Life has been programmed in a way that ensures that even the wisest man learns every day. Hence education is continuous for the open minded.
There are many simple every day English words which many educated people pronounce wrongly. We can safely say that even highly educated people like professors and public leaders are usually found wanting in the pronunciation of more than 50% of the words.
Check them out and see for yourself if you knew their pronunciation.
1. Mores
This word is not pronounced [morz] or [mors]. It's correct pronunciation is [morayz]. Doubting? Google it.
2. Plait
This popular word is not pronounced [playt]. It's correct pronunciation is [plat], like saying 'flat'.
3. Sword
Many enlightened people still pronounce this word with the [w] e.g. [sword]. But it's correct pronunciation is [sord].
4. Cognac
This high quality brandy is French in origin hence it's strange pronunciation [konyak]. You'll be wrong to pronounce it according to its spelling e.g. [kognak].
5. Poignant
This is another word similar to the previous word. It's pronunciation is [poinyant] not [poignant].
6. Suite
This word is different in pronunciation from 'suit'. The correct pronunciation is [sweet] (yes, like saying 'sweet'), not [soot] or [syoot].
7. Assume
The correct pronunciation of this word often shocks many. It's [asyoom] not [azyoom].
8. Stipend
This word is not pronounced [stipend] but [staipend]. Again, feel free to Google it.
9. Flour
This word is pronounced the same as the word 'flower'. There's no need joining the multitude to say [floor]. It's wrong.
10. Sachet
This common word is pronounced [sashay] not [sachet].
11. Above
This is another word which suffers mispronunciation from many users. It's wrong to pronounce it [abov]. The correct pronunciation is [abav].
12. Wednesday
Another word whose correct pronunciation startles many educated people is Wednesday. It's correct pronunciation is [wenzday]. Please take note. You can Google it too, if you like.
13. Steward
Please don't crucify me when I tell you that the correct pronunciation is [styuod], not [stiword].
14. Verbatim
This very popular word on many public speakers lips has had its pronunciation serially abused. It's not [vebatim] but [vebaytm].
15. Hiccough
Please pronounce this word as [hikop], not as [hikof]. An alternate spelling for it is 'hiccup'.
16. Vision
This word is pronounced [vijn], not [vishon].
17. Pressure
Another word that embarrasses educated people is pressure. It's pronounced [preshur] not [prejo]/[prejur].
18. Fork
This word needs no twisting to get it right. It's plain [fork] not [ferk]. Please take note before our students fail Oral English because of our twisted pronunciations.
19. Plumber
This word is pronounced without the 'b' i.e. [ploma].
20. Ewe
The correct pronunciation of this word is [yu], like 'you.'
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