Most commonly mispronounced words
by IDP IELTS — May 10th, 2017
You know the word but stop yourself from saying it out loud for fear of pronouncing it wrongly. This predicament is relatable as we all have mishaps over the complexities of the English language now and then even native speakers.
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 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.
- 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
- Albeit
-
- Incorrect: al-bae-it
- Correct: awl-bee-it
- Almond
-
- Incorrect: al-muh-nd
- Correct: ah-muh-nd
- Asterick
-
- 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
- Boutique
-
- Incorrect: boh-teek
- Correct: boo-teek
- Cache
-
- Incorrect: kash-ay
- Correct: kash
- Business
-
- Incorrect: bis-ee-nuhs
- Correct: biz-nuhs
- 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
- Coup
-
- Incorrect: koo-p
- Correct: koo
- Coupon
-
- Incorrect: que-pun
- Correct: koo-pon
- Cupboard
-
- Incorrect: cup-bawd
- Correct: kuh-buhd
- Cupboard
-
- Incorrect: cup-bawd
- Correct: kuh-buhd
- Debris
-
- Incorrect: day-brees
- Correct: deb-ree
- Debut
-
- Incorrect: di-boo
- Correct: dey-byoo
- 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
- Epitome
-
- Incorrect: ih-pi-toe-m
- Correct: ih-pit-uh-mee
- Espresso
-
- Incorrect: e-xpres-oh
- Correct: e-spres-oh
- Et cetera
-
- Incorrect: ex-set-er-uh
- Correct: et-set-er-uh
- 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
- Genre
-
- Incorrect: jen-re
- Correct: zhahn-ruh
- 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
- Mischievous
-
- Incorrect: mis-chee-vious
- Correct: mis-chuh-vuh-s
- Niche
-
- Incorrect: nee-shay
- Correct: nee-sh
- Nuclear
-
- Incorrect: noo-kyu-lur
- Correct: noo-klee-ur
- Often
-
- Incorrect: off-ten
- Correct: aw-fuh n
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Wednesday
-
- Incorrect: wehd-nez-dei
- Correct: wenz-dei
- Yolk
-
- Incorrect: yol-ke
- Correct: yohk
Reference: Dictionary.com
Hello there, welcome to IELTS Australia!
If you’re preparing for your test, IELTS Support Tools can help. With more than 20 pages of IELTS tips and tricks from examiners to help you prepare.
Download your free IELTS Support Tools
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) application
If you're graduating soon or have just graduated, you might be wondering what’s next for you. If you decide to stay in Australia to gain work experience and develop your skills, you can apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). Learn more here
IELTS Speaking: Top frequently asked questions
Are you preparing for your IELTS Speaking test? In order for you to get answers to your question as quick as possible, we have gathered the most frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers from our IELTS Experts.
Free IELTS Masterclass Webinars
Presented by an IELTS expert, the free IELTS Masterclass will help you improve your English skills in IELTS writing, reading and speaking. Understand common IELTS mistakes and how to avoid them. Understand how IELTS is scored and the assessment criteria. You will also have the opportunity to ask the IELTS expert anything you’ve ever wanted to know during question time!
