User:Hazarasp/idiolect




Here's a series of (mainly phonological) notes on my idiolect (to expand on later).

General information edit

My idiolect is a mildly unusual form of New Zealand English, as such, it has the following features:

  • It is non-rhotic, with linking r (though not consistently)
  • It has L-vocalisation (though not 100% consistently). Several mergers (still in progress) between the resulting vowels exist.
  • It has the near-square merger (i.e. the vowels in those two words are the same)
  • The wine-whine merger is pretty much complete in most NZE nowadays.

Certain features make it notable within New Zealand English:

  • It has th-fronting; i.e. three and free are homophones. However, initially former /ð/ is /d/.
  • *-ing* is pronounced /iːn/ (this crops up in a few other lexical items as well).
  • The state of my weak-vowel merger is weird (as indicated by the lexical sets).
  • Before /j/, the nasals /m/ /n/ can be dropped; occasionally words with no etymological nasal acquire one.
  • Final /ɐ/, /ɐː/, /ə/ have mostly fell together. Here, /ə/ is used as a cover symbol (though the actual realisation is quite a bit lower).

Lexical sets edit

If you don't know what a lexical set is; click here.

KIT ə FLEECE əj NEAR
DRESS e FACE aj SQUARE
TRAP æ PALM ɐː START ɐː
LOT ɔ THOUGHT NORTH
STRUT ɐ GOAT ɐw FORCE
FOOT ʊ GOOSE ʉː CURE , øː
BATH ɐː PRICE ɑj happY i
CLOTH ɔ CHOICE oj lettER ə, øː
NURSE øː MOUTH æɤ commA ə, ɐ

Pronunciations to note edit

Non-L-vocalised variants of words are pretty much predictable and will only be mentioned when deserving special notice. I plan to alphabetise this at some point and add sources for some of the words included to it.

