Very hard word to pronounce

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.

We all know the embarrassing feeling of discovering we’ve been mispronouncing a word for years. On the other hand, some words are so commonly mispronounced that the «correct» pronunciation sounds downright strange.

Don’t feel bad if you’ve been mispronouncing some of these tricky words. A living language like English evolves and thrives precisely because it is spoken every day. Some people choose to adhere to rigid rules of grammar and pronunciation (known as linguistic prescription) and take pleasure in the precision of English grammar and vocabulary. Others prefer the descriptive linguistics approach, which doesn’t apply judgments such as «correct» or «incorrect» but instead looks at how language is actually used. In other words, as long as people can understand you, you are successfully using language for its primary purpose: communication.

Accede

How to say it: ak-SEED

May be mispronounced: a-SEED

What it means: to consent, give approval; yield to another’s wishes

Alias

How to say it: AY-lee-iss

What it means: an assumed name taken on temporarily, sometimes by a criminal or fugitive

Anathema

How to say it: uh-NATH-uh-muh

What it means: someone or something that one strongly dislikes or loathes

Anemone

How to say it: uh-NEH-muh-nee

What it means: a flower in the buttercup family; a sedentary marine animal, as in sea anemone

Apocryphal

How to say it: uh-POK-ruh-fuhl

What it means: of questionable authenticity, as in a story or statement

Camaraderie

How to say it: kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree

May be mispronounced: kahm-RAH-duh-ree

What it means: easy familiarity and friendship, often built over time 

Colloquialism

How to say it: kuh-loh-kwee-uh-liz-uhm

What it means: a word, phrase, or expression that is conversational rather than formal

Debauch

How to say it: dih-BAWCH

What it means: to lead away from virtue; to corrupt morally 

Demagogue

How to say it: DEM-uh-gog

What it means: a leader who appeals to popular passions and prejudices to gain support

Emollient

How to say it: ih-MOL-yuhnt

What it means: making smoother or less harsh; a substance with a soothing effect on the skin

Epitome

How to say it: ih-PIT-uh-mee

May be mispronounced: eh-pi-TOME

What it means: a person or thing that characterizes a whole category to which it belongs

Espouse

How to say it: ih-SPOWZ

May be mispronounced: ex-POWZ

What it means: to follow or support an idea or theory as a cause 

Espresso

How to say it: eh-SPRES-oh

May be mispronounced: ex-PRESS-oh

What it means: a strong coffee of Italian origin, made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans  

Fatuous

How to say it: FACH-oo-uss

May be mispronounced: FAT-choo-uss

What it means: foolish, inane; devoid of intelligence 

Forte

How to say it: for-TAY or fort (depending on meaning)

What it means: a musical direction meaning loud (pronounced «for-TAY»); a strong point or a strength (pronounced «fort»)

Grandiloquent

How to say it: gran-DILL-uh-kwuhnt

What it means: extravagant, lofty, or bombastic in style or manner, especially language 

Hegemony

How to say it: hih-JEH-muh-nee

May be mispronounced: hedge-ih-MOAN-ee or homo-JENNY

What it means: authority, leadership, or influence by a dominant social group

Inchoate

How to say it: in-KOH-it

What it means: only partly in existence; partially formed, as in an idea

Knell

How to say it: nel

May be mispronounced: knel (with the k)

What it means: the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce death or a funeral

Maelstrom

How to say it: meyl-struhm

What it means: a violent whirlpool 

Mauve

How to say it: mohv

May be mispronounced: mawv

What it means: a pale purple color 

Mischievous

How to say it: MISS-chuh-vuhs

May be mispronounced: mis-CHEE-vee-uhs (note the extra syllable)

What it means: naughtily annoying or troublemaking 

Nadir

How to say it: NAY-deer

What it means: the lowest point

Neophyte

How to say it: NEE-uh-fahyt

What it means: a beginner, a new participant 

Noisome

How to say it: NOI-sum

What it means: disgusting, as in odor; capable of causing nausea 

Panacea

How to say it: pan-uh-SEE-uh

What it means: a cure-all; a remedy for all illness or solution for all problems 

Phlegmatic

How to say it: fleg-MAT-ik

What it means: slow to react, not showing emotion; calm and composed

Protean

How to say it: PROH-tee-uhn

May be mispronounced: pro-teen

What it means: assuming various forms; changeable in shape, as an amoeba

Puerile

How to say it: PYOO-er-il

What it means: relating to a child or childhood; immature, foolish

Pulchritude

How to say it: PUHL-kri-tood

What it means: physical beauty, comeliness 

Quinoa

How to say it: KEEN-wah

May be mispronounced: KEEN-oh-ah

What it means: a small edible crop seed 

Quixotic

How to say it: kwik-SOT-ik

What it means: insensibly extravagant or romantic

Sanguine

How to say it: SANG-gwin

May be mispronounced: sang-WHINE

What it means: cheerful, hopeful, confident, especially in a bad situation

Sherbet

How to say it: SHUR-bit

May be mispronounced: SHUR-burt

What it means: a frozen fruit-flavored dessert made without milk

Staid

How to say it: steyd

What it means: settled; sedate in character

Surfeit

How to say it: SUR-fit

What it means: an excessive amount

Timbre

How to say it: TAM-ber

May be mispronounced: TIM-ber (as in, that tree’s about to fall down)

