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
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