlebotomist, phlebotomists
phlegm, phlegms
phlegmatic
phlegmy
phlox, phloxes
phobia, phobias
phobic, phobics
phoebe, phoebes
phoebus, phoebuses
phoenix, phoenixes
phone, phones, phoned
phonetic, phonetics
phoney, phoneys, phonies, phonier, phoniest
phoneyed, phonied
phoneying, phonying
phonic, phonics
phonily
phoniness, phoninesses
phoning
phooey
phosphate, phosphates
phosphor, phosphors
phosphoresce, phosphoresces
phosphoresced
phosphorescence, phosphorescences
phosphorescent
phosphorescently
phosphorescing
phosphorous
phosphorus, phosphoruses
photo, photos
photocell, photocells
photochemical, photochemicals
photochrome
photoconductive
photocopier, photocopiers
photocopy, photocopies, photocopied
photocopying
photoed
photofinisher, photofinishers
photofinishing, photofinishings
photog, photogs
photogenic
photogenically
photograph, photographs, photographed
photographer, photographers
photographic
photographically
Photography, photographies
photographing
photoing
photojournalism, photojournalisms
photojournalist, photojournalists
photojournalistic
photometric, photometrics
photon, photons
photonegative, photonegatives
photonic, photonics
photophobic
photopositive
photoproduction, photoproductions
photoreaction, photoreactions
photosensitive
photosensitivity, photosensitivities
photostat, photostats, photostated, photostatted
photosyntheses
photosynthesis
photosynthesize, photosynthesizes, photosynthesized
phrase, phrases, phrased
phraseology
phrasing, phrasings
phrenetic
phrenic
phrenology, phrenologies
phrenologist, phrenologists
phyla
phylaxis, phylaxises
phyllo, phyllos
phylum
physed, physeds
physiatrist, physiatrists
physic, physics
physical, physicals
physicality
physically
physicalness, physicalnesses
physician, physicians
physicist, physicists
physiography, physiographies
physiologic
physiological
physiologically
physiology, physiologies
physiologist, physiologists
physiopathologic
physiopathological
physiopathology, physiopathologies
physiotherapies
physiotherapist, physiotherapists
physiotherapy
physique, physiques
A somewhat longer list
phaeton
phaetons
phage, phages
phagocyte, phagocytes
phalange, phalanges
phalangeal
phalanger, phalangers
phalanstery
phalanx, phalanxes
phalli
phallic
phallus, phalluses
phantasm, phantasms
phantasmagoria
phantasmagoric
phantasmal
phantasmic
phantom, phantoms
pharaoh, pharaohs
pharisaic
pharisee, pharisees
pharmaceutical, pharmaceuticals
pharmacy, pharmacies
pharmacist, pharmacists
pharmacologic
pharmacological
pharmacologically
pharmacology, pharmacologies
pharmacologist, pharmacologists
pharmacopeial
pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeias
pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapies
pharos
pharyngeal
pharynges
pharyngitis
pharynx, pharynxes
phase, phases, phased
phasic
phasing
phasis
phat
pheasant, pheasants
phellem, phellems
phelloderm, phelloderms
phellogen, phellogens
phelonia
phelonion, phelonions
phenacaine, phenacaines
phenacetin, phenacetins
phenacite, phenacites
phenakite, phenakites
phenanthrene, phenanthrenes
phenate, phenates
phenazin, phenazins
phenazine, phenazines
pheneticists
phenetics
phenetol, phenetols
phenobarbital, phenobarbitals
phenocopy, phenocopies
phenocryst, phenocrysts
phenocrystic
phenol, phenols
phenolate, phenolates, phenolated
phenolic, phenolics
phenological
phenologically
phenology, phenologies
phenom
phenomena
phenomenal
phenomenalism, phenomenalisms
phenomenalist, phenomenalists
phenomenalistic
phenomenalistically
phenomenally
phenomenological
phenomenologically
phenomenology, phenomenologies
phenomenologist, phenomenologists
phenomenon, phenomenons
phenoms
phenothiazine, phenothiazines
phenotype, phenotypes
phenotypic
phenotypical
phenotypically
phenoxide, phenoxides
phenoxy
phenytoin, phenytoins
pheochromocytoma, pheochromocytomas
pheromonal
pheromone, pheromones
phew
phi
phial
phials
philabeg, philabegs
philadelphus, philadelphuses
philander, philanders
philandered
philanderer, philanderers
philandering
philanthropic
