Common English words people pronounce incorrectly
To have a good flow with the language and to sound fluently, learners need to focus on how to pronounce words correctly and improve English learning.Here are 10 common English words that are often mispronounced:
1. Accommodate (Ah-kom'uh-dayt) - Not (Ah-kom'uh-date)
2. Nuclear (Noo'klee-ur) - Not (Noo'kyoo-lar)
3. Mischievous (Mis-chiv'us) - Not (Mis-chee'vus)
4. Worcestershire (Wus-tur-sheer) - Not (War-ches-ter-shire)
5. Chthonic (Thon'ik) - Not (Ktho-nik)
6. Schedule (Skej'ool) - Not (Sked'ool)
7. Data (Day'tah) - Not (Da'tah)
8. Epitome (Eh-pih-toh'mee) - Not (Eh-pih-tohm')
9. Phenomenon (Fuh-nom'uh-non) - Not (Fuh-nom'uh-num)
10. Axiom (Ax'ee-uhm) - Not (Ax'ee-om)
Knowing common mispronounced words and improving English words pronunciation takes practice, so try repeating these words several times to get a feel for how they sound.
Common English words people pronounce incorrectly
Here are some common mispronounced words that people often pronounce incorrectly:
Words with Silent Letters
1. Island (Eye-land) - Not (Iz-land)
2. Knight (Nayt) - Not (K-nayt)
3. Psychology (Sy-kol-uh-jee) - Not (P-sy-kol-uh-jee)
Words with Unusual Pronunciation
1. Worcestershire (Wus-tur-sheer) - Not (War-ches-ter-shire)
2. Chthonic (Thon-ik) - Not (Ktho-nik)
3. Phenomenon (Fuh-nom-uh-non) - Not (Fuh-nom-uh-num)
Words with Stress Patterns
1. Address (Ad-dress) - Not (Ad-dres')
2. Commitment (Kuh-mit-ment) - Not (Kuh-mit'ment)
3. Necessity (Nuh-ses-i-tee) - Not (Nes-ses-i-tee)
Words with Vowel Sounds
1. Data (Day-tah) - Not (Da-tah)
2. Epitome (Eh-pih-toh'mee) - Not (Eh-pih-tohm')
3. Axiom (Ax-ee-uhm) - Not (Ax-ee-om)
Words with Consonant Sounds
1. Schedule (Skej'ool) - Not (Sked'ool)
2. Nuclear (Noo'klee-ur) - Not (Noo'kyoo-lar)
3. Mischievous (Mis-chiv'us) - Not (Mis-chee'vus)
Mispronounced English words and their correct pronunciation
Here are some common mispronounced words with their correct pronunciation:
Vowel Sounds
1. Schedule - /ˈskɛdʒ.uːl/ (SKEH-jool) not (SKED-jool)
2. Data - /ˈdæt.ə/ (DA-tah) not (DAY-tah)
3. Epitome - /ɛˈpɪtəmi/ (eh-PIT-uh-mee) not (eh-PIT-om)
Consonant Sounds
1. Nuclear - /ˈnuːkliər/ (NOO-klee-ur) not (NOO-kyoo-lar)
2. Thesis - /ˈθiːsɪs/ (THEE-sis) not (THEE-sus)
3. Chthonic - /ˈθɒnɪk/ (THON-ik) not (KTHON-ik)
Word Stress
1. Accommodate - /əˈkɒmədeɪt/ (ah-KOM-uh-dayt) not (ah-kom-uh-DATE)
2. Mischievous - /ˌmɪsˈtʃiːvəs/ (mis-CHEE-vus) not (mis-CHEE-vee-us)
3. Worcestershire - /ˈwʊs.təˌʃɪər/ (WUS-tur-sheer) not (WAR-ches-ter-shire)
Other Words
1. Axiom - /ˈæksiəm/ (AX-ee-uhm) not (AX-ee-om)
2. Phenomenon - /fəˈnɒmɪnɒn/ (fuh-NOM-uh-non) not (fuh-NOM-uh-num)
3. Cacophony - /kækəˈfɒni/ (kah-KAH-fuh-nee) not (kah-KAH-fuh-ny)
The most commonly mispronounced English words with examples
Here are some of the most common mispronounced words, along with their correct pronunciation and examples that helps you with English learning:
Vowel Sounds
1. Data - /ˈdæt.ə/ (DA-tah) not (DAY-tah)
Example: “The data shows a significant increase in sales.”
2. Epitome - /ɛˈpɪtəmi/ (eh-PIT-uh-mee) not (eh-PIT-om)
Example: “She is the epitome of elegance and sophistication.”
