Pronunciation

/DOH/

This word rhymes with "go," and the gh is silent.

/THOH-ing/

When adding endings, keep the base sound of "though" and do not pronounce the gh.

/THAWT-ful/

Keep the first syllable like "thought" and avoid saying the gh.

/THAWT-less/

The tricky part is the first syllable, which stays like "thought."

/SOW/

It can sound like "sow," so the spelling gives little clue to the pronunciation.

/MAW-roh/

The first syllable is stressed, and the spelling can tempt learners to overpronounce the second part.

/THROO-lee/

This rare form keeps the "through" sound at the start and drops the gh.

/OH-ver-THROHN/

Keep the base sound of "through" in the last syllable and stress it strongly.

/awl-tuh-GEH-thur/

The stress is on the third syllable, which many learners place too early.

/DOH-nut/

The first syllable is just "dough," so the gh stays silent.

/TUF-en/

The gh is silent, and the ending is a light extra syllable.

/AWT/

This common word sounds like "awt," with the gh silent.

/DAW-tee/

The spelling is old-fashioned, but the vowel is like "aw."

/HOK/

In some place names and rare words, this can sound like "hok," so check the local pronunciation.

/FOW/

This rare spelling can be confusing because the -ough pattern does not stay consistent.

/THROO-goh-ing/

Keep the first part like "through" and pronounce the middle syllable clearly.

/i-NUF-ness/

Keep the stress on the middle syllable and keep the final syllable short.

/HIK-up/

Even though it looks like "hiccough," it is pronounced like "hiccup."

/SLUF-ee/

Keep the same "sluf" sound and add a light "ee" ending.

/PLOW-man/

Say "plow" first, then a quick "man" without adding extra syllables.

/BUR-ohz/

The plural ends with a voiced "z" sound, not a full extra syllable.

/FUR-loh/

The first syllable carries the stress, and the ending sounds like "loh."

/KLOU/

The spelling is unusual, but the sound is a simple "kow"-style diphthong.

/KAWT/

The "au" spelling makes the same broad vowel sound as in "brought."

/SHAWT/

If you see this rare form, the ending still follows the broad "aw" pattern.

/MEE-awt/

In unfamiliar -ough spellings, check the dictionary because pronunciation can vary widely.

/LOCK/

In many place names, the ending is pronounced like "lock," not "low."

/THROOZ/

The plural is rare, but it keeps the same "through" pronunciation with a voiced ending.

/BUR-oh-wide/

Break the word into two parts and keep the first syllable short and stressed.

/HEER-uh-bowt/

This word is uncommon, but the final -ough is pronounced like 'owt,' not 'off'.

/THAWTS/

The plural adds only a final -s sound; the main challenge is keeping the 'aw' vowel.

/BRAWT-uhn/

This is a dialectal or informal form, and it follows the same 'brought' pronunciation in the first syllable.

/SOR-oh-ful/

The middle syllable is light, and the word is easy to over-pronounce if you try to read every letter.

/THOHZ/

Use the same long "oh" sound as in "though," but add a voiced plural ending.

/THUR-oh/

The first syllable sounds like "thur," and the ending is a soft "oh"—don’t say each vowel separately.

/DROWT/

The -ough here sounds like "ow," as in "cow," and the final -t is fully pronounced.

/RUF/

The -ough sounds like "uh" with a hard final consonant, not like "row" or "through."

/KOF/

The -ough sounds like "off," and many learners mistakenly give it a long "o" sound.

/BOW/

Here -ough sounds like the word "bow" (as in bending), with no extra ending sound.

/SLUF/

One common pronunciation is "sluf," where -ough sounds like "uh" and the final sound is light.

/ih-NUF/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and -ough sounds like "uf," not "ow."

/ih-NUFS/

Keep the same stress and vowel as "enough," then add a clear final "s" sound.

/RUF-uhn/

The first syllable keeps the "uf" sound from rough, and the second syllable is reduced to "uhn."

/SLUF-ing/

The first part keeps the "sluf" sound, and the ending is just the normal -ing sound.

/KOF-ing/

Pronounce the first syllable like "koff," then add a plain -ing ending without changing the vowel.

/DROWTS/

Use the "ow" sound from drought and keep the final plural -s clearly attached.

/THUR-oh-bred/

The stress stays on the first syllable, and the middle part is a reduced "oh" sound, not "throo."

/THUR-oh-fair/

Say the middle syllable lightly and end with "fair," avoiding an overly long pronunciation.

/THUR-uh-lee/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the middle vowel is reduced, so don’t say "thorough-lee."

/throo-OWT/

Keep the first part as "throo" and make the second part sound like "out," with the stress on the second syllable.

/THROO-put/

The first syllable is the same long "oo" sound as through, followed by a short, clear "put."

/THROO-way/

Use the long "oo" sound in the first syllable and a normal "way" ending.

/OUT-POR-ing/

The tricky part is not -ough here but the full, clear stress on the first syllable and a smooth ending.

/BRAWT/

The vowel sounds like "aw," so don’t pronounce it like "browt" or "broot."

/FAWT/

The -ough sounds like "aw," and the word should rhyme with "sought."

/SAWT/

This one also uses the "aw" sound for -ough, not a long "o" sound.

/NAWT/

Say it like "nawt," with the same -ough sound as thought and caught.

/RAWT/

The initial w is silent, so the word begins like "rawt" rather than "wrawt."

/DROW-tee/

Keep drought as "drowt" and add a clean "ee" ending without changing the vowel.

/SLUFT/

The past tense keeps the "uf" sound from slough, and the ending becomes a simple -t sound.

/TROF/

Here -ough sounds like "off," and the word is one syllable with a hard T at the start.

/THROO-line/

Use the long "oo" sound in through and then add a clear "line" ending.

/BOWZ/

The -ough still sounds like "ow," and the plural ending is voiced as "z."

/KOF-er/

Keep the first syllable as "koff" and reduce the second syllable to a quick "er."

/RUF-lee/

The first syllable stays "ruf," and the final -ly is light, not "roo-fly."

/TUF-nis/

Pronounce the root as "tuf" and reduce the ending to a quick "nis."

/THUR-oh-GOH-ing/

The stress shifts to the third syllable, while the first two remain reduced and quick.

/THUR-uh-nis/

The word keeps the soft first syllable of thorough, then adds a reduced ending."

/RUF-ij/

The -ough sounds like "uf," and the final syllable is a quick "ij" sound.

/RUF-hows/

Say the first part like "ruf" and the second like "hows," not "roo-house."

/PLOW-shair/

In British usage, the first part sounds like "plow," followed by a clear "shair."

/SLUFS/

If you mean the noun or plural form, keep the "uf" sound and add a crisp final -s.

/THROO-bred/

Keep the first syllable as "throo" and say the second syllable like the common word "bred."

/awl-THOH/

The first syllable sounds like "awl," the stress is on the second syllable, and the ending is the long "oh" sound.

/THINK-THOH/

The important point is that the second part sounds like "though," with a long "oh" sound.

/RUF-ish/

Use the short "uf" sound from rough, then add a simple "ish" ending.

/BAWT/

The vowel is the same "aw" sound as in thought, and the final -t should be clear.

/RAWT-uhn/

The silent w stays silent, and the second syllable reduces to a quick, neutral vowel.

/BUR-oh/

Stress the first syllable and drop the silent gh; the ending sounds like "oh," not "-uff" or "-ough."

/per-NISH-əs/

Stress the second syllable and keep the ending soft; don’t pronounce the c like in "see."

/kwik-SOT-ik/

Keep the middle syllable short and stress SOT; don’t overpronounce the x.

/fas-TID-ee-əs/

The main stress is TID, and the final part sounds like "ee-əs," not "ee-us."

/suh-GAY-shəs/

Stress GAY and let the first syllable stay light; the ending is a soft "shəs."

/es-uh-TER-ik/

Put the stress on TER and avoid saying the first vowel too strongly.

/in-KOH-it/

Stress KOH and remember the ch is usually silent here, so it does not sound like "chin."

/ih-BULL-yənt/

The stress is on BULL, and the -ient ending is a quick "yənt" sound.