Word (in standard English orthography) IPA Notes
pronunciation /pɹəˈnæɤn(t)si.ajʃən/ By analogy with pronounce (other words such as annunciation, denunciation, enunciation, renunciation are more variable).
probably /ˈpɹɔbli/, /ˈpɹɔbəbli/ Occasionally /ˈpɹɔbəli/.
nowadays /ˈnæɤdæjz/ I would usually only used this word in writing.
library /ˈlɑjbɹi/ Occasionally /ˈlɑjbəɹi/ etc.
theater /ˈfiətə/ /ˈfəjətə/ sounds stilted.
theory /ˈfiəɹi/ Homophonous with fairy. /ˈfəjəɹi/ sounds stilted.
natural /ˈnætʃɹuː/ /ˈnætʃəɹuː/ sounds stilted. No, that vowel isn't GOOSE.
police /ˈpləjs/ /pəˈləjs/ sounds stilted/dialectal.
being /ˈbəjn/ Homophonous with been.
swim /ˈswʊm/ Simple past and past participle swum is expected /ˈswɐm/.
shall /ˈʃuː/ Though outside of fixed phrases; I say should or will.
memory /ˈmemɹi/
unfortunately /ɐnˈfoːtʃnətli/ fortunately can have the same syncope.
actual /ˈætʃuː/ Though factual etc. are usually /ˈfækʃuː/.
actually /ˈætʃli/, /ˈækʃli/ /ˈækʃəli/ etc. when stressed.
usual /ˈjʉːʒuː/
usually /ˈjʉːʒli/, /ˈjʉːʒəli/
tomato /təˈmɐːtɐw/, /ˈtmɐːtɐw/ Unstressed/reduced /təˈmɐːtə/, /ˈtmɐːtə/
potato /pəˈtæjtɐw/ Unstressed/reduced /pəˈtæjtə/
mango /ˈmæŋɡɐw/ Unstressed/reduced /ˈmæŋɡə/
diamond /ˈdæjmənd/ Unstressed/reduced /ˈdæjmən/
either /ˈæjvə/, /ˈəjvə/ i.e. either pronunciation works for me (though the first is noticeably more common)
thank /ˈfeŋk/ A case of influence from broader NZE? Though note the nasal environment.
route /ˈɹʉːt/
February /ˈfebjʉːiəɹi/, /ˈfebjəɹi/
often /ˈɔfən/
soften /ˈsɔfən/
so /ˈmɐːvləs/, /ˈmɐːvələs/
envelope /ˈɔnvəlɐwp/ There is some variability in this word for me (between this and /ˈenvəlɐwp/).
schedule /ˈskedʒuː/ There is some variability in this word for me (between this and /ˈʃedʒu/).
garage /ˈɡæɹədʒ/
scone /ˈskɔn/
dynasty /ˈdənəsti/ Unstressed /ˈdənsti/ is theoretically possible, though I haven't noticed it.
quarter /ˈkoːtə/
caramel /ˈkæɹəmuː/
kea /ˈkiə/
missile /ˈməsɑjuː/
vase /ˈvɐːz/
basil /ˈbæzuː/
pasta /ˈpæstə/ Occasionally /ˈpɐːstə/.
medicine /ˈmedəsən/
yoghurt /ˈjɐwɡət/
chorizo /tʃəˈɹəjtsɐw/ I know /ts/ in this word a hyperforeignism, but I don't care.
zebra /ˈzebɹə/
Uranus /jəˈɹæjnəs/, /jʉːˈɹæjnəs/ Never /jʊˈɹæjnəs/, though.
falcon /ˈfæɤkən/ Historically (pre-L-vocalisation) /ˈfælkən/.