philanthropical
philanthropically
philanthropy, philanthropies
philanthropist, philanthropists
philatelic
philatelically
philatelies
philatelist, philatelists
philately
philharmonic, philharmonics
philibeg, philibegs
philippic, philippics
philistine, philistines
philistinism, philistinisms
phillumenist, phillumenists
philodendra
philodendron, philodendrons
philological
philologically
philologies
philologist, philologists
philology
philomel, philomels
philoprogenitive
philoprogenitiveness, philoprogenitivenesses
philosophe, philosophes
philosopher, philosophers
philosophic
philosophical
philosophically
philosophy, philosophies
philosophise, philosophises, philosophised
philosophising
philosophize, philosophizes, philosophized
philosophizer, philosophizers
philosophizing
philter, philters
philtered
philtering
philtra
philtrum
phimoses
phimosis
phimotic
phis
phiz, phizes
phlebitis
phlebogram, phlebograms
phlebotomy, phlebotomies
phlebotomist, phlebotomists
phlegm, phlegms
phlegmatic
phlegmatically
phlegmier
phlegmiest
phlegmy
phloem, phloems
phlogistic
phlogiston, phlogistons
phlogopite, phlogopites
phlox, phloxes
phobia, phobias
phobic, phobics
phocine
phoebe, phoebes
phoebus, phoebuses
phoenix, phoenixes
phon
phonal
phonate, phonates, phonated
phonating
phonation, phonations
phone, phones, phoned
phonematic
phoneme, phonemes
phonemic, phonemics
phonemically
phonemicist, phonemicists
phonetic, phonetics
phonetically
phonetician, phoneticians
phoney, phoneys, phonies, phonier, phoniest
phoneyed, phonied
phoneying, phonying
phonic, phonics
phonically
phonily
phoniness, phoninesses
phoning
phono, phonos
phonogram, phonograms
phonogramic
phonogramically
phonogrammic
phonogrammically
phonograph, phonographs
phonographer, phonographers
phonographic
phonographically
phonography, phonographies
phonolite, phonolites
phonologic
phonological
phonologically
phonology, phonologies
phonologist, phonologists
phonon, phonons
phonos
phonotactic, phonotactics
phons
phooey
phorate, phorates
phoronid, phoronids
phosgene, phosgenes
phosphate, phosphates
phosphatize, phosphatizes, phosphatized
phosphatizing
phosphaturia, phosphaturias
phosphene, phosphenes
phosphid, phosphids
phosphide, phosphides
phosphin, phosphins
phosphine, phosphines
phosphite, phosphites
phosphokinase, phosphokinases
phospholipase, phospholipases
phospholipid, phospholipids
phosphonium, phosphoniums
phosphoprotein, phosphoproteins
phosphor, phosphors
phosphore, phosphores
phosphoresce, phosphoresces
phosphoresced
phosphorescence, phosphorescences
phosphorescent
phosphorescently
phosphorescing
phosphoric, phosphorics
phosphorite, phosphorites
phosphoritic
phosphorolyses
phosphorolysis
phosphorolytic
phosphorous
phosphorus, phosphoruses
phosphoryl
phosphorylase, phosphorylases
phosphorylate, phosphorylates, phosphorylated
phosphorylating
phosphorylation, phosphorylations
phosphorylative
phosphoryls
phot
photic, photics
photically
photo, photos
photoautotroph, photoautotrophs
photoautotrophic
photoautotrophically
photobiologic
photobiological
photobiology, photobiologies
photobiologist, photobiologists
photocathode, photocathodes
photocell, photocells
photochemical, photochemicals
photochemically
photochemist, photochemists
photochemistry, photochemistries
photochromic
photochromism, photochromisms
photocoagulation, photocoagulations
photocompose, photocomposes, photocomposed
photocomposer, photocomposers
photocomposing
photocomposition, photocompositions
photoconductive
photoconductivity, photoconductivities
photocopier, photocopiers
photocopy, photocopies, photocopied
photocopying
photocurrent, photocurrents
photodecomposition, photodecompositions
photodegradable
photodetector, photodetectors
photodiode, photodiodes
photodisintegrate, photodisintegrates, photodisintegrated
photodisintegrating
photodisintegration, photodisintegrations
photodissociate, photodissociates, photodissociated
photodissociating
photodissociation, photodissociations
photoduplicate, photoduplicates, photoduplicated
