Top Mispronounced Words by English Learners
(and How to Say Them Correctly)
Learning English pronunciation can be challenging due to its irregular spelling rules, diverse accents, and many exceptions. Some words look nothing like they sound, while others have tricky stress patterns that can change their meaning entirely. In this article, we’ll cover some of the top mispronounced words by English learners, the reasons they cause confusion, and tips on how to say them correctly.
1. Colonel
- Common Mispronunciation: koh-loh-nel
- Correct Pronunciation: ker-nuhl
- Why It’s Tricky: This word is especially confusing because its spelling gives no hint of how it’s supposed to sound. “Colonel” came to English from the French colonel, which was later influenced by the Italian coronello. The British retained the French spelling but pronounced it closer to the Italian, resulting in a seemingly unrelated pronunciation.
- Pronunciation Tip: Remember that the “l” is silent, and the sound is closer to “kernel.”
2. February
- Common Mispronunciation: feb-yoo-air-ee
- Correct Pronunciation: feb-roo-air-ee
- Why It’s Tricky: The silent “r” often throws learners off, causing many to drop it entirely. In casual English, native speakers often omit the “r” sound, which can add to the confusion.
- Pronunciation Tip: Practice enunciating each syllable clearly: FEB-roo-air-ee. Try breaking it down into two parts: feb and roo.
- Common Mispronunciation: wor-ches-ter-shy-er
- Correct Pronunciation: woos-ter-sheer or woos-ter-sher
- Why It’s Tricky: This British place name and popular sauce is known for its confusing spelling, especially for learners unfamiliar with English regional names.
- Pronunciation Tip: Ignore most of the letters in the middle and remember it as three syllables: WUSS-ter-sheer.
4. Comfortable
- Common Mispronunciation: com-fort-ah-bull
- Correct Pronunciation: kumf-tur-bull
- Why It’s Tricky: Although it looks like it has four syllables, native English speakers usually reduce it to three.
- Pronunciation Tip: Try pronouncing it as KUMF-tur-bull, focusing on dropping the “o” sound.
5. Coupon
- Common Mispronunciation: koo-pon
- Correct Pronunciation: kyoo-pon or koo-pon
- Why It’s Tricky: English speakers pronounce it differently based on regional accents. Some say koo-pon, while others use kyoo-pon.
- Pronunciation Tip: Both pronunciations are technically correct, though kyoo-pon is more common in American English.
6. Mischievous
- Common Mispronunciation: mis-chee-vee-us
- Correct Pronunciation: mis-chuh-vus
- Why It’s Tricky: Many people mistakenly add an extra syllable, “ee,” due to the misleading spelling.
- Pronunciation Tip: Stick to three syllables, emphasizing the “mis” and “chuh” sounds.
7. Library
- Common Mispronunciation: lye-berry
- Correct Pronunciation: lye-bruh-ree
- Why It’s Tricky: The second “r” often gets dropped in casual speech, making it challenging for non-native speakers to distinguish the correct pronunciation.
- Pronunciation Tip: Break it down into two parts: lye and bruh-ree.
8. Quinoa
- Common Mispronunciation: kwin-oh-ah
- Correct Pronunciation: keen-wah
- Why It’s Tricky: This popular grain has a name derived from Spanish and indigenous South American languages, so it doesn’t follow typical English pronunciation rules.
- Pronunciation Tip: Focus on the sound keen-wah, ignoring the “o” sound.
9. Espresso
- Common Mispronunciation: ex-press-oh
- Correct Pronunciation: ess-press-oh
- Why It’s Tricky: Many mistakenly add an “x” sound due to the similarity to the word “express.”
- Pronunciation Tip: Remember that espresso is related to “press,” so the pronunciation starts with an ess, not ex.
10. Genre
- Common Mispronunciation: gen-er
- Correct Pronunciation: zhawn-ruh
- Why It’s Tricky: This French word uses sounds not typical in English, particularly the soft “zh” sound.
- Pronunciation Tip: Think of the French “zh” sound as in “vision” and add the “ruh” sound at the end.
11. Rendezvous
- Common Mispronunciation: ren-dez-voos
- Correct Pronunciation: ron-day-voo
- Why It’s Tricky: The French origin and silent letters make it hard to decipher based on English spelling rules.
- Pronunciation Tip: Ignore the “z” and the final “s,” and focus on saying RON-day-voo.
12. Anemone
- Common Mispronunciation: ah-ne-mo-nee
- Correct Pronunciation: uh-NEM-uh-nee
- Why It’s Tricky: The unusual arrangement of vowels and syllables makes this word challenging for many.
- Pronunciation Tip: Break it down into syllables: uh-NEM-uh-nee, with emphasis on the second syllable.
13. Zoology
- Common Mispronunciation: zoo-ology
- Correct Pronunciation: zo-ology
- Why It’s Tricky: The “zoo” spelling leads many to think it’s pronounced as the animal zoo, but the correct form emphasizes the “zo” as in “zone.”
- Pronunciation Tip: Remember it’s zo-ology, similar to “zodiac.”
14. Despicable
- Common Mispronunciation: de-SPICK-uh-bull
- Correct Pronunciation: DES-pi-kuh-bull
- Why It’s Tricky: Many people place the stress on the second syllable, especially after popular culture references.
- Pronunciation Tip: Emphasize the first syllable: DES-pi-kuh-bull.
15. Suite
- Common Mispronunciation: suit
- Correct Pronunciation: sweet
- Why It’s Tricky: “Suite” has a French origin, where the “u” doesn’t sound as it would in English.
- Pronunciation Tip: Focus on the sound sweet, ignoring the “i” sound entirely.
Tips for Mastering English Pronunciation
Pronunciation can seem daunting at first, but practicing consistently with a focus on sounds, syllables, and stress patterns will help improve your skills over time. Here are a few strategies that can make it easier:
- Break Words Down into Syllables: Divide words into manageable parts to focus on each sound. This helps especially with longer or complex words.
- Emphasize Stress Patterns: English words often have specific stressed syllables, which can alter the meaning or make pronunciation sound off if placed incorrectly. For instance, “record” (noun) has the stress on the first syllable, while “record” (verb) emphasizes the second.
- Practice with Audio Resources: Use online dictionaries with audio pronunciations, language apps, and videos to hear how native speakers say words correctly.
- Listen to Native Speakers: Whether through movies, podcasts, or conversation, exposure to natural speech helps familiarize you with pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
- Speak Slowly and Enunciate: When learning new words, take your time with each syllable. Speeding up too quickly can lead to reinforcing incorrect pronunciations.
- Use Phonetic Transcription: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols are a helpful way to visualize sounds for those struggling with pronunciation.
- Record Yourself: Hearing your own pronunciation can highlight specific areas to work on and give you a reference to measure progress.
- Practice Tongue Twisters: Many tongue twisters are designed to challenge pronunciation and are a fun way to improve agility with tricky sounds.
Conclusion
Mastering English pronunciation is a journey that requires patience and regular practice. By focusing on commonly mispronounced words and understanding why they’re challenging, you can take steps to improve your pronunciation skills. Practice regularly,