almond /ˈæɤmənd/, /ˈɐːmənd/ The first comes from historical (pre-L-vocalisation) /ˈælmənd/.
children /ˈtʃuːdʒɹən/ Or (more formal) /ˈtʃəwdʒɹən/.
cure /ˈkjøː/ Historic /jʊə/ is usually /jøː/; elsewhere historic /ʊə/ is usually /oː/.
tour /ˈtoː/ The inclusion of this word in the FORCE set is unusual for NZE AFAIK.
deity /ˈdəjti/ Earlier /ˈdiːəti/?
diary /ˈdɑjɹi/
sixth /ˈsəkf/
scallop /ˈskɔləp/
vacation /vəˈkæjʃən/
vehicle /ˈvekuː/ Probably earlier /ˈviəku/; the distinction between /iə/ and /e/ can be tenuous in this position.
jewelry /ˈdʒuːri/ L-vocalisation is often resisted in this word (/ˈdʒulri/); I also sometimes say /ˈdʒuləri/ (with replacement of the suffix).
pyjamas /pəˈdʒɐːməz/
controversy /kɔntʃɹəˈvøːsi/
congratulate /kəŋˈɡɹætʃəlæjt/ Also with /dʒ/.
really /ˈɹiəli/
seperate (adjective) /ˈsepɹət/
camera /ˈkæmɹə/
chocolate /ˈtʃɔklət/
nuclear /ˈ(n)jʉːkliə/
privilege /ˈpɹəvlədʒ/
particularly /pəˈtəkjəli/, /ˈpɐtəkjəli/
comparison /kəmˈpæɹəʒən/, /kəmˈpæɹəʃən/ As spelt comparision; by analogy with words ending in -sion, -tion, etc.
finance /ˈfɑjnən(t)s/ The initial stress and concomitant reduction of the second vowel is nearly universal in my speech.
financial /fəˈnænʃuː/
dialect /ˈdɑjəˌlɛk(t)/, /ˈdɑjələk(t)/
learned /ˈløːnd/ Mostly one syllable; note that the past of learn is usually learnt for me.
swank /ˈswɔnk/
wank /ˈwɔnk/
quagmire /ˈkwɔɡmɑjə/
swag /ˈswæɡ/
Quebec /kəˈbek/, /kwəˈbek/
poisonous /ˈpojznəs/, /ˈpojzənəs/
violent /ˈvɑjlənt/ Never 3 syllables
inviolate /ənvɑjəˈlət/, /ənvɑjˈlət/
violate /vɑjˈlajt/, /vɑjəˈlajt/
violation /vɑjˈlajʃən/
women /ˈwʊmən/
pecan /ˈpiːkən/, /ˈpiːkæn/
totally /ˈtɐwtəli/, /ˈtɐwtli/
asterisk (pron. spelling asterix) /ˈæstəɹəks/, /ˈæstʃɹəks/, /ˈæstəɹəsk/ The non-metathesised pronunciation is more formal.
joint /ˈdʒojnt/ Archaising /ˈdʒɑjnt/
government /ˈɡɐvəmənt/, /ˈɡɐvmənt/
governing /ˈɡɐvənin/, /ˈɡɐvnin/
governance /ˈɡɐvənən(t)s/, /ˈɡɐvnən(t)s/
sensitivity /ˈsen(t)səvəti/, /ˈsen(t)sətəvəti/
tertiary /ˈtøːʃəɹi/, /ˈtøːʃɹi/
deteriorate /dəˈtiəɹiæjt/, /dəˈtiəɹi.əɹæjt/
nothing /ˈnɐfin/ When unstressed, optionally /ˈnɐfən/
easily /ˈəjzli/
Bethlehem /ˈbefləm/, /ˈbefləhəm/, /ˈbefləhem/
recognize /ˈɹekənɑjz/ occasionally /ˈɹekəɡnɑjz/
New Zealand /ˈ(n)jʉː zelənd/ Unstressed/reduced /ˈjʉː zelən/
temperature /ˈtempɹətʃə/
average /ˈævɹədʒ/
neighbouring /ˈnæjbɹin/, /ˈnæjbəɹin/ When unstressed, optionally /ˈnæjbɹən/
