Mispronounced Words

The correct pronunciation is an important aspect of your speaking skills while giving any competitive exam like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. Clear and accurate pronunciation is essential. To perfect your speaking skills it is important to know the correct pronunciation of words and also to practice every day. So this blog brings to a list of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language!

75 Commonly Mispronounced Words

Here is a detailed list of some of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language.

1. Abalone 

Incorrect: ah-boh-lohn 

Correct: ab-uh-loh-nee  

2. Acai 

Incorrect: ack-ai 

Correct: ah-sigh-ee  

3. Accessory 

Incorrect: ah-seh-suh-ree 

Correct: uhk-seh-suh-ree 

4. Acoustic

Incorrect: uh-qu-stik 

Correct:uh-koo-stik

5. Albeit 

Incorrect: al-bae-it 

Correct: awl-bee-it  

6. Asterisk 

Incorrect: a-stuh-reek 

Correct:a·stuh·ruhsk

7. Athlete 

Incorrect: ath-a-leet 

Correct: ath-leet  

8. Attaché 

Incorrect: ah-tat-chee 

Correct: uh-tash-ey  

9. Automobile

Incorrect: aw-to-mow-bye-el 

Correct: aw-to-mow-beel

10. Ballet

Incorrect: ba-let

Correct: ba-ley

11. Boutique

Incorrect: boh-teek 

Correct: boo-teek  

12. Business

Incorrect: bis-ee-nuhs 

Correct: biz-nuhs  

13. Cache 

Incorrect: kash-ay 

Correct: kash 

14. Cadet 

Incorrect: ca-det

Correct: kuh-det

15. Cavalry 

Incorrect: kal-veuh-ree 

Correct: ka-vuhl-ree  

16. Candidate 

Incorrect: kan-dee-deit 

Correct: kan-duh-duht 

17. Chaos 

Incorrect: Cha-os 

Correct: Key-os 

18. Chimera

Incorrect: chim-er-a 

Correct: kiy-meer-a  

19. Colonel

Incorrect: co-lo-nhel

Correct: kuh-nuhl

20. Comptroller 

Incorrect: comp-tro-ller

Correct: con-troll-er

21. Coup

Incorrect: koo-p 

Correct: koo  

22. Coupon 

Incorrect: que-pun 

Correct: koo-pon  

23. Cupboard

Incorrect: cup-bawd 

Correct: kuh-buhd 

24.  Debris

Incorrect: day-brees 

Correct: deb-ree 

25. Debut 

Incorrect: di-boo 

Correct: dey-byoo 

26. Depot

Incorrect: di-pot

Correct: dee-poh

27. Definitely 

Incorrect: duh-fai-uhnt-lee 

Correct: deh-fuh-nuht-lee 

28. Dilate 

Incorrect: dai-ah-leit 

Correct: dai-leit 

29. Divorce 

Incorrect: die-vawrs 

Correct: dih-vawrs

30. Eccentric 

Incorrect: uh-sen-trik

Correct: uhk-sen-trik

31. Epitome 

Incorrect: ih-pi-toe-m 

Correct: ih-pit-uh-mee 

32. Faux pas 

Incorrect: fohx-pas 

Correct: foh-pah  

33. Federal

Incorrect: feh-druhl 

Correct: feh-duh-ruhl 

34. Film 

Incorrect: fill-um 

Correct: film 

35. Flour 

Incorrect: fl-ahr 

Correct: flou-er 

36. Gauge 

Incorrect: gauj 

Correct: geyj 

37. Heinous 

Incorrect: heen-ni-us 

Correct: hey-nuh-s 

38. Hierarchy 

Incorrect: hahy-archy 

Correct: hahy-uh-rahr-kee 

39. Hyperbole 

Incorrect: hahy-pur-bowl 

Correct: hahy-pur-buh-lee

40. Ingenuity 

Incorrect: in-jen-wee-tee 