/FRAK-shəs/

Only two syllables here; stress FRAK and do not add an extra vowel before the ending.

/loo-GOO-bree-əs/

Stress GOO, and keep the first syllable long like "loo," not "lug."

/soo-PER-floo-əs/

The stress is on PER, and the -ous ending becomes a quick "əs."

/VER-dənt/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second vowel reduced, not fully pronounced.

/vuh-RAY-shəs/

Stress RAY and make the ending sound like "shəs," not "see-us."

/SANG-gwin/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the second vowel is a short "i" sound.

/GRIZ-lee/

Be careful not to say "grizzly" like the bear; this word has one fewer syllable.

/FASS-əl/

Stress the first syllable and reduce the ending to a weak schwa, not "file."

/ob-SEE-kwee-əs/

Stress SEE and avoid swallowing the middle kwee sound.

/TRUCK-yuh-lənt/

Stress TRUCK and keep the middle syllable light; don’t turn it into three stressed parts.

/DIF-ə-dənt/

Stress the first syllable and keep both following vowels weak and quick.

/muh-LIF-loo-əs/

The stress is on LIF, and the middle syllable should be short, not "flyoo."

/in-SOO-see-ənt/

Stress SOO and keep the last syllable soft; do not say the c like "k."

/vit-ree-OL-ik/

Put the stress on OL and keep the first two syllables light and quick.

/sar-TOR-ee-əl/

Stress TOR and let the final syllable shrink to a weak schwa sound.

/uh-SER-bik/

Stress SER and avoid saying the first vowel clearly; it should be reduced.

/GAR-uh-ləs/

Stress GAR and keep the last syllable short; don’t make the middle vowel too strong.

/klan-DES-tin/

Stress DES, and be careful not to add an extra vowel at the end.

/TASS-ih-turn/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the middle lightly, not as a full "see."

/suh-LOO-bree-əs/

Stress LOO and keep the ending soft, with no strong "oh-us" sound.

/REK-ən-dyte/

Stress the first syllable and end with a tight "dyte" sound, not "deet."

/ar-KAYN/

Only two syllables, with the stress on KAYN; don’t pronounce it like "arc-ain."

/NON-shuh-lənt/

Stress the first syllable and make the ch sound like "sh," not "ch."

/pə-LOO-sid/

Stress LOO and keep the first syllable reduced to a quick, weak vowel.

/KWER-uh-ləs/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second vowel short and relaxed.

/vy-KAIR-ee-əs/

Stress KAIR and make the first syllable sound like "vy," not "vee."

/pug-NAY-shəs/

Stress NAY and keep the ending soft; don’t say the c as a hard k.

/FACH-oo-əs/

Stress the first syllable and avoid making the middle sound like "too."

/kak-AH-fuh-nəs/

Stress AH and keep the first syllable short; don’t overemphasize the final ous.

/in-EF-ə-bəl/

Stress EF and reduce the last two syllables; the final e is not pronounced.

/sof-uh-MOR-ik/

Stress MOR and don’t let the first syllable sound like "soff-oh."

/druh-KOH-nee-ən/

Stress KOH and keep the first syllable short; don’t pronounce an extra strong a.

/ih-FUL-jənt/

Stress FUL and make the final g soft because it blends into the j sound.

/fuh-SEE-shəs/

Stress SEE and remember the ti makes a "sh" sound here.

/in-SID-ee-əs/

Stress SID and keep the ending light; don’t say "in-sid-ee-us" with full vowels.

/in-VET-ə-rət/

Stress VET and keep the first and last vowels weak, not fully voiced.

/tuh-NAY-shəs/

Stress NAY and pronounce the ending as "shəs," not "see-us."

/sik-uh-FAN-tik/

Stress FAN and keep the first syllable short; don’t say the y like "sigh."

/AD-ih-kwut/

The first syllable is stressed, and the last vowel is weak, so don’t add an extra clear “-ate” sound at the end.

/mar-KEE/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final double e is pronounced like a long “ee” sound.

/LUSH-us/

The first syllable is stressed, and the “cious” ending sounds like “shus,” not “see-us.”

/uh-BREE-vee-ay-tid/

Stress the second syllable, and don’t swallow the middle "v" sound or turn it into "ab-rev-ee-ated."

/am-BIG-yoo-us/

The stress is on "BIG," and the ending is "-yoo-us," not "-gus."

/ANGK-shus/

The tricky part is the cluster at the start and the final sh sound, not a clear x sound.

/BUR-dun-sum/

Keep the first syllable strong and reduce the middle vowel; people often over-enunciate it.

/KUM-ber-sum/

The first syllable carries the stress, and the middle sounds are softer than the spelling suggests.

/dih-LISH-us/

The stress lands on the second syllable, and the ch sound is pronounced like sh.

/FAB-yuh-lus/

The middle syllable is quick and reduced, so it should not sound like three fully equal beats.

/GOR-jus/

The j sound replaces the soft g sound many learners expect, and the second syllable is reduced.

/HAZ-er-dus/

The middle vowel is weak, and the word is usually spoken with three clear syllables.

/HAY-nus/

The silent or softened vowel sequence can be misleading, but the word is usually just two syllables.

/IG-nuh-runt/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the second vowel is reduced rather than fully pronounced.

/JAG-id/

The final ed is not a separate strong syllable here; it usually sounds like a quick id.

/joo-DISH-ul/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the ending sounds like shul.

/luh-BOR-ee-us/

The stress shifts to the second syllable, which surprises many speakers who expect emphasis at the start.

/lug-ZHUR-ee-us/

The zh sound is the main challenge, and the stress sits on the second syllable.

/MON-struhs/

The middle is compressed, so it is usually shorter than the spelling makes it look.

/OB-vee-us/

The first syllable is stressed, and the second syllable keeps a clear v sound.

/pih-KYOO-lee-er/

The y sound in the middle is important, and the stress moves to the second syllable.

/ram-BUNGK-shus/

The cluster in the middle can be hard, and the stress is on the second syllable.

/rem-uh-NIS-unt/

The stress falls on the third syllable, and the first vowel is usually reduced.

/SKROO-pyuh-lus/

The middle syllable is quick and soft, not a heavy full vowel.

/SEER-ee-us/

Many learners try to compress it too much, but it is typically three syllables.

/try-UM-funt/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final syllable is reduced.

/TUR-byuh-lunt/

The middle syllable is soft, and the word often gets mispronounced by stressing the wrong beat.

/un-EE-zee/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final sound is a z sound, not an s sound.

/un-FOR-chuh-nut/

The word is longer than it sounds in normal speech, with a reduced third syllable.

/VER-suh-tyl/

The final syllable is often reduced, and the stress stays on the first syllable.

/WIM-zi-kul/

The middle consonants get softened, so it should sound lighter than the spelling looks.

/HOHL-sum/

The silent w at the start is the main trap, and the second syllable is reduced.

/RECH-id/

The final ed is pronounced quickly, and the first consonant cluster is easy to overstate.

/YOOTH-ful/

The th sound should be clear, but the second syllable stays light and unstressed.

/ZAY-nee/

The tricky part is keeping the first syllable long enough and not swallowing the final vowel.

/ar-KY-vul/

The stress often surprises people because it shifts away from the first syllable.

/gruh-GAIR-ee-us/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the middle vowel sound is easy to blur.

/ih-DIL-ik/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the double l does not lengthen the word much.

/muh-LOH-dee-us/

The stress shifts to the second syllable, and the ending should be kept light.

/bi-ZAR/

Stress the second syllable and keep the ending short, not “bih-ZAR-uh.”

/BLAY-tent/

The middle vowel is a long A sound, and the second syllable is soft, not “blat-ANT.”

/BRUSK/

It is one tight syllable, with a final K sound; don’t add a vowel at the end.

/KAN-did/

Both syllables are clear, with stress on the first, not “can-DEED.”

/KORS/

The vowel sounds like “or,” and the ending is a final S sound, not “co-arse.”

/DAYN-tee/

The first syllable rhymes with “rain,” and the second is a quick “tee.”

/EER-ee/

Keep the first syllable long and stressed, and avoid turning it into two separate strong vowels.