beware /bəˈwiə/, /ˈbwiə/
century /ˈsentʃɹi/
sentry /ˈsentʃɹi/
emerald /ˈemɹuːd/
category /ˈkætəɡɹi/
fuel /ˈfjuː/
laurel /ˈlɔɹuː/
cauliflower /ˈkɔliflæɤə/
sausage /ˈsɔsədʒ/
caustic /ˈkoːstək/
oh /ˈɔw/, /ˈɐw/ The former (and more common pronunciation) seems to be AmE influence.
battery /ˈbætʃɹi/
aged /ˈæjdʒd/
morning /ˈmoːnin/ rarely unstressed /ˈmoːnən/
mourning /ˈmoːnin/ rarely unstressed /ˈmoːnən/ or /ˈmøːnin/
hierarchy /ˈhɑjɹɐːki/
reliquary /ɹəˈləkwəri/, /ˈɹæləkwəri/, /ˈɹæləkwiəri/ The stress in the first form is due to interpretation of the word as re- + *liquary
economics /ɛkəˈnɔməks/
obeisance /əˈbəjzən(t)s/
Las Vegas /ˈlɔs væjɡəs/
Croat /ˈkɹɐwt/
several /ˈsevruː/
vicissitude /vəˈsəsətʃʉːd/, /vəˈsəstʃʉːd/
just /ˈdʒɐst/, /ˈdʒəs(t)/ The first pronunciation is for the sense "(morally) right"; the second is for the sense "only".
maintenance /ˈmæj(n)tnən(t)s/, /ˈmæjntənən(t)s/
maintain /mənˈtæjn/
properly /ˈpɹɔpli/, /ˈpɹɔpəli/ The trisyllabic form is more formal.
wonderfully /ˈwɐndəfli/
medicinal /məˈdəsnuː/, /məˈdəsənuː/
rational /ˈɹæʃənuː/, /ˈɹæʃnuː/
lateral /ˈlætəɹuː/, /ˈlætʃɹuː/ The second form is almost always found in derived terms such as equilateral, laterally, etc.
equilateral /ˈekwəˌlætʃɹuː/, /ˌekwəˈlætʃɹuː/
laterally /ˈlætʃɹəli/
literal /ˈlətəɹuː/, /ˈlətʃɹuː/ The second form is usually found in derived terms such as literality, literally, etc.
literally /ˈlətʃɹəli/ /ˈlətʃli/ in colloquial rapid speech.
literality /lətʃˈɹæləti/, /ˈlətʃɹæləti/
exactly /ˈəzækli/
directly /dəˈɹek(t)li/
especially /əˈspeʃli/, /əkˈspeʃli/
courteous /ˈkøːtʃəs/, /ˈkøːti.əs/
cabinet /ˈkæbnət/
dangerous /ˈdæjndʒɹəs/
interest /ˈəntʃɹəst/ Unstressed /ˈəntʃɹəs/
interesting /ˈəntʃɹəstin/ Optionally /ˈəntʃɹəstən/ when unstressed
federal /ˈfedʒɹuː/
funeral /ˈfjʉːnɹuː/, /ˈfjʉːnəɹuː/
numeral /ˈ(n)jʉːmɹuː/, /ˈ(n)jʉːməɹuː/
definitely /ˈdefnətli/, /ˈdefənətli/
mystery /ˈməstʃɹi/
seriously /ˈseɹəsli/, /ˈseɹi.əsli/
resurrection /ˈɹəzɹektʃən/, /ˈɹəzəɹe(k)tʃən/
resurrect /ˈɹəzɹek(t)/, /ˈɹəzəɹek(t)/
literature /ˈlətʃɹətʃɹə/
habitual /həˈbətʃuː/, /ˈhæbətʃuː/
consonant /ˈkɔn(t)snənt/, /ˈkɔn(t)sənənt/
legitimate /ˈlədʒətəmət/, /ˈlədʒətmət/
penultimate /pəˈnɔwtmət/, /pəˈnɔwtəmət/
linguistically /ˈləŋɡwəstəkli/
realistically /ˈriələstəkli/
electronically /æləkˈtʃɹɔnəkli/, /æləˈtʃɹɔnəkli/
