30 words you're probably pronouncing wrong
Now you'll know!
Acai
Acai
When you're hitting up the local smoothie shop, don't ask for ACK-ah-ee, ah-KAI or ah-SIGH . The emphasis goes on the third (and last) syllable.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Applicable
Applicable
This adjective starts like the apps on your phone, not a-PLICK-able.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Arctic
Arctic
Don't forget about that first C. Some people skip the "arc" in favor of ART-ick, and the same goes for Antarctic.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Cache
Cache
No, this isn't a sneaky French word. The tendency to say cash-AY stems from the similar-looking cachet (meaning prestige), while cache refers to a storage or hiding place.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Either
Either
You could use either AYE-thur or EEE-thur, but the latter is 's preferred pronunciation.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Espresso
Espresso
If your barista hasn't corrected you already, your afternoon pick-me-up is called an , not an EX-press-o.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
February
February
The month doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it shouldn't sound like January. The impulse to drop the first R is called dissimilation, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Forte
Forte
Music buffs might pronounce this one as for-TAY, and if you're talking about a composer's note, that would be correct. However, if reading sheet music is your strong point, that's also called a forte — no second syllable required.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Foyer
Foyer
The tendency to add a fancy French sound strikes again. But welcoming guests into your foy-AY doesn't make the best first impression.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gala
Gala
Here's where an AY sound comes in handy. If you're attending a fancy ball, it isn't a GAL-uh.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
GIF
GIF
Merriam-Webster pronounces this with a hard G, because the word's actually an acronym for graphics interchange format. However, its inventor Steve Wilhite is adamant about pronouncing GIF like the .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gyro
Gyro
Your shouldn't sound like "gyroscope." Order a YEE-roh or ZHIHR-oh instead when you've got a craving for yogurt sauce.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Hyperbole
Hyperbole
No exaggeration, this four-syllable word has nothing to do with bowls thanks to its Greek roots. Fun fact: Hyperbole's antonym is litotes, meaning an extreme understatement and pronounced LYE-tuh-teez.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Liable
Liable
Don't get these legal terms mixed up. Liability (being obligated) is different from libel (a defamatory statement).
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Library
Library
Just like February, the two R sounds in library make proper pronunciation especially hard. Lots of people (even college professors and presidents!) are as skipping one or the other.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mauve
Mauve
Whether you like this or not, it isn't supposed to rhyme with stove.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Meme
Meme
Years before and , a British scientist invented the word meme as "a unit of cultural transmission" in 1976. While you read it more than you speak it, a viral hit is pronounced like phoneme, not mee-mee, may-may or even mem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mischievous
Mischievous
This popular mistake pops up as a typo too. Don't add an extra I at the end, as in mis-CHEEV-i-ous.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Niche
Niche
Although "neesh" is increasingly accepted, "nitch" is the older and more popular way to refer to a specialized place or role.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Nuclear
Nuclear
The White House may have the nuclear codes, but at least four presidents (Bush, Clinton, Carter and Eisenhower) have messed up this adjective. Their mistake? Switching the adjacent sounds, a linguistic phenomenon called metathesis, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Prelude
Prelude
While you may be in church when listening to a prelude, the first syllable doesn't sound like "pray." This noun and verb stems from the Latin word praeludere, meaning to play beforehand.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Pronunciation
Pronunciation
Coincidentally, pronunciation isn't always pronounced right, probably because the verb form contains the syllable "noun" while the noun (counterintuitively) does not.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regardless
Regardless
Ever since the 1920s, people have combined the words irrespective and regardless into the very nonstandard "irregardless." Almost a century later, it's still a big no-no.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regime
Regime
No matter its political leanings, a regime doesn't sound like RUH-geem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Sherbet
Sherbert
Let's settle the sherbet-sherbert debate for good. Originally from the Turkish and Persian words , there's never been and never will be a second "r" in the last syllable. And in case you're wondering, the is called sor-BAY, not SOR-bet.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Status
Status
If you've been mispronouncing this as STAH-tus your whole life, you're not alone. But it's never too late to get it right!
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Suite
Suite
Your hotel room is probably pretty sweet, regardless of whether you're wearing a suit. (And don't even think about saying sue-TAY.)