/FIK-uhl/

The second syllable is a reduced schwa sound, not a full “kel.”

/HAW-tee/

The first syllable rhymes with “caught,” and the ending is just “tee.”

/JOO-see/

Start with a long “oo” sound, not a short “juh,” and end with a soft “see.”

/KEEN/

This word is simpler than it looks: one syllable, with a long EE vowel.

/LOOR-id/

The first vowel is like “oor,” and the second syllable is reduced.

/oh-BEES/

Stress the second syllable, and end with a long S sound, not a hard “-se.”

/pri-STEEN/

The second syllable is stressed, and it ends with a long EE sound, not “priss-tyne.”

/KWUR-kee/

The “qu” sounds like KW, and the first syllable is not spelled the way it sounds.

/RUS-tik/

Keep the first syllable short and stressed; it should not become “roo-STEEK.”

/SLEE-zee/

The first syllable is long and stressed, while the ending sounds like “zee.”

/TAWT/

This is a single syllable with a broad AW vowel, and no extra ending sound.

/VIV-id/

Both syllables are short, with the first one stressed, not “vye-VEED.”

/WIST-fuhl/

The second syllable is a reduced “fuhl” sound, not a full “full.”

/ZEL-us/

The first syllable is stressed and sounds like “zel,” while the second reduces to “us.”

/ak-wih-ZIH-shun/

Stress the third syllable; many people wrongly say AK-wi-si-ON, but the ending sounds like "-shun."

/am-er-tih-ZAY-shun/

The stress is on "ZAY," and the middle vowel is reduced, so don't pronounce every letter clearly.

/AR-bih-trahzh/

Put the stress on the first syllable and soften the ending to a French-like "zh" sound, not a hard "j."

/AW-di-tuh-bul/

Keep the stress at the start and pronounce the middle as a quick "tuh," not "tay."

/BANK-rupt-see/

The first syllable is stressed; avoid saying "bank-ROOP-see" or overemphasizing the middle consonants.

/ben-uh-FISH-ee-air-ee/

Stress the third syllable and keep the "ci" sound as "sh," not "see."

/BROH-ker-ij/

The first syllable is stressed, and the ending sounds like "-ij," not "-age" with a hard g.

/kap-ih-tul-ih-ZAY-shun/

Stress the "ZAY" syllable and keep the rest light; don't make the word sound too slow or heavy.

/kuh-MOD-ih-teez/

Stress the middle syllable and keep the final plural ending as "-teez," not "-ties."

/kom-pen-SAY-shun/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the ending should sound like "-shun."

/kun-GLOM-er-it/

Stress the second syllable; a common mistake is putting stress on the first or last syllable.

/dih-pree-shee-AY-shun/

The stress falls on "AY," and the "ci" part sounds like "shee," not "see."

/dih-RIV-uh-tiv/

Stress the second syllable and keep the final vowel weak, not full and clear.

/DIV-ih-dend/

Stress the first syllable, and do not add an extra vowel sound before the last "d."

/EK-wih-tee/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle vowel short and light.

/ES-kroh/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the ending is a simple "kroh" sound with no extra vowel.

/FIS-kul/

Stress the first syllable and avoid saying the second syllable like "call."

/for-KLOH-zhur/

Stress the middle syllable and make the ending sound like "zhur," not "shoe-er."

/FRAN-chyz/

Stress the first syllable, and the ending sounds like "chyz," not "chase."

/HEJ-fund/

Stress the first syllable and keep the initial consonant soft, like "hej," not "hedg-ee."

/HEJ-ing/

The first syllable is stressed, and the "dg" makes a soft "j" sound.

/ih-LIK-wid/

Stress the second syllable and keep the first vowel short and unstressed.

/in-DET-id-ness/

Stress the middle syllable and avoid inserting an extra "b" sound after "in."

/IN-voys/

Stress the first syllable and make the second sound like "voys," not "voice."

/LEV-er-ij/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the ending as a soft "ij" sound.

/lih-KWID-ih-tee/

Stress the second syllable and make the "qu" sound like "kw."

/lik-wih-DAY-shun/

Stress the third syllable and keep the "qu" sound crisp, not overly separated.

/MAN-dayt/

Stress the first syllable; many learners oversoften the ending, but it should rhyme with "date."

/MUR-jer/

Stress the first syllable and use a soft "j" sound in the middle.

/MOR-gij/

The "t" is silent, and the ending is closer to "gij" than "gage."

/nih-GOH-shee-uh-bul/

Stress the second syllable and turn the "ti" into a "sh" sound.

/OH-ver-draft/

Stress the first syllable and keep the last consonant cluster clean, without adding extra vowels.

/port-FOH-lee-oh/

Stress the second syllable and make sure the middle sounds are smooth, not broken into too many beats.

/pruh-KYUR-ment/

Stress the second syllable and avoid pronouncing it like "pro-cure-ment" with equal stress.

/pro-fih-tuh-BIL-ih-tee/

Stress the fourth syllable and reduce the others so the word doesn't sound choppy.

/REV-uh-noo/

Stress the first syllable and keep the final vowel as a clear "oo" sound.

/sih-KYUR-ih-teez/

Stress the second syllable and make the ending plural sound like "teez."

/SHAIR-hohl-der/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle vowels reduced, not fully pronounced.

/SOL-ven-see/

Stress the first syllable and do not add an extra vowel before the final "cy."

/SUB-sih-dee/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle syllable very short.

/SIN-dih-kit/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the final syllable as a weak "kit."

/tranz-AK-shun/

Stress the second syllable and let the first consonant cluster sound smooth, not like "trans-AC-tion."

/UN-der-ry-ter/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle syllables light, not evenly stressed.

/UN-der-ry-ting/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the middle as "ry," not "rit."

/val-yoo-AY-shun/

Stress the third syllable and keep the "u" sound in the middle as "yoo."

/sub-SID-ee-air-ee/

Stress SID, and avoid saying it too quickly or dropping the middle syllables.

/ih-KWIV-uh-lent/

Stress KWIV, and keep the first syllable short and unstressed.

/lye-uh-BIL-i-tee/

The stress falls on BIL, and the first sound is lye, not lee.

/suh-LIS-i-ter/

The stress is on LIS, and the first vowel is a quick schwa sound.

/fi-DOO-shee-air-ee/

Stress DOO, and don’t turn the sh sound into a hard ch.

/UR-ningz/

Keep the first syllable stressed and pronounce the final consonant clearly as z.

/HOHL-sayl/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the final part rhymes with sail.

/REE-tayl/

Stress the first syllable, and avoid shortening it to a single flat sound.

/IN-vuhn-tor-ee/

Stress IN, and keep the second vowel reduced instead of full and heavy.

/kuh-MISH-un/

The stress is on MISH, and the first vowel is a quick schwa.

/UN-der-ryt/

Stress the first syllable, and end with a clear t sound.

/BAL-uhns-sheet/

Stress BAL, and say balance and sheet as two separate words.

/KASH-floh/

Keep both parts crisp, with stress on the first syllable.

/BLOO-chip/

The first part should sound like bloo, not blue-eh.

/TRAYD-off/

Stress the first syllable, and keep the final vowel short and open.

/BOOK-kee-per/

Each part is clear, and the kk sound should not disappear in casual speech.

/BOOK-kee-ping/

Stress BOOK and keep the middle syllable fully voiced.

/KOWN-ter-AW-fer/

The stress is on AW, and the first syllable begins with kown, not koon.

/SHAIR-price/

Stress the first word strongly and keep the second word short and clean.

/MAR-kit-playss/

Stress MAR, and reduce the second syllable to a quick kit sound.

/OWT-sors/

The first syllable rhymes with out, and the second part should sound like sors.

/BAK-of-is/

Stress BAK and keep the middle vowel short, not back-oh-fiss.

/PAY-chek/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the second like chek, not cheek.

/PAY-rohl/

The stress is on PAY, and the second syllable rhymes with role.

/TURN-oh-ver/

Stress TURN, and make the middle vowel a light oh sound.

/FUND-ray-zer/

Stress FUND, and keep the z sound in the final syllable.

