Proper pronunciation is the icing on the cake when it comes to attaining mastery in the English language. No matter how much vocabulary one knows, the correct pronunciation is the last piece of the puzzle to being an effective, successful, and impressive communicator. Mispronunciation can damage not only communication but also one’s credibility. So, how does one improve the pronunciation? Listening attentively to how words are pronounced and understanding elements such as word stress and intonation are some crucial elements to correct pronunciation.
Check out the pronunciations of these commonly-mispronounced words and ensure you do not make these mistakes because... Pronunciation Matters!
(To listen to the pronunciation, simply play the audio for each word)
| 1. Pronunciation Meaning: The way in which a word is pronounced. |
| 2. Asthma Meaning: Meaning: A respiratory condition marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing |
| 3. Exaggerate Meaning: Represent (something) as being larger, better, or worse than it really is. |
| 4. Definitely Meaning: Without a doubt (used for emphasis) |
| 5. Pizza Meaning: A dish of Italian origin, consisting of a flat round base of dough baked with a topping of tomatoes and cheese, typically with added meat, fish, or vegetables.) |
| 6. Wednesday Meaning: The day of the week before Thursday and the following Tuesday. |
| 7. Stomach Meaning: The internal organ in which the major part of the digestion of food occurs, being (in humans and many mammals) a pear-shaped enlargement of the alimentary canal linking the oesophagus to the small intestine. |
| 8. Zoology Meaning: The scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals. |
| 9. Bury Meaning: To conceal by or as if by covering with earth. Like a dog burying a bone buried treasure. |
| 10. Jewellery Meaning: Personal ornaments, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets, that are typically made from or contain jewels and precious metal. |
| 11. Mischievous Meaning: Causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way. |
| 12. Material Meaning: The matter from which a thing is or can be made. Information or ideas for use in creating a book or other work. |
| 13. Bomb Meaning: a container filled with explosive or incendiary material, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a timing, proximity, or remote-control device. |
| 14. Breakfast Meaning: A meal eaten in the morning, the first of the day. |
| 15. Capacity Meaning: The maximum amount that something can contain. |
| 16. Comedian Meaning: An entertainer on stage or television whose act is designed to make an audience laugh. |
| 17. Cucumber Meaning: A long, green-skinned fruit with watery flesh, usually eaten raw in salads or pickled. |
| 18. Draught Meaning: Draught is the British spelling of the word draft. A cold burst of wind, a swig or a serving of a drink, the act of pulling a heavy load, and the depth of a ship below the surface of the water: each of these can be called a draught. |
| 19. Faux Pas Meaning: An embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. |
| 20. Horizon Meaning: The line where the earth seems to meet the sky. |
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