Say It Right!
Commonly mispronounced English words
How to use this sheet: read the word, then say it using the Sounds like column. CAPITAL letters show the stressed syllable. The IPA (British English) is there for reference. Tap to hear a word.
1 · Silent letters Some letters are written but never spoken.
| Word | Sounds like | IPA | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | WENZ-day | /ˈwenzdeɪ/ | Don't say the first d. |
| island | EYE-lund | /ˈaɪlənd/ | The s is silent. |
| salmon | SAM-un | /ˈsæmən/ | The l is silent. |
| receipt | ri-SEET | /rɪˈsiːt/ | The p is silent. |
| subtle | SUT-ul | /ˈsʌtl/ | The b is silent. |
| castle | KAH-sul | /ˈkɑːsl/ | The t is silent. |
2 · Swallowed syllables Natural speech drops a syllable in these words.
| Word | Sounds like | IPA | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| comfortable | KUMF-tuh-bul | /ˈkʌmftəbl/ | 3 syllables, not com-FOR-table. |
| vegetable | VEJ-tuh-bul | /ˈvedʒtəbl/ | 3 syllables, not ve-ge-TA-ble. |
| chocolate | CHOK-lut | /ˈtʃɒklət/ | 2 syllables. |
| different | DIF-runt | /ˈdɪfrənt/ | 2 syllables. |
| interesting | IN-truh-sting | /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/ | Stress the first syllable. |
| February | FEB-roo-uh-ree | /ˈfebruəri/ | Say the first r. |
3 · Spelling traps The spelling gives almost no clue to the sound.
| Word | Sounds like | IPA | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| colonel | KUR-nul | /ˈkɜːnl/ | Sounds exactly like kernel. |
| choir | KWIRE | /ˈkwaɪə/ | Starts with a kw sound. |
| queue | KYOO | /kjuː/ | Four silent letters! |
| recipe | RES-uh-pee | /ˈresəpi/ | 3 syllables, ends in -pee. |
| epitome | ih-PIT-uh-mee | /ɪˈpɪtəmi/ | 4 syllables, not EP-i-tome. |
| height | HITE | /haɪt/ | Ends in t, not th. |
4 · Stress & sneaky extra sounds Watch where the strong syllable falls.
| Word | Sounds like | IPA | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| pronunciation | pruh-nun-see-AY-shun | /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/ | No noun in it! |
| photographer | fuh-TOG-ruh-fuh | /fəˈtɒɡrəfə/ | Stress moves: PHO-to-graph → pho-TO-grapher. |
| determine | di-TUR-min | /dɪˈtɜːmɪn/ | Ends in -min, not -mine. |
| mischievous | MIS-chi-vus | /ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/ | 3 syllables, no -vious. |
| especially | ih-SPESH-uh-lee | /ɪˈspeʃəli/ | No x sound: not ex-pecially. |
| espresso | es-PRESS-oh | /eˈspresəʊ/ | Not ex-presso. |
Practice time!
A · Read aloud — slowly, then fast
- On Wednesday, the colonel ate salmon on an island.
- This vegetable soup recipe is especially comfortable food in February.
- The choir waited in a queue for chocolate and espresso.
- The mischievous photographer kept the receipt from the castle.
- Your pronunciation is the epitome of subtle progress!
B · Tick the correct pronunciation
salmon
colonel
comfortable
queue
epitome
especially
C · Spot it!
Cross out the silent letter in each word:
island · receipt · subtle · castle · salmon · Wednesday
Then underline the stressed syllable:
photographer · determine · interesting · pronunciation
Show answers
island, receipt, subtle, castle, salmon, Wednesday · pho-TOG-rapher, de-TER-mine, IN-teresting, pro-nun-ci-A-tionTeacher's tips
- Record yourself reading Exercise A, then compare with the 🔈 audio or a dictionary.
- Clap the syllables: comf-ta-ble = 3 claps, not 4.
- Spelling ≠ sound in English. When in doubt, check the dictionary before you say it.