Correct pronunciation is an important aspect of your speaking skills while taking any competitive exam like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. Clear and accurate pronunciation is essential. To perfect your speaking skills it is important to know the correct pronunciation of words and also to practice every day. So this blog brings to a list of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language!
Why do People Mispronounce Words?
For a variety of reasons, people mispronounce things in their own language. In addition to not being taught in school, some of the words might be more difficult because they have only been read. Incorrect pronunciations of words can also occur in friend groups, giving the impression that everyone is using the right pronunciation.
People’s perceptions of how to pronounce words are also influenced by regional accents. Dollar would sound like DAH-lah if it were said by a Massachusetts native. Georgian speakers might pronounce it as DAH-ler.
Also Read: 20+ Daily Used English Words: with Meaning
75 Common Examples of Mispronounced Words Leading to Incorrect Spelling
Here is a detailed list of some of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language.
- Abalone
Incorrect: ah-boh-lohn
Correct: ab-uh-loh-nee
- Acai
Incorrect: ack-ai
Correct: ah-sigh-ee
- Accessory
Incorrect: ah-seh-suh-ree
Correct: uhk-seh-suh-ree
- Acoustic
Incorrect: uh-qu-stik
Correct:uh-koo-stik
- Albeit
Incorrect: al-bae-it
Correct: awl-bee-it
- Asterisk
Incorrect: a-stuh-reek
Correct:a·stuh·ruhsk
- Athlete
Incorrect: ath-a-leet
Correct: ath-leet
- Attaché
Incorrect: ah-tat-chee
Correct: uh-tash-ey
- Automobile
Incorrect: aw-to-mow-bye-el
Correct: aw-to-mow-beel
- Ballet
Incorrect: ba-let
Correct: ba-ley
- Boutique
Incorrect: boh-teek
Correct: boo-teek
- Business
Incorrect: bis-ee-nuhs
Correct: biz-nuhs
- Cache
Incorrect: kash-ay
Correct: kash
- Cadet
Incorrect: ca-det
Correct: kuh-det
- Cavalry
Incorrect: kal-veuh-ree
Correct: ka-vuhl-ree
- Candidate
Incorrect: kan-dee-deit
Correct: kan-duh-duht
- Chaos
Incorrect: Cha-os
Correct: Key-os
- Chimera
Incorrect: chim-er-a
Correct: kiy-meer-a
- Colonel
Incorrect: co-lo-nhel
Correct: kuh-nuhl
- Comptroller
Incorrect: comp-tro-ller
Correct: con-troll-er
- Coup
Incorrect: koo-p
Correct: koo
- Coupon
Incorrect: que-pun
Correct: koo-pon
- Cupboard
Incorrect: cup-bawd
Correct: kuh-buhd
- Debris
Incorrect: day-brees
Correct: deb-ree
- Debut
Incorrect: di-boo
Correct: dey-byoo
- Depot
Incorrect: di-pot
Correct: dee-poh
- Definitely
Incorrect: duh-fai-uhnt-lee
Correct: deh-fuh-nuht-lee
- Dilate
Incorrect: dai-ah-leit
Correct: dai-leit
- Divorce
Incorrect: die-vawrs
Correct: dih-vawrs
- Eccentric
Incorrect: uh-sen-trik
Correct: uhk-sen-trik
- Epitome
Incorrect: ih-pi-toe-m
Correct: ih-pit-uh-mee
- Faux pas
Incorrect: fohx-pas
Correct: foh-pah
- Federal
Incorrect: feh-druhl
Correct: feh-duh-ruhl
- Film
Incorrect: fill-um
Correct: film
- Flour
Incorrect: fl-ahr
Correct: flou-er
- Gauge
Incorrect: gauj
Correct: geyj
- Heinous
Incorrect: heen-ni-us
Correct: hey-nuh-s
- Hierarchy
Incorrect: hahy-archy
Correct: hahy-uh-rahr-kee
- Hyperbole
Incorrect: hahy-pur-bowl
Correct: hahy-pur-buh-lee
- Ingenuity
Incorrect: in-jen-wee-tee
Correct: in-juh-noo-i-tee
- Itinerary
Incorrect: ahy-tin-ary
Correct: ahy-tin-uh-rer-ee
- Jewellery
Incorrect: joo-el-er-y
Correct: joo-uh l-ree
- Library
Incorrect: libe-ry
Correct: lahy-brer ee
- Lingerie
Incorrect: linger-ee
Correct: lahn-zhuh-rey
- Lip-sync
Incorrect: lip-sing
Correct: lip-singk
- Maniac
Incorrect: mahn-yuhk
Correct: mey-nee-ak
- Mauve
Incorrect: mah-owv
Correct: mowv
- Niche
Incorrect: nee-shay
Correct: nee-sh
- Nuclear
Incorrect: noo-kyu-lur
Correct: noo-klee-ur
- Often
Incorrect: off-ten
Correct: aw-fuh n
- Ophthalmologist
Incorrect: awp-tha-maw-luh-juhst
Correct: awf-thal-maw-luh-juhst
- Paradigm
Incorrect: par-uh-dig-m
Correct: par-uh-dahym
- Probably
Incorrect: pro-blee
Correct: pro-buh-blee
- Pronunciation
Incorrect: pruh-noun-see-ey-shuh n
Correct: pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuh n
- Pseudonym
Incorrect: syoo-duh-nim
Correct: sood-n-im
- Quinoa
Incorrect: kee-no-ah
Correct: keen-waa
- Quote
Incorrect: coat
Correct: kwoht
- Regime
Incorrect: ruh-geem
Correct: ruh-zheem
- Renaissance
Incorrect: ruh-nay-sense
Correct: ruh-nay-sawns
- Rendezvous
