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
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