50 most commonly mispronounced words
by IELTS Australasia — 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, 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 50 most commonly mispronounced words. The list provides a good start to help you articulate and enunciate words correctly and maybe a useful tool for your IELTS Speaking test.
- Abalone
- Incorrect: ah-boh-lohn
- Correct: ab-uh-loh-nee
- Albeit
- Incorrect: al-bae-it
- Correct: awl-bee-it
- Almond
- Incorrect: al-muh-nd
- Correct: ah-muh-nd
- Attaché
- Incorrect: ah-tat-chee
- Correct: uh-tash-ey
- Boutique
- Incorrect: boh-teek
- Correct: boo-teek
- Cache
- Incorrect: kash-ay
- Correct: kash
- Chaos
- Incorrect: Cha-os
- Correct: Key-os
- Coup
- Incorrect: koo-p
- Correct: koo
- Coupon
- Incorrect: que-pun
- Correct: koo-pon
- Debris
- Incorrect: day-brees
- Correct: deb-ree
- Debut
- Incorrect: di-boo
- Correct: dey-byoo
- 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
- 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
- Mischievous
- Incorrect: mis-chee-vious
- Correct: mis-chuh-vuh-s
- Niche
- Incorrect: nee-shay
- Correct: nee-sh
- Often
- Incorrect: off-ten
- Correct: aw-fuh n
- Paradigm
- Incorrect: par-uh-dig-m
- Correct: par-uh-dahym
- Pronunciation
- Incorrect: pruh-noun-see-ey-shuh n
- Correct: pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuh n
- Pseudonym
- Incorrect: syoo-duh-nim
- Correct: sood-n-im
- 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
- Subtle
- Incorrect: subt-l
- Correct: suht-l
- Suite
- Incorrect: soot
- Correct: sweet
- Tuition
- Incorrect: too-shen
- Correct: too-ish-uh n
- Turquoise
- Incorrect: tur-quiz
- Correct: kur-kwoiz
- Yolk
- Incorrect: yol-ke
- Correct: yohk
Reference: Dictionary.com
Grammar 101: Elude vs. allude
In the Grammar 101 series we look at commonly confused words. This time we cover elude vs allude. Elude is defined as 'to escape from or avoid a danger.' You can use elude when you want to avoid something. Allude can be defined as 'to suggest; or indirectly call attention to something.'
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