photoduplicating
photoduplication, photoduplications
photodynamic, photodynamics
photodynamically
photoed
photoelectric, photoelectrics
photoelectrically
photoelectron, photoelectrons
photoelectronic
photoemission, photoemissions
photoemissive
photoengrave, photoengraves, photoengraved
photoengraver, photoengravers
photoengraving, photoengravings
photoexcitation, photoexcitations
photoexcite, photoexcited
photofinisher, photofinishers
photofinishing, photofinishings
photoflash, photoflashes
photoflood, photofloods
photofluorography, photofluorographies
photog, photogs
photogenic
photogenically
photogeologic
photogeological
photogeology, photogeologies
photogeologist, photogeologists
photogram, photograms
photogrammetric
photogrammetrist, photogrammetrists
photogrammetry, photogrammetries
photograph, photographs, photographed
photographer, photographers
photographic
photographically
photography, photographies
photographing
photogravure, photogravures
photoinduced
photoinduction, photoinductions
photoinductive
photoing
photointerpretation, photointerpretations
photointerpreter, photointerpreters
photoionization, photoionizations
photoionize, photoionizes, photoionized
photoionizing
photojournalism, photojournalisms
photojournalist, photojournalists
photojournalistic
photokineses
photokinesis
photokinetic
photolithograph, photolithographs, photolithographed
photolithographic, photolithographics
photolithographically
photolithographing
photolithography, photolithographies
photolyses
photolysis
photolytic, photolytics
photolytically
photolyzable
photolyze, photolyzes, photolyzed
photolyzing
photomap, photomaps, photomapped
photomapping
photomask, photomasks
photomechanical
photomechanically
photometer, photometers
photometric, photometrics
photometrically
photometry, photometries
photomicrograph, photomicrographs
photomicrographic
photomicrography, photomicrographies
photomontage, photomontages
photomorphogeneses
photomorphogenesis
photomorphogenic
photomosaic, photomosaics
photomultiplier, photomultipliers
photomural, photomurals
photon, photons
photonegative, photonegatives
photonic, photonics
photonuclear
photooxidation, photooxidations
photooxidative
photooxidize, photooxidizes, photooxidized
photooxidizing
photoperiod, photoperiods
photoperiodic
photoperiodically
photoperiodism, photoperiodisms
photophase, photophases
photophobia, photophobias
photophobic
photophore, photophores
photophosphorylation, photophosphorylations
photopia, photopias
photopic
photoplay, photoplays
photopolarimeter, photopolarimeters
photopolymer, photopolymers
photopositive
photoproduct, photoproducts
photoproduction, photoproductions
photoreaction, photoreactions
photoreactivating
photoreactivation, photoreactivations
photoreception, photoreceptions
photoreceptive
photoreceptor, photoreceptors
photoreconnaissance, photoreconnaissances
photoreduce, photoreduces, photoreduced
photoreducing
photoreduction, photoreductions
photoreproduction, photoreproductions
photoresist, photoresists
photorespiration, photorespirations
photosensitive
photosensitivity, photosensitivities
photosensitization, photosensitizations
photosensitize, photosensitizes, photosensitized
photosensitizer, photosensitizers
photosensitizing
photoset, photosets
photosetter, photosetters
photosetting
photosphere, photospheres
photospheric
photostat, photostats, photostated, photostatted
photostatic
photostating
photostatting
photosyntheses
photosynthesis
photosynthesize, photosynthesizes, photosynthesized
photosynthesizing
photosynthetic
photosynthetically
photosystem, photosystems
phototactic
phototactically
phototaxes
phototaxis
phototelegraphy, phototelegraphies
phototoxic
phototoxicity, phototoxicities
phototropic
phototropically
phototropism, phototropisms
phototube, phototubes
phototypesetter, phototypesetters
phototypesetting
phototypesettings
phots
phpht
phrasal
phrasally
phrase, phrases, phrased
phraseological
phraseologies
phraseologist
phraseologists
phraseology
phrasing, phrasings
phratral