/in-FLAY-shun/

Stress the middle syllable and keep the final "-tion" sounding like "shun."

/in-SOL-vən-see/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the middle vowel is reduced.

/JOINT-ven-cher/

Link the words smoothly and keep the stress on the first word, not the second.

/MON-uh-tair-ee/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle vowel short, not like "moon."

/nuh-goh-shee-AY-shun/

The stress moves late in the word, and the "ti" becomes a "sh" sound.

/ob-li-GAY-shun/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the ending should sound like "shun."

/port-FO-lee-oh-hol-der/

Keep the syllables clear and do not swallow the middle vowels when you speak fast.

/spek-yuh-LAY-shun/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the "-tion" ending should sound like "shun."

/STAYK-hol-der/

Don't overpronounce the middle; the word should flow as two easy parts.

/SUR-pluhs/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second one very short and soft.

/tak-SAY-shun/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final syllable should sound like "shun."

/WAYJ-wor/

The first part is a hard "j" sound, and the second part should keep the r sound audible.

/YEELD-kurv/

Keep the first word short and clear, and do not soften the final consonant too much.

/RITE-off/

The first word is pronounced like "rite," with a silent w, and the second word is a clean short "off."

/di-RIV-uh-tivz/

Stress the second syllable, and keep the ending soft; many learners overstate the first vowel.

/mar-juh-NAY-lee-uh/

The stress falls on the third syllable, and the middle vowel is easy to blur if you rush it.

/si-kyur-i-tuh-ZAY-shun/

The stress lands on "ZAY," and the "tiz" part should stay light, not overemphasized.

/uh-mal-guh-MAY-shun/

Stress the fourth syllable, and be careful not to put extra stress on the middle "mal."

/rek-uhn-si-lee-AY-shun/

The main stress is near the end, and the word has several reduced vowels that are easy to exaggerate.

/KWOR-un-teen/

The first syllable sounds like "kwor," and many speakers shorten the middle vowel too much.

/uh-KOWN-tuh-BIL-i-tee/

Stress the third syllable from the end, and keep the first vowel soft rather than fully pronounced.

/uh-PREN-ti-ship/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the middle vowel is a weak schwa sound.

/dih-vur-sih-fi-KAY-shun/

The main stress is near the end, and the middle vowels are commonly weakened in fast speech.

/HEJ fund/

The tricky part is the consonant cluster in hedge, which should sound like one smooth syllable.

/AM-er-tize/

The first syllable carries the stress, and the middle vowel is usually reduced.

/KWIT-ens/

This word is tricky because the middle consonants are simplified in pronunciation, so the t sound is not fully pronounced.

/ay-simp-tuh-MAT-ik/

The main stress is on "MAT," and the opening vowels are often reduced in fast speech.

/REZ-er-vwahr/

The middle syllable is often reduced, and the final sound is not a clear "or."

/SHASS-ee/

The ch sound is pronounced like "sh," which is the main surprise in this word.

/HAN-səm/

The D is silent, so the middle consonant cluster is simpler than it looks.

/muh-SKEE-toh/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the first syllable is reduced.

/SEG-way-way/

This word is often confused with the similar-looking word "segue," so keep the syllables separate.

/noo-MOH-nee-uh/

The first letter P is silent, and the stress goes on the middle syllable.

/kwih-ZEEN/

The first syllable is a quick "kwih" sound, and the stress lands on the last syllable.

/prih-SEED/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final sound is a long EE.

/ARK-tik/

The first C is often silent in standard pronunciation, so it does not sound like "arc-tik."

/ANG-kuhl/

Keep the N sound light before the K, and do not add an extra vowel.

/FILM/

Many speakers nearly drop the middle sound, so it often comes out as one compact syllable, "FILM."

/WURLD-WYD/

Keep both parts clear, with the first syllable sounding like "WURLD."

/uh-NON-uh-muhs/

Stress the second syllable and keep the rest light: "uh-NON-uh-muhs."

/dih-ZURT/

The stress is on the second syllable, which helps distinguish it from "desert."

/DEZ-ert/

This one has first-syllable stress, unlike "dessert," which is a common confusion.

/ak-SES-uh-ree/

The stress is on the second syllable, not the first, so it sounds like "ak-SES-uh-ree."

/BROO-er-ee/

Say the vowels clearly but quickly; many speakers accidentally blur or drop a syllable.

/dih-TUR-min/

The middle syllable takes the stress, and the final vowel is reduced.

/MAM-uhl/

The final syllable is weak, so do not overpronounce the second vowel.

/or-DERVZ/

The silent letters make this a word to learn by sound, not by spelling.

/IR-ih-tuh-bul/

The stress is at the front, and the vowels in the middle are weak.

/ASKS/

This cluster can be hard because it ends with several consonants in a row, so pronounce it cleanly without adding extra vowels.

/suh-POHZ-id-lee/

The stress lands on the second syllable, and many speakers accidentally say the word too quickly or with the wrong vowel.

/JOOL-ree/

Many speakers compress the middle vowel, so the word often sounds like two syllables rather than three.

/ATH-leet/

Do not insert an extra vowel after the “th”; the word is usually two syllables, not three.

/VUL-nuh-ruh-bul/

The middle vowels are reduced, so the word is shorter in speech than its spelling suggests.

/MIS-chuh-vus/

Stress the first syllable; many people wrongly say "mis-CHEE-vee-us," but the middle vowel is reduced and the word is only three syllables.

/NOO-klee-er/

Keep all three syllables and avoid saying "nuke-yuh-ler"; the middle sound is clear and the stress stays on the first syllable.

/ASK/

Pronounce the middle consonant clearly; many speakers accidentally say "ax," but the standard form keeps the -sk ending.

/FOR-tay/

In the meaning "a strong point," the word is commonly pronounced with two syllables, not like "fort."

/OF-en/

The t is usually silent in everyday speech, so say it as two syllables instead of forcing a hard t sound.

/LI-brer-ee/

Keep all three syllables clear; a common mistake is dropping the middle vowel and saying "liberry."

/VEJ-tuh-bul/

The middle syllables are reduced, so do not say each vowel separately; keep the stress on the first syllable.

/KUMF-tuh-bul/

The tricky part is the reduced middle sounds, which make it sound shorter than the spelling suggests.

/uh-LOO-muh-num/

Use four syllables in American English and stress the second syllable; do not add extra sounds to match the spelling.

/FEB-yoo-er-ee/

The first r is often softened or dropped in casual speech, so avoid saying every written letter too strongly.

/dih-BAYT/

Stress the second syllable and keep the first syllable light; it should not sound like "DEB-ate."

/ri-FRIJ-uh-ray-ter/

The stress shifts early in the word, and many speakers shorten the middle vowels, so do not try to pronounce every written vowel fully.

/PIK-cher/

The t and ch blend together, so it is usually not pronounced as two fully separate sounds like "pic-ture."

/puh-SIF-ik/

Stress the second syllable and keep the first vowel weak; avoid putting stress on the first syllable.

/PROB-uh-blee/

The middle syllable is often reduced in casual speech, but you should still keep the final -ly sound.

/NUR-ser-ee/

The r sounds are easy to blur, so keep the first syllable strong and avoid adding an extra vowel sound at the end.

/AS-tuh-risk/

The tricky part is the middle syllable, which is often reduced; do not say "ass-ter-isk" with equal stress on all parts.

/ka-SHAY/

The final t is silent, and the stress is on the second syllable; do not pronounce it like "cash-et."

/THIS-ul/

The t is followed by a soft s-like ending, so do not force an extra vowel between the two consonants.

/SKWUR-ul/

Keep the consonant cluster tight; a common mistake is to stretch the word into too many syllables.

/et-SET-er-uh/

The first word is usually reduced, and the stress falls on the second syllable of cetera; avoid saying every letter too sharply.

/KAYM-brij/

The word ends with a soft -brij sound, not a full "bridge" with extra emphasis on every consonant.

/spuh-SIF-ik/

The first syllable is weak, and the stress falls on the middle syllable; avoid saying "SPE-si-fic."

/AS-tuh-royd/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second syllable short; do not make it sound like "ass-ter-oid."

