What words have pH in the beginning sounded as f?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Some English words that contain 'ph' pronounced as 'f':

• aphid
• cephalopod
• dolphin
• graph
• nephew
• phantom
• pharmacy
• phobia
• phone
• phonetic
• telephone
• zephyr

Some English words that contain the letter combination 'ph' that is NOT pronounced as 'f':

• haphazard
• slaphappy

Answer 3

(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

Answer 4

* phone * photo * phantasm * pharmacy * Pharaoh * phase * phobia

Answer 5

• phone
• phony
• phonic
• photo