10 English Words with Surprising Pronunciation
7 Video Views·Apr 22, 2018
Pronunciation and Shadowing Courses: http://www.espressoenglish.net/american-english-pronunciation-course
English spelling and pronunciation can be complicated – and these 10 words are especially confusing! Even native English speakers sometimes make mistakes with them.
In today's lesson, you can practice repeating 10 words with surprising pronunciation.
Improving your pronunciation can also increase your confidence, because you'll be able to speak with the certainty that people can understand you... and avoid embarrassing mistakes!
You can get more pronunciation training inside my Pronunciation and Shadowing Courses.
They include a lot of listen-and-repeat exercises, as well as an evaluation of your pronunciation at the end.
Click here for more information: http://www.espressoenglish.net/american-english-pronunciation-course
10 English Words with Surprising Pronunciation
from EspressoEnglish.net
English spelling and pronunciation can be complicated,
and these 10 words are especially confusing.
Even native English speakers sometimes make mistakes with them.
Listen to these words and practice repeating them.
And you can get more training inside my pronunciation and shadowing courses.
Click on the link in the video for more information.
Number one, caveat.
This word refers to a warning or caution.
It actually has three syllables, and the stress is on the first one.
We pronounce CA with the same sound as in cat.
V we pronounce with the E sound in sea.
C. And OT we pronounce with the same sound as in hot.
Caveat.
Some people might also pronounce this caveat.
Both forms are correct.
Caveat and caveat.
Number two, choir.
This means a group of singers, and this small word actually has two syllables.
The CHO sounds exactly like the KWAI in quiet.
And IR sounds like in the words bird or were.
Choir.
Number three, epitome.
If something is the epitome of a category or type,
it means it is the best example of that category or type.
And this word has four syllables, with the stress on the second one.
Epi-to-me.
Epitome.
Number four, mishap.
A mishap is an unfortunate accident.
Although this word has SH, we don't pronounce it like SH.
We pronounce the S and the H in separate syllables.
Miss sounds exactly like the word miss.
And hap sounds like in happy.
Mishap.
Number five, canoe.
A canoe is a type of boat.
The CA sounds like kuh, as in the word career.
And NOE sounds like new or two.
The stress is on the second syllable.
Canoe.
Number six, facade.
The facade is the front of a building.
The FA sounds like fuh.
And CADE sounds like sod.
That A is like the A in wash.
It's an AH sound.
The stress is on the second syllable.
The stress is on the second syllable.
Facade.
Number seven, bouquet.
A bouquet is a nicely arranged group of flowers.
Boo rhymes with two.
And QUET sounds like the K in okay.
The stress is on the second syllable.
Bouquet.
Number eight, mortgage.
A mortgage is a loan from the bank specifically to buy a house.
The first syllable, MORT, sounds exactly like more.
The T is silent.
And the second syllable, GAGE, has an A sound that sounds more like the I in bridge.
Gidge.
Mortgage.
Number nine, salmon.
Salmon is a type of fish.
The first syllable, S-A-L, sounds like the SA in sample.
The L is silent.
And the second syllable, M-O-N, sounds like the MIN in vitamin.
The stress is on the first syllable.
Salmon.
Number nine, fish.
The stress is on the second syllable.
Salmon.
Number ten, endeavor.
Endeavor can be a noun or a verb, referring to a project or effort.
The first syllable, EN, might sound like N, or sometimes when speaking fast, it sounds more like IN.
The second syllable, D-E-A, sounds like DEH, as in the word dead.
D-O-R sounds like VR, as in the word never.
The stress is on the second syllable.
So altogether, it sounds like endeavor.
To get more pronunciation training, click on the link in the video or in the description
for more information about my pronunciation and shadowing courses.
The lessons include exercises for you to listen and repeat to improve your pronunciation.
And at the end, you get an evaluation.
I hope to see you inside one of these courses.