Incorrect: ren-dez-vuss
Correct: rahn-duh-voo
- Reservoir
Incorrect: rez-er-vore
Correct: rez-er-vwahr
- Salmon
Incorrect: sal-muhn
Correct: sam-uh n
- Salon
Incorrect: suh-loon
Correct: suh-lon
- Seismic
Incorrect: ses-muhk
Correct: size-muhk
- Segue
Incorrect: seg-u
Correct: seg-way
- Silicon
Incorrect: sil-i-kohn
Correct: sil-i-kuh n
- Sour
Incorrect: saa-r
Correct: souuh-r
- Stomach
Incorrect: stoh-match
Correct: stuh-muhk
- Subtle
Incorrect: subt-l
Correct: suht-l
- Supposedly
Incorrect: su-pos-ab-lee
Correct: su-pos-ed-lee
- Suite
Incorrect: soot
Correct: sweet
- Tuition
Incorrect: too-shen
Correct: too-ish-uh n
- Turquoise
Incorrect: tur-quiz
Correct: tur-kwoiz
- Tyranny
Incorrect: ty-ruh-nee
Correct: ti-ruh-nee
- Yolk
Incorrect: yol-ke
Correct: yohk
Also Read: 160 + Tongue Twisters to Improve English Pronunciation
25 Mispronounced Country and City Names
Here is a list of some commonly mispronounced country and city names:
- Belarus: beh-luh-rooz
- Bordeaux, France: bor-DOUGH
- Budapest: boo-da-PEST(English)/boo-da-PESHT(Hungarian)
- Cannes, France: Cahn
- Chile: chil–ee
- Czech Republic: chek republic
- Djibouti: Ja-BOO-tee
- Edinburgh, Scotland: eh-din-BRUH
- Iran: i-raan
- Kyrgyzstan: ker-gis-tan
- Laos: louse
- Liechtenstein: lik-tuhn-stine
- Maldives: MOHL-deevs
- Marseille, France: mahr-SAY
- Massachusetts, USA: ma-suh-choo-suhts
- Melbourne: mel-bern
- Munich, Germany: MEW-nik
- Myanmar: Mee-ahn-mah
- Niger: nai-juh
- Qatar:Cut-tahr
- Seoul: soul
- Seychelles: say-SHELLS
- Singapore: sing-guh-poh
- Uruguay: Oo-roo-GWAHEE
- Warwick, United Kingdom: WAR-rick
Also Read: History of English Literature
25 Hard to Pronounce Words
In the English language, there are a plethora of words that are hard to pronounce. Here is a list of some which we use most often.
- Anathema: uh-nath-uh-muh
- Anemone: uh-neh-muh-nee
- Antarctic: ant-ahrk-tik
- Antidisestablishmentarianism: an-tee-dis-uh-sta-bluhsh-muhnt-euh-ree-uhn-i-zm
- Brewery: broo-uh-ree
- Choir: kvai·uh
- Comfortable: kuhm·fuh·tay·bl
- Defibrillator: duh·fi·bruh·lay·tuh
- Deteriorate: duh·teeuh·ree·uh·rayt
- Draught: draaft
- Ignominious: ig·naw·mi·nuhs
- Isthmus: is·muhs
- Murderer: muh·duh·ruh
- Niche: neesh
- Onomatopoeia: aw·nuh·ma·tuh·pee·uh
- Otorhinolaryngologist: oh-toh-rahy-noh-luh-ring-guh-loj-ist
- Penguin: pen-gwen
- Phenomenon: fuh·naw·muh·nuhn
- Pneumonia: nyoo·moh·nee·uh
- Rural: roo·ruhl
- Sesquipedalian: seh·skvuh·puh·day·lee·uhn
- Sixth: siksth
- Specific: speh·si·fik
- Synecdoche: suh·nek·duh·kee
- Worcestershire: woo s-ter-sheer
Also, Read The Ultimate Checklist for English Speaking Books 2022!
10 Mispronounced Words that you may have been pronouncing incorrectly your whole life!
Although people use these words on a daily basis, it might be shocking to know how often we have been pronouncing them wrong.
- Almond
Incorrect: al-muh-nd
Correct: ah-muh-nd
- Breakfast
Incorrect: break-fast
Correct: brek-fuhst
- Espresso
Incorrect: e-xpres-oh
Correct: e-spres-oh
- Etcetera
Incorrect: ex-set-er-uh
Correct: et-set-er-uh
- February
Incorrect: Feb-you-air-ee
Correct: feh-bruh-ree
- Genre
Incorrect: jen-re
Correct: zhahn-ruh
- Mischievous
Incorrect: mis-chee-vious
Correct: mis-chuh-vuh-s
- Wednesday
Incorrect: wehd-nez-dei
Correct: wenz-dei
- Woman
Incorrect: vo-muhn
Correct: vu-muhn
- Women
Incorrect: vu-muhn
Correct: vi-men
How to Fix the Habit of Mispronouncing Words?
In order to pronounce correctly, here are some easy tips you can follow while speaking English to avoid mispronouncing words
- Listen to audiobooks, and podcasts and watch videos, news channels and movies in order to listen and grasp how to speak properly.
- Focus on difficult and lengthy words and break them down into syllables.
- Learn when to stress words and sounds.
- Read out loud and record yourself to identify your weaknesses.
- Practice speaking out loud and conversing with others in English.
- Take the help of dictionaries.
- Practice with tongue twisters.
- Listen and repeat difficult words over and over again.
Also Read: Common English Errors To Avoid
If you are interested in taking a complete IELTS or TOEFL course to increase your English language proficiency, then you can check out Leverage Live or call our experts at Leverage Edu anytime on 1800 572 000!
The post 99+ Mispronounced Words in English You Might be Using appeared first on Leverage Edu.
