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I’m a literacy expert and these are the words that are commonly mispronounced in English

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From expresso to often, a literacy expert from UK-based Awesome Books has revealed a list of words that are frequently mispronounced in English – and some of them will surprise you.

You probably use several of these words every day, but do you know if you are pronouncing them correctly?

From expresso to often, a literacy expert from UK-based Awesome Books has revealed a list of words that are commonly mispronounced in English – and some of them will surprise you.

The catalogue describes a number of terms that people often stumble over or mispronounce, according to Mubin Ahmed. How many can you pronounce correctly?

Literacy expert Mubin said: “English pronunciation can be tricky and it’s easy to fall into the trap of common mispronunciations. Being aware of these mistakes can help you improve your spoken English and communicate more effectively.”

Whether you speak British or American English, paying attention to these nuances will make you sound more refined and precise.

From expresso to often, a literacy expert from UK-based Awesome Books has revealed a list of words that are frequently mispronounced in English – and some of them will surprise you.

‘So, the next time you’re about to say ‘expresso’ or ‘Feb-yoo-air-ee,’ take a moment to remember the correct pronunciation and speak with confidence.’

Schedule

Bad pronunciation: SKED-yool

Correct pronunciation: SHED-yool

Mubin said: “In British English, ‘schedule’ is traditionally pronounced as ‘SHED-yool’. However, the American pronunciation ‘SKED-yool’ is becoming more common due to cultural influences.”

Mischievous

Bad pronunciation: we missed CHEE-vee

Correct pronunciation: MY-chiv-us

“Many people add an extra syllable and pronounce it as ‘mis-CHEE-vee-us,’ but the correct pronunciation is ‘MIS-chiv-us,’ with only three syllables,” the literacy expert said.

Pronunciation

Bad pronunciation: pro-nounce-ee-A-shun

Correct pronunciation: pro-nun-see-A-shun

“Ironically, the word ‘pronunciation’ is often mispronounced. The correct form is ‘pro-nun-see-A-shun’, not ‘pro-nounce-ee-A-shun’,” Mubin insisted.

Espresso

Bad pronunciation: ex-PRESS-oh

Correct pronunciation: es-PRESS-oh

“There is no ‘x’ in ‘espresso.’ The correct pronunciation is ‘es-PRESS-oh,'” the literacy expert said.

Arctic

Bad pronunciation: AR-tic

Correct pronunciation: ARK-tik

The literacy expert said: “The word ‘Arctic’ has two ‘c’s and both should be pronounced. The correct pronunciation is ‘ARK-tik’.”

Nuclear

Bad pronunciation: NOO-kyoo-lar

Correct pronunciation: NOO-klee-ar

“The word ‘nuclear’ is often mispronounced as ‘NOO-kyoo-lar.’ The correct pronunciation is ‘NOO-klee-ar,'” Mubin said.

February

Bad pronunciation: FEB-yoo-air-ee

Correct pronunciation: FEB-roo-air-ee

“A lot of people skip the first ‘r’ in ‘February,’ but the correct pronunciation includes it: ‘FEB-roo-air-ee,'” Mubin explained.

Quinoa

Bad pronunciation: kee-NO-ah

Correct pronunciation: Keen-wah

“The name of this superfood is often mispronounced. The correct pronunciation is ‘KEEN-wah,'” the literacy expert insisted.

The catalogue describes a number of terms that people often stumble over or mispronounce, according to Mubin Ahmed. How many can you pronounce correctly? (file photo)

The catalogue describes a number of terms that people often stumble over or mispronounce, according to Mubin Ahmed. How many can you pronounce correctly? (file photo)

Often

Bad pronunciation: OFF-ten

Correct pronunciation: OFF-es

“While both ‘OFF-ten’ and ‘OFF-en’ are technically correct, the traditional pronunciation in British English is ‘OFF-en’, where the ‘t’ is not pronounced,” the literacy expert explained.

Zebra

Bad pronunciation: ZEE bra

Correct pronunciation: Zebra

“In British English, ‘zebra’ is pronounced ‘ZEB-ra,’ with a short ‘e’ sound, as opposed to the American pronunciation ‘ZEE-bra,'” Mubin said.

Library

Bad pronunciation: lie-BERRY

Correct pronunciation: Lie-brer-ee

“The word ‘library’ is often mispronounced as ‘lie-BERRY,’ but the correct pronunciation is ‘LIE-brer-ee,'” Mubin explained.

Salmon

Bad pronunciation: Salmon

Correct pronunciation: Sam-uhn

“The ‘l’ in ‘salmon’ is not pronounced. The correct pronunciation is ‘SAM-uhn,'” revealed the literacy expert from Awesome Books, a British publishing house.

Almond

Bad pronunciation: Almond

Correct pronunciation: Ah-world

“The ‘l’ in ‘almond’ is not pronounced like that either. The correct pronunciation is ‘AH-mund,'” the expert said.

Debris

Bad pronunciation: Debris

Correct pronunciation: de-BREE

“The correct pronunciation of ‘debris’ is ‘de-BREE’, with the ‘s’ left unpronounced,” Mubin insisted.

Controversy

Bad pronunciation: con-TROV-er-see

Correct pronunciation: CON-tro-ve-se

“In British English, ‘controversy’ is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: ‘CON-tro-ver-see,'” the literacy expert explained.

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