There are no tables here. Don't make these common English learner pronunciation mistakes! Yes these are difficult English words to pronounce, but with my tips, I'll get you there!
Today I'm joined by the man, the myth, the legend: Stew from @britishpronunciationdotcom
Many English learners find that some common words are surprisingly difficult to say correctly. In this post, we’ll cover the 12 most challenging words for non-native speakers, providing tips and tricks to help you nail your pronunciation.
1. Clothes
A common mistake is pronouncing this as "clo-thes" or "closes" because the TH sound is difficult for some people to pronounce. The easy way: Just say "close"
2. Vegetable. is not a difficult english word to pronounce
It looks like four syllables, "veh-jee-tay-bul", but it's pronounced with just three: "vej-tuh-bull".
3. Sixth
This word combines an "x" and "th" sound, making it tricky. Practice blending them together smoothly: "siksth". Or pronounce it the easy way: Say "sik-th"
4. Comfortable
No tables here! In natural speech, this word sounds like "comf-tuh-bull". Dropping the middle syllables makes it flow better.
5. Jewellery
Despite its spelling, Brits say "jool-ree", while in American English it’s often "jew-luh-ree".
6. Fruit
Simple but tricky! Avoid pronouncing the "i"—it’s just "froot".
7. Literature
In conversational English, this word is often shortened to "lit-chra-chuh". Use the schwa!
8. Culture
Watch out for the silent "l" sound. It’s pronounced "cul-chuh". There's that Schwa again!
9. Suit
Many learners say this like "sweet," but it should be pronounced as "soot"—rhyming with "boot."
10. Squirrel
This word is especially tough for non-native speakers. In American English it'll sound more like: "skwirl". But British English you need to practice the "S-gui" sound.
11. Sausage
Focus on the vowel sounds. It's "soh-sij," not "saw-sayge."
12. Months
The tricky part is the "ths" at the end. The easy way is to pronounce it like this: "munts."
Pronunciation Tips:
Listen and Repeat: The more you hear native speakers pronounce these words, the easier it will be for you to mimic them.
Break Words Down: Focus on syllables and individual sounds to practice complex words.
Record Yourself: Listening to your own pronunciation can help you spot mistakes. By mastering these 12 tricky words, you'll improve your fluency and sound more natural when speaking English!
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