One of the biggest challenges facing people who are trying to learn English as a second language is the thought that, there are so many hard English words to pronounce!
What makes a word hard to pronounce? Often times the
difficult words to pronounce for non-native English speakers are those that are spelled completely different from how they are pronounced.
Not all English words are pronounced phonetically. When a word is pronounced phonetically, it is pronounced how it is spelled. Take the word “know”, if it was pronounced phonetically, the “k” would be spoken. However, the “k” is not spoken and this makes “know” one of the English
language’s tricky pronunciation words.
Take a look at the
English vocabulary words below. These are hard words for kids to say, even if they are native English speakers, and that can trip up adults as well. So don’t be ashamed to look them up and practice the correct way to pronounce them.
1. Accede
How is it pronounced?
“ak-SEED”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
To accede means to give your consent or approval to someone else’s actions. It can also mean that you agree with the opinions of a group.
2. Alias
How is it pronounced?
“AY-lee-iss”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
An alias is an assumed name or identity.
3. Anathema
How is it pronounced?
“un-NATH-uh-muh”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This means that you dislike something or someone intensely
4. Anemone
How is it pronounced?
“uh-NEH-muh-nee”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
Properly called a “sea anemone”, this is a marine animal that lives on reefs and ocean floors. It’s a sedentary animal that attaches itself to a particular area and doesn’t move, that many people think looks like a flower.
There is also a type of flowering land plants that are called anemones.
5. Antarctic
How is it pronounced?
“ant-AHRK-tik”
What does it mean?
The Antarctic is simply the South Pole.
6. Brewery
How is it pronounced?
“BROO-uh-ree”, emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
Why is it that words that have something to do with drinking are such hard words to say when drunk? This three syllable word is used for bars specializing in beer. They often brew their own beers.
7. Camaraderie
How is it pronounced?
“kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is the feeling of warmth and familiarity you get when around a group of trusted friends.
8. Cavalry
How is it pronounced?
“KAV-uhl-ree”, emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
Traditionally, the cavalry were soldiers on horseback. Now, cavalry is usually used to mean someone or something who offers help when you really need it.
9. Choir
How is it pronounced?
“kwah-yuhr”
What does it mean?
A choir is a group of singers. Traditionally, choirs sang religious songs during church services.
10. Colonel
How is it pronounced?
“ker-nul”
What does it mean?
A military officer.
11. Comfortable
How is it pronounced?
“KUHM-fer-tuh-buh”, with emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you are comfortable, you are relaxed and at ease.
12. Defibrillator
How is it pronounced?
“dee-FIB-ruh-ley-ter”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
If you watch a lot of medical TV shows, you might have seen this. It’s that device, with two paddles attached to wires that are held to someone’s chest to deliver a shock that is supposed to help restart your heart.
13. Deteriorate
How is it pronounced?
“dih-TEER-ee-uh-reyt”
What does it mean?
When someone deteriorates their condition grows worse. This can also be used to talk about a situation you find yourself in. Basically, things are getting bad.
14. Draught
How is it pronounced?
“draft”
What does it mean?
An alcoholic beverage, usually traditional kept in a keg. Like draught beer.
15. Epitome
How is it pronounced?
“ih-PIT-uh-mee”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
Someone or something that is the perfect example of a quality or of a type.
16. Espouse
How is it pronounced?
“ih-SPOWZ”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
When you follow or support a particular idea. Usually you are vocal and proud about your support.
17. Espresso
How is it pronounced?
“eh-SPRES-oh”
What does it mean?
When you order an “espresso” you are asking for a type of strong Italian coffee.
18. Explicit
How is it pronounced?
“ik-SLIS-it”, with emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is not one of those hard words to say with a lisp, as you are supposed to sound like your lisping slightly. When you are explicit about something, you state it clearly and in complete detail.
19. Exponentially
How is it pronounced?
“ek-spoh-NEN-shuh-lee”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is an adverb that means something is increasing rapidly.
20. Ignominious
How is it pronounced?
“ig-nuh-MIN-ee-uhs”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is usually used as an adverb to describe and action that is considered disgraceful or dishonorable.
21. Isthmus
How is it pronounced?
“is-muss”
What does it mean?
This is the name of a geographical feature. An isthmus is a narrow piece of land that is located between two different seas.
22. Know
How is it pronounced?
“noh”
What does it mean?
This is a tricky word because it is an example of a word with what we call a silent “k”. To know how to pronounce “know”, you need to know it has a silent k.
23. Knell
How is it pronounced?
“nel”
What does it mean?
The rule about a silent “k” makes for tricky pronunciation words. Here’s another word where the “k” is silent and so is the second “l”. This word is used to refer to the ringing of a bell. Usually, this is a big church bell that makes a slow, loud noise.
24. Library
How is it pronounced?
“LAHY-brer-ee”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
This is a building which contains a collection of books and other published materials.
25. Mauve
How is it pronounced?
“mohv”
What does it mean?
Mauve is a color. It is a shade of pale purple.
26. Mischievous
How is it pronounced?
“MISS-chiv-us”, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
This is an adjective that basically means behaving in a way that causes “trouble”. A mischievous action is not bad or evil. It is usually playful and with no malice behind it.
27. Nadir
How is it pronounced?
“NAY-deer”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
This means reaching the lowest point.
28. Neophyte
How is it pronounced?
“NEE-uh-fahyt”
What does it mean?
This word is used to refer to a beginner, someone who is new to a task, job, or a group.
29. Often
How is it pronounced?
“AW-fuhn”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you do something “often” you do it a lot or repeatedly.
30. Onamatopeia
How is it pronounced?
“on-o-mot-o-PEE-a”, with the emphasis on the fifth syllable.
What does it mean?
This is a term for a word that refers to a sound. These words actually imitate the sound they are supposed to refer to, such as “roar” or “buzz”. It has six syllables which make it quite
a mouthful to pronounce, even for native speakers of English.
31. Otorhinolaryngologist
How is it pronounced?
“oh-toh-rye-no-lar-ing-GOL-uh-jee”, emphasis on the seventh syllable.
What does it mean?
This nine syllable word is the formal title of a specific type of medical doctor. This is a doctor who specializes in treating eye, nose, and ear conditions. The simpler way to refer to these types of doctors is as an ENT doctors.
32. Panacea
How is it pronounced?
“pan-uh-SEE-uh”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This refers to a remedy for illness.
33. Phlegmatic
How is it pronounced?
“fleg-MAT-ik”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is someone who is easy-going. No matter what happens around them they remain calm and collected.
34. Penguin
How is it pronounced?
“peng-gwin”
What does it mean?
A penguin is a type of flightless sea bird. They are typically black and white.
35. Phenomenon
How is it pronounced?
“fi-NOM-uh-non”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
A phenomenon is an event that is observable,
36. Puerile
How is it pronounced?