traditional /tʃɹəˈdəʃˌnuː/, /tʃɹəˈdəʃəˌnuː/, /ˈtʃɹæd-/
traditionally /tʃɹəˈdəʃˌnəli/, /tʃɹəˈdəʃəˌnəli/, /ˈtʃɹæd-/
diagonal /dɑjˈæɡənəl/, /dɑjˈæɡnəl/
diagonally /dɑjˈæɡnəli/
assume /əˈʃʉːm/, /ˈʃʉːm/
presume /pɹəˈʒʉːm/, /pɹəˈʃʉːm/, /pɹəˈzjʉːm/
resume /ɹəˈʒʉːm/
bestial /ˈbestʃuː/
question /ˈkwestʃən/
tune /ˈtʃʉːn/
beauteous /ˈbjʉːtʃəs/, /ˈbjʉːti.əs/
mighteous /ˈmɑjtʃəs/
plenteous /ˈplentʃəs/
fractious /ˈfɹæ(k)tʃəs/
punctual /ˈpɐŋktʃuː/, /ˈpɐntʃuː/
marvellous /ˈmɐːvləs/, /ˈmɐːvələs/
Beatrice /ˈbəjtʃɹəs/
ordinance /ˈoːdənən(t)s/, /ˈoːdnən(t)s/
national /ˈnæʃnuː/
censure /ˈsenʃə/, /ˈsensə/
pendulum /ˈpendʒʉːləm/, /ˈpendʒələm/, /ˈpendʒləm/
temperament /ˈtempɹəmənt/
originally /əˈɹədʒnəli/
optionally /ˈɔptʃnəli/, /ˈɔptʃənəli/
mineral /ˈmənɹuː/
reference /ˈɹefɹən(t)s/
absolute /ˈæbsəlʉːt/, /ˈæpslʉːt/
nuisance /ˈ(n)jʉːsən(t)s/, /ˈ(n)jʉːʃən(t)s/
materially /məˈtiəjəli/, /məˈtiəɹəjəli/
Aryan /ˈiəjən/
Arian /ˈiəɹəjən/
familiar /fəˈmə.ljə/, /fəˈməw.jə/, /fəˈmuː.jə/
failure /ˈfæj.jə/, /ˈfæj.ljə/
ritual /ˈɹətʃuː/
preposterous /pɹəˈpɔstəɹəs/, /pɹəˈpɔstʃɹəs/
discriminatory /dəsˈkɹəmnətʃɹi/
triangle /ˈtʃɹɑjəŋɡuː/, /ˈtʃɹɑjæŋɡuː/
centurion /senˈtøːɹəjən/, /sənˈtøːɹəjən/, /sənˈtʃøːɹəjən/, /-øːjən/
something /ˈsɐmptin/, /ˈsɐm(b)din/ Unstressed /ˈsɐndən/
nothing /ˈnɐfin/ Unstressed /ˈnɐfən/
earring /ˈiəɹin/, /ˈiəɹən/
miserable /ˈməzɹəbuː/
abominable /əˈbɔmnəbuː/, /əˈbɔmənəbuː/
schnitzel /ˈsnətʃuː/, /ˈʃn-/, /-tsuː/, /-tzuː/
personal /ˈpøːsənuː/, /ˈpøːsnuː/
criminal /ˈkɹəmənuː/, /ˈkɹəməmuː/, /ˈkɹəmnuː/
animal /ˈænəmuː/, /ˈæməmuː/
permanent /ˈpøːmənənt/, /ˈpøːməmənt/
hemorrhoid /ˈhemɹojd/, /ˈheməɹojd/
tamarind /ˈtæməɹənd/, /ˈtæmɹənd/
arsenal /ˈɐːsənuː/, /ˈɐːsnuː/
vegetable /ˈvedʒtəbuː/, /ˈvedʒdbuː/
beverage /ˈbevɹədʒ/
fashionable /ˈfæʃənəbuː/, /ˈfæʃnəbuː/
fashionably /ˈfæʃnəbli/, /ˈfæʃənəbli/
regional /ˈɹəjdʒənuː/, /ˈɹəjdʒnuː/
regionally /ˈɹəjdʒnəli/
personally /ˈpøːsnəli/
evangelical /ˈəvændʒləkuː/, /ˈəvændʒələkuː/, /ˌəvænˈdʒæləkuː/, /ev-/ The first form is probably generalised from rapid speech.
general /ˈdʒenɹuː/
croissant /ˈkɹɔsɔm/, /ˈkɹɔsɔnt/
emotional /əˈmɐwʃənuː/, /əˈmɐwʃnuː/
emotionally /əˈmɐwʃnəli/
status /ˈstætəs/, /ˈstæjtəs/ The prevalence of either alternate pronunciation is subject to complext variation depending on sense and context.
status quo /ˈstætəs kwɐw/ /ˈstæjtəs kwɐw/ is rare.
