There is nothing to be embarrassed by as language is forever evolving and mispronounced. Misspelled words often find their way into our world, making it increasingly tough to know what is right and what is wrong. Let’s admit it, speaking can be deceiving, and there are some particularly hard words to pronounce, especially if it’s in a language that is not your mother tongue.
That got us thinking and we decided to start our own “pronunciation” series and list the most commonly mispronounced words. The list provides a good start to help you articulate and learn how to pronounce words correctly and may be a useful tool for your IELTS Speaking test.
A-D
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Abalone (/æbəˈləʊni/)
- Incorrect: ah-boh-lohn
- Correct: ab-uh-loh-nee
Acai (/æsaɪˈi/)
- Incorrect: ack-ai
- Correct: ah-sigh-ee
Accessory (/əkˈsesəri/)
- Incorrect: ah-seh-suh-ree
- Correct: uhk-seh-suh-ree
Albeit (/ɔːlˈbiːɪt/)
- Incorrect: al-bae-it
- Correct: awl-bee-it
Almond (/ɑːmənd/)
- Incorrect: al-muh-nd
- Correct: ah-muh-nd
Asterick (/asterick/)
- Incorrect: a-stuh-reek
- Correct: a-stuh-ruhsk
Athlete (/æθliːt/)
- Incorrect: ath-a-leet
- Correct: ath-leet
Attaché (/əˈtæʃeɪ/)
- Incorrect: ah-tat-chee
- Correct: uh-tash-ey
Boutique (/buːˈtiːk/)
- Incorrect: boh-teek
- Correct: boo-teek
Business (/bɪznəs/)
- Incorrect: bis-ee-nuhs
- Correct: biz-nuhs
Cache (/kæʃ/ )
- Incorrect: kash-ay
- Correct: kash
Cavalry (/kævəlri/)
- Incorrect: kal-veuh-ree
- Correct: ka-vuhl-ree
Candidate (/kændɪdət/)
- Incorrect: kan-dee-deit
- Correct: kan-duh-duht
Chaos (/keɪɒs/)
- Incorrect: Cha-os
- Correct: Key-os
Chimera (/kaɪˈmɪərə/)
- Incorrect: chim-er-a
- Correct: kiy-meer-a
Coup (/kuː/)
- Incorrect: koo-p
- Correct: koo
Coupon (/kuːpɒn/)
- Incorrect: que-pun
- Correct: koo-pon
Cupboard (/kʌbəd/)
- Incorrect: cup-bawd
- Correct: kuh-buhd
Debris (/deɪbriː/)
- Incorrect: day-brees
- Correct: deb-ree
Debut (/deɪbju/)
- Incorrect: di-boo
- Correct: dey-byoo
Definitely (/defɪnətli/)
- Incorrect: duh-fai-uhnt-lee
- Correct: deh-fuh-nuht-lee
Dilate (/daɪˈleɪt/)
- Incorrect: dai-ah-leit
- Correct: dai-leit
Divorce (/dɪˈvɔːs/)
- Incorrect: die-vawrs
- Correct: dih-vawrs
E-H
Epitome (/ɪˈpɪtəmi/)
- Incorrect: ih-pi-toe-m
- Correct: ih-pit-uh-mee
Espresso (/eˈspresəʊ/)
- Incorrect: e-xpres-oh
- Correct: e-spres-oh
Et cetera (/et ˈsetərə/)
- Incorrect: ex-set-er-uh
- Correct: et-set-er-uh
Faux pas (/fəʊ ˈpɑ:/)
- Incorrect: fohx-pas
- Correct: foh-pah
Federal (/fedərəl/)
- Incorrect: feh-druhl
- Correct: feh-duh-ruhl
Film (/fɪlm/)
- Incorrect: fill-um
- Correct: film
Flour (/flaʊə/)
- Incorrect: fl-ahr
- Correct: flou-er
Gauge (/ɡeɪdʒ/)
- Incorrect: gauj