“PYOO-er-il”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
When you think something is “purile” you believe it is foolish or childish.
37. Quinoa
How is it pronounced?
Either “KEEN-wah,” “ken-WAG, or “KEN-o-ah”
What does it mean?
Quinoa is an ancient grain that has grown in popularity in the recent decade because of its nutritional values. It’s considered a “superfood” and is actually a Spanish word.
38. Quixotic
How is it pronounced?
“kwik-SOT-ik”
What does it mean?
This is someone who is very idealistic, to the point that their ideas are impractical or unrealistic.
39. Rural
How is it pronounced?
“roor-uhl”
What does it mean?
When you say a place is “rural” you mean that it is located in the countryside.
40. Sanguine
How is it pronounced?
“SANG-gwin”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
Someone who is sanguine is cheerful and hopeful, even if they are facing a bad situation.
41. Scissors
How is it pronounced?
“sizzors”
What does it mean?
These are two bladed cutting instruments that you use to cut into thin materials such as paper or cloth.
42. Sixth
How is it pronounced?
“siksth”
What does it mean?
When you say something is the “sixth”, your saying it is item number six in a sequence.
43. Specific
How is it pronounced?
“spi-SIF-ik”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This means that something is clearly defined.
44. Squirrel
How is it pronounced?
“skwi-rel”
What does it mean?
A squirrel is a bushy tailed rodent that lives in trees.
45. Staid
How is it pronounced?
“steyd”
What does it mean?
Someone who is staid is sedate and calm.
46. Successful
How is it pronounced?
“SUKH-ses-fuhl”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you are successful in pronouncing this word, then you pronounced it correctly. When you are successful in something, you accomplished your aim or your purpose.
47. Surfeit
How is it pronounced?
“SUR-fit”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
A surfeit is an extra amount of something.
48. Temperature
How is it pronounced?
“tem-PER-uh-cher”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is a scientific measurement meant to gague the degree of heat that is present in an object or a substance.
49. Truculent
How is it pronounced?
“TRUHK-yeh-luhnt”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
Someone who is truculent is quick tempered. They get into arguments or fights easily.
50. Worcestershire
How is it pronounced?
“WOOster-sher”
What does it mean?
A special sauce that originated in Worcester, a town in England. The town name is also pronounced the as “WOOster-sher”.
51. Zephyr
How is it pronounced?
“ZEF-er”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
This refers to a breeze that is soft and mild.
Conclusion
If you want to learn how to correctly pronounce tricky vocabulary words, the answer is: Practice, practice, practice.
It’s also a really good idea to get a native language speaker as an English tutor who can listen to you say these words and help you with your pronunciation. You can also practice using these hard to pronounce words in conversation which will really help you learn them.
Difficult Words to Pronounce
Many English words look like they have a certain pronunciation, but are pronounced differently. This makes it difficult for some to pronounce them correctly. A few examples are:
- Açaí
- Rendezvous
- Worcestershire
English Pronunciation Can Be Difficult
Whether you’re learning the language or are a native speaker, chances are that you find at least a few English words difficult to say out loud.
Things like silent letters and words borrowed from other languages are just two of the many reasons why these difficult-to-pronounce words exist in the first place. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 33 of them to show you their correct pronunciation and usage.
Let’s get started!
33 English Words That Are Hard To Pronounce
1. Açai
Açai is a type of berry that is known for its health benefits. It’s difficult to pronounce because it originates from the Portuguese language and the “ç” (cedilla) is pronounced like an “s,” but also because the stress of the word falls on the second syllable.
IPA: /æˈsaɪiː/ or /ˌæsaɪˈiː/
Pronounced: aa-saa-ee
Can you get me an açai bowl with extra kiwi and granola, please?
2. Albeit
Albeit is a conjunction that means “although” or “even though.” It’s not so much that it’s difficult to pronounce, as much as it is an uncommon word that many people aren’t familiar with.
IPA: /ˌɔːlˈbiːɪt/
Pronounced: aal-bee-uht
I enjoy playing soccer, albeit I’m not that good at it.
3. Anemone
By looking at the word anemone, many people assume the name of this flower is pronounced an-e-moan, but it’s not.
IPA: /əˈneməni/
Pronounced: uh-neh-muh-nee
Sea anemones have a symbiotic relationship with clownfish.
4. Beguile
Beguile is a verb that means to deceive someone in a sly manner. Its unusual spelling is the reason this word is often mispronounced.
IPA: /bɪˈɡaɪl/
Pronounced: bee-gile
She planned to beguile them into believing she wasn’t at fault.
5. Bouquet
A bouquet is a group of flowers arranged decoratively. The “ou” is pronounced like the “oo” in “boot,” and the “-t” is silent.
IPA: /buˈkeɪ/
Pronounced: boo-kay
I was looking for the biggest and prettiest bouquet I could give to my mom.
6. Colonel
Can’t have a list of hard-to-pronounce words without this gem. Colonel, which is a military rank, looks like someone snuck in one syllable too many.
IPA: /ˈkɜːrnl/
Pronounced: kur-nuhl
Jim’s father was a colonel in the military, so they frequently relocated.
7. Comfortable
Many people mispronounce this word because they place the emphasis on the wrong syllable.
IPA: /ˈkʌmftəbl/ or /ˈkʌmfərtəbl/
Pronounced: kuhmf-tr-bl
I can’t sleep on planes because I can never find a comfortable position.
8. Conscience
Conscience makes people think it’s pronounced similar to science. Moreover, many people get this word confused with conscious and conscientious. Keep in mind, conscience refers to “that inner feeling or voice that tells you what’s right or wrong.”
IPA: /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
Pronounced: kaan-shns
Luca had a guilty conscience about lying to his parents.
9. Coup
The silent “P” in coup is the reason why “how to spell coup” gets searched for online at least 1,000 times a month! Coup is a noun that refers to “a violent and unlawful overtaking of a government.”
IPA: /kuː/
Pronounced: koo
The party seized power in a military coup in 2008.
10. Epitome
In English, a silent “E” is quite common, which leads people to mistakenly believe that epitome is pronounced ep-i-tome. But English words that have been adapted from Greek tend to have all the vowels pronounced. Epitome is a “person or thing that is an ideal example of a particular quality or type.”
IPA: /ɪˈpɪtəmi/
Pronounced: uh-pi-tuh-mee
Our boss was the epitome of a compassionate and understanding leader.
11. Gourmet
Gourmet can function as a noun or adjective, but is mostly used as an adjective that describes something as high quality and expensive, and can also refer to food that requires elaborate and expert preparation. If you want gourmet food, you may want to know how to pronounce this word correctly.
IPA: /ˈɡʊrmeɪ/
Pronounced: gor-may
The couple only wanted delicious, gourmet food at their wedding.