necessary /ˈnesəsiəɹi/, /ˈnehəsiəɹi/
prerequisite /pɹəˈɹekwəzət/, /pɹəjˈɹekwəzət/
command /kəˈmɐːnd/, /kəˈmænd/, /ˈkmɐːnd/, /ˈkmænd/
salamander /ˈsæləmændə/, /ˈsæɤmændə/
blasphemy /ˈblæsfəmi/, /ˈblæzfəmi/, /ˈblæsfmi/
alchemy /ˈæɤkəmi/, /ˈæɤkmi/
amenable /əˈmenəbuː/
amenity /əˈmenəti/
aesthetic /əsˈfetək/
evolution /evəˈlʉːʃən/, /ˈevəlʉːʃən/
Rudolph /ˈɹʉːdəf/, /ˈɹʉːdɒf/, /ˈɹʉːdɔwf/
England /ˈəŋ(ɡ)lənd/ Unstressed/reduced /ˈəŋ(ɡ)lən/
length /ˈlemf/, /ˈlenf/, /ˈleŋf/
strength /ˈstʃɹemf/, /ˈstʃɹenf/, /ˈstʃɹeŋf/
lineage /ˈlənjədʒ/, /ˈlənəjədʒ/
necessity /nəˈsesəti/, /nəˈsesti/
ambivalent /æmˈbəvələnt/, /æmˈbəvlənt/, /əmˈbəvələnt/
turmeric /ˈtʃʉːmɹək/, /ˈtʃʉːməɹək/
Los Angeles /lɔs ˈændʒələjz/, /lɔs ˈændʒələjs/, /lɔs ˈændʒləjz/
silhouette /ˈʃələwet/, /ˈʃəw.wet/, /ˈʃə.lwet/
valuable /ˈvæwjəbuː/, /ˈvæ.ljəbuː/
different /ˈdəfɹənt/ Unstressed /ˈdəfɹən/
protein /ˈpɹɐwtin/
eventually /əˈventʃəli/, /əˈventʃli/
graph /ˈɡɹæf/
paragraph /ˈpæɹəɡɹɐːf/
photograph /ˈfɐwtəɡɹɐːf/, /ˈfɐwtɐwɡɹɐːf/ The second pronunciation is due to the influence of photo and the reduction of /ɐw/ to schwa in other words.
normally /ˈnoːməli/, /ˈnoːmli/
fluorescent /fløːˈɹesənt/, /fləˈɹesənt/
carefully /ˈkiəfli/
individual /əndəˈvədʒuː/, /əndˈvədʒuː/, /əndəˈvədʒʉwuː/
individually /əndəˈvədʒəli/, /əndəˈvədʒli/
excellent /ˈeksələnt/, /ˈekslənt/
honourable /ˈɔnɹəbuː/
courageous /kəˈɹæjdʒəs/, /ˈkɹæjdʒəs/
periphery /pəˈɹəfəɹi/, /pəˈɹəfɹi/, /ˈpɹəfəɹi/, /ˈpɹəfɹi/
preference /ˈpɹefɹən(t)s/
parishioner /pəˈɹəʃənə/, /pəˈɹəʃnə/, /ˈpɹəʃənə/, /ˈpɹəʃnə/
numerous /ˈ(n)jʉːmɹəs/, /ˈ(n)jʉːməɹəs/
utensil /jʉːˈten(t)suː/, /jəˈten(t)suː/
theoretical /fəˈɹetəkuː/, /fiəˈɹetəkuː/, /ˈfɹetəkuː/
theoretically /fəˈɹetəkli/, /fiəˈɹetəkli/, /ˈfɹetəkli/
malevolent /məˈlevələnt/, /məˈlevlənt/, /ˈmlevələnt/
militia /məˈləʃə/, /ˈmləʃə/
Antarctica /ənˈtɐːktəkə/ Never with /ænˈ-/
serene /səˈɹəjn/, /ˈsɹəjn/
tarantula /təˈɹæn(t)ʃələ/, /təˈɹæn(t)ʃlə/, /ˈtʃɹæn(t)ʃələ/, /ˈtʃɹæn(t)ʃlə/
reverberate /ɹəˈvøːbəɹæjt/, /ɹəˈvøːbɹæjt/
fastidious /ˈfɐːstədiəs/, /ˈfɐːstədʒəs/ This word lacks much of a negative connotation for me.
syringe /ˈsɹən(d)ʒ/
halve /hɐːv/, /hɐːf/
diarrhoea /ˈdɑjəɹiə/, /ˈdɑjɹiə/
partially /ˈpɐːʃli/, /ˈpɐːʃəli/
immediately /əˈməjdʒətli/, /əˈməjdi.ətli/
luminous /ˈlʉːmənəs/, /ˈlʉːmnəs/
luminosity /ˈlʉːmnɔsəti/, /ˈlʉːmənɔsəti/

