Nine English Words that Sounds Similar but with Different Meanings

From My Readings This Week

I was reading my FaceBook page today and came to this article. I found it interesting, so I am sharing it with you. 

Amused / Bemused

These two words sound similar despite their different spellings, so they’re easy to mix up. “Amused” means “finding something funny or entertaining.” (“The cartoon amused the kids.”) However, “bemused” is about being puzzled or confused. (“He was bemused by the directions.”) The “be” can help you remember that “bemused” is about your own state of mind, rather than finding something else entertaining.

Disperse / Disburse

These two words have similar meanings, but only one applies to discussing money. “Disperse” means “to distribute and spread out over a wide area.” (“The villagers dispersed at the first sign of trouble.”) “Disburse” also refers to distributing, but it only applies to dollars and cents. When you disburse, you pay money out of a fund. (“They disbursed funds to the charity organizations.”) To remember this one, think of going to the bursar’s office to pay tuition bills. 

Flaunt / Flout

When you flaunt something, you display it ostentatiously to show off. (“He flaunted his new set of golf clubs.”) “Flout” means “to disregard a rule or law.” (“She flouted her curfew by staying up late.”) If you’re bold, you can flaunt your new designer dress while flouting laws against jaywalking. The memory aid here isn’t quite as obvious, but it might be helpful to think that the “out” in “flout” means that you’ll be “out of bounds” if you disregard a rule.

Hearty / Hardy

“Hearty” means “expressed warmly” (“I send you hearty congratulations!”) or “wholesome and substantial food” (the hearty breakfast of the introduction). “Hardy” means “robust and capable of enduring difficult conditions.” (“The hardy plant survived the winter.”) Think of “hearty” as related to the heart — heartfelt sentiments or foods that warm the chest and belly — and “hardy” with the word “hard” — things that are tough and can survive.

Imply / Infer

Both of these words involve communication, but there are subtle differences in usage. “Imply” means “to strongly suggest the truth.” (“She implied we were in danger.”) “Infer” means “to deduce or conclude from evidence rather than explicit statements.” (“After reading the report, he inferred taxes would be increasing.”) The “in” of “infer” helps us remember that it’s an internal form of reasoning to reach a conclusion. 

Moral / Morale

Something that’s moral is all about right and wrong. (“He took a moral stance on the issue.”) “Morale” has a very similar spelling but refers to the confidence and enthusiasm of a group. (“The team’s morale was high before the big game.”) Remember, morale (with an “e”) is all about building up enthusiasm in a group.

Pedal / Peddle / Petal

Given their similar spellings, it’s easy to confuse these words when writing, but they have very different meanings. A pedal is a foot-operated lever used for powering a bicycle. (“He pedaled the bike down the street.”) “Peddle” means “to sell goods from place to place.” (“She was peddling Girl Scout Cookies door-to-door.”) “Petals” are the colorful outside leaves of a flower. Someone can peddle their petals while pedaling on their bike. 

Premier / Premiere

Both of these words come from a French word meaning “first in rank or importance,” but they are different parts of speech, which give them different meanings. “Premier” (an adjective) means “first in importance.” (“We visited the country’s premier museum.”) “Premiere” (a noun) is still about being first, but it only refers to entertainment. A premiere is the first showing of a play, film, or other work of art. (“They attended the premiere of the new Marvel movie.”)

Rein / Reign

Here’s another pair of homophones — words pronounced similarly but with different meanings. A rein is a long, narrow strap that guides a horse while riding. (“I took control of the horse’s reins.”) However, “reign” describes the time someone holds royal office. (“It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.”) The added “g” makes the word fancy, just like a king or queen.

https://www.wordgenius.com/9-common-word-choice-errors-to-avoid/ZECibCLW2AAHcZDF

Meanwhile, Did You Know That

In ancient Rome, fast food restaurants known as Thermopolia were popular places where people could quickly grab meals such as hot stews and bread. These establishments were strikingly similar to modern street food stalls, offering a variety of ready-to-eat foods to busy Romans on the go.

Thermopolia typically featured a stone counter with embedded jars (dolia) that kept the food warm, making it easy for customers to get a quick and convenient meal.

This concept of fast food highlights the ingenuity of the Romans and their ability to create efficient solutions for everyday needs.

Lastly, Thank You Joel Torres for the Lobster Bisque Soup left-over from our Valentine Dinner

Shout Out to Joel Torres, new THD Sous Chef for the delicious lobster bisque soup served at our recent Valentine Dinner. Yesterday ( Saturday) at Lunch, I asked if there is a left-over of the soup. Joel complied and I have it for lunch today. Thank You, Joel. May your stay here at THD be a long, happy and productive time/employment in your job as Sous Chef.

My left-over soup did not have any more lobster chunks compared to the one served at the Valentine Dinner, but it was still delicious. Meanwhile, here's a photo of my other favorite soup- spicy lentil soup with Italian Sausage I ordered from DoorDash last week,

Have a Great Sunday, Every One!