10 Common Mispronunciations You Need to Be Aware of
Mispronunciation can occur to anyone, including those who are native speakers of a language. While it’s a minor mistake, it can still have an impact in terms of communication and perception. To help you avoid this pitfall, here are ten common mispronunciations you need to be aware of.
1. Espresso vs. Expresso
Espresso is a strong coffee, while ‘expresso’ is not a word at all. If you want to avoid sounding like a novice, say espresso correctly.
2. Nuclear vs. Nucular
It’s not ‘nucular’. The word is pronounced as ‘new-clee-ar’. This mistake often happens even among highly educated people, but knowing the correct pronunciation is still important.
3. Often vs. Off-ten
Many people put an unnecessary ‘t’ sound after the ‘f’ in often. The correct pronunciation is ‘off-en’. Practice saying it correctly, and it will become your habit.
4. Mischievous vs. Mis-CHEE-vee-ous
The second syllable in mischievous is ‘chiv’, not ‘chee-vee’. Many people make this mistake by over-emphasizing the ‘e’ sound. Keep in mind that the correct pronunciation is mis-chiv-us.
5. Supposedly vs. Supposably
‘Supposably’ is not a word. Don’t make the mistake of using it when you mean supposedly. The correct pronunciation is suh-po-zid-lee.
6. Prescription vs. Perscription
The word prescription has two ‘s’ sounds, so be sure to include both of them. Saying ‘perscription’ is a common mistake, but it can come across as careless or unprofessional.
7. Comfortable vs. Comfterble
Comfortable is a word that trips up many people. While it’s commonly pronounced as ‘comfterble’, the correct way to say it is ‘kum-fer-tuh-bul’. Practice saying it out loud until it comes naturally to you.
8. February vs. Febuary
The first ‘r’ in February is often dropped, but it’s important to include it. People who drop the ‘r’ in the word sound uneducated. The word should be pronounced ‘feb-roo-air-ee’.
9. Athlete vs. Ath-a-lete
The word athlete is often mispronounced by adding an extra ‘a’ sound in the middle. Don’t fall into this trap, and say ‘ath-leet’ instead.
10. Mischievous vs. Mischeevious
Some people put too much emphasis on the ‘ee’ sound and pronounce the word as mis-chee-vee-us. The correct way to say it is mis-chiv-us. Remember, the second syllable is pronounced ‘chiv’, not ‘chee-vee’.
Conclusion
We all make mistakes, and mispronunciations are no exception. However, by being aware of these common mistakes and practicing their correct pronunciation, you can improve your communication skills and avoid looking unprofessional. Keep in mind that every language has its own peculiarities, so take the time to learn the correct pronunciation so that you can communicate effectively and confidently.