- Correct: geyj
Genre (/ʒɑːnrə/)
- Incorrect: jen-re
- Correct: zhahn-ruh
Heinous (/heɪnəs/)
- Incorrect: heen-ni-us
- Correct: hey-nuh-s
Hierarchy (/haɪərɑːki/)
- Incorrect: hahy-archy
- Correct: hahy-uh-rahr-kee
Hyperbole (/haɪˈpɜːbəli/)
- Incorrect: hahy-pur-bowl
- Correct: hahy-pur-buh-lee
I-L
Ingenuity (/ɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪti/)
- Incorrect: in-jen-wee-tee
- Correct: in-juh-noo-i-tee
Itinerary (/aɪˈtɪnərəri/)
- Incorrect: ahy-tin-ary
- Correct: ahy-tin-uh-rer-ee
Jewellery (/dʒuːəlri/)
- Incorrect: joo-el-er-y
- Correct: joo-uh l-ree
Library (/laɪbrəri/)
- Incorrect: libe-ry
- Correct: lahy-brer ee
Lingerie (/lænʒəriː/)
- Incorrect: linger-ee
- Correct: lahn-zhuh-rey
Lip-sync (/lɪp-sɪŋk/)
- Incorrect: lip-sing
- Correct: lip-singk
M-P
Maniac (/meɪnɪæk/)
- Incorrect: mahn-yuhk
- Correct: mey-nee-ak
Mauve (/məʊv/)
- Incorrect: mah-owv
- Correct: mowv
Mischievous (/mɪstʃɪvəs/)
- Incorrect: mis-chee-vious
- Correct: mis-chuh-vuh-s
Niche (/nɪtʃ/)
- Incorrect: nee-shay
- Correct: nee-sh
Nuclear (/njuːklɪə/)
- Incorrect: noo-kyu-lur
- Correct: noo-klee-ur
Often (/ɒfn̩/)
- Incorrect: off-ten
- Correct: aw-fuh n
Paradigm (/pærədaɪm/)
- Incorrect: par-uh-dig-m
- Correct: par-uh-dahym
Probably (/prɒbəbli/)
- Incorrect: pro-blee
- Correct: pro-buh-blee
Pronunciation (/prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃn/)
- Incorrect: pruh-noun-see-ey-shuh n
- Correct: pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuh n
Pseudonym (/sjuːdənɪm/)
- Incorrect: syoo-duh-nim
- Correct: sood-n-im
Q-T
Quinoa (/quinoa/)
- Incorrect: kee-no-ah
- Correct: keen-waa
Quote (/kwəʊt/)
- Incorrect: coat
- Correct: kwoht
Regime (/reɪˈʒiːm/)
- Incorrect: ruh-geem
- Correct: ruh-zheem
Rendezvous (/rɒndɪvuːz/)
- Incorrect: ren-dez-vuss
- Correct: rahn-duh-voo
Reservoir (/rezəvwɑ/)
- Incorrect: rez-er-vore
- Correct: rez-er-vwahr
Salmon (/sæmən/)
- Incorrect: sal-muhn
- Correct: sam-uh n
Salon (/sælɒn/)
- Incorrect: suh-loon
- Correct: suh-lon
Silicon (/sɪlɪkən/)
- Incorrect: sil-i-kohn
- Correct: sil-i-kuh n
Sour (/saʊə/)
- Incorrect: saa-r
- Correct: souuh-r
Stomach (/stʌmək/)
- Incorrect: stoh-match
- Correct: stuh-muhk
Subtle (/sʌtl/)
- Incorrect: subt-l
- Correct: suht-l
Supposedly (/səˈpəʊzədli/)
- Incorrect: su-pos-ab-lee
- Correct: su-pos-ed-lee
Suite (/swiːt/)
- Incorrect: soot
- Correct: sweet
Tuition (/tjuːˈɪʃn̩/)
- Incorrect: too-shen
- Correct: too-ish-uh n
Turquoise (/tɜːkwɔɪz/)
- Incorrect: tur-quiz
- Correct: tur-kwoiz
U-Z
Wednesday (/wenzdeɪ/)
- Incorrect: wehd-nez-dei
- Correct: wenz-dei
Yolk (/jəʊk/)
- Incorrect: yol-ke
- Correct: yohk
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