/KAM-uh-flahzh/

The final sound is a soft zh, and the middle syllable is reduced; avoid a hard final g sound.

/SHUR-bit/

The first syllable is stressed, and the middle sound is short; many people incorrectly add an extra r sound or overstate the second vowel.

/muh-MEN-toh/

Stress the second syllable and keep the first vowel weak; it should not sound like "meh-MEN-toe."

/SKED-jool/

In standard American pronunciation, the first consonant sounds like sk, not sh; do not soften the beginning to "shed-ule."

/uh-NEM-uh-nee/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the ending sounds like -nee; avoid saying it as if it rhymes with "mony."

/KAY-ahs/

The word has two syllables, not one, so make sure the vowel in the second syllable is heard.

/AP-ri-kot/

Stress the first syllable; some speakers say "AY-pri-kot," but the more common American pattern starts with AP-.

/an-TEEK/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the final -ique sounds like "eek."

/HY-jeen/

The g is soft, and the second syllable sounds like "jeen"; do not pronounce a hard g.

/SHAL-ay/

The final -et is pronounced like "ay," and the first sound is SH, not a hard CH.

/KYOO/

All the extra letters are silent; it sounds just like "cue."

/KEE/

This word looks like it should rhyme with "say," but it actually sounds like "key."

/nah-EEV/

Give the second syllable the stress and keep the two vowels separate instead of blending them.

/KER-nuhl-see/

Build it from colonel, so the first part sounds like KER-nuhl, not the spelling suggests.

/AH-muhnd/

The l is silent, so avoid saying the written letters too clearly.

/KLOHZ/

The word is usually one syllable in careful speech, with the th cluster pronounced smoothly.

/ahr-kih-PEL-uh-goh/

Stress the third syllable, and keep the middle vowels short and clear.

/CHOK-lit/

The middle syllable is often reduced or dropped in casual speech, so keep it crisp and simple.

/VEE-ih-kuhl/

The first syllable is stressed, and the middle vowel should not disappear into a single long sound.

/MED-ih-sin/

The stress stays on the first syllable, and the last vowel is a reduced schwa-like sound.

/BIZ-nis/

The first vowel is short, and the middle letters are compressed so the word sounds like two quick syllables.

/DRAWR/

The word is often a single syllable, with the final r-like sound held together.

/MIR-er/

The second syllable is weak and brief, so avoid exaggerating it into two strong beats.

/EYE-ern/

The middle sound is not a full separate syllable in fast speech, and the stress is on the first part.

/SUH-burb/

Keep the first syllable short and unstressed after the initial stress.

/ah-sah-EE/

Stress the last syllable, and avoid saying the middle like "kay"; the final vowel is the key sound.

/af-ih-DAY-vit/

The stress is on DAY, and the middle vowel is reduced, so don’t overemphasize the first syllable.

/am-bih-GYOO-ih-tee/

Say the third syllable with the strongest stress, and keep the middle vowel soft instead of punching every syllable equally.

/an-tee-by-AH-tik/

The stress falls on AH, and the first part is often rushed, so avoid saying each syllable too clearly.

/AIR-ee-uhl/

Start with AIR, then glide quickly through the last two syllables; don’t turn it into three heavy beats.

/uh-LAK-rih-tee/

The stress is on LAK, and the first vowel is reduced, so it should not sound like a-word with equal stress throughout.

/uh-POS-truh-fee/

Stress POS, and keep the middle syllable short; avoid adding an extra vowel before the final -ph.

/kam-uh-RAH-duh-ree/

Put the stress on RAH, and let the other syllables stay lighter so the word doesn’t sound chopped up.

/kor-ee-AH-gruh-fee/

The main stress is on AH, and the first part sounds like "core," not like "choir."

/DEF-ih-sit/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second vowel weak; many speakers wrongly stretch it into several equal beats.

/dih-TEER-ee-uh-rayt/

The stress is on TEER, and the word moves quickly after that, so don’t pause too much between syllables.

/joor-is-DIK-shun/

Stress DIK, and keep the first syllables lighter; the ending sounds like "shun," not "stiction."

/muh-KAH-bruh/

The stress is on KAH, and the final syllable is a soft schwa, so don’t pronounce the last vowel too strongly.

/nih-MON-ik/

The first letter m is silent, and the stress is on MON, so begin directly with the n sound.

/SOO-duh-nim/

The initial p is silent, and the stress is on SOO, not on the last syllable.

/RET-uh-rik/

Stress the first syllable, and keep the middle vowel soft; don’t pronounce it like three equally strong beats.

/RIG-er MOR-tis/

Put the main stress on MOR, and keep the first word short and clipped rather than overly careful.

/sub-PEE-nuh/

Stress PEE, and the spelling does not match the sound, so don’t pronounce the letter o as a separate vowel.

/ser-VAY-luhns/

The stress is on VAY, and the middle sound is just a light syllable, not a full "veill" sound.

/TUF/

The spelling looks irregular, but the word sounds like one simple syllable with a short u vowel.

/yoo-BIK-wi-tus/

Stress BIK, and keep the first syllable light; many speakers mistakenly emphasize the wrong part of the word.

/ANG-gree/

The consonant cluster can be tricky, so keep the first syllable short and clear.

/RITH-um/

The tricky part is the vowel pattern; the word still needs two clear syllables.

/WUL-fish/

The l can be easy to miss in pronunciation, so keep the first syllable short.

/STRENGKTHS/

This word is hard because of the cluster of consonants at the end, and the vowel is very short.

/muh-SAHZH/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final sound is a smooth "zh" like in "vision."

/guh-RAHZH/

In common American pronunciation, the stress is usually on the second syllable, not the first.

/CHIM-nee/

The middle vowel is often reduced, so it is usually not three fully pronounced syllables.

/GUV-ern-ment/

The first vowel is often reduced, and the middle part can sound more like "-vern-" than the spelling suggests.

/par-TIK-yuh-ler/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the weak vowels in the rest of the word make it slippery.

/ED-uh-buhl/

The middle vowel is weak, so the word should not sound like "e-dye-bull."

/KROO-shuhl/

The "ci" sound becomes "sh," which is the main pronunciation trap.

/SUK-yuh-lent/

The "cc" sound becomes a single "k" sound, and the middle vowel is weak.

/stuh-TIS-tiks/

Keep the stress on the middle syllable and make the first vowel short and reduced.

/SHEF/

The ch sounds like sh, not like the ch in "chair."

/WIM-in/

The vowel is unusual, so it does not sound like the singular form "woman."

/al-yuh-MIN-ee-um/

The stress lands in the middle, and the letters break into more syllables than many people expect.

/KYOO-kum-ber/

The first syllable starts with a long oo sound, not a hard kyu sound.

/REG-yuh-ler-lee/

This word is often shortened in speech, so keep the stress on the first syllable and reduce the middle vowels.

/NUP-shul/

The pt is not spoken clearly, and the word ends with a shul sound.

/uh-KWAYN-tuhns/

The tricky part is the quiet "t" and the stress on the second syllable.

/NAY-chur/

The "t" often softens into a "ch" sound in everyday speech.

/AK-choo-ul/

The middle sound is often reduced, and the stress stays on the first syllable.

/HYTE/

The vowel is unusual, and the final consonant is not pronounced separately.

/SIN-uh-mun/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the middle vowels are very weak.

/per-SWAYD/

The second syllable is stressed, and the ending sounds like a clear "day" without the final vowel.

/RES-uh-pee/

The ending sounds like "-pee," so don’t pronounce it like "recip-ee" with a long final sound.

/BIS-kit/

Keep it short and simple: the stress is on the first syllable, not on the second.

/SIZ-ers/

The double "s" sound becomes a single "z" sound, with stress on the first syllable.

/SWEET/

It rhymes with "sweet," so avoid pronouncing the middle letters separately.

/FYORD/

Keep it to one strong syllable and do not add extra vowels between the consonants.

/kuh-LOH-nee-ul/

The stress lands on the second syllable, and the vowels in the unstressed syllables are reduced.

/BYUR-oh/

The first syllable is like "byure," and the second is a light "oh," not a hard "roo."