12. Gyro
It’s worth noting that gyro can be short for gyrocompass or gyroscope. If that’s what you’re referring to, then the correct pronunciation sounds like jie-ro. However, if you’re ordering a gyro / ˈyē-ˌrō /, the authentic Greek dish, then you should use the authentic Greek pronunciation.
IPA: /ˈdʒaɪrəʊ/
Pronounced: yee-ro
The first thing I ate when I got to Greece was a delicious lamb gyro!
13. Hierarchy
Don’t be fooled: the “CH” in hierarchy does not make the same sound as the “CH” in “cheese.” Hierarchy refers to “a system or organization in which people are ranked according to status or authority.”
IPA: /ˈhaɪərɑːrki/
Pronounced: hai-ur-aar-kee
My goal was to make it up the hierarchy, and go from entry-level worker to CEO.
14. Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses that separates two bodies of water. The combination of “S” and “TH” is what makes this word difficult for some to pronounce.
IPA: /ˈɪsməs/
Pronounced: i-smuhs
The isthmus of Panama connects North and South America.
15. Lackadaisical
If you do something in a lackadaisical manner, that means you are doing it lazily or without enthusiasm. You can’t be lackadaisical if you want to pronounce this word, though. You’ll need brain power to know that each separate “A” in this word doesn’t have the same pronunciation.
IPA: /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkl/
Pronounced: la-kuh-day-zi-kl
The lackadaisical attitude of the team cost them the championship.
16. Mischievous
Mischievous often gets pronounced as miss-chee-vee-us, but that’s incorrect. There are only three syllables in the correct pronunciation of this word, which means “playfully causing trouble.”
IPA: /ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/
Pronounced: mis-chuh-vuhs
My little cousin is known to be mischievous, but he’s truly a loving and caring kid.
17. Mnemonic
Mnemonic is a device such as a pattern of letters or associations, or even a catchy song that helps you remember something. For example, the silent “M” in mnemonic can help you remember that this word relates to memory.
IPA: /nɪˈmɑːnɪk/
Pronounced: nuh-maa-nik
ROYGBIV is a mnemonic device that helps you remember the colors of the rainbow.
18. Nihilism
English learners and native speakers alike might feel compelled to pronounce the “H” in nihilism like the “H” in adhere. Don’t make this mistake, unless you’re nihilistic, in which case you find everything meaningless, including proper pronunciation.
IPA: /ˈnaɪɪlɪzəm/
Pronounced: nai-uh-li-zm
It’s not unusual for people to embrace nihilism after experiencing severe trauma.
19. Nuclear
Nuclear is an adjective “relating to the nucleus of an atom.” This word has two acceptable pronunciations, but people still tend to mispronounce it by adding a “yer” sound at the end of the word.
IPA: /ˈnuːkliər/
Pronounced: nyoo-klee-er or noo-klee-er
My goal is to attain a degree in nuclear chemistry.
20. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound, like the buzz of a bee or the hiss of a snake. It has an unusual combination of letters, which makes it difficult for some people to pronounce.
IPA: /ˌɑːnəˌmætəˈpiːə/
Pronounced: aa-nuh-maa-tuh-pee-uh
I learned about onomatopoeia in grade school, but just now realized I’ve been pronouncing it wrong my whole life!
21. Quinoa
Quinoa is another type of food that’s often mispronounced. Don’t make the very common mistake of pronouncing it as kee-no-a (even though that pronunciation is becoming more and more common).
IPA: /ˈkiːnwɑː/
Pronounced: keen-waa
My girlfriend has been on a quinoa binge lately. That’s all she wants to eat!
22. Rendezvous
Rendezvous can be used as a noun or verb and refers to “a meeting at an agreed place and time.” Silent letter after silent letter makes this word challenging for English speakers and learners alike.
IPA: /ˈrɑːndeɪvuː/ or /ˈrɑːndɪvuː/
Pronounced: raan-day-voo
Cecilia turned up late for the rendezvous and missed all the important news I had to share.
23. Rural
It’s the multiple “Rs” that cause people to stumble over their words when they say rural, which means “relating to or characteristic of the countryside.”
IPA: /ˈrʊrəl/
Pronounced: rur-uhl
When we got married, we moved from the city to a rural area to start our own farm.
24. Sixth
Sixth constitutes the number six in a series. Let’s hope you never get sixth place in a competition, as the combination of “X” and “TH” might make it hard for you to say this word.
IPA: /sɪksθ/
Pronounced: siksth
I got sixth place in the race, but I was still proud because I broke my personal record.
25. Specific
It’s not uncommon to hear people mix up the “S” and “P” sound to say pacific instead of specific. It doesn’t help that both “Cs” make distinct sounds in this word that means “clearly identified or defined.”
IPA: /spəˈsɪfɪk/
Pronounced: spuh-si-fuhk
She told me there was no specific way to do it, so I just followed my heart.
26. Squirrel
It may come as a surprise to you, but many people struggle to pronounce the word squirrel, especially non-native speakers.
IPA: /ˈskwɜːrəl/
Pronounced: skwur-uhl
My dog is obsessed with trying to catch squirrels.
27. Subtle
The joke goes, “whoever put the “B” in subtle deserves a pat on the back.” That’s because the word is synonymous with “delicate” or “elusive,” and the “B” is silent. Get it?
IPA: /ˈsʌtl/
Pronounced: suh-tl
The room had a subtle fragrance of lavender and vanilla.
28. Supposedly
Supposedly, a grammarian will pop up out of nowhere to correct you if you accidentally pronounce this word with a “B” instead of a “D.”
IPA: /səˈpəʊzɪdli/
Pronounced: suh-poh-zuhd-lee
They were supposed to be here an hour ago, but supposedly they got a flat tire.
29. Synecdoche
A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent a whole. It’s not too common of a word, which means many people are puzzled when they try to say it out loud.
IPA: /sɪˈnekdəki/
Pronounced: suh-nek-duh-kee
Today’s lesson plan includes a review of synecdoche.
30. Visceral
Don’t be mistaken: the “SC” in visceral—which means “relating to internal organs or deeply felt emotions”—does not create the same sound as the “SC” in scout.
IPA: /ˈvɪsərəl/
Pronounced: vi-sr-uhl
The film’s intense and visceral scenes left the audience in awe.
31. Wednesday
Take one look at this word, which refers to the day after Tuesday, and you’ll think it’s pronounced as three separate syllables, but it’s not. Wednesday is pronounced as two syllables.
IPA: /ˈwenzdeɪ/
Pronounced: wenz-day
We pick up the kids early from school every Wednesday.
32. Worcestershire
You can’t have a list of hard-to-pronounce words without the granddaddy of them all—Worcestershire. To novice eyes, it looks like this word is pronounced wor-ces-ter-shy-er, but trust us when we say it’s not. It’s a three-syllable word, not five.
IPA: /ˈwʊstərʃər/
Pronounced: wu-stuh-shr
Dad asked me to go to the store to pick up a bottle of Worcestershire sauce.