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Transient
Transient
Meaning fleeting or temporary, transient can refer to a mood, visit or job, to name a few uses. Just don't mistakenly say tran-ZEE-ent.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Triathlon
Triathlon
Triathletes are an impressive bunch, but their long-distance races aren't called tri-ATH-a-lons. Otherwise there would be a second A in the mix.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Valet
Valet
Think back to "" when you pull up to the valet. The word sounds more British than the Frenchified val-AY.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Acai
Acai
When you're hitting up the local smoothie shop, don't ask for ACK-ah-ee, ah-KAI or ah-SIGH . The emphasis goes on the third (and last) syllable.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Applicable
Applicable
This adjective starts like the apps on your phone, not a-PLICK-able.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Arctic
Arctic
Don't forget about that first C. Some people skip the "arc" in favor of ART-ick, and the same goes for Antarctic.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Cache
Cache
No, this isn't a sneaky French word. The tendency to say cash-AY stems from the similar-looking cachet (meaning prestige), while cache refers to a storage or hiding place.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Either
Either
You could use either AYE-thur or EEE-thur, but the latter is 's preferred pronunciation.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Espresso
Espresso
If your barista hasn't corrected you already, your afternoon pick-me-up is called an , not an EX-press-o.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
February
February
The month doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it shouldn't sound like January. The impulse to drop the first R is called dissimilation, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Forte
Forte
Music buffs might pronounce this one as for-TAY, and if you're talking about a composer's note, that would be correct. However, if reading sheet music is your strong point, that's also called a forte — no second syllable required.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Foyer
Foyer
The tendency to add a fancy French sound strikes again. But welcoming guests into your foy-AY doesn't make the best first impression.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gala
Gala
Here's where an AY sound comes in handy. If you're attending a fancy ball, it isn't a GAL-uh.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
GIF
GIF
Merriam-Webster pronounces this with a hard G, because the word's actually an acronym for graphics interchange format. However, its inventor Steve Wilhite is adamant about pronouncing GIF like the .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gyro
Gyro
Your shouldn't sound like "gyroscope." Order a YEE-roh or ZHIHR-oh instead when you've got a craving for yogurt sauce.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Hyperbole
Hyperbole
No exaggeration, this four-syllable word has nothing to do with bowls thanks to its Greek roots. Fun fact: Hyperbole's antonym is litotes, meaning an extreme understatement and pronounced LYE-tuh-teez.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Liable
Liable
Don't get these legal terms mixed up. Liability (being obligated) is different from libel (a defamatory statement).
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Library
Library
Just like February, the two R sounds in library make proper pronunciation especially hard. Lots of people (even college professors and presidents!) are as skipping one or the other.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mauve
Mauve
Whether you like this or not, it isn't supposed to rhyme with stove.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Meme
Meme
Years before and , a British scientist invented the word meme as "a unit of cultural transmission" in 1976. While you read it more than you speak it, a viral hit is pronounced like phoneme, not mee-mee, may-may or even mem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mischievous
Mischievous
This popular mistake pops up as a typo too. Don't add an extra I at the end, as in mis-CHEEV-i-ous.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Niche
Niche
Although "neesh" is increasingly accepted, "nitch" is the older and more popular way to refer to a specialized place or role.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Nuclear
Nuclear
The White House may have the nuclear codes, but at least four presidents (Bush, Clinton, Carter and Eisenhower) have messed up this adjective. Their mistake? Switching the adjacent sounds, a linguistic phenomenon called metathesis, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Prelude
Prelude
While you may be in church when listening to a prelude, the first syllable doesn't sound like "pray." This noun and verb stems from the Latin word praeludere, meaning to play beforehand.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Pronunciation
Pronunciation
Coincidentally, pronunciation isn't always pronounced right, probably because the verb form contains the syllable "noun" while the noun (counterintuitively) does not.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regardless
Regardless
Ever since the 1920s, people have combined the words irrespective and regardless into the very nonstandard "irregardless." Almost a century later, it's still a big no-no.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regime
Regime
No matter its political leanings, a regime doesn't sound like RUH-geem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Sherbet
Sherbert
Let's settle the sherbet-sherbert debate for good. Originally from the Turkish and Persian words , there's never been and never will be a second "r" in the last syllable. And in case you're wondering, the is called sor-BAY, not SOR-bet.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Status
Status
If you've been mispronouncing this as STAH-tus your whole life, you're not alone. But it's never too late to get it right!
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Suite
Suite
Your hotel room is probably pretty sweet, regardless of whether you're wearing a suit. (And don't even think about saying sue-TAY.)