What it means: the sound or tonal quality of a particular voice or musical instrument

Truculent

How to say it: TRUHK-yuh-luhnt

What it means: defiant, quick to argue or fight

Vicissitude

How to say it: vih-SIS-ih-tood

What it means: a change in circumstance, usually undesired 

Zephyr

How to say it: ZEF-er

May be mispronounced: ZEF-fire

What it means: a soft, mild breeze 

Main Resources for Definitions

https://www.merriam-webster.com

https://www.dictionary.com

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1

Anathema

anathema

Betsy Farrell

There are too many As for this one to roll off the tongue easily, and if you’re wondering what it means, you’re not alone. Anathema — that is, someone or something intensely disliked — is in the top 1% of looked-up words on Merriam-Webster.

2

Anemone

anemone

Betsy Farrell

Even Nemo couldn’t pronounce this word in the Pixar movie — and he lives in one! If you can get through the first two syllables, you’re in the clear.

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4

Antidisestablishmentarianism

antidisestablishmentarianism

Betsy Farrell

For most people, it’s the longest word they know. For others, it’s a bona fide tongue twister at a whopping total 28 letters and 13 syllables. (Psst, it means being opposed to the withdrawal of state support from an established church.)

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5

Asterisk

asterisk

Betsy Farrell

Linguists know that pesky metathesis makes this typographical symbol hard to say. Metathesis? That’s when people accidentally rearrange sounds or syllables in a word, like a toddler saying spaghetti as «pasketti.» In this case, it’s the final S and the K that do a little switcheroo, coming out as «asteriks.»

6

Brewery

brewery

Betsy Farrell

No, it’s not just the booze talking. Discussing beer-making bars while sober is hard enough thanks to that tricky middle syllable.

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7

Cavalry

calvary

Betsy Farrell

Metathesis strikes again! It doesn’t help that many people also confuse cavalry (armed forces on horseback) with the place Calvary, as in the Bible.

8

Comfortable

comfortable

Betsy Farrell

It’s so, so easy to skip that «tuh» sound, but just because you’re relaxing doesn’t mean you should give up on enunciation.

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9

Defibrillator

defibrillator

Betsy Farrell

Dissimilation is another linguistic phenomenon you can blame mispronunciations on. That’s when similar consonants or vowels in a word become less alike, e.g. defibrillator becoming «defibyulator.»

10

Deteriorate

deteriorate

Betsy Farrell

The first R in deteriorate gets the same treatment. You could try to say it correctly, or just pick one of many, many synonyms instead: decay, decline, degenerate, devolve … and that’s just the Ds!

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11

Explicit

explicit

Betsy Farrell

Take heart. Almost everyone sounds like they have a lisp when they pronounce explicit.

12

Exponentially

exponentially

Betsy Farrell

Sometimes exponentially get exponentially harder to say the more you try to say it.

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13

February

february

Betsy Farrell

Here’s another case of dissimilation, except people mispronounce this month so often that many dictionaries accept it either way. According to Merriam-Webster, «The y heard from many speakers is not an intrusion but rather a common pronunciation of the vowel U after a consonant, as in January and annual.»

14

Floccinaucinihilipilification

floccinaucinihilipilification

Betsy Farrell

At 29 letters, floccinaucinihilipilification has earned the unofficial title of the longest non-technical word in the English language. Don’t let its length fool you. It simply means the act or habit of estimating something as worthless.

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15

Ignominious

ignominious

Betsy Farrell

CNN anchor Jake Tapper recently used this word on air and quickly prompted a 4,695% surge in lookups on Merriam-Webster. A synonym for dishonorable or despicable, it’s perfect for talking about controversial politics — if you’re brave enough to say it, that is.

16

Isthmus

isthmus

Betsy Farrell

Those double Ss are absolutely killer. Thankfully, most people don’t live on narrow strips of land and can ignore the geographical term altogether.

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19

Often

often

Betsy Farrell

You may use this common word often enough, but if you’re saying it as «off-ten,» you’re technically in the wrong. Merriam-Webster prefers the T-less version since it better reflects the evolution from its Middle English roots.

20

Onomatopoeia

onomatopoeia

Betsy Farrell

Buzz, hiss, splash, meow — those so-simple words all are perfect examples of onomatopoeia, which is the act of naming something similar to the sound associated with it. Good luck saying — and spelling — this doozy!

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!

Image shows a frustrated face with hard English words to pronounce surrounding it.

Don’t get frustrated. We’ll teach you how to say several words that English learners and native speakers struggle to pronounce correctly. 

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!


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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