10 Commonly Mispronounced Words

Average: 3.7 (18 votes)

The following words are all very common, yet they often present pronunciation difficulties. Hopefully, these tips will make it a little easier to say each word more clearly.

1. Clothes – the “th” sound followed by an “s” is very difficult even for native speakers.  Pronounce this word just like the word “close” as in: “Please close the door.”
Say: I wear clothes (close) when I close the door.

2. Months – again the “th” sound followed by an “s” is too difficult.  Pronounce this word without the “th” sound.  Just say “muns”.
Say: I will stay for one month (munth), but he will stay for six months (muns).

3. Answer – the “w” is not pronounced. 
Say: He gave the answer (anser) without the “w”.

4. An – many students pronounce this word like “on” or “un”.  All you have to do is say it just like the letter “n”.
Say: She ate an (n) apple.

5. Island – the “s” is not pronounced. 
Say: He was stuck on the island (iland) without his “s”.

6. Once – the beginning sound is like a “w”; similar to the word “won” with an “s” sound at the end, not like the beginning sound of the word “on”.
Say: Once (wons) I won one hundred dollars.

7. Women – the “o” is pronounced much differently than the “o” sound in the singular form, woman. The “o” is pronounced “i” as in the word “in”.  The “e” is also pronounced like an “i”.
Say: I see five tall women (wimin) next to one short woman.

8. Debt – the “b” is not pronounced.  This word rhymes with bet.
Say: I am in debt (det) because I like to bet.

9. Doubt – this word also has a silent “b” which is replaced with a “w” sound as in the word “out”.
Say: I doubt (dowt) that he went out.

10. Receipt – the “ceipt” part of the word is pronounced just like the word “seat”.
Say: He left his receipt (re-seat) under his seat.

Consider this:  In order to get what you want, when you want it; you may have to do what you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do it.

By ThomasWilliams

Thomas Williams is a teacher at EC San Diego

Top Ten Favourite Words

Listening - Talking about Childhood

Comments

How to say!!!

www.howjsay.com

Thanks for the lesson.

Have a nice day!

Close, muns, n'apple

A very useful lesson! All the words are familiar to me, however I've found out that would make mistakes in clothes, months and an-article.

Suppose listening to live English along with checking transcriptions in the dictionary could improve speaking skills.

Thank you!

I prononced many of this

I prononced many of this words wrong. Smile
Thanks for the lesson! It's very useful! Smile

Proverb or Tongue-Twister

Excellent!!! Super! I liked this lesson.Very useful and hepful! Smile
Very nice explanation the word - clothes. Applause
But I didn't know about - months???? Sad
And the word - answer - I've looked in the dictionary(I didn't believe). Worried
Thank you for the lesson! Smile
And what is the last sentence? Is it a proverb or tongue-twister? Wink

Thank you

I'm just new in this site & I'm happy coz I'd learned these 10 commonly mispronounced words w/c is amazing.

I didn't know that...!

Nice lesson, I have to say! Big Grin Thanks a lot! Party I will never forget what I've learned! Kiss

I liked this lesson a lot. I

I liked this lesson a lot. I think it was the best lesson I've had.I like the way you are trying to teach this lesson, it will cause you keep it in your mind. please post this kind of lessons more. Thank you.