| Difficult Word |
Correct Pronunciation |
Incorrect Pronunciation |
Example |
| 1. aluminum |
four syllables |
In many languages, and in British English, this word has five syllables and is spelled aluminium |
I will wrap my leftover food in aluminum foil. |
| 2. caffeine |
two syllables /kæf-in/ |
three syllables /kæf-ɛ-in/ |
I had too much caffeine and couldn’t fall asleep. |
| 3. chaos |
/keɪ - ɑs/ |
“house” |
The apartment was in complete chaos after the burglary. |
| 4. choir |
sounds like: “k+wire” |
“core” |
The children’s choir sang at the church. |
| 5. cooperate |
four syllables oo= two separate sounds that sound like “kou – ap” |
three syllables |
Children, please cooperate with your teacher. |
| 6. cucumber |
first u sounds like you |
first u sounds like /u/ |
I made a tomato and cucumber salad. |
| 7. entrepreneur |
fourth syllable stress first e sounds like /ɘ/ |
first e sounds like /ɛ/ |
That business was bought by a foreign entrepreneur. |
| 8. Europe |
first syllable stress, o is reduced /ɘ/ sound |
second syllable stress |
Many languages are spoken in Europe. |
| 9. foreigner |
first syllable stress eign sounds like en ig are silent letters |
second syllable stress |
I don’t want to speak English like a foreigner. |
| 10. hierarchy |
first syllable stress heir sounds like “hire” |
second syllable stress |
Honesty is the first of my heirarchy of values. |
| 11. hygiene |
two syllables: sounds like “hi + jean” |
three syllables |
In the medical environment hygiene is very important. |
| 12. jewelry |
l and r together “jewel+ ree” |
vowel separating l and r “joo – le – ry” |
I bought a gold necklace at the jewelry store. |
| 13. length |
pronounce g |
silent g |
What is the length of that swimming pool? |
| 14. museum |
say: m + you + zee + /ɘm/ stress second syllable |
“moo” +”zei“ + “oom” |
Let’s see the new art exhibit at the museum. |
| 15. of |
f sounds like v, o is reduced /ɘ/ sound |
“off” |
What is it made of? |
| 16. parentheses |
second syllable stress |
third syllable stress |
Please write the information in parentheses. |
| 17. pizza |
sounds like “peet+sa” |
“pee+za” |
We were hungry so we ordered a large pizza. |
| 18. protein |
two syllables “pro + teen” |
three syllables “pro-te-een” |
Meat and eggs contain a lot of protein. |
| 19. recipe |
three syllables; final e sounds like “ee” |
two syllables silent e |
Can you give me the recipe for this delicious cheesecake? |
| 20. schedule |
sch sounds like “sk”, du sounds like “ju” |
sch = “sh” |
I don’t like my new work schedule. |
| 21. schizophrenia |
sch sounds like “sk” |
sch = “sh” |
The psychiatrist was working with patients who have schizophrenia. |
| 22. science |
two syllables sci + /y/tence |
one syllable “signs” |
I got a good grade in my science class. |
| 23. strength |
pronounce “g” |
silent “g” |
I don’t have enough strength to carry that. |
| 24. thermometer |
second syllable stress |
third syllable stress |
I will check my fever with a thermometer. |
