![]() ![]() While this is such as basic word, it’s actually one of the hardest to pronounce. If you’re pronouncing this word as “naw-zee-us,” then you’re pronouncing it wrong! While this pronunciation may seem intuitive, it’s actually pronounced “naw-shus.” Yes, we agree, the English spelling-to-pronunciation relationship doesn’t make sense sometimes. ![]() Although most people mispronounce it as “hahy-pur-bohl,” it’s actually pronounced “hahy-per-buh-lee.” 7. ![]() And just like with many other words of Greek origin in English, the “e” at the end isn’t silent. This word, likely familiar to you from your mathematics classes, is a word of Greek origin. No, it’s not “drot.” It’s “draft.” As in “laugh,” but with a “t” at the end. However you think it’s pronounced - believe me, it isn’t. Its correct pronunciation still has me bewildered, no matter how many times I’ve said it. This one is probably the most counter-intuitive English word to pronounce. We’re sure you read it as “epi-tom.” But no, the correct pronunciation of this word is “epi-toh-mee” Yes, despite what your intuition is telling you, the “e” isn’t silent. This seemingly innocent word is another one that causes a lot of confusion. We bet you read it the way it’s written (“co-lo-nel”), right? Well, we’re sorry to break it to you, but it’s actually pronounced: “ker-nel.” Yes, it makes no sense. This seemingly simple word is actually one of the most mispronounced words in English, even by native speakers. Most people pronounce it as “mis-chee-vee-us”, adding an extra “i.” But no, it’s actually “mis-chee-vus.” 3. To be mischievous means “to cause or show a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.” And indeed, this word causes us a lot of trouble when it comes to its correct pronunciation. There’s no way you can pronounce this word without twisting your tongue! The double “r” followed by a contradictory “l” makes this seemingly innocent word one of the hardest ones to pronounce in English. We’re curious to know how many you got right! 1. Test your English knowledge and see whether you can pronounce these words correctly. Here are the top 10 hardest English words to pronounce, even for native speakers. The pronunciation of some English words can leave even the most eloquent wordsmiths perplexed. 10 of the hardest words in English to pronounce There’s no better way to illustrate this than this funny TikTok sketch. To make things even more confusing, in English, one letter can make different sounds, and the same combination of letters can be pronounced differently in different words. For example, the word “vacuum” comes from the Latin word “vacuus,” which means “empty.” That’s why it’s spelled with a double “u.” ![]() This happens mainly because the English language uses many words borrowed from other languages, such as French, Latin, Greek, or German. Linguistically speaking, the graphemes (the written words) and the phonemes (sounds) do not always coincide in English. Sometimes, how you spell a word has nothing to do with how you pronounce it or vice versa. What makes English words difficult to pronounce and spell?Īs an English learner, you may have noticed a disconnect between the pronunciation and spelling of certain words in English. So buckle up for an ephemeral, eclectic vocabulary explosion that will test your equanimity. Even if you don’t master them immediately, simply having a go at the pronunciation and having fun with them will make you a more confident English speaker. To give you some extra value, we’ve compiled a list of more than 250 hardest words to pronounce in English. This is mainly because the English language is a mishmash of words borrowed from other languages. Which is why it makes total sense that, as an English learner, you most likely aim to master your pronunciation to sound as close to a native speaker as possible.īut while English may not seem like the most difficult language to pronounce, it has its fair share of words that can be hard to get your tongue around. Mispronouncing words may lead to many misunderstandings… sometimes funny or even embarrassing. Without a doubt, pronunciation is one of the most important aspects of learning a new language. Are you tired of stumbling over hard English words to pronounce? From common words with silent letters to tongue twisters that leave you tongue-tied, we delve into the nuances of English pronunciation to help you master the trickiest ones. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |