Let’s face it, English pronunciation can feel like a cruel joke sometimes! Some words sound nothing like they’re spelled, while others have silent letters or tricky stresses. Mispronouncing words is part of the ESL journey, but a few tweaks can make you sound like a native in no time. This lesson covers words that are notoriously difficult to pronounce and provides some funny examples to help you master them. Prepare to tackle those tongue-twisters and leave pronunciation blunders behind!
Vocabulary List: Commonly Mispronounced Words
| Word | Correct Pronunciation | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel | KUR-nuhl | A military officer rank. | The colonel gave orders to his troops. |
| Wednesday | WENZ-day | The day after Tuesday and before Thursday. | I have a meeting on Wednesday. |
| Pronunciation | pro-nun-SEE-ay-shun | The way in which a word is pronounced. | Your pronunciation is improving! |
| Chocolate | CHAWK-lit | A sweet treat made from cocoa. | I love chocolate after dinner. |
| Subtle | SUH-tul | Not obvious; delicate. | The color change was very subtle. |
| Espresso | es-PRES-so | A strong coffee without milk. | She ordered an espresso after lunch. |
| Comfortable | KUMF-tur-bul | Providing ease and relaxation. | This chair is very comfortable. |
| Receipt | ri-SEET | Proof of payment. | Keep the receipt for your purchase. |
| Mischievous | MIS-chuh-vuhs | Naughty or playful. | The mischievous boy hid his sister’s toy. |
| Library | LIE-brer-ee | A place with books for reading or borrowing. | I study at the library on weekends. |
| February | FEB-roo-air-ee | The second month of the year. | My birthday is in February. |
| Hierarchy | HAI-er-ar-kee | A ranking system. | The company has a clear hierarchy of roles. |
| Quinoa | KEEN-wah | A type of edible seed, often used in salads. | Quinoa is a healthy alternative to rice. |
| Et cetera | et SET-er-uh | Meaning “and so on” or “and other similar things.” | They packed sandwiches, drinks, et cetera. |
| Vehicle | VEE-i-kul | A means of transport, like a car or bus. | The vehicle was parked outside. |
| Anemone | uh-NEH-muh-nee | A type of flowering plant or sea creature. | She spotted a beautiful anemone on her hike. |
| Develop | de-VEL-up | To grow or create something. | They’re working to develop new technology. |
| Clothes | klohz | Items you wear, like shirts and pants. | She folded her clothes neatly. |
| Specific | spi-SIF-ik | Clearly defined or identified. | I have a specific question about the project. |
| Salmon | SAM-un | A type of fish. | She grilled a piece of salmon for dinner. |
| Rendezvous | RAHN-day-voo | A meeting or appointment, often secret. | Let’s rendezvous at the café. |
| Genre | ZHAHN-ruh | A style or category, especially in arts or media. | My favorite movie genre is sci-fi. |
| Sword | sored | A weapon with a long metal blade. | The knight carried a sword into battle. |
| Bowl | bohl | A round dish used for food or liquids. | She filled the bowl with soup. |
| Cucumber | KYOO-kum-ber | A green vegetable often used in salads. | She sliced a cucumber for the salad. |
Key Phrases
- How do you pronounce… (word)?
- Example: “How do you pronounce ‘genre’?”
- Example: “Can you tell me how to say ‘quinoa’ correctly?”
- Am I saying this correctly?
- Example: “Am I saying ‘hierarchy’ correctly?”
- Example: “Is ‘Wednesday’ pronounced like I’m saying it?”
- I always get this word wrong!
- Example: “I always get ‘mischievous’ wrong—it’s so tricky.”
- Example: “I keep saying ‘salmon’ with the ‘l’ sound!”
Example Paragraph
“Last week, I learned that I had been saying ‘colonel’ wrong for years—apparently, it’s not pronounced ‘co-lo-nel’ but ‘kur-nuhl.’ And don’t get me started on ‘February,’ which I thought had a loud ‘r’ sound in the middle! In a funny conversation, my friend even corrected my ‘espresso’ (not ‘expresso’) and ‘comfortable’ (not ‘com-for-table’). It turns out, English loves to keep us on our toes with words that sound nothing like they look!”
Common Questions
- Is the “L” in “salmon” pronounced?
- Example: No, it’s silent—pronounced “SAM-un.”
- How is “Wednesday” pronounced?
- Example: It’s pronounced “WENZ-day.”
- What’s the correct way to say “genre”?
- Example: It’s pronounced “ZHAHN-ruh.”
- Is “et cetera” pronounced “ek cetera”?
- Example: No, it’s “et SET-er-uh.”
- How do you pronounce “vehicle”?
- Example: It’s pronounced “VEE-i-kul.”
Invitation to Practice:
Pick three words from this list that you find difficult and try saying them aloud. Record yourself if possible, then listen back to see if you nailed the pronunciation! Or share your list in a study group, and practice with friends—who knows, you might have some laughs along the way.