33. Zucchini
Do you like eating baked zucchini with cheese? Don’t let the spelling of this word fool you. The “CH” in zucchini (a type of summer squash) doesn’t produce the same sound as the “CH” in cheese.
IPA: /zuˈkiːni/
Pronounced: zoo-kee-nee
They thought I was thinking about something deep, but I was just wondering if zucchinis and cucumbers are the same things.
Enhance Your English Fluency
Are there a ton of other English words that are much more difficult to pronounce? Undoubtedly. But chances are you won’t come across words like sphygmomanometer or otorhinolaryngology, unless you’re described as a sesquipedalian, or someone who uses long words.
However, it’s not uncommon to find the 33 hard-to-pronounce words above in everyday conversations. If you want to improve your fluency, it’s a good idea to practice and familiarize yourself with this list.
Another fantastic way to improve your fluency is to use LanguageTool as your writing assistant. It’s multilingual, which allows it to help you find the right words when you only know how to say something in your native tongue. Give it a try!
Twelve Hard Words to Pronounce in English
Here are some hard English words to say that you may encounter in your everyday routine:
1. Anemone
This word is quite difficult to pronounce because of the prevalence of M & N sounds and the [uh-nee] ending that appears to be uttered like the numeral ‘one’, making the word anemone tricky to say.
However, there is a rhythm to this term that can enable you to pronounce it correctly: “uh–nem–uh-nee”.
2. Mischievous
It’s one of those tough pronunciation words in English that many people struggle with.
You’ve probably heard folks say “mis-cheev-ee-us” when it’s actually a three-syllable word pronounced MIS-chiv-us.”
The issue is that the original spelling of the term included an extra I at the end, which was common until the 1700s.
3. Colonel
Native English speakers pronounce this Middle French-derived 16th-century word “ker-nul”.
Those studying English as a second language, on the other hand, are perplexed by the first ‘o’ which sounds like an ‘e,’ the ‘l’ like an ‘r,’ and the other ‘o’ being absolutely quiet.
4. Epitome
It is customary to speak all vowels in Greek that were adopted into English. This is how we derive the word epitome from the Greek ‘epitom’.
The ending -e in epitome is not silent, as it is in many other words in English; it is pronounced [ih-pit–uh-mee].
5. Remuneration
People frequently make the mistake of swapping the easily-confused M and N sounds when spelling this word, most likely since the word number is so prevalent in the English language. [ri-myoo-nuh–rey-shuhn] is how you pronounce remuneration.
Although it refers to payment, the word is derived from the Latin mnus, which means “gift.”
6. Draught
Expatriate English speakers may be bewildered by the pronunciation of this British phrase due to two inconsistencies: the sequencing of the a-u vowel and the composition of the g-h-t consonant.
While it looks to be pronounced “drot,” it is actually pronounced “draught” (as in “laugh”).
7. Quinoa
While quinoa’s popularity has soared in recent years due to its “superfood” characteristics, many folks still have trouble pronouncing it due to its various vowel blends.
It’s pronounced “KEEN-wah,” “ken-WAH,” and “KEN-o-ah” according to Standard English guidelines. But it’s actually a Spanish term with several valid pronunciations, including “KEEN-wah,” “ken-WAH,” and “KEN-o-ah.”
8. Onomatopoeia
The word onomatopoeia is a jumble of vowels and is probably the most difficult English word to pronounce.
It is pronounced [on-uh-mat-uh–pee–uh], and it defines a word that imitates a sound.
The –poeia suffix is pronounced [pee–uh]. The letter O is silent.
9. Scissors
It is a somewhat generic term, and most native speakers have no issue pronouncing it.
However, if you’re learning English, this term contains double consonants that can easily confuse you, leading you to believe it’s pronounced “SKIss-ors” (when it’s pronounced differently as “sizzors”).
Even though it is a single object, it ends in an “s,” which signifies a plural and is referred to as a “pair.”
10. Isthmus
‘Isthmus’ consider as a most difficult word to pronounce in English. When read aloud, the word isthmus poses a pronunciation issue since most English speakers prefer to sound the ‘TH’ in the word.
The TH is silent in this situation, resulting in the accurate pronunciation- of “is-muhs.”
11. Coup
Another word from French that has been taken into English yet has a difficult pronunciation is ‘coup’.
The letters ‘-oup’ at the end of a word get pronounced [oo] in French.
Not only did we translate this French word into English, but we also adapted the French pronunciation. That is to say, ‘coup’ is pronounced [koo].
12. Ignominious
If you can say it correctly, you can call somebody ignominious if you think they are disgraceful.
In spite of the relatively shorter length, the 5 syllables crammed with several “i’s” and “o’s” are more than enough to make anyone’s tongue quiver.
Have you ever seen a word and had no idea how to say it? Or worse, thought you knew how to pronounce something only to find out you’ve been saying it wrong?
Learning correct pronunciation is hard in any language, but it’s especially challenging in a language like English that’s full of exceptions and contradictions—take “tough” and “though,” for example. There are many English words foreigners can’t say!
From those just learning English to the most well-read native speakers, anyone can have trouble figuring out how to pronounce certain words properly.
So, what is the hardest word to pronounce in the English language?
Let’s take a look!
- Anemone
- Asterisk
- Colonel
- Comfortable
- Floccinaucinihilipilification
- Isthmus
- Mischievous
- Otorhinolaryngologist
- Sixth
- Synecdoche
- Worcestershire
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1. Anemone
uh-NEH-muh-nee
What it means: A soft-bodied, brightly colored sea animal that resembles a plant and sticks to a rock; also a type of garden plant
We wouldn’t blame you if you thought “anemone” was pronounced “AN-uh-moan” or “an-uh-MOAN,” due to the fact that it’s quite uncommon for a single “e” to be pronounced at the end of an English word. But the mighty anemone doesn’t play by those rules!
When I was at the beach, I saw a bright pink sea anemone trapping small fish.
2. Asterisk
A-str-uhsk
What it means: A symbol in printed text resembling a star (*)
A lot of people think this word is pronounced “asterix”—that might be because of the comic book character Astérix. But don’t get it twisted: The keyboard symbol has nothing to do with the comic strip hero.
The writer put an asterisk beside the title of her report to call the readers’ attention to a note at the bottom of the page.
3. Colonel
KUR-nuhl
What it means: A high-ranking officer in the military
It might be pretty obvious why this word is often pronounced incorrectly—just look at it! Going by its arrangement of consonants and vowels, you’d think that it has three syllables. But nope! The English exception rears its ugly head. This word is pronounced in the same way as those little seeds you use to make popcorn.
The colonel retired after 30 years of service in the army.
4. Comfortable
KUHMF-tr-bl
What it means: The feeling of being relaxed and having no discomfort or pain
If you split this word into two parts, you get “comfort” and “able.” Since each of those words has two syllables, then the word “comfortable” should have four, right? Well, no. It’s actually pronounced as a three-syllable word. The middle “o” might as well not even be there!
