On eHu n d r e d Mo s t Co mmo n l y Mi M i s p r o no u nc e d Eng l i s hWo r ds by
J a k u bMa r i a n S e c o ndEdi t i o n, Ma r c h2 01 5
T h e P DFv e r s i o nh a s n oa s s o c i a t e dI S B N
Thei mageoft heheadont hef r ontcoveri scopyr i ght edby Andr e yOs pi s hc he v andl i censedf r om f o t o l i a . c o m.
On eHu n d r e d Mo s t Co mmo n l y Mi M i s p r o no u nc e d Eng l i s hWo r ds by
J a k u bMa r i a n S e c o ndEdi t i o n, Ma r c h2 01 5
T h e P DFv e r s i o nh a s n oa s s o c i a t e dI S B N
Thei mageoft heheadont hef r ontcoveri scopyr i ght edby Andr e yOs pi s hc he v andl i censedf r om f o t o l i a . c o m.
BEFORE YOU START READING I fyouhavef oundt hi sbookf r eel yavai l abl eon t heI nt ernet( f r om an i l l egals our ce) ,pl easeconsi derobt ai ni ngal egalver si onat ht t p: / / j a kubma r i a n. c om/ hundr e dwor ds /
Youcangett hemo mos tupt odat el egalver si onof t hebookei t heri nt heaut hor ’ sEngl i shBundl eor f orf r eewi t hsubsc r i pt i ont ohi seducat i onalmai l i ng l i s t . I fy o uf i nda nye i nt h eb o o k ,b ei taf a c t ua lo rgr a mmr r o r ma t i c a le r r o r ,at yp o ,o raf o r ma t t i ngi s s ue ,p l e a s es e nd mea ne ma i lt o e r r or s @j a kubma r i a n. c om
W HAT HAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK Thi sl i t t l ebookl eti sbasedon mymuchl ar ger mp r o v eyo urEng l i s hp r o nunc i a t i o na nd bookcal l ed I l e a r no v e r5 00c o mmo nl ymi s p r o no u nc e dwo r d swhi ch, apar tf r om hundr edsofaddi t i onalwor ds,des cr i bes al sot ypi caler r orpat t ernsi nEngl i shandcont ai ns ani nt r oduct i ont oEngl i shphonol ogy( whi chwi l l hel pyour eadEngl i shwor dsc or r ect l yi ngener al ) . ds Ihavesel ect ed100wor f r om t heor i gi nalbook t hatIconsi dert obet hemo mos ti mpor t antonesand comp mpi l ed t hem her ei nal phabet i calor ders ot hat myr eader scaneas i l yr evi ew t hem. m.Thi sbookal so ut i l i zesasma mal l erpagesi zeandi sbet t ersui t edf or r eadi ngonebookr eadi ngdevi ces . Pr onunci at i oni sdenot edusi ngasi mpl i f i edversi on ofI PA ( I nt er nat i onalPhonet i cAl phabet ;t he not at i onusedi nt heaf or eme ment i onedbooki sabi t mor es ophi s t i cat ed) .I fyoucan’ tr eadI PA yet ,don’ t wor r y;pr onunci at i oni swr wr i t t enal soi napseudoEngl i sh not at i on whi ch wi l lbeexpl ai ned bef or e yous t artr eadi ngt hel i s t .I fyouwantt ol ear nmor e xe xp l a i ni nga l lI PA aboutt heI PA,t her ei sanappendi s y mb mb o l sa tt heveryendoft hebook.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Be f or eyous t a r tr e a di ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Wha tt oe x pe c tf r om t hi sbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Thenot a t i on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Thel i s t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Appe ndi x: I PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Vowel s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Consonant s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Al pha be t i c a lI nde x. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4
THE NOTATION I nor dert obeabl et or eadt hepseudoEngl i sh not at i onusedher e,youwi l lhavet or ememberj us t t hr eeI PAchar act er s;t heres tshoul dbepr onounced asyouwoul di nt ui t i vel ypr onouncei tasanEngl i sh wor d.Thechar act er syouhavet or ememberar e: [ə] i spr onouncedas“a”i n“abook”( i . e.ast hei n-
def i ni t eart i cl e) .I ti saneut r alsound,asi fyouwer e j us tr el easi ngai rt hr oughyourvocalchor ds.I fyou somet i mest hi nkt hatt her e’ san“ə”usedi napl ace wher eyou woul d expect“i ”asi n“pit ”( orconver sel y) ,don’ twor r y;t heset wosoundsar eof t en interchangeable. i sa sound appr oxi mat el y bet ween “a” i n at “f her ”and“e”i n“bed”.Thesymboli susedt o r emi ndyout hatEngl i sh“a”( asi n“cat ”=“kæt ”, “bad”=“bæd”,“sad”=“sæd”et c. )i spr onounced somewhatdi f f er ent l yt hanyouar eusedf r om your mot hert ongue. [æ]
i st hesoundof“u”i n“but ”( bʌt)a nd“o”i n kʌm) “come”( . [ʌ]
Ther ear eal soaf ew gr oupsofl et t er susedconsi s t ent l yi nt hepseudoEngl i shnot at i on,butdon’ t wor r yaboutt hem t oomuch;you wi l lr emember f t hem nat ur al l yasyous t ar tr eadi ngt hel i s tand i
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y o us k i pt ot h ene x ts e c t i o n r i ghtno w,y o uwi l lp r o b a b l y doj us tf i ne .
I ncaseyouarei nt er es t ed:“aw ”i spr onounced asi n“l aw”,“oo”asi n“cool ”,“oo”( i t al i ci s ed)asi n “good”( t hesameas“u”i n“put ”) ,“ee”( i t al i ci s ed) i susedt odenot et hesamesoundasi n“see”but shor t ,and“oh”i susedt odenot e[oʊ]whi chi show Amer i cans pr onounce “oh”;i n Br i t i sh Engl i sh, “oh”i spr onouncedas“əu”. ThepseudoEngl i shnot at i onusesdashest odi vi deeachwor di nt osi mpl erpar t s,f orexampl e“pol i ce”=“pə-lees”.Thes t r essedparti sbol d.These part sof t encor r espondt ot hesyl l abl esoft hewor d, butt heydonoti ft hi scoul dl eadt oawr ongpr onunci at i on,sodon’ tpr onouncet hedashesasany ki ndofpause.Forexampl e“r eci pe”i sdenot edas “res-ip-ee”,al t hought hesyl l abl esar ei nf act“r esi pee”,butt hi swoul dmi sl eadsomepeopl et opr onouncet he“i ”as“aay”. I ft heAmer i canpr onunci at i ondi f f er sf r om t he Br i t i shone,t heonej us texpl ai nedi smar kedbyt he symbol or af t ert hegi venpr onunci at i on.
THE LIST The r ei sno tmuc hmo r et os a y ;Ih o p ey o uwi l le nj o y t h ep r o c e s so fr e a di nga ndl e a r ni ngs o me t hi ngne w.
ability [ əˈbɪləti]( ə-bil-ə-tee) ;event houghanabi l i t y
ˈeɪbl]( ey-bl)t e[ i ssomet hi ngyou ar eabl odo, t her e’ sno“ey”att hebegi nni ngof“abi l i t y”. ɔ:lˈbi:ɪt]( aw ’l-bee-it) ;t hi sf ai r l yf or malwor d, albit [
meani ng “al t hough”, i s not used much i n speech,buti ss t i l lqui t ecommoni nl i t er at ur e. Onceyour emembert hati ti sact ual l yacombi nat i on oft hr eewor ds“al lbei t ”,you wi l lno l ongerhaveany pr obl em wi t hi t scorr ec tpr onunciation. ei-li-ən) ;al i onwoul dcer t ai nl ybean ali! [ ˈeɪliən](
unwel comeal i enatyourhome,butdon’ tpr onouncet hem t hesame.J us tr emembert hatan æ-laay) al i eni snotyourally [ . ˈælaɪ]( eyn-dzhəl) [ ;unl i ke many ot her ˈeɪndʒəl]( wor dsbegi nni ng wi t h “ang”,“angel ”i spr oeɪndʒ]( eyndzh)a nouncedwi t h[ tt hebegi nni ng. æn Never t hel ess, a der i ved wor d a!"li# [
a!"l
9
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS ˈdʒelɪk]( æn-dzhe-lik)i ss t r essed ont hesecond
syl l abl eandt hevowel sarepr onounceddi f f erent l y. A$%a!&a& [ ˈɑ:kənˌsɔ:]( aak-ən-saw )
ˈɑ:rkənˌsɔ:] ,[ aark-ən-saw ) ;t ( he nameofoneoft he US s t at essoundsl i keasymbolf oranew r el i gi ous movement :“ar kandsaw”.However ,t hi si show i ti sr eal l ypr onounced. bæ-lei) ,[ bæˈleɪ]( bæ-lei) [ ˈbæleɪ]( somewhatsur pr i si ngl y,t hef i nal“t ”r emai nssi l enti nEngl i sh.
