Talk to the hand…
English is a weird and complicated language. Even the most fluent speakers get tripped up pronouncing certain words on occasion (don’t get me started on written grammar!) Perfect speech isn’t really a thing. I came across an amusing post on Babbel of twelve words that even seasoned speakers mispronounce. See how well you do with them!
The Tricky Twelve
1. Mischievous
What some people say: mis-CHEEV-ee-us
How it’s actually pronounced: MIS-chiv-us
People think this word has more syllables than it actually does. Apparently enough idiots have been making this mistake since the 16th century that Babbel thinks it may as well be considered the correct pronunciation by now. I disagree.
2. Prestigious
What some people say: pre-STI-gee-us
How it’s actually pronounced: pre-STI-jus
In line with mischievous, prestigious is also a three-syllable word that some people think is a four-syllable word. It’s not.
3. Worcestershire
What some people say: wor-chest-er-shire
How it’s actually pronounced: WOOS-ter-sher
This tangy sauce is named after a county in England. I did not know that. Anyway, the county of Worcester is pronounced wooster, so when you add shire (sher) you get woostersher. Makes sense to me.
4. Jewelry
What some people say: JOOL-ree
how it’s actually pronounced: JEW-ell-ree
Three syllables. Don’t slur them. Pronounce each one as you see it.
5. Anemone
What some people say: ah-MEN-oh-mee or ah-men-oh-NEE
how it’s actually pronounced: ah-NEM-oh-nee
Babbel says “The word ‘anemone’ is basically a tongue twister that lives at the bottom of the ocean (or in a nice bouquet of cut flowers). You can probably blame the coincidence of too many M’s and N’s close together.” I say if you actually look at the word, you can pronounce it correctly.
6. Forte
what some people say: FOR-tay
how it’s actually pronounced: fort
I take issue with Babbel on this one. FOR-tay is also correct and more commonly used. See Merriam-Webster.
7. Draught
what some people say: drot
how it’s actually pronounced: draft
I quibble with the Babbel on this, too, because, in American English, draught is rarely used as a spelling variant of draft. The one exception is in reference to beer or the container from which it is poured. Draught beer is pronounced draft.
8. Sherbet
what some people say: SHUR-bert
how it’s actually pronounced: SHUR-bet
Apparently people often confuse sherbet with sorbet, even though sorbet is pronounced sore-BAY. There is no confusion here though. If you look at the word sherbet, you’ll see there is no r in bet. So don’t say r.
9. Defibrillator
what some people say: de-FIB-yu-lay-tor
how it’s actually pronounced: de-FIB-ri-lay-tor
As in February, there is an r after the b. Say it as you read it.
10. Zoology
what some people say: zoo-OLL-oh-gee
how it’s actually pronounced: zoe-OLL-oh-gee
Maybe because we love going to the zoo, zoo, zoo (and you can come too, too, too), we want to say zoo when we pronounce zoology.
11. February
what some people say: FEB-yoo-air-ee
how it’s actually pronounced: FEB-roo-air-ee
That “brew” in February always seems to trip people up. Thus, instead of febroo, some people slur it so it becomes febyoo.
12. Library
what some people say: LI-berry
how it’s actually pronounced: LI-brair-ee
I don’t actually know of any adults who say Liberry.
Phew!
So, how did you do? Worcestershire is the one word that always trips me up, so knowing it’s actually an English county pronounced wooster is a big help.
I can still hear (and see) my later mother pronounce MIS-chiv-us because of the way she emphasized MIS. She said it correctly, but it was funny, too.
As a former high school musician, forte will always be FOR-tay.
And the only people I know who pronounce library as LI-berry are children or adults who also say Valentime’s Day.
Anyway, I hope this helps you get it right.
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Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her multi-finalist award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
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