/RES-tuh-rahnt/

The middle vowel is often reduced, so don’t over-pronounce every letter in the spelling.

/KAM-ruh/

This is often shortened in casual speech, with the middle vowel disappearing.

/TROO-lee/

Keep the first vowel long and clear, and avoid making the "r" too heavy.

/suh-LYE-vuh/

The stress falls on the middle syllable, so don’t say it evenly across all three parts.

/SAH-der/

In many varieties of English, the "l" is silent, so it sounds like "sah-der."

/KAS-ul/

The "t" is silent in many accents, and the second syllable is very light.

/SUB-muh-reen/

The stress is on the first syllable, so don’t shift it to the middle.

/GAYJ/

This word rhymes with "age," and the letters combine into one clear syllable.

/SOH/

The final "w" is silent, so it sounds like the word "so."

/PLUM-er/

The "b" is silent, and the first vowel is short like in "plum."

/TWELFTH/

This word is hard because of the consonant cluster, so keep the vowel short and do not insert extra sounds.

/es-PESH-uh-lee/

The stress is on PESH, and the first vowel is usually reduced, not pronounced as “ex-.”

/YOO-zhoo-uh-lee/

The middle sound is a soft ZH, and the stress is on the first syllable, not on the ending.

/JEN-yoo-in/

The stress is on JEN, and the middle sounds glide quickly without heavy emphasis.

/suh-POHZD/

The first syllable is usually weak, and the ending sounds like a voiced Z plus D, not separate S and T sounds.

/ASKT/

The K sound is heard, but the word is often compressed to one quick syllable, not aske-ed.

/STRENGKTH/

This word is hard because the consonant cluster is dense; keep the vowel short and do not drop the final TH.

/RING-kuhl/

The W is silent, so start with the R sound and avoid saying wrin-kle with a strong first vowel.

/KAH-lum/

The N is silent, and the word ends with a reduced unstressed syllable, not a pronounced “-umn.”

/OR-uhl/

Keep the two syllables clear and avoid stretching the vowel too long before the R.

/MOL-uh-kyool/

The stress is on MOL, and the ending sounds like kyool, not mole-e-cule.

/on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh/

The stress is near the end, and the many vowels are smoother and faster than the spelling looks.

/fuh-NOM-uh-non/

The stress is on NOM, and the first syllable is a weak schwa sound, not FEE-no.

/YOHK/

The L is silent, so it sounds like YOHK, not yolk with a full L.

/muh-NAZH-uh-ree/

The middle sound is a soft ZH, and the stress is on NAZH, not the first syllable.

/AIR-loom/

The H is silent, so it begins with AIR, not hair-loom.

/buh-LOH-nee/

The written G is not heard like a hard G, and the stress is on the middle syllable.

/AR-kive/

Keep the first syllable strong and do not turn it into are-CHIVE or arch-ive.

/SAN-wich/

The D is usually not heard, and the stress stays at the start: SAN-wich.

/FIFTHS/

This is hard because of the cluster; keep it tight and make sure the final TH is clear.

/WORLD/

The R and L blend closely, so avoid inserting an extra vowel and keep it as one quick syllable.

/MUNTHS/

The consonant cluster at the end is the tricky part, so say MUNTHS without adding extra vowels.

/GRAND-pah/

The final vowel is usually relaxed, so it sounds more like "pah" than a strong "pa."

/tuh-MAY-toh/

The stress goes on the second syllable, not the first.

/av-uh-KAH-doh/

The stress is on the third syllable, which is easy to miss if you read it too evenly.

/AZ-muh/

The "th" is silent here, so the word becomes two quick sounds.

/WES-kut/

The spelling is misleading; the middle letters are heavily reduced in standard pronunciation.

/KUB-erd/

The middle letters are mostly silent, so it sounds much shorter than it looks.

/IN-trest/ /IN-tuh-rest/

The middle vowel is very weak in casual speech, so the word compresses into fewer clear beats.

/kwes-chuh-NAIR/ /kwes-chuh-NARE/

The stress is near the end, and the first part is shorter than the spelling might suggest.

/PEET-suh/ /PEET-za/

The double Z sounds like a clear "ts" or "dz" sound, not a long English Z.

/uh-SPAIR-uh-gus/

Stress the second syllable and avoid saying the middle like "spar" too quickly.

/BRAK-uh-lee/

The first syllable sounds like "brak," not "brok" or "broh."

/zoo-KEE-nee/

The middle syllable is stressed, and the first sound is a smooth "zoo."

/proh-SHOO-toh/

The tricky part is the "sh" sound in the middle, not a hard "sk" or "s."

/tuh-MAH-lee/

Do not say the final e like a separate sound; stress the middle syllable.

/KAY-perz/

The first syllable is stressed, and the ending sounds like "perz."

/AN-choh-vee/

Stress the first syllable and keep the ch sound clear, not like "sh."

/TIME/

The t is silent, so it sounds exactly like the word "time."

/SEL-uh-ree/

The first syllable is stressed, and the middle vowel is a relaxed schwa.

/ben-YAY/

The final t is silent, and the stress is on the second syllable.

/fuh-NEE-shuh/

If you see the spelling in food names, the ph-like spelling often sounds like an f.

/ver-mih-CHEL-ee/

The stress moves toward CHEL, not the first syllable.

/em-pah-NAH-dah/

The middle syllable takes the stress, and each vowel stays open.

/BAHK-lah-vah/

Put the stress on the first syllable and keep the vowels short.

/KAS-oo-LAY/

The final syllable is stressed, not the first.

/hah-REE-suh/

Keep the stress on REE and soften the first vowel.

/pap-par-DEHL-ee/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the ending is soft.

/ah-ran-CHEE-nee/

The ch sound is like "chee," and the stress lands there too.

/hah-LOO-mee/

The second syllable is stressed, and the first h is very light.

/EH-dahm/

Do not add an extra ending; keep it short with stress on the first syllable.

/PAR-muh-zahn/

The stress stays on the first syllable, and the final sound is softened.

/soov-LAH-kee/

The stress is on LAH, and the first vowel is a smooth oo sound.

/muh-RANG/

The final ue is silent, and the word ends with a nasal sound.

/AHN-truh-kot/

The final e is not pronounced like a separate vowel, so the word stays compact.

/kay-suh-DEE-yuh/

The q is heard like k, and the stress comes on dee.

/ah-sah-EE/

The accent mark does not change the stress, which lands on the final syllable.

/KOOS-koos/

Both syllables sound the same, so avoid overcomplicating the middle consonants.

/YEE-roh/

In common English usage, the first sound is like yee, not jai or guy.

/eh-KLAIR/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final r may be softened in some accents.

/MAK-uh-rahn/

Do not mix it up with macaron; the final sound is more like rahn than rawn.

/VEE-ner SHNIT-sel/

The first word sounds like vee-ner, and the second starts with a tight shn cluster.

/soh-TAY/

The final e is pronounced, and the stress goes on the second syllable.

/pis-TACH-ee-oh/

The middle syllable carries the stress, and the ch sound is like in catch.

/JIN-jer-bred/

The tricky part is the soft g at the beginning and the quick reduced middle syllable.

/bree-OHSH/

The final sound is a soft sh, and the stress falls on the second syllable.

/min-yoh-NET/

Keep the first part light and place the stress at the end.

/chuh-BAH-tuh/

The opening ci sounds like chuh, not see-ah, and the stress is in the middle.

/fri-TAH-tuh/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the double t is spoken as a crisp t.

/hol-uhn-DAYZ/

The stress lands near the end, and the final sound is like dayz, not deez.

/ROO-barb/

The initial rh is silent, so the word starts with a simple roo sound.

/SKOHN/

It is one syllable, and many learners accidentally add a second vowel sound.

/KWARK/

It has one syllable, but the starting "qu" is pronounced like "kw," not just "k."

/BOO-zhee/

The final sound is like "zh," the same consonant you hear in "measure."

/ra-tuh-TOO-ee/

Say the last syllable clearly and put the main stress near the end, not at the start.

/kap-uh-NAH-tuh/

The stress falls on the middle syllable, which many learners accidentally flatten.

