What word do you constantly mispronounce, no matter how many times you try to get it right? Because many English words come from different languages and regional dialects, it may be hard to know exactly how to pronounce tricky words. But what words are you mispronouncing without even knowing you're mispronouncing them?
Mispronounced Words That Start With A–F
The first part of the alphabet is full or words that you might be saying wrong. From Antarctic to barbiturate, you may find some extra letters that you’ve been leaving out of everyday speech.
|
Correct Pronunciation |
Definition |
Incorrect Pronunciation |
|
açaí |
purple fruit from an açaí palm tree |
akai |
|
affidavit |
a written sworn statement |
affidavid |
|
anemone |
a member of the buttercup family, or a flower-like sea creature (sea anemone) |
anenome |
|
Antarctic |
relating to the Antarctic region |
Antartic |
|
antennae (an-TEN-ee) |
more than one antenna (a sense organ on the head of orthopods) |
antennay |
|
athlete |
someone who plays sports or exercises |
athalete |
|
Australia |
a country and continent in Oceania |
Ostraya |
|
barbed wire |
twisted, spiked strands of fence wire |
bob wire or barb wire |
|
barbiturate |
a depressant drug |
barbituate |
|
boatswain |
a ship’s warrant officer |
boatswain (BOWT-swayn) |
|
bon appétit |
French for “enjoy your meal” |
bon appeteat |
|
cache |
a hidden storage |
cashay |
|
cacophony (cuh-CAW-fone-ee) |
harsh, contrasting sounds |
cacaphony |
|
colonel |
a high-ranking military officer |
colonel |
|
calzone |
Italian dish made with cheese and meat inside folded dough |
calzone |
|
cavalry |
horse-mounted combat troops |
calvary |
|
chalet |
a Swiss-style house in the mountains |
chalett |
|
charcuterie |
a platter of deli meats and cheeses |
charcutterie (char-CUT-err-ee) |
|
clique (click) |
an exclusive group |
cliquey |
|
cornet |
a brass instrument smaller than a trumpet |
coronet |
|
dilate |
to make wider or larger |
dialate |
|
diphtheria |
an infectious disease |
diptheria |
|
electoral |
relating to an election |
electorial |
|
epitome (eh-PIT-oh-mee) |
showing all the typical qualities of something |
epitom |
|
espresso |
a condensed coffee serving |
expresso |
|
et cetera |
Latin expression meaning “and the rest” |
ex cetera |
|
especially |
particularly |
expecially |
|
February |
the second month in the Gregorian calendar |
Febuary |
|
fiscal |
relating to finances |
fisical (FIS-ih-kull) |
|
foliage |
a collection of leaves and trees |
foilage |
|
forte |
a person’s strength; in music, a louder volume |
fort |
|
foyer |
an entrance hall |
foyay |
Fast Fact
Some words are mispronounced because people think they require a French flair. But words like foyer are pronounced just as they’re spelled in American English.
On the other hand, words with Italian roots (such as forte) do tend to keep their Italian pronunciation in English.
"Calvary" vs. "Cavalry": A Look at the Different Meanings
Mispronounced Words That Start With G–P
You may not always have the opportunity to say GIF or hierarchy in everyday conversation. But on the chance that you do need to say these tricky words out loud, it’s worth saying them correctly.
|
Correct Pronunciation |
Definition |
Incorrect Pronunciation |
|
gala |
a formal festive occasion |
gala |
|
genre |
a category of written or artistic works |
jonrey |
|
gif |
a moving image file |
gif |
|
gyro |
a Greek sandwich with lamb or other meat |
guyro |
|
hierarchy (HI-err-ar-key) |
a grouping by rank |
hiarchy |
|
hyperbole |
an exaggerated statement used for effect |
hyperbowl |
|
larynx (LARE-inks) |
a structure in the human trachea that contains the vocal cords |
larnyx |
|
liable |
responsible for something |
lible |
|
macaron |
French filled cookie |
macaroon |
|
masonry (MAY-son-ree) |
stonework or brickwork |
masonary (MAY-son-air-ee) |
|
mauve |
a shade of purple |
mawve |
|
mayonnaise (MAY-aw-nays) |
a dressing containing egg, oil, and vinegar |
maynaise (MAY-nays) |
|
meme (meem) |
a popular image or trend that circulates online |
mimi |
|
miniature |
a small version of something larger |
miniture |
|
moot (moot) |
irrelevant |
mute |
|
mischievous |
likely to cause trouble |
mischevious |
|
nuclear |
relating to atomic energy |
nucular |
|
ostensibly |
apparently |
ostensively |
|
percolate |
to trickle through |
perculate |
|
perspire |
to sweat |
prespire |
|
potable (POH-tah-bull) |
drinkable |
pottable |
|
prerogative |
one’s right or privilege |
perogative |
|
prescription |
a doctor’s note indicating a desired medication |
perscription |
|
prestigious |
above others in standing |
prestegious |
|
preternatural (pree-ter-NAT-chur-al) |
extraordinary |
preternatural (preh-ter-NAT-chur-al) |
|
pronunciation |
the way a word is said |
pronounciation |
Fast Fact
Some people say pronunciation with a noun in the middle, since the verb pronounce is, well, pronounced that way. But pronunciation has a nun in the middle instead.
Mispronounced Words That Start With Q–Z
Don’t forget those easily mispronounced words at the end of the alphabet!
|
Correct Pronunciation |
Definition |
Incorrect Pronunciation |
|
quinoa |
edible seeds from the Chenopodium quinoa plant |
quinoa |
|
realtor |
a real estate agent |
realator |
|
regardless |
without consideration |
irregardless |
|
relevant |
relating to the matter at hand |
revelant |
|
remuneration |
a payment, usually money |
renumeration |
|
respite |
a delay or break |
respite |
|
salmon |
a species of fish; a pinkish color that relates to the color of the fish |
sal-mon |
|
segue |
a smooth transition |
segoo |
|
sherbet |
a frozen fruit dessert |
sherbert |
|
suite |
a series of connected rooms |
suit |
|
supposedly |
based on one’s beliefs |
supposably |
|
supremacist |
someone who believes in the supremacy of a group |
supremist |
|
tenet |
a belief or principle |
tenent |
|
tenterhooks |
from the idiom “on tenterhooks,” meaning “in a state of suspense” |
tenderhooks |
|
triathlon |
a race composed of swimming, bicycling, and running events |
triathalon |
|
(UHT-most) |
the highest limit |
upmost |
|
verbiage |
expressing in words |
verbage |
|
victual |
food |
victual (VICK-too-ull) |
|
viscount |
a nobleman above a baron and below an earl or count |
viscount |
|
voluptuous |
shapely |
volumptuous |
|
Worcestershire |
anything from the Worcestershire region of England (usually referring to Worcestershire sauce) |
Worchester |
|
zoology |
the study of animals |
zoo-ology |
Commonly Confused Words (and How to Conquer Them)