3. Axiom - /ˈæksiəm/ (AX-ee-uhm) not (AX-ee-om)
Example: “The axiom of mathematics is a self-evident truth.”
Consonant Sounds
1. Schedule - /ˈskɛdʒ.uːl/ (SKEH-jool) not (SKED-jool)
Example: “I have a busy schedule today.”
2. Nuclear - /ˈnuːkliər/ (NOO-klee-ur) not (NOO-kyoo-lar)
Example: “The nuclear power plant is a major source of energy.”
3. Mischievous - /ˌmɪsˈtʃiːvəs/ (mis-CHEE-vus) not (mis-CHEE-vee-us)
Example: “The mischievous child loved playing pranks on his friends.”
Word Stress
1. Address - /əˈdrɛs/ (uh-DRESS) not (AD-dress)
Example: “What is your address?”
2. Commitment - /kəˈmɪtmənt/ (kuh-MIT-ment) not (kuh-MIT'ment)
Example: “The company's commitment to sustainability is impressive.”
3. Necessity - /nəˈsɛsɪti/ (nuh-SESS-i-tee) not (NES-ses-i-tee)
Example: “The necessity of the situation demanded immediate action.”
Improve your pronunciation with these commonly mistaken words
Here are some common mispronounced words to help you improve English speaking:
Vowel Sounds
1. Data - /ˈdæt.ə/ (DA-tah) not (DAY-tah)
2. Epitome - /ɛˈpɪtəmi/ (eh-PIT-uh-mee) not (eh-PIT-om)
3. Axiom - /ˈæksiəm/ (AX-ee-uhm) not (AX-ee-om)
Consonant Sounds
1. Schedule - /ˈskɛdʒ.uːl/ (SKEH-jool) not (SKED-jool)
2. Nuclear - /ˈnuːkliər/ (NOO-klee-ur) not (NOO-kyoo-lar)
3. Mischievous - /ˌmɪsˈtʃiːvəs/ (mis-CHEE-vus) not (mis-CHEE-vee-us)
Word Stress
1. Accommodate - /əˈkɒmədeɪt/ (ah-KOM-uh-dayt) not (ah-kom-uh-DATE)
2. Commitment - /kəˈmɪtmənt/ (kuh-MIT-ment) not (kuh-mit'MENT)
3. Necessity - /nəˈsɛsɪti/ (nuh-SES-i-tee) not (nes-SES-i-tee)
Unusual Pronunciation
1. Worcestershire - /ˈwʊs.təˌʃɪər/ (WUS-tur-sheer) not (WAR-ches-ter-shire)
2. Chthonic - /ˈθɒnɪk/ (THON-ik) not (KTHON-ik)
3. Phenomenon - /fəˈnɒmɪnɒn/ (fuh-NOM-uh-non) not (fuh-NOM-uh-num)
How to avoid common pronunciation errors in spoken English
Here are some tips to help you pronounce words correctly in spoken English:
1. Listen to Native Speakers
Listen to native English speakers to get a feel for how words are pronounced. Watch TV shows, movies, and listen to podcasts.
2. Practice Regularly
Practice speaking and pronunciation regularly. Repeat words and phrases out loud to practice your pronunciation.
3. Focus on Individual Sounds
Focus on individual sounds that are difficult for you to pronounce. Practice these sounds in isolation before using them in words.
4. Pay Attention to Syllable Stress
Pay attention to syllable stress when pronouncing words. Stress the correct syllable to avoid changing the word's meaning.
By following these tips and being mindful of common mispronounced words, you can improve your English words' pronunciation and become a more confident English speaker.
FAQ's
To improve your pronunciation, listen to native speakers, practice speaking regularly, focus on individual sounds, pay attention to syllable stress, and record yourself to identify areas for improvement.
Common mistakes include mispronouncing “th” sounds, “v” sounds, “w” sounds, and “r” sounds, as well as incorrect syllable stress and word intonation.
You can practice pronunciation by listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or online lectures, repeating phrases and sentences out loud, and using online resources such as pronunciation guides and language learning apps.
Yes, pronunciation can be learned at any age. While children and adolescents may pick up pronunciation more easily, adults can still improve their pronunciation with practice, patience, and dedication.
Yes, there are many online resources available, including pronunciation guides, language learning apps, online courses, and YouTube channels dedicated to pronunciation practice. Some popular resources include Forvo, Cambridge University Press, and English Central.
10 Common English Words You're Pronouncing Wrong!