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Commonly mispronounced words

By Will SalisburyUpdated

Learners most often mispronounce words because the spelling misleads them. Some letters are silent, some syllables disappear in natural speech, some words have unexpected stress, and some vowels are not what the letters suggest. Forty common examples are grouped below, each with its British English sounds.

1 · Read the problems2 · One lesson a day3 · Review your mistakes4 · Go round again

1 · Pronunciation

Hear it, see it, say it

IELTS tip. Most of these words are ordinary IELTS vocabulary: environment, economy, different, interesting, knowledge, literature, temperature. Check the stress and the syllable count of the 10 words you use most before you speak. Saying them naturally helps listeners follow your ideas without effort.

Wednesday, comfortable, vegetable, February, receipt, island, photographer, economy, pronunciation, library, temperature, environment

Quick answers

Why is English pronunciation so different from spelling?

Spelling was fixed centuries ago, while pronunciation kept changing. Many letters are still written but no longer said.

Which words should I learn first?

Start with the words you use most in your own topics, such as work, study, environment and technology. Check them in a dictionary with audio.

Is it wrong to say a silent letter?

Listeners will usually still understand you, but the word sounds unnatural and the extra sound can slow a conversation.

Do these words sound the same in American English?

Most do, but a few differ, such as schedule, advertisement and often. The IPA here is British English.

Read the full lesson: Commonly mispronounced words