When I have guests, I like to make them comfortable by offering soft towels and luxurious bedding.
5. Floccinaucinihilipilification
flaa-suh-now-suh-nai-uh-luh-pi-luh-fuh-KAY-shn
What it means: The act of calling something worthless
No list of difficult English words to pronounce would be complete without this one! “Floccinaucinihilipilification” is one of those words people use to show off their impressive vocabulary; it has the distinction of being the longest non-technical, non-medical word in English. When you first see it, you might assume its pronunciation is—ha ha, just kidding! This one is a bit too long for most people to simply sound out.
My brother’s floccinaucinihilipilification of my rare coin collection made me really mad. They’re actually very valuable!
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6. Isthmus
I-smuhs
What it means: A narrow piece of land connecting two larger pieces
Is-th-mus? Ith-mus? Trying to pronounce the “th” in the middle of this word probably makes you feel like you have rocks in your mouth. Luckily, you don’t have to, because the “th” is silent! Why is it there, then? Don’t ask us!
A 400-mile isthmus known as the Isthmus of Panama connects the countries of Costa Rica and Colombia.
7. Mischievous
MIS-chuh-vuhs
What it means: Playfully causing minor trouble
The funny thing about this word is that it’s mispronounced for no good reason. For some reason, it’s common for people to add an extra syllable so that it sounds like “mis-CHEEV-ee-uhs.” That second “ee” sound has no place in this word.
“I didn’t take any cookies,” said the little girl with a mischievous grin.
8. Otorhinolaryngologist
oh-toh-rahy-noh-luh-ring-OL-o-jist
What it means: A doctor who specializes in the treatment of the ear, nose and throat
Clocking in at 21 letters, this word is certainly a tongue twister. With a word this long, it’s always challenging to figure out which syllable to emphasize. Maybe it’s just us, but wouldn’t it be simpler to say “ear, nose and throat doctor”?
My mother is an otorhinolaryngologist at the new hospital downtown.
9. Sixth
Siksth
What it means: The number six in a sequence
Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those words where some letters are silent. You have to pronounce the “x” and “th” sounds consecutively, which can really trip a person up—especially if “sixth” comes before another word that begins with an “s” sound (“the sixth song,” for instance).
When I was in the sixth grade, I won the school talent show.
10. Synecdoche
suh-NEK-duh-kee
What it means: A figure of speech in which a part is substituted for the whole
Since it contains a “ch,” it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think this word should be pronounced “sin-ek-DOCH” or something similar. Instead, the “ch” makes a “k” sound and, just as in “anemone,” it ends with a long “e” sound.
A common synecdoche is “wheels” when referring to a car.
11. Worcestershire
WUR-stuh-shr
What it means: A tart, savory sauce typically used with meats; also, a county in England
How many syllables do you count in this word? Four? Sorry, try again! While there’s actually more than one way to say it, “Worcestershire” is typically pronounced with only three syllables. And forget that “er” sound in the middle—it might as well not even be there!
The secret to my famous beef stew is to add a few tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
What do you think is the hardest word to pronounce?
As we’ve seen, there are many hard-to-pronounce words in English. Some have sounds that are nearly impossible to get your tongue around, while others just don’t seem to make sense. The good news is that if you can learn these words, you can probably conquer any English word!
Are there any words we missed? What would top your list of hard words to say in English?
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Andrea is a Canadian freelance writer and editor specializing in English, e-learning, EdTech, and SaaS. She has a background as an ESL teacher in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. In her free time, Andrea loves hanging out with her husband and son, creating recipes in the kitchen, and reading fiction. She also loves camping and jumping into lakes whenever possible. Learn more about Andrea on LinkedIn or check out her website.
The pronunciation of words in English is not always straightforward. Unlike some languages, such as French or Spanish, there is not always a direct relationship between the spelling of words and how they are said aloud. In technical terms, there is not always a consistent relationship between graphemes (basically, writing units) and their phonemes (sounds) in English. There are a couple of reasons for this. The English language is a wondrous hodgepodge of loanwords, or words borrowed from other languages all of which follow their own conventions for pronunciation, and English spelling was not standardized until relatively recently in its history. For native English speakers and English language learners alike, there are words that are hard to pronounce.
To help give you a leg up on some of the trickier words you may come across in everyday life, we have broken down 26 of the hardest-to-pronounce words in the English language, from A–Z … or from A–W, anyway. Bonus: click on each word to hear its proper pronunciation on its entry page!
accessory
The double C in accessory is part of what makes this word tricky. People are often tempted to replace the C with a single S sound. However, each of these C letters represents a different sound (a “hard C” and a “soft C”). With that in mind, accessory is pronounced [ ak-ses–uh-ree ].
anemone
This word is so hard to pronounce that it was even featured as a joke in the popular Pixar film Finding Nemo. There are two elements that make the word anemone tricky—the preponderance of M and N sounds and the [ uh-nee ] ending that looks like it should be pronounced like the number one. That said, this word does have a particular rhythm to it that can help you pronounce it correctly: [ uh–nem–uh-nee ].
choir
It’s tempting to pronounce the CH in choir with a [ ch ] sound, but that would be incorrect. The word choir is actually pronounced [ kwahyuhr ]. An antique and sadly obsolete spelling of this word is quire, which is a clearer representation of how it is pronounced.
colonel
The word colonel came to English through French, where it was spelled coronel. For historical reasons, which you can read about at our entry for the word, the R was eventually replaced with an L. Keeping this in mind, colonel is still pronounced [ kur-nl ].
Learn about where colonels sit in military rankings, here.
coup
Another word that has been adopted into English from French, complicating pronunciation, is coup. In French, the letters -oup at the end of a word is pronounced [ oo ]. We didn’t just adopt this French word into English, we adopted the French pronunciation, too. That means coup is correctly pronounced [ koo ].
epitome
In words that have been adopted into English from Greek, it is typical to pronounce all of the vowels. This is how we get the pronunciation epitome, from the Greek epitomḗ. Unlike many words in English, the final -e here is not silent; epitome is pronounced [ ih-pit–uh-mee ].
espresso
Coffee snobs love to correct folks on their pronunciation of the word espresso. It’s tempting to replace that first S with an X, because ex– is a common prefix in English. However, the word comes from Italian and is correctly pronounced [ e-spres-oh ].
Sip on even more coffee terms that may be easier to pronounce but are just as tricky to spell.