Correct: in-juh-noo-i-tee

41. Itinerary 

Incorrect: ahy-tin-ary 

Correct: ahy-tin-uh-rer-ee 

42. Jewellery 

Incorrect: joo-el-er-y 

Correct: joo-uh l-ree 

43. Library 

Incorrect: libe-ry 

Correct: lahy-brer ee 

44. Lingerie 

Incorrect: linger-ee 

Correct: lahn-zhuh-rey 

45. Lip-sync 

Incorrect: lip-sing 

Correct: lip-singk 

46. Maniac 

Incorrect: mahn-yuhk 

Correct: mey-nee-ak 

47. Mauve 

Incorrect: mah-owv 

Correct: mowv 

48. Niche 

Incorrect: nee-shay 

Correct: nee-sh 

49. Nuclear 

Incorrect: noo-kyu-lur 

Correct: noo-klee-ur 

50. Often 

Incorrect: off-ten 

Correct: aw-fuh n 

51. Ophthalmologist

Incorrect: awp-tha-maw-luh-juhst

Correct: awf-thal-maw-luh-juhst

52. Paradigm 

Incorrect: par-uh-dig-m 

Correct: par-uh-dahym 

53. Probably 

Incorrect: pro-blee 

Correct: pro-buh-blee 

54. Pronunciation 

Incorrect: pruh-noun-see-ey-shuh n 

Correct: pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuh n 

55. Pseudonym 

Incorrect: syoo-duh-nim 

Correct: sood-n-im 

56. Quinoa 

Incorrect: kee-no-ah 

Correct: keen-waa   

57. Quote 

Incorrect: coat 

Correct: kwoht 

58. Regime 

Incorrect: ruh-geem 

Correct: ruh-zheem

59. Renaissance 

Incorrect: ruh-nay-sense

Correct: ruh-nay-sawns

60. Rendezvous 

Incorrect: ren-dez-vuss 

Correct: rahn-duh-voo 

61. Reservoir 

Incorrect: rez-er-vore 

Correct: rez-er-vwahr 

62. Salmon 

Incorrect: sal-muhn 

Correct: sam-uh n 

63. Salon 

Incorrect: suh-loon 

Correct: suh-lon 

64. Seismic

Incorrect: ses-muhk 

Correct: size-muhk 

65. Segue

Incorrect: seg-u 

Correct: seg-way

66. Silicon 

Incorrect: sil-i-kohn 

Correct: sil-i-kuh n 

67. Sour 

Incorrect: saa-r 

Correct: souuh-r 

68. Stomach 

Incorrect: stoh-match 

Correct: stuh-muhk 

69. Subtle 

Incorrect: subt-l 

Correct: suht-l 

70. Supposedly 

Incorrect: su-pos-ab-lee 

Correct: su-pos-ed-lee 

71. Suite 

Incorrect: soot 

Correct: sweet 

72. Tuition 

Incorrect: too-shen 

Correct: too-ish-uh n 

73. Turquoise 

Incorrect: tur-quiz 

Correct: tur-kwoiz 

74. Tyranny

Incorrect: ty-ruh-nee

Correct: ti-ruh-nee

75. Yolk 

Incorrect: yol-ke 

Correct: yohk 

Also Read: Universities for English Literature

How to Learn Mispronounced Words

In order to pronounce correctly, here are some easy tips you can follow while speaking English to avoid mispronouncing words

1. Listen to audio books, podcasts and watch videos, news channels and movies in order to listen and grasp how to speak properly. 
2. Focus on difficult and lengthy words and break them down into syllables.
3. Learn when to stress words and sounds.
4. Read out loud and record yourself to identify your weakness.
5. Practice speaking out loud and conversing with others in English.
6. Take help of dictionaries.
7. Practice with tongue twisters.
8. Listen and repeat difficult words over and over again.