Verb forms edit

IPA is given for forms with an unusual pronunciation; forms are listed in order from common to rare.

(Historical) strong class 1 edit

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
abide abided abided
arise arose, arised arose, arisen, arised
bite bit bit, bitten
chide chided chided
drive drove, drived drove, driven, drived
glide glided, glid glided, glid
override overrid, overrided overridden, overrid, overrided
ride rid, rode, rided ridden, rid, rided
rise rised, rose rised, rose, risen
shine shined, shone shined, shone
shit shat, shit shat, shit
shrive shrived shrived
slide slid, slided slid, slided
slit slit, slitted slit, slitted
smite smited, smote smited, smote (compare smitten adj.)
strike striked, struck striked, struck (compare stricken adj.)
strive strived, strove strived, strove
thrive thrived, throve thrived, throve
write wrote written, wrote

Selected obsolete members edit

Some of these are still current in dialects; stride still has wide currency.

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle Date of obsolescence
bide bided bided Modern English
stride strided, strode, strid strided, strode, strid Modern English
belive/blive belived/blived belived/blived Early Modern English?
chine chined chined Early Modern English
sty stied stied Early Modern English
mie mied mied Middle English

Selected lost members edit

(i.e. members of the class which are not strong in "mainstream" Modern English)

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
gripe griped griped
spew spewed spewed
writhe writhed writhed

(Historical) strong class 2 edit

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
cleave cleaved cleaved (compare cloven, cleft adj.)
choose chose chose, chosen
flee fled, fleed fled, fleed
fly flew, flied flew, flied, flewn, flown
freeze freezed, froze freezed, frozen, froze
seethe seethed seethed (compare sodden adj.)
shoot shot shot

Selected obsolete members edit

Some of these are still current in dialects.

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle Date of obsolescence
fleet fleeted fleeted Modern English
yet/yete yetted/yeted yetted/yeted Early Modern English?
dreeze dreezed dreezed Middle English (rare then already)

Selected lost members edit

(i.e. members of the class which are not strong in "mainstream" Modern English)

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
bow bowed bowed
brew brewed brewed
creep crept, creeped crept, creeped
rue rued rued
shove shoved shoved
suck sucked sucked

(Historical) strong class 3 edit

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
begin began, begun begun, began
bind bound, binded bound, binded
burst burst, bursted burst, bursted
bust busted busted
cling clung, clinged, clang clung, clinged, clang
drink drunk, drank drunk, drank
fight fought fought
find found found
grind ground, grinded ground, grinded
melt melted melted (compare molten adj, rare as a pp.)
ring (historically weak) rung, rang rung, rang
run ran ran, run
shrink shrunk, shrinked, shrank shrunk, shrinked, shrank
sing sung, sang sung, sang
sink sunk, sank sunk, sank
sling slung, slinged slung, slinged
slink slinked, slunk, slank slinked, slunk, slank
spin spun, spinned spun, spinned
spring sprung, springed, sprang sprung, springed, sprang
stink stunk, stinked, stank stunk, stinked, stank
swell swelled swelled (compare swollen adj, rare as a pp.)
swim swimmed, swum, swam swimmed, swum, swam
swing swung, swinged swung, swinged
win won won
wind wound, winded wound, winded
wring wrung, wringed wrung, wringed

Selected obsolete members edit

Some of these are still current in dialects; smart still has reasonably wide currency.

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle Date of obsolescence
smart smarted smarted Modern English
swink swinked swinked Early Modern English
worth worthed worthed Early Modern English
thee theed theed Middle English
swelt swelted swelted Middle English

Selected lost members edit

(i.e. members of the class which are not strong in "mainstream" Modern English)

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
bark barked barked
braid braided braided
carve carved carved
climb climbed climbed
delve delved delved
ding dinged dinged
help helped helped
starve starved starved
thrash thrashed thrashed
thresh threshed threshed
yell yelled yelled
yelp yelped yelped

(Historical) strong class 6 edit

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
awake awoke awoken, awoke
drag dragged dragged
draw drew, drawed drew, drawed
forsake forsaked forsaken
lade laded laden, laded
shake shook, shaked shook, shaked
shave shaved shaved
slay slayed slayed
stand stood stood
take took took, taken
understand understood understood
wake woke woke, woken
withstand withstood, withstanded withstood, withstanded

Selected obsolete members edit

Some of these are still current in dialects.

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle Date of obsolescence
grave graved graved Early Modern English

Selected lost members edit

(i.e. members of the class which are not strong in "mainstream" Modern English)

Infinitive/present stem Simple past Past participle
ache ached ached
bake baked baked
heave heaved heaved
gnaw gnawed gnawed
laugh laughed laughed
sprout sprouted sprouted
step stepped stepped
wade waded waded