February
The word February is often pronounced as if the first R is not present: [ feb-yoo-er-ee ]. This is because R sounds and Y sounds are quite closely related. Therefore, this is considered a correct pronunciation of the word. However, it is also considered correct to pronounce the R, as in [ feb-roo-er-ee ].
hyperbole
Like the other words from Greek we have covered, the final -e in hyperbole is not silent. Hyperbole, from the Greek hyperbolḗ, is correctly pronounced [ hahy-pur-buh-lee ].
isthmus
The word isthmus presents a challenge of pronunciation when read aloud, because most English speakers would be tempted to pronounce the TH in this word. However, in this case, the TH is silent, making the correct pronunciation [ is-muhs ]. Another word you may be familiar with that has a silent TH is asthma [ az-muh ].
juror
The R sounds in English can be particularly tricky. It can be hard to get your mouth around them. The word juror is pronounced [ joor-er ] or [ joor-awr ]. Pronouncing R sounds in English simply takes practice. Relaxing your jaw and reciting tongue twisters like “Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran” can help.
library
Speaking of R sounds, the R in library throws many people off. They feel tempted to make the first R sound an [ er ], making the word four syllables, as in [ lahy-ber-er-ee ]. However, there is no E in library, so the word is simply pronounced with three syllables: [ lahy-brer-ee ].
mischievous
Another word where you may be tempted to add an unnecessary syllable or two is mischievous. The –ie and –ous endings often make people think there are [ ee ] sounds in the word [ mis-chee-vee-uhs ], but there aren’t. The word is simply three syllables long, without any [ ee ] sounds: [ mis-chuh-vuhs ].
murderer
As we noted earlier, the R sound in English can be tricky. That’s what makes murderer, with its three R sounds particularly difficult to pronounce. The word is pronounced [ mur-der-er ].
Did you know a group of crows is called a “murder”?Learn about other fanciful and strange names for groups of animals.
nuclear
For whatever reason, many people like to add an additional [ yoo ] sound to the word nuclear. However, it is pronounced with a single [ oo ] or [ yoo ] sound: [ noo-klee-er ] or [ nyoo-klee-er ].
onomatopoeia
The word onomatopoeia is a riot of vowels, making it a challenge to pronounce. The ending –poeia is pronounced simply [ pee–uh ]. The O is silent. Onomatopoeia, which describes a word that imitates a sound, is pronounced [ on-uh-mat-uh–pee–uh ].
remuneration
A common mistake people make when pronouncing the word remuneration is to swap the easily-confused M and N sounds, likely because the word number is so common in the English language. The word, although it describes pay, does not come from the word number, but the Latin mūnus, meaning “gift.” Remuneration is pronounced [ ri-myoo-nuh–rey-shuhn ].
rural
Rural, like juror and murderer, is challenging because of all of its R sounds. Rural is pronounced [ roor–uhl ].
schadenfreude
The word schadenfreude is a loanword from German. It means “satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.” The pronunciation of schadenfreude also comes from German, so it does not follow typical English pronunciation guidelines: [ shahd-n-froi-duh ].
scissors
Like in our first example, accessory, there is some confusion about whether the C in scissors is a “hard C sound” or a “soft C sound.” Well, the SC in scissors is pronounced simply [ s ], making the correct pronunciation of this word [ siz-erz ].
specific
People often like to swap the S and P sounds in the word specific, rendering it closer to the name of the ocean: Pacific. However, the word is pronounced with the sounds in the order they appear, [ spi-sif-ik ].
squirrel
One of the hardest words in the English language to pronounce, especially for non-native English speakers, is squirrel. They tend to want to add an additional [ uh ] sound in there. However, remember that this slippery-sounding word has only two syllables: [ skwur–uhl ].
supposedly
The –edly ending of supposedly tends to trip people up. They like to swap it out for the more-common -ably. But, the word should be read as written, making the correct pronunciation [ suh–poh-zid-lee ]. If you mix up these two terms, you’re definitely not alone. Even Joey from Friends famously and hilariously couldn’t figure out if supposedly and supposably were different words. Shockingly, supposably is, in fact, a real word and has been used since at least the 1700s. Learn more about its surprising meaning here.
synecdoche
This word is almost as hard to spell as it is to pronounce correctly. As you may have guessed from some of the other terms on this list, synecdoche comes from Greek synekdochḗ. The first C and the CH here are both pronounced as hard K sounds. The correct pronunciation of synecdoche is [ si-nek-duh-kee ], not to be confused with the name of the town in New York: Schenectady, pronounced [ skuh–nek-tuh-dee ].
Worcestershire (sauce)
If you are a fan of Bloody Marys, making your own salad dressing, or eating a nice steak, you are likely familiar with Worcestershire sauce. British English conventions for the pronunciation of place names is something we could write a whole article on. For now, though, just trust us that Worcestershire is pronounced [ woos-ter-sheer ].
vocabulary
Ironically, one of the hardest vocabulary words to pronounce is vocabulary. People often will pronounce the U in the word as [ uh ]. However, the U here makes a [ yuh ] sound. The correct pronunciation of this word, therefore, is [ voh-kab-yuh-ler-ee ].
Are there words we have not covered here that you find difficult to pronounce? You can use the dictionary to help you out there. In every entry, you will find a guide and audio files to help you pronounce the word correctly. It’s a great resource to help you ensure you nail even the trickiest pronunciations in the English language.
Read this article to learn a few of the hardest words to pronounce in the English language!
Learning English is becoming a necessity, especially if you travel, but no one ever said it was easy. In fact, there are some rules in English that contradict themselves more times than not.
One of these is the famous “I before E“. This rule doesn’t apply to the words: foreign, neighbor, receive, eight, beige – the list goes on and on.
So along with not being able to spell many words in English – what words are just as impossible to say? The site Reddit had a lot to say about that.
That’s where we got the inspiration for the hardest words to pronounce list below.
The Hardest Words to Pronounce in English: A Choice Few
We can’t pretend that this list is comprehensive, because frankly, English makes little sense. But here are some hard ones to wrap your mind around anyways.
Colonel
When you look at this word, it doesn’t look difficult. Sound it out. Co-lone-l, right? Wrong. This word is pronounced Kernel /kernul/, like the seed in the middle of popcorn.
We can’t tell you why this is. The word Colonel is a position of leadership in the military, it’s unlikely someone would confuse it with corn.
But they had to spell it differently anyway, go figure.
Rural
Okay, this doesn’t look so hard either and in essence, it’s not. You can sound out this one and it’ll be correct. But trying to get your lips and tongue to make the correct sounds?
Not an easy task. This word, meaning “from the country or farm-like” sounds like squirrel. /rer-rul/.
The same logic goes with the word Juror and Brewery. Those R-sounds together make a complicated shape in our mouths. Even some native-born English speakers have trouble with these words.
If you practice saying them and it feels weird in your mouth – it’s supposed to.
Anemone
Remember the movie, Finding Nemo? If you haven’t seen it, go watch it! It’s an American classic (but it takes place in Australia). In the movie, little Nemo can’t say this word: anemone.
We don’t blame him, it’s hard! The best way to break it down is uh-nem-uh-nee. Want to train your tongue? Try repeating enemy anemone over and over.
