English is full of words that look one way, sound another, and confuse everyone in between. Some of the most mispronounced words aren’t complicated at all. They just don’t follow the usual rules. Others trip people up because of silent letters, strange stress patterns, or because we’ve heard them wrong for years. And while some mispronunciations have become so common they’re almost accepted, they’re still technically off. Here are 12 real English words that people regularly get wrong and probably don’t even realize it.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Mischievous
A lot of people add an extra syllable and say “mis-chee-vee-us,” but the correct pronunciation is “mis-chuh-vus.” That extra “i” sound just isn’t there. It’s one of those mistakes that’s become so widespread it even sneaks into TV and radio.
Et cetera
“Ex-cetera” is something people say all the time, with the X at the beginning and all. But it’s actually “et-SET-er-uh.” It’s short for a Latin phrase that means “and the rest.” Trust me, there’s no sneaky X in there. It’s a minor thing, but once you notice it, you’ll hear it wrong everywhere.
February
You probably don’t even notice how you pronounce it. I bet you’re leaving off the first R and saying “Feb-yoo-airy.” You should say “FEB-roo-airy.” Both R’s. Try saying it with both of them and notice how it feels weird in your mouth. I know it’s a drag, but it’s the right way.
Niche
In the United States, many people say “nitch,” rhyming the word with “witch.” The pronunciation more commonly accepted in formal English is “neesh,” since it comes directly from French. I hear both versions frequently, though.
Pronunciation
It’s ironic that people have a hard time pronouncing “pronunciation.” They always seem to say, “pro-noun-ciation.” But there’s no “noun” in the middle. It’s “pruh-nun-see-ay-shun.” The word is derived from “pronounce,” but the spelling changes and that’s where people get confused.
Arctic
The hardest part of this word for people is that they drop the first “c” and say “art-ic.” But the word is “ARK-tic” and both C’s are supposed to be pronounced. “Arctic” comes from the Greek word for “bear,” which is a constellation, so that little “k” sound is important.
Zoology
The majority of people will pronounce this word “zoo-ology” as if it’s a literal location for animals. But it’s really “zoh-ology,” just like we say “biology” or “psychology.” The first part, “zoo,” does mean animals, but the focus of the word should be on the second part.
Sherbet
You’ll hear people say this word with a second “r,” like “sher-bert.” But the right word is “sherbet” and it only has one R. That extra syllable crept into casual conversation, even though it’s never actually been there in the spelling.
Asterisk
It’s easy to say “asteriks,” flipping the last letters around, but that’s not how it’s written. The pronunciation is “ASS-tuh-risk.” A lot of people have a hard time with that final “s-k.”
Cache
Some of you are probably saying “kaysh” or “cash-ay” right now. Wrong. “Cash” is the only correct pronunciation. It means a hidden store of something, like data or supplies. It’s a French word, and the fancy spelling fools a lot of people into overcomplicating it.
Espresso
A lot of people say “expresso,” as if it needs to sound faster. But there’s no “x” in the word at all. It’s “ess-press-oh.” It’s Italian, and the pronunciation is straightforward once you ignore the accidental “x” that creeps in.
Heinous
You might hear it as “hee-nee-us” or “hi-nus,” but the right pronunciation is “HAY-nus.” It means something shockingly evil or wicked, so it comes up in serious contexts. Mispronouncing it tends to kill the mood.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
