WORDS MISPRONOUNCED

English does not have a perfectly regular system of spelling. Many words are wrongly pronounced because the spelling suggests a certain pronunciation which is not correct. The following are common examples:

1. ARCHITECT
Do not pronounce the "ch" like the "ch" in "church" . It is pronounced like "k", as if the word were written "ARKITECT".

2. AVAILABLE
The "ai" here is pronounced like the "a" of "state", not like the "a" of "black". The word should not be pronounced as if it were written "AVALLABLE".

3. CIRCUIT
The "uit" here is pronounced as if it were "it". Pronounce the word as if it were "CIRKIT", not as if it were "circute" or "cirquit".

4. CLIMB
Pronounce as if it were "clime"; the "b" is silent. Likewise, "lamb" is pronounced as if it were "lam", "comb" as if it were "coam, "bomb" as if it were "bom", and "plumber" as if it were "plummer".

5. DEBT
The "b" is silent. pronounce the word as if it were written "dett".

6. ELITE
This word comes from French and still keeps a French type of pronunciation. It should sound like "ay-leet" ("ay" as in "day"), not like "ee-light".

7. FEDERAL
The first "e" is /e/, pronounced like "e" in "bed". Pronounced in the same way is the first "e" in "Senate" ; also the "ea" in "weapon". Do not let the words sound like "fee-deral", "See-nate", "wee-pon".

8. GEAR
"G" at the beginning of a word is either "soft"- pronounced like "j", or "hard" - pronounced like "g" in "get". Before "e" or "i" it is usually soft , but there are a few words where it is hard , notably "get" , "give" , "girl", and "gear". Do not let "gear" sound like "jeer".

9. HOUR
The "h" is silent; "hour' is pronounced in exactly the same way as "our" . Other words with a silent "h" include : "honour", "honest", "honourable", and "heir". Likewise the letter "h" is pronounced "aitch", not "Haitch".

10. LABEL
The "a" is pronounced like the "a" of "state", not like the "a" of "back" , as if the word were written "labbel". Likewise "vacant" should be pronounced as if it were written "vay-cant".

11. LEGAL
The first three letters are not pronounced like the word "leg". Say the word as if it started with "lee".

12. LETTUCE
The "U" here is like the "i" of is; that is ,/i/. Say the word as if it were " lettis".

13. LISTEN
Pronounce as if it were "lissen". The "t" is silent . The "t" is silent also in "fasten", "castle", "bustle".

14. SAYS
Do not model the pronunciation on that of "say". "Says" is pronounced as if it were "sezz".

15. SHEPHERD
"Ph" is normally pronounced like "f" in English, but this word is pronounced as if it were "shepperd", not as as if it were "shefferd";the "h" is in fact silent.

16. VEHICLE

The "h" in the middle is silent. Pronounce the word as if it were "vee-icle".

17. WEDNESDAY

Do not say "WED-nes-day". The first "d" is silent, and the word is pronounced as if it were "Wensday".

COPYRIGHT BY:

MA.LOURDES EUFROCINA M. PALCUTO Ph.D.
ESL TEACHER
ZHUZHUO TEACHERS COLLEGE
ZHUZHUO CITY HUNAN PROVINCE
P.R. CHINA

Asst. Prof IV
EULOGIO "AMAMG " RODRIGUEZ
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (EARIST)- CAVITE CAMPUS
GMA, CAVITE PHILIPPINES 4117
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