Also Read: Common English Errors To Avoid

25 Mispronounced Country and City Names

Here is a list of some commonly mispronounced country and city names:

1. Belarus: beh-luh-rooz
2. Bordeaux, France: bor-DOUGH
3. Budapest: boo-da-PEST(English)/boo-da-PESHT(Hungarian)
4. Cannes, France: Cahn
5. Chile: chil–ee
6. Czech Republic: chek republic
7. Djibouti: Ja-BOO-tee
8. Edinburgh, Scotland: eh-din-BRUH
9. Iran: i-raan
10. Kyrgyzstan: ker-gis-tan 
11. Laos: louse
12. Liechtenstein: lik-tuhn-stine
13. Maldives: MOHL-deevs
14. Marseille, France: mahr-SAY
15. Massachusetts, USA: ma-suh-choo-suhts
16. Melbourne: mel-bern
17. Munich, Germany: MEW-nik
18. Myanmar: Mee-ahn-mah
19. Niger: nai-juh
20. Qatar:Cut-tahr
21. Seoul: soul
22. Seychelles: say-SHELLS
23. Singapore: sing-guh-poh
24. Uruguay: Oo-roo-GWAHEE
25. Warwick, United Kingdom: WAR-rick

Also Read: History of English Literature

25 Hard to Pronounce Words

In the English language, there are a plethora of words that are hard to pronounce. Here is a list of some which we use most often.

1. Anathema: uh-nath-uh-muh
2. Anemone: uh-neh-muh-nee
3. Antarctic: ant-ahrk-tik
4. Antidisestablishmentarianism: an-tee-dis-uh-sta-bluhsh-muhnt-euh-ree-uhn-i-zm
5. Brewery: broo-uh-ree
6. Choir: kvai·uh
7. Comfortable: kuhm·fuh·tay·bl
8. Defibrillator: duh·fi·bruh·lay·tuh
9. Deteriorate: duh·teeuh·ree·uh·rayt
10. Draught: draaft
11. Ignominious: ig·naw·mi·nuhs
12. Isthmus: is·muhs
13. Murderer: muh·duh·ruh
14. Niche: neesh
15. Onomatopoeia: aw·nuh·ma·tuh·pee·uh
16. Otorhinolaryngologist: oh-toh-rahy-noh-luh-ring-guh-loj-ist
17. Penguin: pen-gwen
18. Phenomenon: fuh·naw·muh·nuhn
19. Pneumonia: nyoo·moh·nee·uh
20. Rural: roo·ruhl
21. Sesquipedalian: seh·skvuh·puh·day·lee·uhn
22. Sixth: siksth
23. Specific: speh·si·fik
24. Synecdoche: suh·nek·duh·kee
25. Worcestershire: woo s-ter-sheer

Also, Read The Ultimate Checklist for English Speaking Books 2022!

10 Mispronounced Words that you may have been pronouncing incorrectly your whole life!

Although people use these words on a daily basis, it might be shocking to know how often we have been pronouncing them wrong.

1. Almond

Incorrect: al-muh-nd 

Correct: ah-muh-nd

2. Breakfast

Incorrect: break-fast

Correct: brek-fuhst

3. Espresso 

Incorrect: e-xpres-oh 

Correct: e-spres-oh 

4. Etcetera 

Incorrect: ex-set-er-uh 

Correct: et-set-er-uh

5. February

Incorrect: Feb-you-air-ee

Correct: feh-bruh-ree

6. Genre 

Incorrect: jen-re 

Correct: zhahn-ruh  

7. Mischievous 

Incorrect: mis-chee-vious 

Correct: mis-chuh-vuh-s 

8. Wednesday 

Incorrect: wehd-nez-dei 

Correct: wenz-dei 

9. Woman

Incorrect: vo-muhn

Correct: vu-muhn

10. Women

Incorrect: vu-muhn

Correct: vi-men

If you are interested in taking a complete IELTS or TOEFL course to increase your English language proficiency, then you can check out Leverage Live or call our experts at Leverage Edu anytime on 1800 572 000!