Which word do you find yourself mispronouncing repeatedly, despite numerous attempts to correct it? English words often originate from various languages and regional dialects, making it challenging to master their pronunciations. Are there any words you’re mispronouncing without realizing it?
1. Affidavit
Correct: ah-fuh-day-vit
Incorrect: ah-fee-day-vid
“He signed an affidavit to the effect that he did not know the defendant”
An affidavit is a written legal declaration that can serve as evidence in court.
2. Almond
Correct: AHL-muhnd
Incorrect: AL-mond
“Stir in the almond and poppy seed paste and let it simmer.”
The word “almond” is often mispronounced when too much emphasis is placed on the “l” at the start.
3. Aluminum
Correct: uh-LOO-mi-num
Incorrect: uh-LUM-i-num
“The interior is adorned with silver accents, featuring polished aluminum throughout.”
Many people mispronounce this word by altering the first “u” to make an “uh” sound instead of the correct “ew” sound.
4. Bouquet
Correct: boo-KAY
Incorrect: BOH-kwet
“It featured a rich, smoky aroma of ripe blackberries intertwined with cocoa.”
The word “bouquet” originates from an old French term meaning “clump of trees.” Today, it refers to a small arrangement of flowers. Its French origins often confuse both native and non-native English speakers.
5. Dessert
Correct: dih-ZURT
Incorrect: DEE-zurt
“Naturally, you could bake your own sponge cake for this simple ice cream dessert.”
The mispronunciation of “dessert” might be influenced by the familiarity with the word “desert,” which refers to a dry, barren land.
6. Espresso
Correct: ehs-press-oh
Incorrect: ex-press-oh
“Place the ground espresso beans into the machine and gently press them down.”
Espresso is a type of strong black coffee created by pressing steam through ground coffee beans. Many English speakers mistakenly believe the word begins with an “ex” sound, but this is incorrect.
7. Etcetera
Correct: et ce-ter-a
Incorrect: ex cetera
The museum had paintings by Monet, Renoir, Degas, et cetera.
“Etcetera” is frequently mispronounced due to the common misinterpretation of the original Latin phrase.
8. Exaggerate
Correct: ig-ZAJ-uh-rayt(you’ll also hear ig-ZAJ-er-ate)
Incorrect: ig-ZAJ-uh-rate
“you can’t exaggerate the importance of these issues”
This mispronunciation might stem from accent variations or a misunderstanding of the word’s ending.
9. Flour
Correct: FLOW-er
Incorrect: FLOOR
“People favored white bread made from wheat flour.”
Flour is a powdery substance produced by grinding dry grains or other food items. It is frequently confused with “flower,” which is the seed-bearing part of a plant, usually surrounded by brightly colored petals.
10. Fruit
Correct: froot
Incorrect: froot (rhyming with “foot”)
“The tree bore a lot of fruit in the spring.”
The incorrect pronunciation of this word usually arises from knowing its spelling and meaning but misunderstanding how it is pronounced.
11. Gesture
Correct: JES-chur
Incorrect: JE-styoor
“Maggie was touched by the kind gesture”
The “-ure” ending of this word can cause confusion when trying to pronounce it correctly.
12. GIF
Correct: jif
Incorrect: gif (with a hard g)
“Have you seen the latest viral GIF that everyone’s talking about?”.
Many native speakers are uncertain about how to pronounce this word, so you’re not alone! The correct pronunciation of “GIF” uses a soft “j” sound rather than a hard “g.”
13. Infrared
Correct: in-fruh-RED
Incorrect: in-FRAYD
“They made observations in four spectrum bands, from the visible through to the near infrared.”
14. Library
Correct: LIE-brer-ee
Incorrect: LI-berry
“You can check out the book from a public library.”
Phonetic misinterpretation of the word “library” can lead speakers to mistakenly pronounce the ending as “berry” instead of “brer-ee.”
15. Mature
Correct: muh-TOOR(you’ll also hear muh-chur)
Incorrect: MAY-chur
“The savings plan is due to mature next year.”
The vowel sound of the “u” in this word can pose a challenge for some speakers as they learn to pronounce it.
16. Nausea
Correct: NAW-zee-uh
Incorrect: NAW-see-uh
“Dizziness and nausea swept over her, a loud roaring noise filling her ears.”
To pronounce this word correctly, ensure you’re pronouncing the hard “z” in the middle.
17. Oregano
Correct: uh-REG-uh-noh
Incorrect: oh-ruh-GAH-noh
I love the pungent, earthy flavor that oregano brings to pizza and roasted potatoes.
18. Pronunciation
Correct: pruh-nuhn-see-AY-shun
Incorrect: pro-NOUN-see-AY-shun
“Enhancing your pronunciation can significantly boost your communication skills and ensure you are more easily understood by others.”
19. Queue
Correct: keeyoo
Incorrect: kwee-yoo
“we were asked to form a queue”
Mispronouncing the word “queue” is quite common, given its abundance of vowels. Remember, it’s a single-syllable word, which can help you pronounce it correctly.
20. Salmon
Correct: SAM-un
Incorrect: SAL-mon
“For a main course I ordered a kedgeree of salmon and haddock with curry butter.”
The “l” in this word remains silent during pronunciation – “SAM-un.”
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