English pronunciation is a minefield of inconsistencies, silent letters, borrowed words, and spelling traps. Even highly educated native speakers mispronounce certain words, and non-native speakers face an even greater challenge. This comprehensive list covers 100 of the most frequently mispronounced words in English, explaining the correct pronunciation, the common error, and often the reason behind the confusion. Whether you are a native speaker looking to polish your speech or a learner aiming for accuracy, this guide will help you avoid the most common pronunciation pitfalls.
Why Are These Words Mispronounced?
Words get mispronounced for several recurring reasons. Understanding these reasons helps you predict and avoid errors even with words not on this list.
Spelling doesn't match pronunciation: English spelling often preserves historical or foreign pronunciations that no longer match modern speech (colonel, Wednesday, February).
Silent letters: Letters in the spelling that are not pronounced (often, subtle, salmon).
Foreign borrowings: Words from French, Latin, Greek, or other languages that follow source-language pronunciation rules (genre, cache, quinoa).
Stress placement: Multi-syllable words where speakers put the emphasis on the wrong syllable (mischievous, comparable, formidable).
Spelling pronunciation: Pronouncing a word as its spelling suggests rather than as tradition dictates (arctic, often, clothes).
Words 1-25: Everyday Vocabulary
#
Word
Correct
Common Error
1
pronunciation
pro-NUN-see-AY-shun
"pro-NOUNCE-ee-ay-shun"
2
often
OFF-en or OFF-ten
Both are now accepted
3
February
FEB-roo-air-ee
"FEB-yoo-air-ee"
4
library
LY-brair-ee
"LY-berry"
5
Wednesday
WENZ-day
"Wed-NES-day"
6
comfortable
KUMF-ter-bul
"com-FOR-ta-bul"
7
clothes
KLOHZ (one syllable)
"KLOH-thiz" (two syllables)
8
jewelry
JOOL-ree
"JOO-luh-ree"
9
vegetable
VEJ-tuh-bul
"VEJ-eh-TAY-bul"
10
interesting
IN-tris-ting
"in-ter-EST-ing"
11
ask
ASK
"AKS"
12
nuclear
NOO-klee-er
"NOO-kyoo-ler"
13
mischievous
MIS-chuh-vus (3 syllables)
"mis-CHEE-vee-us" (4 syllables)
14
arctic
ARK-tik
"AR-tik"
15
supposedly
suh-POZ-ed-lee
"suh-POSE-ub-lee"
16
espresso
es-PRESS-oh
"ex-PRESS-oh"
17
et cetera
et-SET-er-uh
"ek-SET-er-uh"
18
specifically
spuh-SIF-ik-lee
"puh-SIF-ik-lee"
19
picture
PIK-cher
"PITCH-er"
20
probably
PROB-ub-lee
"PROB-lee"
21
supposedly
suh-POZ-id-lee
"suh-POSE-ab-lee"
22
athlete
ATH-leet (2 syllables)
"ATH-uh-leet" (3 syllables)
23
escape
ih-SKAPE
"ek-SKAPE"
24
height
HYTE (rhymes with "bite")
"HEIGHTH"
25
miniature
MIN-ee-uh-chur
"MIN-uh-chur"
Words 26-50: Academic and Professional
#
Word
Correct
Common Error
26
hierarchy
HY-er-ar-kee
"HY-ar-kee"
27
hyperbole
hy-PER-buh-lee
"HY-per-bowl"
28
epitome
ih-PIT-uh-mee
"EP-ih-tohm"
29
colonel
KER-nul
"KOL-oh-nel"
30
cache
KASH
"ka-SHAY" (that's cachet)
31
niche
NEESH or NITCH
"NISH"
32
subtle
SUT-ul (silent b)
"SUB-tul"
33
paradigm
PAIR-uh-dyme
"PAIR-uh-dig-um"
34
analogous
uh-NAL-uh-gus
"an-uh-LOG-us"
35
heinous
HAY-nus
"HEE-nus"
36
moot
MOOT (rhymes with boot)
"MUTE"
37
prerogative
prih-ROG-uh-tiv
"per-ROG-uh-tiv"
38
spurious
SPYOOR-ee-us
"SPUR-ee-us"
39
segue
SEG-way
"SEG"
40
coup
KOO
"KOOP"
41
debris
duh-BREE
"DEB-ris"
42
genre
ZHON-ruh
"JEN-er"
43
facade
fuh-SAHD
"fuh-KAYD"
44
awry
uh-RY
"AW-ree"
45
faux pas
FOH PAH
"FAWKS PASS"
46
albeit
all-BEE-it
"AL-bite"
47
miscellaneous
mis-uh-LAY-nee-us
"mis-SELL-uh-nus"
48
prescription
prih-SKRIP-shun
"per-SKRIP-shun"
49