/boo-GAHT-sah/

Keep the vowels short and stress the middle syllable for a natural sound.

/dem-uh-RAH-ruh/

The stress comes late in the word, and the middle vowels are reduced in normal speech.

/tap-ee-OH-kuh/

The stress falls on the third syllable, which is a common mistake for learners.

/KAH-choh eh PEH-peh/

This Italian phrase is hard because of the soft ch sound in cacio and the repeated peh sounds at the end.

/BUHT-er-kreem/

It is a straightforward compound, but make sure the first syllable is clear and not swallowed too quickly.

/tuh-REEN/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the first syllable is very light.

/ree-YET/

This French word is often shortened in speech, and the final T is usually barely heard.

/sor-BAY/

The final T is silent, so it should sound like a two-syllable word with stress at the end.

/chih-POHT-lay/

The stress is in the middle, and many speakers mistakenly say all four syllables too evenly.

/FOH/

The vowel is long like 'oh'—don't say 'fuh'; the whole word is just one syllable.

/shar-koo-TUH-ree/

The stress is on TUH, and the 'char' part sounds like 'shar,' not 'char' with a hard ch.

/BOO-ya-bays/

The last syllable sounds like 'bays,' and the middle is very light; don't pronounce every written vowel separately.

/sree-RAH-cha/

Put the stress on the middle syllable and keep the first 'r' smooth, not 'sir-ah-cha.'

/eye-OH-lee/

Stress the middle syllable, and the first part sounds like 'eye,' not 'ay.'

/BOK-CHOY/

Both syllables are clear and the stress is on BOK; avoid reducing it to one word with a silent second part.

/FEE-niks/

The first vowel is long 'ee,' and the x sounds like 'ks,' not 'z.'

/KUM-kwot/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the second part rhymes with 'what,' not 'quat' like 'kwot.'

/kor-ee-AN-der/

Stress AN, and keep all four syllables clear; don't flatten it into 'CORE-ee-and-er.'

/BESH-uh-mel/

The first syllable sounds like 'besh,' not 'bech,' and the stress falls at the beginning.

/kon-soh-MAY/

The final syllable is 'may' with the stress there, and the accent mark signals the last vowel is not silent.

/MOOSS/

It has one syllable and a long 'oo' sound; don't add an ending vowel.

/es-kar-GOH/

Say the final syllable like 'go,' with the stress at the end, and avoid sounding the final t.

/gaz-PAH-cho/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the ch sounds like 'cho,' not a hard 'k' sound.

/pie-EH-yah/

Split the middle syllable clearly and keep the double l as a 'y' sound, not a hard 'l.'

/BOOL/

This French loanword has one syllable and rhymes with 'pool'; don't pronounce the final e.

/foh-KAH-chuh/

Stress the middle syllable and soften the ending to 'chuh,' not 'see-uh' or 'cha.'

/HEE-kuh-muh/

The initial j is pronounced like an English h here, and the stress is on the first syllable.

/HUM-us/

Stress the first syllable and keep the second very short; avoid saying a strong 'moose' ending.

/tah-BOO-lay/

The stress falls on BOO, and the final sound is 'lay,' not 'lee' or 'leh.'

/tsah-TSEE-kee/

The first consonant cluster starts with a sharp 'ts' sound, and the stress is on the second syllable.

/chee-mee-CHOO-ree/

The stress is on CHOO, and each syllable is light and even rather than rushed together.

/eh-dah-MAH-may/

Put the stress on MAH, and keep the final 'may' clear instead of dropping it.

/tem-POO-rah/

Stress the middle syllable, and make sure the final vowel is a short 'uh' sound.

/SOO-shee/

The first syllable is 'soo,' and the 'sh' sound in the second syllable should be gentle.

/wah-SAH-bee/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the first vowel is short and relaxed, not 'wah-sah-bye.'

/SAH-tay/

Stress the first syllable and let the second sound like 'tay,' not 'tie.'

/HAL-vah/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the ending is a soft 'vah,' not 'vay.'

/hah-bah-NEH-roh/

The stress falls on NEH, and the 'h' at the start is pronounced softly rather than dropped.

/ri-ZOT-oh/

Stress the middle syllable and keep the final syllable short; don't say 'rye-sot-toe.'

/tah-HEE-nee/

The stress is on HEE, and the first syllable is a soft 'tah' with no extra vowel.

/tah-ZHEEN/

The ending sounds like 'zheen,' and the stress is on that single syllable after the first light 'tah.'

/AM-uh-ranth/

Stress the first syllable and pronounce the final 'th' clearly, not as a hard 't.'

/FAH-roh/

Both syllables are simple, with stress on the first; avoid saying 'far-oh' with equal stress.

/OR-zoh/

The first syllable carries the stress, and the ending is a soft 'zoh,' not 'zoe.'

/rah-DEEK-ee-oh/

Stress DEEK and keep the middle vowels clear; many speakers accidentally flatten it into fewer syllables.

/EN-div/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the final v should be heard without adding an extra vowel.

/shuh-LOT/

Stress the second syllable and reduce the first vowel, rather than saying 'shall-ot' with equal stress.

/vin-uh-GRET/

The stress is on the last syllable, and the final t is pronounced lightly, not fully clipped.

/kan-uh-LEE-nee/

Stress LEE and keep the middle vowels relaxed; don't overpronounce the double letters.

/MAR-juh-reen/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'g' sounds like 'j,' not a hard g.

/or-eh-GAH-noh/

Stress GAH and keep the first vowel short; many speakers put the stress on the wrong syllable.

/BRAH-choh-lay/

The first syllable is stressed and the 'cio' part sounds like 'choh,' not 'see-oh.'

/KHAH-luh/

The initial sound is a throaty 'kh' rather than a hard 'ch,' and the stress stays on the first syllable.

/boo-LET/

Stress the second syllable and do not pronounce the final e; the first syllable is very short.

/MEE-soh/

The first syllable is long 'ee,' and the stress stays at the beginning.

/dee-GLAYZ/

Keep the first syllable light and stress the second syllable; avoid turning it into three syllables.

/BEH-ahr-NAYZ/

Stress the last syllable, and don't pronounce the final s separately if you want a natural French-influenced sound.

/BOOL-yahn/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the final n is soft, not a full extra syllable.

/WUSS-ter-sher/

Several letters are silent or reduced, and the word is commonly shortened in speech to three easy syllables.

/jam-buh-LIE-yuh/

Stress the third syllable and keep the first two vowels reduced, not equally strong.

/pap-REE-kuh/

In English, the stress usually goes on the middle syllable, so avoid saying all three parts evenly.

/ROO/

This French-derived word is just one syllable, so avoid adding a second syllable like "roo-uh."

/tar-TAR/

The final e is silent, and the stress lands on the second syllable, not the first.

/meer-PWAH/

This French cooking term has a silent final "x," and the stress is on the second syllable.

/boo-TEEK/

The stress goes on the second syllable, and the final sound is long "teek."

/vwah-LAH/

This French word is two clear syllables, with stress on the second one and a smooth opening "vw" sound.

/DOP-uhl-gang-er/

The German-style spelling can be misleading, so keep the stress on the first syllable and say the middle clearly.

/OO-ber-mensh/

The first vowel is long and rounded, and the ending sounds like "mensh," not "mench."

/SHNIT-suhl/

Start with the strong "shn" blend and keep the stress on the first syllable.

/VOON-der-kind/

In English use, the first syllable is often said with a "voon" sound, and the stress stays at the front.

/TSITE-gyst/

The beginning can be hard because the German "z" sounds like "ts," and the stress is on the first syllable.

/KIN-der-gar-ten/

English speakers often stress the first syllable, and each part is said more clearly than in the original German.

/guh-ZOOND-hite/

The tricky part is the middle vowel and the final "hite" sound; the stress is on the second syllable.

/SHAH-dun-froy-duh/

The first part sounds like "shah," and the stress is usually on the first syllable in English.

/REH-nuh-sahns/

The stress falls on the first syllable, and the last part sounds like "sahns," not "sants."

/saw-TAY/

The last syllable is stressed, and the final "e" is pronounced as "tay."