ballt
beɪʒ]( beyzh) ;t hi swor di sofFr enchor i gi n bi" [
andi nher i t si t sFr enchpr onunci at i on.The“g”i s pr onouncedt hes ameasi n“mas sage”. b'(b [ bom]( bom)
bɑ:m]( baam) ; ,[ t he“b”i n “mb”i nEngl i shi susual l ysi l ent .Thi swor di s per hapsevenmor econf usi ngt hant heot her si n t hati tal soexi s t si nmos tot herl anguagesi nt he samewr i t t enf orm butwi t ht he“b”pr onounced. Thesamepr onunci at i oni susedal sof or b'(b) i!" [ ˈbomɪŋ]( bom-in) ,[ ˈbɑ:mɪŋ]( baam-in) .
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bʊl]( bool! #ith short $u%) ;somepeopl epr o b*ll [
nouncet he“u”wr ongl yas[ ,asi n“cut ”,buti t ʌ] i st hesame“u”asi n“put ”. b*llt [ ˈbʊlɪt]( boo-lit! #ith short $u%) ;asi nt hepr evi -
oo) ouscase,“u”i spr onouncedas[ʊ]( .
;a b*$ial [ sa b*$y [ ˈberi]( ber -ri) ˈberiəl]( ber -ri-əl)i sadandi mpor t antevent .Don’ tspoi li tbypr onounci ngi twr ong.I ti spr onouncedexact l yt he sameas“ber r y” ( i . e.t her ei sno“uh”or“ʌ” sound). #a++i! [ ˈkæ&i:n]( kæ-&een)i s,af t eral l ,i ncof f ee,s o
i twoul d bemor el ogi calt o cal li t“cof f een”, woul dn’ ti t ?Asacompr omi sebet weent het wo, atl eas t“ei ”i spr onouncedas“ee”. #al( [ kɑ:m]( kaam) ;Engl i sh doesn’ tseem
t ol i ke t hecombi nat i on“al m”,sot he“l ”r emai nss i l ent i nmos tdi al ect s( however ,t her ear esomeAmer i canonesi nwhi chi ti spr onounced) . t'eɪndʒ]( tcheyndzh) [ ;t he wor di s pr onouncedwi t h“ey”,notwi t h“æ”or“e”.
#,a!"
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1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
ˈkeɪos]( kei-oss) #,a'& [
ˈkheɪɑ:s( ( kei-aas) ; ,[ t hepr onunci at i onoft hi swor di sact ual l yqui t e r egul ar ,butpeopl et endt opr onouncei tast he samewor di nt hei rownl anguage,whi chusual l y di f f er sf r om i t sEngl i shpr onunci at i on.
'i:k]( sheek) ;whati schi ci sf ashi onabl eorel #,i# [
egant .Thewor di sborr owed f r om Fr enchand r et ai nst heor i gi nalpr onunci at i on. #li(b [ klaɪm]( klaaym) ;asi n“bomb”,t he“b”i n
“mb”i ssi l ent .Thi si st r ueal sof or“cl i mbi ng” ˈklaɪmɪŋ] ( klaay-min) ˈklaɪmd] [ , “cl i mbed” [ ( ,and“cl i mber ”[ˈklaɪmə]( klaaymd) klaay-mə) , ˈklaɪmər ]( klaay-mr ) . [ kə’ə-nl) #'l'!l [ ˈkə:nl](
kər -nl) ;i ,[ s ˈkərnl]( t her eaker neli nsi deacol onel( ami l i t ary of f i cer ) ?Wel l ,atl eas ti n pr onunci at i on,t her ei s ( t heyar epr onouncedt hes ame) . koll-əm) ,[ kaal-əm) [ ˈkoləm]( ˈkɑ:ləm]( ;whet heri ti sacol umnoft extoracol umni n ar chi t ect ur e,t hepr onunci at i onst i l lr et ai nssome ʌ]a i nf l uenceofi t sFr enchor i gi n.I ti snot[ si n )u:]( yoo)a “#'l'*$”,and t her ei sal sono[ si n
#'l*(!
-'l*(.
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kəʊm]( kəum) , [ koʊm]( koh’m) ;t [ he t oot hed devi ce used f or s t yl i ng hai ri s pr onouncedwi t houtt he“b”att heend.Remember : t he“m”al r eadyl ooksl i keacomb,sono“b”i s needed.
#'(b
#'(+'$tabl [ ˈkʌm&ətəbl]( kʌm-&ə-tə-bl)
,i nt he ˈkʌm&təbl]( kʌm-&tə-bl) al so[ ;i fyou“comef ora t abl e”t oaf ur ni t ur es hop,i twi l lhopef ul l ybe comf or t abl e,al t houghi tdoesn’ tr hymewi t hi t .
#'(/a!y [ ˈkʌmpəni]( kʌm-pə-nee) ;acompanyi sa
gr oupofpeopl ewhoi nasense“come”t oget her , andt he“com”i n“company”i spr onouncedexact l yt hes ameasi n“come”.Thes amei st r uef or a##'(/a!y [ əˈkʌmpəni]( ə-kʌm-pə-nee) . 0'+1 #'*$& [ kɔ:s]( kaw ’s)
kɔ:rs]( kaw ’rs)o ,[ r koʊrs( ( koh’rs) * a [ l t hough t he wor di s of Fr enchor i gi n,t he“ou”i snotpr onouncedas[ u: ] oo)a ( si scommoni nFr enchwor ds.
kɔ:t]( kaw ’t)[ kɔ:rt]( kaw ’rt) ;hopef ul l yyou #'*$t [
wi l lneverhavet odealwi t hacour t ,buti fyou do,r emembert opr onouncei twi t h “a#”,not wi t h“oo”.
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1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
ˈkʌbəd]( kʌ-bəd) #*/b'a$2 [
ˈkʌbərd]( kʌ-brd) ,[ i si ndeed der i ved f r om t he wor ds“c up” and “boar d”;nonet hel ess,t he“boar d”i ni ti spr oə]a nouncedwi t h[ nd“p”i snotpr onouncedat a l l .
2b$i& [ ˈdebri:]( deb-ree)
,[ dəˈbri:]( də-bree) ; t hi swor dr et ai nedi t sor i gi nalFr enchpr onunci at i on,sot hef i nal“s”i ssi l ent .
det]( det) ;awor dt hathasbec omeabundant 2bt [
i n medi a af t er t he r ecent f i nanci al #$i&i& ˈkraɪsɪs]( kraay-sis) [ .I fyoupr onouncet he“b”, peopl ewi l ll i kel yunder s t andi tas“di pped”. dɪˈspɪkəbl]( dis-pik-ə-bl) [ ,rarel y al so ˈdespɪkəbl]( des-pik-ə-bl) [ ;whenyoudes pi se[dɪ ˈspaɪz] ( dis-paayz) s omet hi ng, you f i nd i t “des pi cabl e”,whi chi spr onouncedwi t h[k]f or some r eason. The wor d “despi sabl e” [ dɪ ˈspaɪzəbl]( dis-paay-zə-bl)( spel l edwi t han“s”) t heor et i cal l yexi s t si nsomedi ct i onar i es,butnoonereal l yusesi ti npr act i ce.
2&/i#abl
dɪˈzə:t]( di-zə’ət) dɪˈzərt]( di-zərt)i [ ,[ sa sweetcour set hatconcl udest hemeal .Don’ tcon-
2&&$t
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ˈdezət]( de-zət) ,[ ˈdezərt] f usei twi t h2&$t [ ( whi chi sal ar gear eaofdr yl and. de-zrt)
;t hebi r doft hepi geonf ami l yi sof 2'- [ dʌ+]( dʌv) t enusedasasymbolofl ove,per hapsbecause t hewor dsar eso si mi l ar .However ,t he wor d “dove”i sbecomi ngi ncr eas i ngl ywi des pr eadas t hepastt ens eof“di ve”( whosest andar df or mi s “di ved”) ,and i nt hi ss ens ei ti spr onounced dəʊ+]( dəuv) , doʊ+]( doh’v) . [ [ ˈedɪnbərə]( ed-in-bə-rə)o ˈedɪnbrə] [ r[ ed-in-brə) ˈedənbʌrə] ( ed-ən-bʌ-rə, o ( ,[ r ˈedənbərə]( ed-ən-bə-rə) ;t [ he name oft he capi t alofScot l andi sknownwel lenought osl i p i nt o many ot herl anguagesi n an al mos tunchangedwr i t t enf or m,buti t scor r ectcount er i nt ui t i vepr onunci at i oni susual l yknownonl yt o nat i ves peakers .
E2i!b*$",
lit [ ɪˈli:t]( ih-leet) eɪˈli:t]( ey-leet) ,somet i mesal so[ ;
el i t epeopl ear ecer t ai nl ynota“l i t ever si on”of t hepopul at i on.Don’ tr hymet hem wi t hi t . ɪˈpɪtəmi]( ih-pit-ə-mee) [ ;t hi s somewhat l essc ommon wor d means“someonewhoi sa pr ot ot ypi calexampl eofacl assofpeopl e”.Al -
/it'(
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t houghyoucoul df i l lat omewi t hal i s tofepi t omes ,youcannotr hymei twi t ht hem. 3$#i& [ ˈeksəsaɪz]( ek-sə-saayz)
,[ ˈeksərsaɪz] ek-sr-saayz) ;ma ( nydoct or swi l ldi scour age youf r om eat i ngt oomanyeggsi fyouwantt o l eadaheal t hyl i f est yl e.Whet hert heyar eri ghtor noti samat t erofdi sc uss i on,butonet hi ngi sf or sur e:don’ tmi xeggsand( t hewor d)“exer ci se”; af t eral l ,i t ’ s“exerci se”not“eggserci se”.
+i!al [ &ɪˈnɑ:li]( &in-aa-lee)
&ɪˈnæli]( &in-æ-lee) ,[ i st hel as tpar tofashow orapi eceofmusi c. Andt heonl yEngl i shwor di nwhi ch“al e”att he endi spr onouncedwi t h“lee”. &rʌnt]( frʌnt) ʌ] [ ;i spr onounced wi t h[ ,i . e. ts “ron”i ni tdoesn’ oundl i ket hename“Ron”. kənThesamei st r uef or“c onf r ont ”[kənˈ&rʌnt]( . frʌnt)
+$'!t
+$*it [ &ru:t( ( froot) ;si mpl yi gnor et he“i ”.Thewor d
i s pr onounced exac t l y as i fi twer e wr i t t en “froot”.
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ˈ&)u:'ə]( fyoo-shə)i [ sa smal lbush wi t h f l ower sofachar act er i s t i ccol ourwhi chi sal so r ef err edt oas“f uchsi a“.
+*#,&ia
ˈærɑ:ʒ] i spr onouncedi nt he ei t heras[ gæ-raazh)o gæ-ridzh) ( r[ ,i nt he i ti s ˈærɪdʒ]( usual l y[ . əˈrɑ:ʒ]( ə-raazh)
"a$a"
"a*" [ eɪdʒ]( geydzh) ;t hi swor di sespeci al l yuse-
f ult ogui t ar i s t swhospeakabouts t r i nggauges ( i . e.how t hi ckt heyar e) .I ti spr onouncedasi f t he“u”wer enott her e. "!$ [ ˈʒonrə]( zhon-rə)
ˈʒɑ:nər ]( zhaa-nr ) ; ,[ a ver yFrenchwor di ndeed.I ti sevenpr onounced wi t hanasalvoweli nsomevar i at i onsofBr i t i sh Engl i sh,i . e.wi t hsqueezi ngoft hebackofone’ s n] t hr oati ns t eadofsayi ng[ .
ˈrenɪt' ]( gren-ith)o grinr[ G$!4i#, [ ˈrɪnɪdʒ](
;you pr obabl y know idzh)
t hi swor df r om t he Gr eenwi chMeanTi me( GMT)s t andar d.J us tr emembert hatt her ei snogr eenwi t chi nGr eenwi ch. raɪnd]( graaynd) ;t her eareonl y4Engl i sh "$i!2 [
wor dst hatendwi t h“r i nd”:r i nd,gr i nd,r egr i nd,
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1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
andt amar i nd.Tamar i ndi sat r ee,andi ti st he onl yoneoft hosei nwhi ch“r i nd”i spr onounced rind] asonewoul dexpec t :[ .I nt heot hert hree,i t raɪnd]( raaynd) i spr onouncedas[ .( “Ri nd”i st he out erski n ofs omet ypesoff r ui t ,f orexampl e “l emonr i nd”. ) ,i",t [ haɪt( ( haayt) ;t hepr onunci at i oni sasi fi t
wer ewr i t t en “hi ght ”.The“e”i st her ej us tt o conf usef or ei gner s. ,i$ [ eə]( eə)
er ]( er ) ; ,[ aper sonwhoi nher i t s somet hi ng f r om someone el se.I tcomesf r om Ol dFr ench,sot he“h”r emai nss i l ent ;i tsounds exac t l yt hesameas“ai r ”and “er e”( meani ng “bef or el ong”) . həʊˈtel]( həu-tel) ,[ hoʊˈtel]( hoh-tel) ; [ t e l lmewhyyoua “hohoho, r enotathome”i s somet hi ng Sant a Cl aus coul d ask you i fyou s t ayedi nahot eloverChr i s t mas.I ti smos tcert ai nl ynott her easonwhyi ti sc al l ed“hot el ”,but i twi l lhopef ul l y hel p you r emembert hatt he st r essi sact ual l yont hesecondsyl l abl e( t herei s tl]a not[ tt heend) .
,'tl
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aau-ə) ,'*$ [ ˈaʊə](
,[ aau-rr ) ( bot ht he ˈaʊər ]( sameas“our ”) ;t he“h”att hebegi nni ngi ss i l ent , asi tshoul dbeal soi nt henameoft hel et t erH eɪdʒ]( eydzh) [ .Somenat i vespeaker ss t ar t edt o pr onounceH as“heydzh”l at el y,butsuchpr onunci at i oni sr egar dedasuneducat edbymany. ˈhaʊzɪz] ( haauziz) [ ;t he si ngul ar f or m, haʊs] house,i spr onouncedwi t h[s]att heend:[ haaus) ( .Thepl ur alofi t ,however ,i spr onounced z] wi t h[ .
,'*&&
haɪˈpə:bəli]( haay-pə’ə-bə-lee) ,y/$b'l [
haɪ ,[ ˈpərbəli] ( haay-pər -bə-lee) ;don’ tc onf uset hi s wor dwi t hahyper bol a,ageomet r i cshape.Hyper bol ei saf or m ofexagger at i on,andi tdoesn’ t r hymewi t habowl . in-&ə-məs) [ ; al t hough t he ˈɪn&əməs] ( wor di sj us t“f amous”wi t ht hepr ef i x“i n”st uck i nt hef r ont ,i ti snotpr onouncedso.
i!+a('*&
ˈaɪələnd]( aay-ə-lənd) I$la!2 [
ˈaɪərlənd]( aay-r,[ lənd) ;i ˈaɪə] r e roni cal l y,“i ”,pr onounced [ aay-ə) ,[ ˈaɪər ]( aay-r ) ,i ( sawor dmeani ng “anger ”or“wr at h”.However ,t he“I r e”i n“I r e-
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l and”comesf r om “Ér i u”,amyt hol ogi calI r i sh bei ng. i$'! [ ˈaɪən]( aay-ən)
,[ hi s ˈaɪərn]( aay-rn) ;t wor di smi spr onouncedbyal mos t100% ofbegi nni ng Engl i sh l ear ner swho pr onouncei tas raay-ron,butnoneoft hes epr onunci aay-rən o at i ons i s cor r ect .The same i st r ue al so f or ˈaɪənd]( aay-ənd) ,[ ˈaɪərnd]( aay“i r oned” [ rn.d) a ˈaɪənɪŋ]( aay-ə-nin) , nd“i r oni ng”[ ˈaɪərnɪŋ]( aay-ər-nin) . [
ˈaɪlənd]( aay-lənd)wa swr i t t en“i l and”bei&la!2 [
f or et he16th cent ur y.Al t houghi sl andi ndeedi s l andsur r oundedbywat er ,t hewor di snotwr i t t ensobecausei t“i sl and”,butbecauset her ei s aɪl]( anet ymol ogi cal l yunr el at edwor di&l [ pr onouncedt hes ameas“I ’ l l ”)whi ch al someans “i sl and”,andsopeopl edur i ngt he16th cent ur y t houghti twoul d bef unt oi nser t“s”i nt ot he spel l i ngof“i l and”aswel l . lɑ:& ]( laaf ) la*", [
læ& ]( læf ) ;t ,[ hel et t ercoma#) bi nat i on“augh”i susual l ypr onounced[ɔ:]( , asi n“t aught ”,“caught ”,“naught ”,butnother e.
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lɔ:nt' ]( law ’ntch) ;asi nmos tEngl i shwor ds, la*!#, [
“au”her ei spr onouncedas[ .Don’ tconɔ:]( a#) lʌnt' ]( lʌntch) f uset hewor d wi t h l*!#, [ ;you ˈrokɪt]( rokk-it) ,[ ˈrɑ:kɪt] canl auncha$'#%t [ raa-kit) a ( ndyoucanhaveal unchwi t hyour f r i ends,buthopef ul l ynotot herwi se. ltt*# [ ˈletɪs]( let-is)
ˈle/ɪs]( led-is) ; ,[ r emem bert hatl et t ucedoesn’ tgr ow onaspr uce;andi t al sodoesn’ tr hymewi t hi t .
li*t!a!t [ le&ˈtenənt]
le&-te-nənt) lu:ˈtenənt] ( ,[ loo-te-nənt) ( ;t heAmer i canpr onunci at i onposes nopr obl em her e;j us tnot i cet heBr i t i shone.
ˈlænʒəri]( læn-zhə-r ee) li!"$i [
ˌlɑ:n0d,ʒəˈreɪ] ,[ laan-0d,zhə-rei)o ˈlɑn0d,ʒəri]( laan-0d,zhə-r ee) ( r[ ;i nBr i t i shEngl i sh,pr onunci at i onoft hi swor d r emai nscl oset ot heor i gi nalFr enchone;t her e ar esever alot heropt i onsi nAmer i canEngl i sh.
l'5!" [ ˈlozɪndʒ]( lozz-indzh)
ˈlɑ:zɪndʒ]0laa,[ zindzh) ; adi amondl i kef i gur e:◊.Thel as t“e” i ssi l entandt herei sno“oh”i ni t .
ˈmeɪpl]( mei-pl) mæp) ;youcanmakeamap( (a/l [
outofi t swood,youcaneatanappl e(æ-pl)wi t h
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i t ssyrup,butdon’ tpr onouncei twi t h[æ] .By t he way,t he wor d “&y$*/” i s pr onounced ˈsɪrəp]( si-rəp) [ ,not“saay-rəp”. ˌmɑ:dʒəˈri:n] ( maa-dzhə-reen) [ , maar -dzhə-rin) ; [ i nmostdi al ect s, ˈmɑ:rdʒərɪn]( t he“g”i spr onouncedas[ per hapsi t dʒ]( dzh)( wi l lhel pyout or emembert hatmar gar i nei sal so mɑ:dʒ]( maadzh)i col l oqui al l ycal l ed“mar ge”[ n the ) .Al sonot i cet hedi f f erencei ns t r essposi t i onbet weenAmer i canandBr i t i shEngl i sh.
(a$"a$i!
ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs] ( mis-ə-lei-nee-əs) ; (i&#lla!'*& [
l ear ner smakemi scel l aneousmi s t akes ;event he wor d“mi scel l aneous”i sof t enoneoft hem. (i&#,i+ [ ˈmɪst'ɪ& ]( mis-thi& ) ;mi schi efi sabadbe-
havi ourwhi ch doesnotcause s er i ous har m. Don’ tpr onouncei twi t h“k”.Theadj ect i veder i ved f r om i ti s(i&#,i-'*& [ ˈmɪst'ɪ+əs]( misthi+-əs) ; mis-hæp) ;t hewor di smi shap, (i&,a/ [ ˈmɪshæp](
meani ngmi shappi nes s,i . e.mi sf or t uneorbad luck.
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maw -idzh) ,[ [ ˈmɔ:ɪdʒ]( ˈmɔ:rɪdʒ] ( t he“t ”i ssi l ent ,asi tshoul dbe maw ’r -idzh) ; ta i nt he name ofLor d Vol demor cc or di ng t o J . K. Rowl i ng( al t houghmos tMuggl eswhodar e sayt henamepr onouncet hef i nalt ) .
('$t"a"
!i#, [ ni:' ]( neesh)
,[ hi swor d, nɪt' ]( nitch) t or i gi nal l ymeani ngashal l ow r eces sorsi mpl ya ni cepl aceorposi t i on,i sal soof t enusedt omean apar t i cul arnarr ow f i el dofi nt er est( especi al l yi n busi ness) .I t spr onunci at i on can besomewhat unexpected.
'a&i& [ əʊˈeɪsɪs]( əu-ey-sis)
,[ oʊˈeɪsɪs]( oh-ey-sis) ;i magi neyou ar eon ades er twi t h af r i end namedAsi sandyouar eal mostdyi ngoft hi r s t . Whenyoucannotgoanyf ur t her ,yousay“oh, Asi s. . . ”af t erwhi ch yourf r i end s t art sr unni ng f or war di n abur s tofhappi nes s.To sol vet he puzzl e,f i nd outwhy.Thepl ur alof“oasi s”i s əʊˈeɪsi:z]( əu-ey-seez) UK,[ oʊˈeɪsi:z] “oases” [ US. ( oh-ey-seez)
ˈʌn)ən]( ʌn-yən) ;oneofacoupl eofwor dsi n '!i'! [ ʌ]( whi ch“o”i spr onouncedas[ asi n“come”) .
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əʊ]( əu) '4 [
oʊ]( ,[ oh) ; i fyour emembert hat t hephr ase“Ioweyou”i sof t enabbr evi at edI OU, i twi l lhel pyour emembert hatt hi swor di spr onouncedj us tast hel et t er“o”.Theabbr evi at i on haseven becomeanoun meani ng “awr i t t en pr omi s et opayadebt ”( youcangi vesomeone “anI OU”) .
aʊl]( aaul) ;i tmaybeasi l l yway,buti fyour e'4l [ ʌ,i membert hatanowll ooksl i keʌ( OO) twi l l per haps hel p you r emember t hati ti s pr onouncedwi t hsomet hi ngcl oset o“ʌoo”. ˈ&əʊtərɑ:& ]( fəu-tə-raa& ) /,'t'"$a/, [
ˈ&oʊtə,[ hewor di ss ynonymous ræ& ]( f oh-tə-ræ& ) ;t t oaphot o;i ti snott heper son whot akest he phot oasi nmanyot herl anguages.Theper soni s a /,'t'"$a/,$ [ &əˈtorə&ə]( &ə-togg-rə-&ə) , &əˈtɑ:rə&ər ]( &ə-taag-rə-&r ) ;no [ t i ce t hatt he s t r essi snow ont hesecondsyl l abl e,wher easi t wason t hef i r s ts yl l abl ei n “phot ogr aph”.To maket heconf usi oncompl et e,t hes t r es si nt he ˌ&əʊtəˈræ&ɪk]( &əu-tə-græf wor d/,'t'"$a/,i# [ ik) ,[ ˌ&oʊtəˈræ&ɪk]( & oh-tə-græf -ik) i sont he t hi r dsyl l abl e.
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pɔ:]( paw ) /'*$ [
pɔ:r ]( paw ’r )o poʊr ]( poh’r ) ,[ r[ ;al t hought hewor dl ooksl i kehavi ngaFr ench or i gi nand“ou”i nFrenchwor dsi susual l ypr ou:] ru:t]( root) nounced[ ,e. g.rout e[ ,i nt hi scase t heor i gi ni snotFr ench,andsoi snott hepr onunci at i on.Ont heot herhand,t hewor d“poor ” canbepr onouncedei t herwi t h[ʊ]( rwi t h oo)o ɔ:]( [ bot hareequal l yval i d) .I fyouuset he aw )( f ormer ,youcanr emembernott ous et he“poor ” pr onunci at i onf or“pour ”.
ˈpʊdɪŋ]( poo-din! #ith short $u% ) ;i fyou /*22i!" [
dr opabowlofpuddi ng,i tf ormsapuddl e[pʌdl] , butwheni ti ss t i l li nt hebowl ,i ti s,wel l ,wi t h “poo”. ˈpə:t'əs]( pə’ə-thəs) /*$#,a& [
ˈpərt'əs]( pər ,[ ti st r uet hatmany peopl el i t er al l y thəs) ;i “chas edi scount s”whenpur chas i nggoods,but t her ei sno“chase”i nt hepr onunci at i onof“purchase”. ˈpɪrəmɪd]( pir -ə-mid) [ ;t he“pyr ”i nt he wor d“pyr ami d”hasnot hi ngt odowi t ht hepr ef i x“pyr o”whi chcomesf r om Gr eekandi sused ˌpaɪrəʊˈmeɪniə]( paayi nt hewor d /y$'(a!ia [
/y$a(i2
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rəu-mei-nee-ə) mei-nee-ə)
ˌpaɪroʊˈmeɪniə] ( paay-r oh,[
.
;i fyouwantt opr onouncet hi s 6** [ k)u:( ( kyoo) wor dcor r ect l y,j us tt hi nkoft heQ att hebegi nni ng;“ueue”i snotpr onouncedatal l . [ ;“ci pe” i nt hi s case ˈresɪpi] ( res-ip-ee) doesn’ tr hymewi t h“r i pe”;i tconsi s t soft wosepar at esyl l abl es.
$#i/
sæ-mən) [ ;t her e’ s somet hi ng ˈsæmən] ( f i shy aboutt hi swor d.Per hapst he pr onunci ation.
&al('!
ˈsæn#ɪt' ] ( sæn-#ith) o ˈsæn#ɪdʒ] [ r[ sæn-#idzh) ( ;woul dyoul i ket oeatasandwi ch wi t hsand?I fyouwoul dn’ t ,don’ tpr onouncet he “d”.
&a!24i#,
ˈ'ed)u:l] ( shed-yool) ˈskedʒu:l] [ ,[ skedzh-ool) ;Ia ( m notsur ewhi choft het wo var i ant si smor econf usi ng.Anyway,i fyoul earn acert ai ndi al ect ,youshoul ds t i ckt ot hepr onunci at i onusedi nt hatdi al ect .
&#,2*l
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ˌskɪtsəˈ&ri:niə]( skits-ə-free-ni-ə) [ ;a Ger manhear twi l lski pabeatwhenseei ngt hi s wor d;notj us tbecaus eschi zophr eni awasor i gi nal l ydes cr i bedandr es ear chedbyGer mansci ent i s t s,but al so because i t s pr onunci at i on r esembl est oacer t ai ndegr eet heor i gi nalGer man one.I ti soneofveryf ew Engl i shwor dsc ont ai ni ngt he“t s”soundwher e“t ”and “s ”ar epr onouncedal mos tsi mul t aneousl y.
&#,i5'/,$!ia
&i!# [ sɪns]( sins) ;somepeopl e,mi sl edbyt he“e”
att heend,pr onouncet hi swor das“saayns”. ˈsʌtl( ( sʌ-tl) ,[ ˈsʌ/l( ( sʌ-dl) ;“ [ bt l e” si mpl ydoes n’ tsoundgood.Don’ tpr onouncet he “b”.
&*btl
&*it [ su:t]( soot) ,i nt he
s)u:t]( syoot) al so[ ;asi n t hecaseof“f rui t ”,t he“i ”i ssi l ent .
;meani ngasetofr ooms( i na &*it [ s#i:t]( sweet) hot el ) ,asetofmat chi ngpi ecesoff ur ni t ur e,a cer t ai nt ypeofmusi calcomposi t i on,orasetof r el at ed comput erpr ogr ams,t hi swor di spr onouncedexact l yt hes ameas“s weet ”.
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ˈsə:&ɪs]( sə’ə-&is)[ ˈsər&ɪs]( sər -&is) ;youcan &*$+a# [
wi peyourf aceusi ngt hesur f aceofyourt owel , butyoucannotr hymei twi t hi t . &4at [ s#et]( swet) ;haveyou evert as t ed sweat ?
I t ’ snotexact l ys weet .Don’ tpr onouncei tt hi s way. sɔ:d]( saw ’d) ,[ sɔ:rd]( saw’ rd) ;t [ he “w”i ss i l ent ,andt hewor di spr onouncedasi fi t wer ewr i t t en“sor d”.However ,i ti snott r uet hat i n“sw”t he“w”woul dal waysbesi l ent ;f orexs#on]( swonn) ampl e“&4a!”i spr onounced [ s#ɑ:n]( swaan) . ,[
&4'$2
ˈtɑ:ɪt]( taag-it) ta$"t [
ˈtɑ:rɪt]( taarg-it) ;i ,[ t woul dcer t ai nl ybepossi bl et o“getsomet ar ”i n or dert omar kat ar get .Al t hough“t ar get ”i set ymol ogi cal l yr el at ednei t hert o“t ar”nort o“get ”, i ti saway t or emembert hatt he“g”i sasi n “get ”,notas“j ”i n“j et ”.
t hi swor dmaycausesomeconf usi on,because ta$; i thast wocompl et el yunr el at edmeani ngs.When i tdenot esawat erdr opcomi ngoutofsomeone’ s tɪə]( ti’ə) o tɪr ] ( tir ) eye,i t ’ spr onounced[ r[ . Wheni tdenot est hepr ocessof“r i ppi ng”some-
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teə]( teə) o ter ]( ter ) t hi ng,i ti spr onounced[ r[ .
;don’ tl etyourmot hert onguemi s t'! [ tʌn]( tʌn) l eadyou;t herei sr eal l yan[ʌ] ,andsoi si n“son” and“won”.Whatmaybeevenmor econf usi ng t han t he pr onunci at i on i st he f actt hat“t on” r ef er st ot heuni tusedi nt heUSt hati sdef i ned as1t on=2, 000pounds=907kg.I tcanal sor ef er t ot het onusedi nt heUK wher e1t on=2, 240 pounds=1, 016kg,butwhi chi snol ongerof f i ci al l yus ed( si nce1985) .I fyouwantt or ef ert o r i ct on”,t t heso cal l ed “met hewor d you ar e l ooki ng f or i s pr onounced t he same buti s spel l ed“t onne”,i . e.1t onne=1000kg. ˈ+i:ən]( vee-ən) [ ;t he ci t y ofLa& 7"a& [ sconsi der edt obea ˈlɑ:s ˈ+eɪəs]( laas vei-əs)i pl aceofi ndul gence—aqual i t ydes pi s edbyvegans.Don’ tpronounce t he “veg” i nt he t wo wor dst hes ame.
-"a!
vil-idzh) ;i ti snotcal l edsobecause -illa" [ ˈ+ɪlɪdʒ](
i t si nhabi t ant sareofhi gherageonaver age;i n f act ,t her ei snoconnect i onbet weent hewor ds “vi l l age”and“age”what soever ,andt her ei sal so nonei nt hepr onunci at i on.Thesameappl i est oa
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vil-idzh-ə) -illa"$ [ ˈ+ɪlɪdʒə]( idzh-rr )
vil,[ ˈ+ɪlɪdʒər ](
.
-i!"a$ [ ˈ+ɪnɪə]( vin-i-ə)
,[ ˈ+ɪnɪər ]( vin-i-rr ) ˈsaʊə] i s used t o make f ood mor e &'*$ [ saau-ə) ,[ ˈsaʊər ]( saau-rr ) .Al ( t hought he wor di sr el at edt o -i! [ ,i ti snot +aɪn]( +aayn) pr onounced so.And when wear eati t ,don’ t conf usepr onunci at i onof“vi ne”and“wi ne”;a “vi ne”i sapl antonwhi chgr apesgr ow andi s pr onounced wi t h “v” att hebegi nni ng ( asi n “ver y”) ,and “wi ne”i st hel i qui dyoucanmake outoft hegr apesandi spr onouncedwi t h“w”at t hebegi nni ng( asi n“wow”) .
/a$ [ peə]( peə)
per ]( per ) ;t [ hef rui t ,aswel l asbear ,t heani mal ,and wear —al loft hem ar e pr onouncedwi t ht he[ ound.I not herwor ds, e]s i fyou’ vehear dast or yaboutsomeone’ sgr andpa bei ngat t ackedbyabeerwhi l eeat i nghi speer , youcanbepr et t ysur et hes t or yt el l erhadn’ tr ead t hi sbook.
4'l+ [ #ʊl& ]( woolf ) ;t hi si soneofaf ew wor dsi n
whi chasi ngl e“o”i spr onouncedas[ʊ]( as“oo” i n “good”) .Ot her exampl es i ncl ude 4'(a! ˈ#ʊmən]( woo-mən) [ ,andsi mi l arwor ds 4'(b
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#u:m]( woom) [ ,t heor gani nwhi chachi l dbef or ebi r t hi s,and t'(b [ ,apl acei n tu:m]( toom) whi ch r emai ns of dead peopl e ar es t or ed. “T'(b&t'!”i spr onounced“toom-stone”. #u:m]( woom) tu:m]( toom) , ;peopl e 4'(b [ t'(b [
t endt opr onounce“o”asi n“l ot ”.Thi nkabout “t omb”asabout“t o”+“mb”.“Mb”maysound ni cei nSwahi l i ,butnotsomuchi nEngl i sh,so t he“b”i ssi l ent .Thesameappl i est oal lot her wor dsi nwhi ch“m”and“b”bel ongt ot hes ame nʌm]( nʌm)a syl l abl e,suchas!*(b [ nd/l*(b plʌm]( plʌm) [ .The“b”i ss i l enteveni n“number ” wheni tmeans“mor enumb”andi n“pl umber ”. X$'3 [ ˈzɪəroks]( zi-ə-roks)
ˈzɪrɑ:ks]( zi-raaks) ,[ ;per hapsasagr eatdi sappoi nt mentt oal lf ans ofadubbedver si on ofXena:War r i orPr i nces s comest hef actt hat“x”att hebegi nni ngofany ks]b z] wor di snotpr onouncedas[ utas[ .
)oʊˈsemɪti:] ( yəu-sem-it-ee) Y'&(it [
)oʊ ,[ ˈsemɪ/i:]( yoh-sem-id-ee) ;Yo semi t eNat i onal Par ki swel lknownar oundt heGl obe.Al t hough t her ecer t ai nl yi satl eastonemi t esomewher ei n t hepar k,t her ei snonei nt hename.
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1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
ˈzelət]( zel-ət)i saper sonwhoi sver yen5al't [
t husi ast i cabouts omet hi ng,i . e.aper sonhavi ng agr eatamountofzeal( agr eatener gyorent husi asm)whi ch i s,sur pr i si ngl y,pr onounced [zi:l] zeel) ( . Youhavef i ni shedr eadi ngt hewhol el i s t !Ihope youenj oyedi t .Youwi l lf i ndsever alhundr edmor e wor dsand many ot hert i psi n my book ent i t l ed I mpr o v ey o urEng l i s hpr o nunc i a t i o na ndl e a r no v e r500 c o mmo nl ymi s p r o no unc e dwo r d s( whi chi savai l abl eas
apaper back,f orKi ndl e,orasaPDFf i l e) .A l otof f r eel yavai l abl ear t i cl escanbef oundonmywebsi t e: www. j a kubma r i a n. c om Youcanal sof ol l ow meon Fac e book: ht t p: / / www. f ac e book. c om/ J akubMari anOf f i c i al Googl e +:ht t p: / / g oog l e . c o m/ +J akub Mar i an Mai l i ngl i s t :ht t p: / / j akubmar i an. c om/ mai l i ng l i s t /
Sh o ul dy o uf i nda nye r r o ri nt h eb o o k ,o ri fy o uh a v ea ny q ue s t i o n,p l e a s e , s e ndmea ne ma i lt o e r r or s @j a kubma r i a n. c om
APPENDIX8 IPA TheI nt er nat i onalPhonet i cAl phabet( I PA)has becomes t andar dwhendenot i ngEngl i shpr onunci at i on,and pr operknowl edgeofi ti sessent i alf or anyl ear nerwhowant st of ur t heri mpr ovehi sor herpr onunci at i on.I ti sbasedont heLat i nal phabet ( t hes t andar dEngl i shal phabet ) ;eachl et t eroft he al phabeti sas si gnedapar t i cul ars ound,andmany ot herchar act er s( e. g. r eaddedt ot heal pha ' , ʒ, ɔ)a beti nor dert obeabl et o,t heor et i cal l y,denot eany soundt hatoccur si nanyl anguagei nt hewor l dt o qui t eahi ghdegr eeofpr eci si on. Unl i kesomeot herphonet i cal phabet s,t her ei s nowayt or ecogni zewhatexactsoundanI PA sym bolr epr es ent sj us tf r om i t ssymbol .Ont heot her hand,t hesymbol sar eusual l ychosensot hatsi mi l arsymbol sdenot es i mi l arsounds,so,f orexampl e, ɔ]s [ oundss i mi l art o“o”,whi chhel psyouassoci at e t hesymbolwi t ht hecorr ectpr onunci at i on.Weshal l t akeal ookonl yatt hesymbol susedt odenot eEngl i shpr onunci at i on. Re ma r k :WhenIwr i t e“mostl anguages ”,Imean “mos tl anguagest hatuset heLat i nal phabet ”.
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7 OWELS Wewi l lt akeal ookatt hesymbol sf orvowel s f i r s tbecauset heyusual l ycausemor epr obl ems: [x:] l'!" -'4l
Whent hesymbol“:”f ol l owsavowelsymbol ,i t meanst hatt hevoweli spr onouncedl onger . [ˈxy] &t$&&2 &yllabl
Thi ssymbol ,whi ch l ookssi mi l art o an apos t r ophe,means t hat t he f ol l owi ng syl l abl ei s s t r ess ed( i ti spr onouncedl ouder ) . [xy] &#'!2a$y &t$&&
Thi ss ymbol ,whi chl ookss i mi l art oacomma,i s basi cal l yt hesameast heabove,onl yt hes t r essi s weaker . [æ] #at9 ba29 &a29 &a!29 la!29 ,a!2
Amongal lt heEngl i shvowel s,t hegr eat es tpr obl em f ormos tl earner spos es“æ”.I ti ssomewher ei n bet weenof“a”i n“f at her ”and“e”i n“bed”.I ti s usual l y pr onounced sl i ght l yl ongerand cl osert o “e”i n“bed”i nAmer i canEngl i sh,wher easi ti sof-
VOWELS
3 4
t enshor t erandcl osert o“a”i n“f at her ”i nBr i t i sh English. [!:] b$a9 #al(9 /al(9 +at,$9 &ta$t9 2a
%$Thi svoweli st hecl oses tonet ot hesoundoft he l et t er“a”i nmanyot herl anguagesandass uchi s a]i al sodenot ed[ nsomedi ct i onari es.Ther ei sno r el i abl egener alr ul ewhi chwoul dt el lyouwhent he ɑ:]i æ] l et t er“a”i spr onouncedas[ nst eadof[ . ["] 0o1 "'29 /'t9 t'/9 &/'t 0B$iti&, E!"li&, '!ly1
Thi svoweli squi t esi mi l art ot hesoundof“o” manyot herl anguages( andweal sodenot ei tas[ o] i nt hi sbook) .Amer i cansdon’ tus et hi svoweland ɑ:]i say[ nst ead. [ʌ] b*t9 #*t9 "*!9 #'(9 &'(9 "l'-
ɑ:] Thi svowelverys i mi l art o[ ,buti t ’ sneverpr onouncedl ongi nEngl i sh. [#] 0e1 "t9 b29 &t9 &ll9 +ll9 (!
Thi svoweli st hecl oses tonet ot hesoundoft he l et t er“e”i nmos tot herl anguagesandi ssomet i mes e]i denot edby[ ndi ct i onar i es( andi nt hi sbook)f or si mpl i ci t y.
3 5
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
[$] /it9 bi!9 +ill9 4ill9 -illa"9 b*llt
ə]( I fyouf i nd[ seebel ow)i nadi ct i onaryi na wor df orwhi chyouar eal mostsur et hat[ɪ]i scorr ect( orconver sel y) ,don’ twor r y;i nmos tcasest he t wopossi bi l i t i esar ei nt er changeabl eandusagecan varyevenamongdi f f er entoccur r encesoft hesame wor dpr onouncedbyt hes ames peaker . [i]9 [i:] ,9 &,9 &9 %/9 +a(ily9 ,y/$b'l
ɪ] Thi si sj ustasof t er[ .I ti susual l yl ongwheni t i si nas t r ess edsyl l abl eandshor twheni ti snot ,but notnecessari l y. [%:] &a49 &t$a49 2a4!9 +all9 #all9 4all
A si mi l ars oundt ot heBr i t i sh[1] ,butsomewhat “darker”. [&] /*t9 +*ll9 "''29 4''29 #'*l29 4'*l2
Thesoundmostsi mi l art ot hesoundof“u”i n mos tot herl anguages . [u:] y'*9 4,'9 #,49 &,'9 #''l9 t''l
[ ul dsounds t r angei fi twer el ong,sowhen ʊ]wo t her ei sal ong “u”sound i n Engl i sh,i ti spr onouncedsomewhat“dar ker ”t han[ʊ] .
VOWELS
3 6
[ə] a9 &yllabl9 ('(!t9 t$$ibl9 +l'!y9 /a/y$*&
Mos tl ear ner sofEngl i shl ear nveryf as thow t o pr onounce“a”wheni tmeansani ndef i ni t ear t i cl e ( suchasi n“abook”) ,andt hi si sexact l yt hepr oə] nunci at i onof[ . Manydi ct i onar i es( andt hi sbook)uset henot aə t i on[ ]( i . e.“ə”i nt hesupers cri pt )or[ (ə) ]t odenot e ə]t [ hatmaybepr onouncedbutdoesn’ thavet obe. For exampl e “vi si bl e” i s pr onounced [ˈ+ɪzɪbəl] whi chmeanst hats omes peaker swoul dpr onounce ˈ+ɪzɪbəl]a ˈ+ɪzɪbl] i tas[ ndot her sas[ .Thet wopr onunci at i onsar eequal l y accept abl e,and even one speakercoul duseei t heroft hem i ndi f f er entsi t uations. [']9 [ər ] (i&t$9 &ta!2a$29 2it'$ 0A($i#a! E!"li&, '!ly1
ə]a Thi svoweli sf ormed bysayi ng[ nd att he samet i meput t i ngyourt onguet ot heposi t i onasi f you wer esayi ngt heEngl i sh“r ”( l i s t ent ot her ecor di ngs) .I ti sdenot ed [ər ]i n somedi ct i onar i es ( andi nt hi sbook) ,whi chi snotent i r el ypr eci se;i ti s mor el i keal ong“r ”.I nal lcas eswher ei ti sused ( mos tnot abl y“er ”att heend ofawor d) ,aBr i t ə] woul dsayj us t[ .
3 7
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
[(:] 0ə)19 [*:] 0ə)r 1 #*$-9 /*$"9 ,$29 &$-9 bi$2
3:]i Don’ tconf uset hesymbolwi t h [2] .[ spr oə:]i nouncedt hes ameas[ nsomedi al ect swhi l ei ti s sl i ght l y“dar ker ”i not her s,andsomedi ct i onari es don’ tusei tatal landwr i t esi mpl y[ə:]( andwedo t oi nt hi sbook) .Thedi f f er encebet ween[3:]and[ 4:] 5] i st hesameasbet ween[ə]and[ .Thef or meri s usedchi ef l yi nBr i t i shEngl i sh,t hel at t erchi ef l yi n Amer i can Engl i sh ( l i s t en t ot her ecor di ngs) .Di c3:]a ə:]wo 4:] t i onar i eswhi chdenot e[ s[ ul ddenot e[ ə:r ] ər ]o 5:] as[ ,[ r[ .
CONSONANTS c ed c ons onant sa Af ew t ec hni calt er ms:voi r e t hosei n whi ch t hevocalchor dsar eact i vewhi l e pr onounci ngt hem ( e. g.b,v,z,d,g) ,and unvoiced consonants ar et heot her s( e. g.p,s ,t ,k,s h) . [b] b*y9 bt9 bi"9 ,*b9 %!'b9 &*/$b
Thi ss oundexi s t si nmos tl anguagesandi sal so usual l ydenot edbyt hel et t er“b”.Onet hi ngt opay at t ent i ont oi st hati tdoesn’ tbecome“p”wheni ti s att heendofawor d( unl es si tf ol l owsanunvoi ced consonant).
CONSONANTS
3 8
[d] 2'9 2al9 2*&t9 '229 /$'29 #'2
Al soacommonsound,denot edby“d”i nmos t l anguages,i ncl udi ngEngl i sh.Agai n,i tdoesn’ tbecome“t ”wheni ti satt heendofawor d( unl es si t f ol l owsanunvoi cedconsonant ) . [+] t,at9 t,'*",9 t,$9 +at,$9 b$at,
A common sour ce ofprobl ems f or Engl i sh l ear ner s.I ti spr onouncedasi fyouwant edt osay “d”butonl ysl i ght l yt ouchedt hebackofyourt eet h byyourt onguei ns t ead.I npar t i cul ar ,i ti snotpr od]o dz] nouncedas[ r[ . [d,] :t9 :'%9 "ia!t9 /*$"9 ,*"9 ba!:'
d]a ʒ]( A soundappr oxi mat el yl i ke[ nd[ seebel ow)pr onouncedatt hes amet i me. [f ] +a&t9 +at9 /,il'&'/,y9 '++9 &t*++9 #'*",
Agai n,asoundt hatusual l ycausesl i t t l et r oubl e, si ncei ti spr esenti nmos tl anguages. [g] "'9 "t9 "$a&&9 bi"9 2'"9 +i"
Thesoundsi mi l art o“k”butvoi ced,i . e.wi t han al mostuni nt er r upt eds t r eam ofsoundcomi ngout ofyourvocalchor ds.
3 9
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
[h] ,i",9 ,'49 ,'t9 &'(,'49 a,a2
Nat i ves peaker sofFrenchandRussi anbewar e! Thi ssoundmayr equi r esomepr act i ce.Tryt omake aneut r alsound j us tby l et t i ng ai rf l ow t hr ough yourvocalchor ds,and t hent r yt o“s queeze’t he s t r eam ofai ratt heverybot t om ofyourt hr oat . [ ] y'*9 yt9 ya4!9 /*$9 #*$9 +4
Thesymbolcanbes l i ght l yconf usi ng,especi al l y f orspeaker sofFrenchand Spani sh.I nt heI PA i t r epr esent swhati susual l ywr i t t enas“y”i nEngl i sh att hebegi nni ngofasyl l abl e.Not i ce:i nwor dsl i ke buy[ ndhey[ ,t hesoundatt heendi si n baɪ]a heɪ] )] ɪ]a f actnot[ ,butt hevowel[ sapar tofadi phthong. h
[k ]9 [k] %/9 #at9 #,a$a#t$9 &'#%9 bl'#
k]i When[ satt hebegi nni ngofas t r essed syl l abl e,i ti sal waysaspi r at ed( t herei sal waysashor t “h”af t eri twhi chi ss omet i mesdenot edbyasuperscr i pt“h”) .I nmanydi al ect s,especi al l yi nBr i t i sh Engl i sh,t hi saspi r at i oncanbehear dal mos tf oral l k]( occur r encesof[ i tdoesn’ tmat t erbywhatl et t eri t i sr epr esent ed ( suchas“k”,“c”,“ch”) ,onl yt hat k]i t her ei s[ npr onunci at i on) .I fyousay[k]i npl ace kh]i wher e[ sexpect ed,i tcanl eadt oami sunder-
CONSONANTS
4 0
s t andi ng;f orexampl ei fyoupr onounce“cal l ”j us t [ ns t eadof[ ,somepeopl ewi l lt hi nkt hat kɔ:l]i khɔ:l] ɔ:l] yousai d“gal l ”[ .I ti s,however ,neveraspi r at ed skin] skaɪ] skeɪt] af t er“s”,e. g.i nski n[ ,sky[ ,s kat e[ . Never t hel ess,f orsi mpl i ci t y,vi r t ual l yal ldi ct i onk]a ar i eswr i t ej ust[ ndsupposet hatt her eaderi mpl i ci t l yunders t andst hati ti si nf act[kh] . [l]9 [.] l'49 lt9 li%9 '4l9 #''l9 4ll
6]i Thesound[ scal l ed“t hedar kl ”.Somedi ct i onar i esuse[ odenot epr onunci at i onoft hel et l]t t er“l ”t hatpr ec edesa voweland [6]ot her wi se. However ,t her earesomedi al ect si nwhi chan“l ”i s al waysdar kwhi l ei not her si ti sneverdar k,i r r espect i veofi t sposi t i on.Thedi f f erencei smi nor ,and i ti spoi nt l esst owor r yabouti tmuch. [m] (a!9 (y9 ('$9 &'(9 2''(9 &(
Thi ssoundi spr es enti nal mostever yl anguage i nt hewor l dandshoul dn’ tposeanypr obl em. [n] !'9 !49 !'&9 ba!9 &''!9 %!
Agai n,nopr obl em her e.
4 1
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
[/] t,i!"9 l'!"9 &a!"9 &i!"$9 l'!"i!"
Thi ss oundi spr oducedasi fyouwant edt osay “n”butwi t ht hebackofyourt ongue( t hepar twi t h ] whi chyousay[ ) . h
[p ]9 [p] /it9 /al9 /'%9 t'/9 ,i/9 #a/
Thever ysamesamer ul es( i nt er msofas pi r at i on)t hathol df or“k”hol dal sof or“p”.I ti sal ways aspi r at edwheni ti satt hebegi nni ngofas t r ess ed syl l abl eand i n many di al ect sal so al mos teverywher eel se,exceptaf t er“s”,e. g.spi t[spɪt] ,speak spi:k] [ . [r ]9 [ 0] $29 $i#,9 $a%9 b'a$9 #a$9 t'*$
Thecor r ectI PA symbolf ort het ypi calEngl i sh 7] “r ”i s[ ,unl essyoumeant her ol l edScot t i sh[r ] . However ,t hevastmaj or i t yofEngl i shdi ct i onar i es r ]( denot et hesoundby[ andt hi sbookf ol l owst hi s convention). [s] &it9 &'a/9 &a(9 b'&&9 %i&&9 ,'*&
Mos tpeopl ehavenopr obl em wi t ht hesound ( butdon’ tconf usei twi t h[8] ) .
CONSONANTS
4 2
[ 1 ] &,y9 &,'t9 #,+9 /'&,9 b*&,9 2'*#,
s]b Thi ssoundi scr eat edbysayi ng[ utbendi ng yourt onguef ur t hert ot heupperpal at e. h
[t ]9 [t] t4'9 tall9 ta9 ,'t9 bat9 /*t
Theverysamer ul esaboutaspi r at i ont hathol d f or“k”and“p”hol dal sof or“t ”,i . e.i ti sal waysaspi r at edwheni ti satt hebegi nni ngofas t r ess edsyl l abl e( t wo,t al l ,t ea)and i nmanydi al ect sal soal mos teverywher eel se,exceptaf t er“s”( e. g.s t ep, s t i l l ) . [2] t,i!%9 t,i",9 t,&i&9 b't,9 (at,9 +$'t,
8]i t]a 9]i d] [ st o[ s[ st o[ .I ti spr onouncedl i ke “t ”,buti ns t eadofput t i ngyourt ongueonyourupperpal at e,usei tt ogent l yt ouchyouruppert eet h. [3 ] ltt$9 btt$9 4$itt! 0A(. E!. '!ly1
th] Wher eaBr i twoul ds ay[ ,anAmer i canof t en sayss omet hi ngt hatsoundsl i keaf astt ouchof[d] . I ti scal l ed“al veol arf l ap”andi susual l yr epr esent edbyadoubl e“t ”.However ,manydi ct i onar i esi gnor et hedi s t i nct i onanddenot ei tal soby[t] .
4 3
1 0 0COMMONLYMISPRONOUNCE DWORDS
[t1 ] #,at9 C,i!a9 #,''&9 $i#,9 #at#,9 (*#,
' ] Thi ssounds oundsappr oxi mat el yl i ke[t]and[ pr onouncedt oget her . [v] -a!9 -$y9 -il9 &t'-9 la-9 &a-
Thi ss oundi st he“v”soundofmostl anguages ( al sor epr es ent edby“w”i nsome,e. g.Ger manand Pol i sh) . [w] 49 4'49 4a39 24ll9 &4i!9 t4ai!
Thi s sound mus tbe di s t i ngui shed f r om [+] ; “war y”and“var y”don’ tsoundt hes ame. [z] 5''9 3!'!9 5''(9 i&9 ,a&9 b''5
Thi ssound usual l y caus esf ew pr onunci at i on pr obl ems. [,] "!$9 -$&i'!9 (a&*$9 (a&&a"
Thi ssoundi sasof t erversi onof[z] .I t sr el at i on t o[ z]i st hesameast hatof[ o[ s] . ʃ ]t No wy o uha v ef i ni s he dr e a d i nge v e nt hea p pe ndi x!I f y o uwo ul dl i k et ol e a r nmo r ea b o utt heI PAa ndEng l i s h p r o nunc i a t i o ni ng e ne r a l ,s e emyb o o k“I mp r o v ey o ur Eng l i s hp r o nunc i a t i o na ndl e a r no v e r5 00c o mmo nl y mi s p r o no u nc e dwo r d s ” .
ALPHABETICAL INDEX a b i l i t y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8d e b r i s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3i s l e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9 a c c o mp a n y. . . . . . . . . .1 2d e b t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3l a u g h. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9 a l b e i t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8d e s e r t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4l a u n c h. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 a l i e n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8d e s pi c a b l e. . . . . . . . . . .1 3l e t t u c e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 a l l y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8d e s s e r t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3l i e u t e n a n t. . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 a n g e l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8d o v e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4l i n g e r i e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 a n g e l i c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Ed i n b u r g h. . . . . . . . . . .1 4l o z e n g e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 Ar k a n s a s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9e l i t e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4l u n c h. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 b a l l e t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9e p i t o me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4ma p l e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 0 b e i g e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9e x e r c i s e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5ma r g a r i n e. . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 b o mb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9f i n a l e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5mi s c e l l a n e o u s. . . . .2 1 b u l l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0f r o n t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5mi s c h i e f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 b u l l e t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0f r u i t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5mi s c h i e v o u s. . . . . . . .2 1 b u r y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0f u c h s i a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6mi s h a p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 c a f f e i n e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0g a r a g e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6mo r t g a g e. . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 c a l m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0g a u g e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6n i c h e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 c h a n g e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0g e n r e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6n u mb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 0 c h a o s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1Gr e e n wi c h. . . . . . . . . .1 6o a s i s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 c h i c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1g r i n d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 6o n i o n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 c l i mb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1h e i g h t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7o we. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 3 c o l o n e l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1h e i r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7o wl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 3 c o l o u r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1h o t e l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7p e a r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 9 c o l u mn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1h o u r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p h o t o g r a p h. . . . . . . . .2 3 c o mb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2h o u s e s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p h o t o g r a p h e r. . . . .2 3 c o mf o r t a b l e. . . . . . . .1 2h y p e r b o l e. . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p h o t o g r a p h i c. . . . . .2 3 c o mp a n y. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2i n f a mo u s. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p l u mb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 0 c o u r s e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2i r e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p o u r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 4 c o u r t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2I r e l a n d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8p u d d i n g. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 4 c r i s i s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3i r o n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9p u r c h a s e. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 4 c u p b o a r d. . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3i s l a n d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9p y r a mi d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 4