candidate
KAN-dih-dayt
"KAN-uh-dayt"
50
dilate
dy-LAYT
"DY-uh-layt"
Words 51-75: Food, Places, and Culture
#
Word
Correct
Common Error
51
quinoa
KEEN-wah
"kwin-OH-uh"
52
açaí
ah-sah-EE
"ah-KAI"
53
bruschetta
broo-SKET-tah
"broo-SHET-uh"
54
chipotle
chih-POHT-lay
"chih-POT-ul"
55
gnocchi
NYOK-kee
"noh-CHEE" or "GNAK-ee"
56
worcestershire
WUS-ter-sher
"war-SEST-er-shy-er"
57
salmon
SAM-un (silent l)
"SAL-mun"
58
almond
AH-mund or AL-mund
Both are widely accepted
59
croissant
kwah-SAHN
"kruh-SANT"
60
gyro
YEE-roh
"JY-roh"
61
turmeric
TER-muh-rik
"TOO-muh-rik"
62
macabre
muh-KAH-bruh
"muh-KAB"
63
renaissance
REN-uh-sahnce
"reh-NAY-sawnce"
64
lingerie
LAHN-zhuh-ray
"LIN-juh-ree"
65
chagrin
shuh-GRIN
"CHAG-rin"
66
coup de grâce
KOO duh GRAHS
"koo duh GRAH"
67
bourgeois
boor-ZHWAH
"BOR-jee-oiss"
68
Melbourne
MEL-burn
"MEL-born"
69
Edinburgh
ED-in-bruh
"ED-in-burg"
70
Thames
TEMZ
"THAYMZ"
71
Leicester
LES-ter
"LY-ses-ter"
72
Versailles
ver-SY
"ver-SAYLZ"
73
Notre Dame
NOH-truh DAHM
"NOH-ter DAYM"
74
BMW
In German: Bay-Em-Vay
English: Bee-Em-Double-Yoo
75
Porsche
POR-shuh (two syllables)
"PORSH" (one syllable)
Words 76-100: Advanced Vocabulary
#
Word
Correct
Common Error
76
acai
ah-sah-EE
"AK-ay-ee"
77
ennui
on-WEE
"EN-yoo-ee"
78
hegemony
hih-JEM-uh-nee
"HEJ-uh-moh-nee"
79
chasm
KAZ-um
"CHAZ-um"
80
chaos
KAY-oss
"CHOW-ss"
81
quay
KEE
"KWAY"
82
draught
DRAFT
"DRAWT"
83
receipt
rih-SEET
"rih-SEEPT"
84
queue
KYOO
"KWAY-way"
85
onomatopoeia
on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh
"on-uh-MAT-oh-poy-uh"
86
anemone
uh-NEM-uh-nee
"AN-uh-mohn"
87
posthumous
POS-chuh-mus
"post-HYOO-mus"
88
respite
RES-pit
"reh-SPITE"
89
succinct
suk-SINKT
"SUK-sinkt"
90
Antarctic
ant-ARK-tik
"ant-AR-tik"
91
formidable
FOR-mih-duh-bul
"for-MID-uh-bul"
92
comparable
KOM-per-uh-bul
"kum-PAIR-uh-bul"
93
applicable
AP-lih-kuh-bul
"uh-PLIK-uh-bul"
94
integral
IN-tih-grul
"in-TEG-rul"
95
docile
DOS-ul (US) / DOH-syle (UK)
"DOK-ile"
96
cerebral
suh-REE-brul or SER-uh-brul
"ser-EE-bral"
97
camaraderie
kah-mah-RAH-duh-ree
"kam-uh-RAD-ree"
98
comptroller
kun-TROH-ler
"KOMP-troh-ler"
99
victuals
VIT-ulz
"VIK-choo-ulz"
100
synecdoche
sih-NEK-duh-kee
"sin-EK-dosh"
Tips for Avoiding Mispronunciation
Use a dictionary with audio: Whenever you encounter a new word, look it up and listen to its pronunciation before using it in speech.
Learn IPA basics: The International Phonetic Alphabet eliminates guesswork. Once you can read IPA transcriptions, you can pronounce any word correctly from its dictionary entry.
Be skeptical of spelling: Never assume you know how a word is pronounced just because you've seen it written. English spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation.
Pay attention to stress: Many mispronunciations involve putting stress on the wrong syllable. Mark stress patterns when learning new vocabulary.
Learn word origins: Knowing that a word comes from French (genre, debris) or Greek (paradigm, epitome) can help predict its pronunciation patterns.
Don't be afraid to ask: If you're unsure about a pronunciation, it's better to ask or look it up than to repeat an error that becomes a habit.
Pronunciation is not about perfection—it's about clarity and confidence. Everyone mispronounces words occasionally, and language is always evolving. However, being aware of commonly mispronounced words and making an effort to pronounce them correctly demonstrates respect for your listeners and care for clear communication.
