Why is it spelled corps but pronounced core?

You're right, "corps" is a word that looks like it should be pronounced "corps" but is actually pronounced "core." This is a great example of how English spelling can be tricky!

The reason for the discrepancy lies in the word's history. "Corps" is derived from the French word "corps," which means "body" or "group." The French pronunciation, however, doesn't have the "s" sound at the end. When the word was adopted into English, the spelling stayed the same, but the pronunciation shifted to match English phonetic norms.

So, while the spelling "corps" may seem odd, it's a vestige of the word's French origin.

Here are some other examples of words where spelling and pronunciation don't perfectly align:

* "Gnat" - pronounced "nat"

* "Know" - pronounced "no"

* "Island" - pronounced "ay-land"

English is a language that has borrowed words from many other languages, which often leads to quirks like these. It's part of what makes English so fascinating and challenging to learn!