Every language has its quirks, and English is no different. No matter how fluent you are, there are certain words that speakers often mispronounce, and here’s a quick look at some of the most common of them.
Pronunciation
Ironically, the word “pronunciation” is often mispronounced. Many people say “pro-noun-ciation” instead of the correct “pro-nun-ciation.” Ensuring you use the right vowel sounds in this word can improve clarity, although honestly, most people will never notice your mistake and probably make it themselves, too.
Salmon
Always remember that the “l” in “salmon” is silent. Many people pronounce it as “sal-mon,” which will sound pretty ridiculous to a fishmonger. The correct way to say this word is “sam-un,” which can be especially important when discussing this popular fish at restaurants or in culinary contexts.
Library
Another classic English word that most people pronounce incorrectly is ‘library.’ Often mispronounced as “lie-berry,” the word actually contains two “r” sounds. The accurate pronunciation is “lie-brer-ee,” so remember this next time you visit one, or they’ll be handing you a dictionary.
February
Despite its clear spelling, February often loses its first “r.” Many people pronounce it as “Feb-you-airy,” omitting the “r” after the “b.” As The Week spells out, the correct pronunciation includes this letter, sounding more like “Feb-roo-airy.” Remembering to articulate both “r” sounds can help avoid this common error.
Mischievous
The word ‘mischievous’ frequently falls victim to an extra syllable. People often say “mis-chee-vee-ous,” adding an unnecessary “ee” sound. The proper way to say it is “mis-chiv-us,” with only three syllables. We would bet that most people you know weren’t aware of this common mispronunciation.
Espresso
Commonly mispronounced as “expresso,” this Italian word for a strong coffee should be said without the “x.” The correct pronunciation is “es-press-oh,” highlighting the sharp, clean sounds of the original term. However, it’s easy to understand where the confusion comes from, as espresso could be considered an express coffee.
Affidavit
There’s no denying that legal terms can be tricky to understand, let alone pronounce, and “affidavit” is no exception. Many pronounce it as “af-I-day-vit,” but the correct pronunciation is “af-uh-DAY-vit,” with emphasis on the second syllable. It’s not an everyday word, but knowing this will help if you need legal advice.
Comfortable
The word ‘comfortable’ is often incorrectly shortened to “comf-ter-bul” in everyday speech. However, the correct pronunciation is actually “come-fer-tur-bul,” maintaining every syllable in the word. If you’re ever anxious that you’re about to pronounce it incorrectly, there’s nothing wrong with just saying ‘comfy.’
Quinoa
Despite its popularity as a health food, “quinoa” is perhaps one of the most commonly mispronounced words on this list. Many people pronounce it as “quin-oh-ah” or “keen-oh-ah,” but in reality, it’s pronounced “keen-wah.” Don’t feel bad for getting it wrong, as it’s certainly a confusing word.
Arctic
Another common mispronunciation mistake is how the first “c” in “Arctic” is often dropped, leading to the pronunciation “ar-tic.” The proper way to say it includes both “c” sounds, as in “ark-tik.” However, as long as you’re not getting Arctic and Antarctica confused, most people will let you off the hook.
Niche
Astoundingly, the debate over how to pronounce “niche” continues, with many saying “nitch” while others say “neeshay.” There really is no debate to be had; the correct pronunciation is “neesh,” aligning with its French origins, so make sure you get this correct to impress your French friends.
Zoology
Commonly mispronounced as “zoo-logy,” the correct way to say ‘zoology’ is “zoo-ology,” emphasizing the “o” in the second syllable of the word. Thankfully, it’s not likely that you’ll need to use this word in everyday conversations, but it’s certainly handy to know if you’re visiting a zoology museum.
Often
Easily, one of the most common and confusing mispronunciations in the English language is the word ‘often.’ Almost everyone will pronounce the “t,” saying “off-ten.” In reality, the correct pronunciation is actually “off-en,” ditching the “t” completely. Outrageously, this mistake is so common that it’s even taught in schools.
Sherbet
Everybody loves to eat sherbet, but saying it isn’t so fun because it’s easy to mispronounce. It’s frequently mispronounced as “sher-bert,” adding an extra “r,” but the proper way to say it is “sher-bit.” We’re not sure how the mispronunciation spread around the world, but it’s very common.
Realtor
Particularly in America, people commonly stretch the word ‘realtor’ to be pronounced as “real-a-tor.” Not only is this wrong, but it makes no sense; just read the word, and you’ll understand why the correct pronunciation of “realtor” is “real-tor,” exactly how it’s written.
Cache
It doesn’t matter if it’s in regard to browsing history cache or a Geocache–cache is always pronounced simply as ‘cash.’ Despite this, many people around the world believe that the extra “e” requires the word to be pronounced as “cash-ay,” but that’s not actually true.
Forte
People often like to use the word ‘forte’ to sound fancy, as it derives from French. However, their attempts to sound sophisticated are quickly ruined when they are corrected. Commonly mispronounced as “for-tay,” the word should actually be pronounced simply as “fort.”
Etcetera
It’s super confusing to spell, so there’s no surprise in ‘etcetera’ being commonly mispronounced. Frequently said as “ex-etera,” the correct pronunciation is actually “et-cetera.” We’re not denying it’s hard to pronounce, but there’s clearly no ‘x’ in this word, so we’re unsure where this mispronunciation came from.