Penguin
This is a very famous word that’s hard to pronounce, thanks to a guy with a hard to pronounce name of his own. Benedict Cumberbatch messed up the word penguin in a BBC documentary.
In the clip, you hear him say “pengwang”. That is not the correct pronunciation.
To say penguin, you say pang-win. Don’t go adding extra g’s there like Mr. Cumberbatch.
Pronouncing These Words
When you’re learning a language with as many contradictions as English, you need some professional help. We specialize in helping people sound like a native speaker.
Once you work with us, people will pay attention to what you’re saying, not try to figure out your accent.
You can blow their minds with the hardest words to pronounce in the English language. They’re sure to be impressed!
Learn how our program works here.
One of the most problematic aspects of documenting words from audio is deciphering words that may be mispronounced due to being difficult for foreigners and even English-speaking Americans. That’s one of the many reasons to hire translation services that can do the work for you. Here are 20 English words that commonly cause pronunciation problems.
20 Most Difficult Words to Pronounce in the English Language
1. Colonel
2. Worcestershire
3. Mischievous
4. Draught
5. Quinoa
6. Onomatopoeia
7. Scissors
8. Anemone
9. Isthmus
10. Otorhinolaryngologist
11. Squirrel
12. Ignominious
13. Successful
14. Sixth
15. Phenomenon
16. Rural
17. Specific
18. Synecdoche
19. Temperature
20. Often
1. Colonel — Derived from Middle French, this pronunciation is «ker-nul.» The reason it’s a strange word for foreigners is that it lacks an «r,» despite using that sound when spoken. The second «o» is silent, which adds to the confusion.
2. Worcestershire — Americans mispronounce this name since it uses its traditional British-English pronunciation, which is «woo-ster-sher» instead of wor-cest-er-shi-er.» The ending «shire» means «county» in Britain. So the Worcestershire sauce used as food seasoning is merely named after the region in which it originates. It may help to remember that after «wo» the «rce» part of the word is silent and «shire» is pronounced «sher,» like in New Hampshire.
3. Mischievous — While many Americans say «mis-CHEEV-ee-us,» the actual pronunciation is «MIS-chiv-us.» The confusion lies in the fact that it’s a three-syllable word but appears to have four syllables.
4. Draught — Travelers from outside the United States or the UK might say «drot,» but the correct pronunciation of this British word is «draft,» which is also what it means, as in cool air or alcoholic beverage from a keg.
5. Quinoa — This super food has gained popularity among health food consumers in recent years, even though it’s a grain from the ancient world. Some people might mispronounce it as «qwin-o-ah,» but this Spanish word has multiple pronunciations, such as «KEEN-wah,» «ken-WAH» or «KEN-on-ah.»
6. Onomatopoeia — Have you even ever heard of this word, which applies to words that imitate the sound they make? It’s actually a six-syllable word and is pronounced «on-o-mot-o-PEE-a.» An example of a term that would fit this description is «buzz.»
7. Scissors — While most Americans know how to pronounce this word as «sizz-ers,» people who are just learning English might say «skiss-ors.» They might think the «s» at the end makes it plural, although it’s a singular tool referred to as a pair of scissors.
8. Anemone — From the buttercup family, this wild, colorful plant may look hard to say for any person unfamiliar with gardening. It’s pronounced «ah-NEM-oh-nee.» Just ignore the «mone» ending, which looks like it should rhyme with «phone» but doesn’t.
9. Isthmus — If you study geography, you might recognize this two-syllable term as a reference to a tight strip of land between two seas. It helps if you forget about the «th,» which is silent, as the word is pronounced «is-muss.»
10. Otorhinolaryngologist – Many people can trip over this lengthy word that is used in the medical profession for an ear, nose and throat doctor. It’s understandably complex for anyone outside of the medical field, as it’s pronounced «oh-toh-rye-no-lar-ing-GOL-uh-jee.» A more convenient title for this medical position is «ENT.»
11. Squirrel — German speakers may have problems with this animal word since the «rl» sound is usually coming at the end of a syllable. They might say «skwörl,» when most Americans say «SKWIR-rel.»
12. Ignominious — Articulate speakers who show off vocabulary use this word to describe a person who is dishonorable.» It’s a five-syllable word that is pronounced «ig-ne-MIN-ee-us.»
13. Successful — Here’s one of the easiest words on this list for anyone to pronounce, although people unfamiliar with English might be confused by the double c and double “s” since the «cc» has a «k» sound. Yet just «c» alone can be an «s,» «k» or «ch» sound.
14. Sixth — Numbers are among the first things students of second languages learn to pronounce, but adding a «th» after «x» can be tricky for some people new to English.
15. Phenomenon — This singular form of «phenomena» means an amazing event and is pronounced «fi-NOM-uh-non.»
16. Rural — Residents of farms and ranches are familiar with this term, which is pronounced «roor-uhl,» whereas urban dwellers who don’t talk about less populated areas much might find it to be a tongue twister.
17. Specific — Here’s another easy word for most to decipher, but difficult for those who don’t understand that «s» and «c» can have the same, yet different sounds within the same word.
18. Synecdoche — This rare literary device is more read than spoken, making it unfamiliar to many, as it’s pronounced «se-NEK-de-kee.»
19. Temperature — For some people, «tem-per-uh-chur» is difficult to say quickly, as the «t» takes on a «ch» sound. Many people chop the four syllables down to three.
20. Often — Many Americans, more often than not, drop the «t» to say «OFF-uhn,» while others say «OFT-uhn.» But either pronunciation is acceptable in the United States.
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Difficult Words and Terms in Legal Transcription
Introduction to Hard Words
My name is Anna English from Englishlikeanative.co.uk where we help students from all over the world to learn and speak English like a native with our English Language and Pronunciation courses. Let’s start with a quick intro to this free lesson. You can jump straight into the 10 hardest words to pronounce if you prefer. In this lesson there is also a video and a listening exercise at the end.
If you like free English lessons like this one, subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll let you know each time we release a new one.
Why are some English words so hard to pronounce?
English words can be hard to pronounce for a combination of reasons; some because of the complexity of mouth movements, and some because of their bizarre spelling! I have chosen ten relatively common words for this lesson. I could have included words like synecdoche, antidisestablishmentarianism, or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious but they are rarely used in everyday conversations and therefore not as helpful as my list is going to be.
How to learn the correct pronunciation of hard-to-say words
In this lesson, you’ll have a chance to practice the correct pronunciation of these 10 difficult words. We will provide you with audio examples in the British Received Pronunciation accent. These audios are for you to listen to and use for comparison. First, without listening to the audio examples, record yourself saying the 10 hard-to-pronounce words using your phone, or any online audio recorder. Then, listen to the audio example and compare the difference.
When comparing yourself, it’s important to try to be objective. Try to listen to your voice recording as though you were listening to a different person. Don’t be critical of the sound of your voice. Simply try to understand the differences in pronunciation.
