Most commonly mispronounced words
by 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
- Calvary
- 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.
Grammar 101: Principle vs Principal – Learn The Difference
Grammar 101: Principle vs Principal – Learn The Difference Principle vs principal: These two words cause a lot of confusion and it’s well worth to spend a few minutes to know the difference between the two. “Principle” is a noun. It can be described as a rule or idea in relation to behaviour or how…
Commonly Used Abbreviations & Acronyms
The English language is forever evolving. With the wide use of technology in our modern society, there are always new words coming into play that may be hard for non-native English speakers to grasp. We’ll introduce you to the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms used in daily life and on social media. The list…
Practise IELTS now at an IELTS General Training Practice Test
Practise the IELTS General Training test under test conditions and get valuable experience before sitting the real test to increase your confidence by gaining insight into the test format and types of questions.
You’ll practise the Listening, Reading and Writing tasks and get an indicative band score for Writing and a raw score for Listening and Reading.
