10 English Words You’re Pronouncing WRONGLY | Most Commonly Mispronounced English Words
English is a complex language, and one of the most challenging aspects is pronunciation. Even native speakers often struggle with the correct pronunciation of words. As an English learner, it can be frustrating to realize that you’re mispronouncing words you’ve been using for years. In this article, we’ll highlight 10 commonly mispronounced English words and guide you on how to pronounce them correctly.
Table of Contents:
- 1. Library
- 2. February
- 3. Mischievous
- 4. Pronunciation
- 5. Iron
- 6. Epitome
- 7. Clothes
- 8. Arctic
- 9. Nuclear
- 10. Resume
- Conclusion
1. Library
Common Mistake: Many people pronounce this word as “libary” (leaving out the second “r”).
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪ·brɛr·i/
The correct way to pronounce “library” is to ensure that you enunciate both “r”s—li-bra-ry, not “libary.”
2. February
Common Mistake: It’s common to hear people pronounce this word as “Feb-yoo-ary,” leaving out the “r” sound.
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈfɛb·ruː·ɛr·i/
The correct pronunciation includes the “r” after the “b”—Feb-ru-ar-y. It’s Feb-ROO-ary, not “Feb-yoo-ary.”
3. Mischievous
Common Mistake: People often say “mis-chee-vee-us,” emphasizing the “ee” sound.
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈmɪs·tʃɪ·vəs/
The correct way to say “mischievous” is miss-chee-vus, with no extra “ee” sound after “mis.” It’s mis-CHUH-vus.
4. Pronunciation
Common Mistake: Many people mistakenly say “pro-noun-ciation.”
Correct Pronunciation: /prəˌnʌn·siˈeɪ·ʃən/
The correct pronunciation is pro-nun-see-AY-shun, with no “ow” sound. “Pronunciation” does not have an “o” sound after the “n,” even though “pronounce” does.
5. Iron
Common Mistake: The word is often mispronounced as “eye-ron.”
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈaɪ·ən/
“Iron” should be pronounced eye-urn, with just one syllable. You don’t need to emphasize the “o.”
6. Epitome
Common Mistake: People often pronounce this as “epi-tome,” with a long “o” sound.
Correct Pronunciation: /ɪˈpɪt·ə·mi/
The correct pronunciation of “epitome” is ih-PIT-uh-mee, with the emphasis on the second syllable. It’s not “epi-TOME,” but “epi-TUH-mee.”
7. Clothes
Common Mistake: People often mispronounce “clothes” as “cloaths” or “close.”
Correct Pronunciation: /kloʊðz/
The correct pronunciation is cloh-thz, with a soft “th” sound at the end and no “s” sound at the start. It’s clothes, not “close.”
8. Arctic
Common Mistake: Some people mistakenly say “Artic” without the “r.”
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈɑːrktɪk/
The correct pronunciation includes the “r”—ARCT-ic, not “ART-ic.” Always ensure to pronounce the “r” sound clearly.
9. Nuclear
Common Mistake: The most common mistake is saying “nucular” instead of “nuclear.”
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈnuːkliər/
The right way to pronounce “nuclear” is new-klee-er, with all three syllables pronounced distinctly. It’s not “nucular”!
10. Resume
Common Mistake: People often mispronounce it as “re-zoo-may” (as in “resume a task”).
Correct Pronunciation: /ˈrɛz·ə·meɪ/
When referring to a CV or job application, “resume” is pronounced as rez-oo-may, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
Conclusion
Pronunciation plays a significant role in how well we communicate, and even small mispronunciations can sometimes lead to confusion. The words listed above are some of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language, and knowing how to say them correctly will improve your communication skills.
Remember that consistent practice is key to improving your pronunciation. Don’t be afraid to listen to native speakers, use pronunciation apps, or even record yourself to catch any mistakes.