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Transient
Transient
Meaning fleeting or temporary, transient can refer to a mood, visit or job, to name a few uses. Just don't mistakenly say tran-ZEE-ent.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Triathlon
Triathlon
Triathletes are an impressive bunch, but their long-distance races aren't called tri-ATH-a-lons. Otherwise there would be a second A in the mix.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Valet
Valet
Think back to "" when you pull up to the valet. The word sounds more British than the Frenchified val-AY.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Acai
Acai
When you're hitting up the local smoothie shop, don't ask for ACK-ah-ee, ah-KAI or ah-SIGH . The emphasis goes on the third (and last) syllable.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Applicable
Applicable
This adjective starts like the apps on your phone, not a-PLICK-able.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Arctic
Arctic
Don't forget about that first C. Some people skip the "arc" in favor of ART-ick, and the same goes for Antarctic.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Cache
Cache
No, this isn't a sneaky French word. The tendency to say cash-AY stems from the similar-looking cachet (meaning prestige), while cache refers to a storage or hiding place.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Either
Either
You could use either AYE-thur or EEE-thur, but the latter is 's preferred pronunciation.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Espresso
Espresso
If your barista hasn't corrected you already, your afternoon pick-me-up is called an , not an EX-press-o.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
February
February
The month doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it shouldn't sound like January. The impulse to drop the first R is called dissimilation, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Forte
Forte
Music buffs might pronounce this one as for-TAY, and if you're talking about a composer's note, that would be correct. However, if reading sheet music is your strong point, that's also called a forte — no second syllable required.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Foyer
Foyer
The tendency to add a fancy French sound strikes again. But welcoming guests into your foy-AY doesn't make the best first impression.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gala
Gala
Here's where an AY sound comes in handy. If you're attending a fancy ball, it isn't a GAL-uh.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
GIF
GIF
Merriam-Webster pronounces this with a hard G, because the word's actually an acronym for graphics interchange format. However, its inventor Steve Wilhite is adamant about pronouncing GIF like the .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Gyro
Gyro
Your shouldn't sound like "gyroscope." Order a YEE-roh or ZHIHR-oh instead when you've got a craving for yogurt sauce.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Hyperbole
Hyperbole
No exaggeration, this four-syllable word has nothing to do with bowls thanks to its Greek roots. Fun fact: Hyperbole's antonym is litotes, meaning an extreme understatement and pronounced LYE-tuh-teez.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Liable
Liable
Don't get these legal terms mixed up. Liability (being obligated) is different from libel (a defamatory statement).
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Library
Library
Just like February, the two R sounds in library make proper pronunciation especially hard. Lots of people (even college professors and presidents!) are as skipping one or the other.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mauve
Mauve
Whether you like this or not, it isn't supposed to rhyme with stove.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Meme
Meme
Years before and , a British scientist invented the word meme as "a unit of cultural transmission" in 1976. While you read it more than you speak it, a viral hit is pronounced like phoneme, not mee-mee, may-may or even mem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Mischievous
Mischievous
This popular mistake pops up as a typo too. Don't add an extra I at the end, as in mis-CHEEV-i-ous.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Niche
Niche
Although "neesh" is increasingly accepted, "nitch" is the older and more popular way to refer to a specialized place or role.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Nuclear
Nuclear
The White House may have the nuclear codes, but at least four presidents (Bush, Clinton, Carter and Eisenhower) have messed up this adjective. Their mistake? Switching the adjacent sounds, a linguistic phenomenon called metathesis, according to .
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Prelude
Prelude
While you may be in church when listening to a prelude, the first syllable doesn't sound like "pray." This noun and verb stems from the Latin word praeludere, meaning to play beforehand.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Pronunciation
Pronunciation
Coincidentally, pronunciation isn't always pronounced right, probably because the verb form contains the syllable "noun" while the noun (counterintuitively) does not.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regardless
Regardless
Ever since the 1920s, people have combined the words irrespective and regardless into the very nonstandard "irregardless." Almost a century later, it's still a big no-no.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Regime
Regime
No matter its political leanings, a regime doesn't sound like RUH-geem.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Sherbet
Sherbert
Let's settle the sherbet-sherbert debate for good. Originally from the Turkish and Persian words , there's never been and never will be a second "r" in the last syllable. And in case you're wondering, the is called sor-BAY, not SOR-bet.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Status
Status
If you've been mispronouncing this as STAH-tus your whole life, you're not alone. But it's never too late to get it right!
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Suite
Suite
Your hotel room is probably pretty sweet, regardless of whether you're wearing a suit. (And don't even think about saying sue-TAY.)
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Transient
Transient
Meaning fleeting or temporary, transient can refer to a mood, visit or job, to name a few uses. Just don't mistakenly say tran-ZEE-ent.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Triathlon
Triathlon
Triathletes are an impressive bunch, but their long-distance races aren't called tri-ATH-a-lons. Otherwise there would be a second A in the mix.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Valet
Valet
Think back to "" when you pull up to the valet. The word sounds more British than the Frenchified val-AY.
PHOTO: Betsy Farrell
Now you'll know!
No one likes getting corrected. Avoid embarrassing mistakes by articulating it right the first time. These are some of the worst (and most popular) offenders, so no shame if you've been saying wrong this entire time.