phratric
phratry, phratries
phreatic
phreatophyte, phreatophytes
phreatophytic
phrenetic
phrenic
phrenological
phrenology, phrenologies
phrenologist, phrenologists
phthisic, phthisics
phthisical
phthisis, phthises
phut, phuts
phycological
phycologist, phycologists
phycology, phycologies
phycomycete, phycomycetes
phycomycetous
phyla
phylactery, phylacteries
phylae
phylar
phylaxis, phylaxises
phyle, phyleses
phylesis, phylesises
phyletic
phyletically
phylic, phyllaries
phyllary
phyllite, phyllites
phyllo, phyllos
phylloclade, phylloclades
phyllode, phyllodes
phyllodia
phyllodium
phylloid, phylloids
phyllome, phyllomes
phyllotactic
phyllotaxis, phyllotaxes
phyllotaxy, phyllotaxies
phylogenetic
phylogenetically
phylogeny, phylogenies
phylon
phylum
physed, physeds
physes
physiatrist, physiatrists
physic, physics
physical, physicals
physicalism, physicalisms
physicalist, physicalists
physicalistic
physicalities
physicality
physically
physicalness, physicalnesses
physician, physicians
physicist, physicists
physicked
physicking
physicochemical
physicochemically
physiocratic
physiognomic
physiognomical
physiognomically
physiognomy, physiognomies
physiographer, physiographers
physiographic, physiographics
physiographical
physiography, physiographies
physiologic
physiological
physiologically
physiology, physiologies
physiologist, physiologists
physiopathologic
physiopathological
physiopathology, physiopathologies
physiotherapies
physiotherapist, physiotherapists
physiotherapy
physique, physiques
physis
phytochemical, phytochemicals
phytochemically
phytochemist, phytochemists
phytochemistries
phytochemistry
phytochrome, phytochromes
phytoflagellate, phytoflagellates
phytogeographer, phytogeographers
phytogeographic
phytogeographical
phytogeographically
phytogeographies
phytogeography
phytoid
phytol, phytols
phyton, phytons
phytonic
phytopathogen, phytopathogens
phytopathogenic
phytopathological
phytopathology, phytopathologies
phytophagous
phytoplankton, phytoplanktons
phytoplanktonic
phytosociological
phytosociology, phytosociologies
phytosterol, phytosterols
phytotoxic
phytotoxicity, phytotoxicities
* phone * photo * phantasm * pharmacy * Pharaoh * phase * phobia
words beginning with S, ending with F: * staff * snuff * surf * stiff * stuff * spoof * scarf * scruff * scuff * self * serf * serif * sheriff * sheaf * shelf * sheaf * sniff
· flamingo · football · forecast · frighten · fabulous · faithful · familiar · fatherly · favorite · fearless · feminine · flagrant · flawless · flippant · forceful · freezing · frequent · fruitful
Holding the Guinness world record for the most f words in a game is Mafia 2. with over 1.5 million f words said through-out the entire game.
faro
What you are seeking is called a "euphemism"-- a polite way to say something that is considered a "bad" word. The most common euphemism these days is "the F bomb." (In radio, disc jockeys are often reminded not to "drop the F bomb" while on the air.) Some people also use "fudge," or they hint about the word-- "the word that begins with F and rhymes with truck."
bargraph, autograph, pictograph
paragraph
graph, telegraph, phonograph, glyph, tough, rough, enough, cough, slough, trough
'Sound like F' Ph WordsSome words that are spelled with a pH that sounds like an f are: pharmacyphenolphialphlebotomyphonephrasephysical
Some five letter words beginning with F are:favorfirstfaithfilthfloorflameflukeframefrailforgefurorflood
Nothing in ancient greek starts with an "f". Tyhe Greeks had no letter "f", instead they had "phi" which is like the "pH" sound at the beginning of "philosophy". Many words begun with "pH" Love - philos fear - phobos light - photos
Some Halloween words beginning with F are:funfairiesfudgefirelightfrightfulfavorsfall
cough, enough, rough, tough, ...
phraseamphitheatregraphamphoraphotodolphin
Some words that start and end with letter F are:fallofffireproofflagstafffluffflyleaffoodstufffoolproof
cafe, fife, giraffe, life, knife, safe, wife
fiduciaryfragmentaryfunctionary