Discover 18 common English words many people mispronounce. Learn correct pronunciations, meanings, and simple explanations to speak confidently.
18 English Words You Might Be Mispronouncing (Even If You’re Confident 😉)
Man giving side-eye.
English has a special talent for humbling even fluent speakers. You can read novels, write emails flawlessly, and still trip over everyday words when you say them out loud.
Why does this happen?
English spelling is famously chaotic. We accept odd pairs like has and was, do and go, and the logic-defying family of –ough words (though, tough, through, bough). A word like lachrymose explains why spelling bees exist (mostly in the U.S.), and Wednesday makes millions of learners pause and ask: why is it spelled like that?
This confusion comes from English being a mongrel language—a blend of Old English (Anglo-Saxon), Latin, Old Norse, and Anglo-French—combined with over a thousand years of sound change. Spelling often froze in time, while pronunciation kept evolving.
The result?
Words whose spelling gives very poor clues about how they’re actually pronounced.
Below are 18 common words that are frequently mispronounced—and why.
1. Ragout
Correct pronunciation: ra-GOO
A ragout is a rich, well-seasoned stew. Despite looking like rag + out, it’s French in origin, from ragoût, meaning “to revive the taste.”
👉 The final –t is silent.
2. Colonel
Correct pronunciation: KER-nul
One of English’s most notorious mismatches.
The spelling reflects Italian colonnello (from “column”), but the pronunciation kept the older French coronel sound—with an R instead of L.
3. Primer
Two pronunciations, two meanings:
- PRIMM-er → a beginner’s book or guide
- PRY-mer → a base coat of paint
Same spelling. Different words. Different sounds.
4. Victuals
Correct pronunciation: VIT-ulz
Yes, it looks terrifying.
No, you don’t say the C or the UA.
It comes from Latin victualis (“nourishment”).
The playful spoken form “vittles” still exists.
5. Solder
Correct pronunciation: SAH-der
The L is silent, like in salmon or calf.
The letter was added later to reflect the Latin root solidare (“to make solid”).
6. Viscount
Correct pronunciation: VYE-kownt
Not VISS-kownt.
A viscount is literally a vice-count, ranking below an earl and above a baron.
7. Awry
Correct pronunciation: uh-RYE
Meaning off course or askew.
From Old English, related to turning or twisting.
8. Preternatural
Correct pronunciation: pree-ter-NATCH-uh-rul
Despite words like present or pressure, this one starts with a long E sound.
It means beyond what is normal or natural.
9. Boatswain & Coxswain
Correct pronunciations:
- Boatswain: BOH-sun
- Coxswain: KAHK-sun
Both contain swain (old word for servant or boy).
Bosun is an accepted spelling that matches pronunciation.
10. Cupboard & Clapboard
Correct pronunciations:
- Cupboard: KUB-erd
- Clapboard: KLAB-erd
In cupboard, the P and B merge when spoken—say “cup board” fast and you’ll hear why.
11. Etcetera
Correct pronunciation: et-SET-uh-ruh
Many people say ex-setera or ek-setera.
That pronunciation exists—but it’s labeled nonstandard.
12. Antennae
Correct pronunciation: an-TEN-ee
The AE = EE, like in algae or Caesar.
Use antennae for insects; antennas for TV or radio equipment.
13. Epitome
Correct pronunciation: ih-PIT-uh-mee
Not EP-uh-tohm.
Though it contains tome, it comes from Greek epitomē (“to cut short”).
14. Mischievous
Standard pronunciation: MISS-chuh-vuss (3 syllables)
The popular miss-CHEE-vee-us version is widespread but still considered nonstandard.
15. Hyperbole
Correct pronunciation: hye-PER-buh-lee
It does not rhyme with Super Bowl.
Think high-PER-buh-lee.
16. Segue
Correct pronunciation: SEG-way
If it followed English spelling rules, it wouldn’t be fun.
Frequently misspelled as segway, thanks to the scooter brand.
17. Remuneration
Correct pronunciation: rih-myoo-nuh-RAY-shun
It’s about pay, not numbers, despite looking like numeral.
18. Gyro (Bonus Menu Trap)
Correct pronunciation: YEE-roh (Greek style)
or JAI-roh (common American variant)
Knowing both helps—especially at restaurants.
Final Thought
Mispronouncing words isn’t a sign of poor English—it’s often proof that you learned the word by reading first, not hearing it. That’s a good thing.
English spelling reflects history, not logic. Once you know the stories behind these words, their “strange” pronunciations start to make sense—and you sound instantly more confident when you use them.
