Think you’ve mastered English pronunciation? Think again! Many English learners confidently pronounce certain words—only to realize that native speakers don’t understand them.

Why? Because English spelling doesn’t always match pronunciation, making some words incredibly difficult to say correctly.

But don’t worry—this guide will help you fix the most commonly mispronounced English words with simple explanations and tips.

Many learners pronounce colonel as “cor-nell”, but the correct pronunciation is “kernel” (/ˈkɝː.nəl/).

📌 Why is it tricky?
🔹 The “l” is completely silent.
🔹 The word is pronounced nothing like it’s spelled.

💡 Fix: Ignore the spelling and focus on the phonetics—say “ker-nul” slowly until it feels natural.

Common mistake: “ang-zi-e-tee” ❌
Correct pronunciation: “ang-zi-uh-tee” ✅ (/æŋˈzaɪ.ə.ti/)

📌 What makes it hard?
🔹 The “x” is pronounced like a “z”.
🔹 The final “y” sounds like “ee”.

💡 Fix: Say it slowly first: ang-zi-uh-tee.

Many learners add an extra syllable and say “mis-chee-vee-us”, but the correct pronunciation is “mis-chiv-us” ✅ (/ˈmɪs.tʃə.vəs/).

📌 Why is it difficult?
🔹 There are only three syllables, not four!
🔹 The middle “e” is pronounced like short “i”.

💡 Fix: Break it down: mis-chiv-us (not mis-chee-vee-us).

Mistake: “Wor-chester” ❌
Correct pronunciation: “Wuss-ter” ✅ (/ˈwʊs.tər/).

📌 Why is this word a nightmare?
🔹 The “shire” part is silent—even though most “-shire” words are pronounced differently.
🔹 The spelling is completely misleading.

💡 Fix: Forget the extra letters—just say “WUSS-ter”.

Minimal pairs are words that only differ by one sound but have different meanings.

✅ Examples:
🔹 Pin vs. Pen
🔹 Ship vs. Sheep
🔹 Bit vs. Beat

💡 How to use them:
✔ Say them aloud repeatedly.
✔ Listen to native speakers saying them.
✔ Record yourself and compare.

Even native speakers mispronounce some words, so don’t feel bad! Here’s how to fix tricky words and sound more natural.

Dictionaries like Cambridge and Oxford provide IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcriptions.

📌 Example:
🔹 “Thought” = /θɔːt/
🔹 “Judge” = /dʒʌdʒ/

💡 Fix: Check IPA symbols to match sounds, not spelling.

Watching and listening to native speakers helps you hear and copy correct pronunciation.

📌 Best resources:
🎧 Podcasts – Try The British Council Learn English Podcast.
📺 YouTube – Watch native English teachers and vloggers.

💡 Fix: Repeat words exactly as natives say them.

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Dividing complex words into smaller parts makes pronunciation easier.

📌 Example:
🔹 Mischievous → Mis-chiv-us
🔹 February → Feb-roo-air-ee

💡 Fix: Say each syllable slowly, then blend them together.

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✅ English pronunciation is tricky—but you CAN master it.
✅ Many words aren’t pronounced as they’re spelled—so focus on sounds, not letters.
✅ Use phonetics, listen to native speakers, and practice daily.

By following these simple techniques, you’ll improve your pronunciation, sound more natural, and avoid common mistakes! 🚀

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