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What is Received Pronunciation (Modern RP)?
British Received Pronunciation is an accent also known as the Modern RP accent, Standard British English or BBC English. The RP accent has been widely known as the accent that many BBC News presenters use, though this is slowly changing.
The RP accent is generally considered a de-regionalised accent, though it is most commonly found in the South East of England. RP is used by all major dictionaries to help define pronunciation of English words using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
To help you with your attempts with these difficult English words, I’ve included the IPA spelling of all the words below for your reference. Let’s get started.
Let’s jump into the pronunciation of my top 10 hardest words to pronounce in English.
#1 – Anemone pronunciation
(/əˈnem.ə.ni/)
Do you know how to pronounce Anemone? Or do you just think you know? Anemone pronunciation trips up native and non-native English speakers alike. Even the little fish Nemo found this word difficult to pronounce in the Disney film Finding Nemo. This is a real tongue twister, and many people struggle with getting the right number of Ns and Ms. Let’s have a go.
Anemone, think of a lemon (lemon spelt with an N) on a knee. A-nemon-knee, a-nemon-nee, anemone. Got it?
Try to record yourself, then listen to my audio example and compare the difference before.
#2 – Colonel pronounciation (/ˈkɜː.nəl/)
How to pronounce Colonel…. Hmmm… How many L sounds or O sounds do you think it has? Here’s a clue. It’s not pronounced how it is spelt!
Colonel is a military rank and it is not pronounced as it is spelt at all. It would be easier if it was written ‘Kernel’. Unfortunately, it’s not spelt like that (Kernel), in fact, a Kernel is the edible part of a nut. So perhaps thinking of ‘A colonel eating kernels’ will help you to remember this pronunciation.
#3 – Draught pronunciation (/drɑːft/)
How do you pronounce Draught? Try to make a recording of your pronunciation to compare with my example below.
Here are my British pronunciation tips: Don’t feel daft when you pronounce the word draught, when I got it wrong I just laughed. Draught is pronounced, draft. Not to be confused with the ‘first draft of a book’, which sounds the same but has a different spelling.
Draught means a current of cool air which blows through a confined space “Is there a window open somewhere, there’s a terrible cold draught in here?”. Draught is also an adjective to describe beer or cider that is served from a barrel “Ooo a nice cold pint of draught beer”.
#4 – Onomatopoeia pronunciation
(/ˌɒn.əˌmæt.əˈpiː.ə/)
Feast your eyes on this beautiful word. Onomatopoeia – What a lovely word. You try to pronounce it and make a recording to compare with the example audio in a moment.
This word is used to describe words that sound like the noise they refer to. For example, zip, bang, plop, buzz, hiss, etc.
Here’s my British pronunciation tip for Onomatopoeia: break it down, ona-matter-pier. Now compare your pronunciation with the Modern RP accent in the example.
#5 – Quinoa pronunciation
(/ˈkiːnwɑː/)
A lot of native English speakers wonder how to pronounce Quinoa. Quinoa’s pronunciation has Spanish roots and you would not believe how many English people got /still get this word wrong (including me!). Make your pronunciation recording now.
Here’s my British pronunciation tip: It’s not quin-oh-ah, it’s key-noir because of its Spanish origin. Are you keen-ah to have some quinoa? Now compare your recording to mine.
#6 – Segue pronunciation
(/ˈseɡ.weɪ/)
Segue. This word was brought back into popularity by the mobility device and it means to transition from one thing to the next. Speaking of which, try your pronunciation now, then check out my British pronunciation tip before comparing your recording to mine.
British pronunciation tip: This word rhymes with ‘weekday’.
#7 – Squirrel pronunciation
(/ˈskwɪr.əl/)
Number seven, how do you pronounce squirrel? Squirrel – This cute little nut collector graces gardens and woodlands across the UK and pronouncing its name will make you spit out your dentures (if you wear dentures, of course).
British pronunciation tip for Squirrel pronunciation: Skwi – like squid, rul. Squirrel. Now listen and compare with my British RP accent.
#8 – Worcestershire pronunciation
(/ˈwʊs.tə.ʃər/)
Number eight, Worcestershire (/ˈwʊs.tə.ʃər/ ) – this one is very tricky. Whether you’re talking about the location (there’s one in both the UK and the USA) or the sauce, this is a familiar word in English. But it’s bizarre spelling trips many of us up.
#9 – Wednesday pronunciation
(/ˈwenz.deɪ/)
Can you correctly pronounce this midweek day? Wednesday’s pronunciation is surprisingly difficult – Blast those silent letters! Make your own recording now.
Who said Wed-nes-day? It’s an understandable mistake to make, the spelling of Wednesday is CRAZY… I mean, who made this stuff up?…
Here’s my British pronunciation tip: it’s pronounced When’z-day. You don’t pronounce the /d/. You don’t pronounce the ‘nes’. I don’t know why it’s there… Don’t even get me started on Feb-ru-ary…
We are nearly at the end of the list, are you finding any of these hard English words challenging, don’t forget after number ten I’ve included a bonus word – don’t miss it.
#10 – Sixth pronunciation
(/sɪksθ/)
Number ten, try not to spit on the screen as you try to pronounce sixth… Sixth (:/sɪksθ/) – make your recording now.
Now, it’s generally considered that the ‘th’ sound is one of the most difficult sounds in English for non-native English speakers to pronounce, even for some natives too. It’s the last sound that children learn as they develop their speaking.
British pronunciation tips for how to pronounce Sixth: The word sixth positions the ‘th’ after an /s/ sound, which follows a /k/ sound. This means you have to move your tongue very quickly from the high back /k/ to a tip of the tongue /s/ position then through the teeth for the th.
The pronunciation of sixth is like tongue break dancing. In honesty, if you just jump from the /k/ to the th, missing out the /s/ then no one will notice. Now compare your pronunciation with mine.
Here is how to learn British English pronunciation online and develop your RP accent
If you would like more help with your pronunciation, I am offering a free pronunciation course covering the 5 hardest sounds in English. All you have to do is subscribe to our mailing list. Simply provide your name and email address below and the free course will be delivered to your inbox.
Bonus Word
Rural pronunciation – Rural (/ˈrʊə.rəl/ )
How to pronounce Rural – This is not a word that native English speakers struggle with but the English R is a strange beast to much of the rest of the world.
British R Pronunciation
We use a still floating tongue in British R pronunciation. The tongue holds in a curled position. Students with Spanish, Italian or German as their native language are often tempted to trill or tap the /r/. Other students exchange the /r/ for an /l/ sound.
However you naturally treat the /r/, it can be a struggle to pronounce these two tricky /r/ sounds so close together. Give it a try…Rural.
You can find out more about our Pronunciation Course here or watch the video below to find out why you should learn British English.
Download this free ebook from Native Intonation to learn the skills to sound like a native speaker.
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