/PAH-pyay mash-AY/

The first word is often reduced in English speech, and the main challenge is the French-style final stress.

/VOO-doo/

This borrowed word is simple but easy to overcomplicate; keep both syllables clear and stress the first.

/tsoo-NAH-mee/

The opening "ts" sound is the key challenge, and the stress falls on the middle syllable.

/kih-MOH-noh/

The stress is on the second syllable, and each vowel should be kept clean and even.

/TSAR/

The initial consonant cluster starts with "ts," not just a plain "z" sound.

/yah-KOO-zah/

The stress goes on the middle syllable, and the final vowel is light, not emphasized.

/tah-TAH-mee/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the vowels stay open and even.

/or-ih-GAH-mee/

The challenge is keeping the stress on the third syllable while making the first two syllables short.

/DAH-kee-ree/

This borrowed drink name is often missaid with extra syllables, so keep it to three beats.

/mar-guh-REE-tuh/

The stress falls on the third syllable, and the first vowel is reduced to a schwa-like sound.

/buh-REE-toh/

The middle syllable is stressed, and the final vowel should sound like a clear "oh."

/gwah-kah-MOH-lay/

The stress lands on the third syllable, and the final vowel sounds like "lay."

/tor-TEE-yah/

The double l is pronounced like a "y" sound, and the stress is on the middle syllable.

/ESS-kuh-lay-ter/

This borrowing from Spanish-origin roots can be tricky because the first syllable is stressed in English.

/kap-oo-CHEE-noh/

The middle syllable gets the stress, and the double consonants do not create extra beats.

/klee-SHAY/

The final letter is pronounced like "shay," not a hard English "k" or "ch."

/REH-zhoo-may/

In the borrowed form, both final vowels are clearly pronounced and the middle sound is a soft "zh."

/fuh-SAHD/

The cedilla does not change the English spelling, but the first syllable is weak and the stress is on the second.

/kroh-SHAY/

The ending is pronounced like "shay," which is the part many learners miss.

/MEEM/

This one is short, but the vowel is long and tense, like "team" without the initial sound.

/soo-FLAY/

The final accent is on the last syllable, and the ending sounds like "flay."

/fee-AHN-say/

Keep the stress on the middle syllable and say the final vowel clearly.

/rak-ohn-TOOR/

The last syllable carries the stress, and the ending should sound like "toor."

/shoh-FUR/

The beginning is a soft "sh" sound, and the final syllable is reduced rather than fully spelled out.

/min-eh-STROH-nee/

The stress is on STROH, and all four syllables should be kept distinct.

/moo-SAH-kah/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the first vowel stays smooth and short.

/pah-PYAY/

The borrowed pronunciation uses two clear syllables, with the stress on the second one.

/hah-luh-PEH-nyoh/

The tilde sound becomes a "ny" sound in English, which is the hardest part for many speakers.

/pah-NAHSH/

The final sound is a soft "sh" and the stress is on the second syllable.

/bal-ET-ik/

It keeps the ballet root, but the stress shifts to the middle syllable in this adjective form.

/pah-puh-RAT-see/

Do not say the first A like in "paper"; the stress lands on the third syllable.

/buh-ZAHR/

The final sound is a broad R-colored vowel, and the stress is on the second syllable.

/em-BA-russ/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the last syllable sounds like "russ," not "rayss."

/fee-on-SAY/

The final -e changes the pronunciation and the stress falls on the last syllable.

/pin-YAH-tuh/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the ñ sounds like a soft "ny."

/LAS-oh/

This word is commonly stressed on the first syllable, unlike some learners expect.

/juh-loo-ZEE/

The stress is on the last syllable, and the middle sounds should stay soft and clear.

/ON-tray/

In standard English pronunciation, the final written "e" is part of the "tray" sound, not a separate syllable.

/SHEEK/

This word sounds like “sheek,” with a long ee sound; don’t pronounce the final c separately.

/ZHON-ruh/

The first sound is the soft zh in “vision,” and the final e is silent; avoid saying a hard g.

/boo-KAY/

Stress the last syllable, and keep the ending silent t quiet; don’t say “boo-ket.”

/ka-FAY/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final e shows the ay sound; don’t reduce it to “caff.”

/fee-ahn-SAY/

Keep the stress on the last syllable and say the final é like “say,” not a silent ending.

/REZ-oo-may/

Use three syllables and stress the first; don’t pronounce it like the English verb “resume.”

/fuh-SAHD/

The cedilla makes the c sound like s, and the final e is silent; avoid “fah-kade.”

/nigh-EEV/

Say two clear vowels with stress on the second syllable, and do not swallow the ï into one sound.

/ay-LEET/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the initial e is not pronounced like “uh.”

/RAHN-day-voo/

Only the first syllable carries stress, and the final s is silent; don’t pronounce the word as written in English.

/klee-SHAY/

The ending sounds like “shay,” and the accent mark keeps the stress on the second syllable.

/lahnzh-uh-RAY/

The middle is a soft zh sound, and the final e is pronounced like “ray,” not “ree.”

/kwah-SAHN/

The first sound is “kw,” the t is silent, and the nasal ending should not become “sant.”

/DAY-zhah voo/

The first word has two syllables with stress on the first, and the j is a soft zh sound.

/soo-FLAY/

Stress the second syllable and keep the final é sounding like “lay,” not silent.

/or-DERV/

Most of the written letters are not sounded; the tricky part is the compact “or-derv” pronunciation.

/KEESH/

It is one syllable and sounds like “keesh”; don’t add an extra final vowel.

/POR-suh-lin/

Stress the first syllable and reduce the middle vowel; avoid saying all three parts too clearly.

/in-DITE/

The c is silent, and the word sounds like “in-dite”; avoid pronouncing the k sound.

/PEE-puhl/

The word has two syllables, and the second one is reduced; don’t try to make the final le into “lay.”

/ih-PIT-uh-mee/

Stress the middle syllable, and do not pronounce it like the spelling suggests; the final e is sounded as “mee.”

/SEG-way/

The final ue is pronounced “way,” and the word does not sound like “seeg.”

/KASH/

The final e is silent, and the word rhymes with “cash”; avoid saying “cachee.”

/mih-RAHZH/

The ending sounds like a soft zh, and the final e is silent; don’t finish with a hard g.

/lin-GWEE-nee/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the g stays hard enough to make a “gw” sound.

/broo-SKEH-tuh/

The ch sounds like k in Italian, and the stress falls on the middle syllable, not the first.

/NYOH-kee/

The g is silent, and the start sounds like “nyoh”; don’t pronounce the g as in “go.”

/tor-tuh-LEE-nee/

Stress the third syllable, and keep the vowels light; don’t flatten it into four equal beats.

/rig-uh-TOH-nee/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the ending sounds like “nee,” not “nigh.”

/uh-ROO-gyuh-luh/

Stress the second syllable, and the g is soft; avoid saying “a-ROO-goo-la.”

/es-PRESS-oh/

The first syllable is not “ex,” and there is no extra p sound at the beginning.

/tee-ruh-mee-SOO/

Keep the stress on the last syllable, and do not put a strong stress on the first syllable.

/bah-GET/

The final ette sounds like “get,” and the g is soft; don’t say “bag-you-et.”

/pah-STEESH/

Stress the second syllable, and the ending sounds like “steesh,” not “stitch.”

/PLAK/

The final ue is silent, and the word is just one syllable; avoid adding a “koo” sound.

/kroh-KET/

The final ette sounds like “ket,” and the stress is on the second syllable.

/par-FAY/

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the final t is silent.

/rah-VEE-oh-lee/

The stress is on the second syllable, and all four vowel beats should stay clear.

/kah-PREH-zay/

The stress is on the middle syllable, and the final e is pronounced; don’t say “cap-reez.”

/BROO-tuh-liz-um/

The first syllable is stressed, and the middle vowel is reduced; avoid overemphasizing every syllable.

/hah-luh-PEHN-yoh/

The ñ makes a ny sound, and the stress is on the third syllable, not the first.

/MAN-uh-kwin/

Stress the first syllable, and the final quin sounds like “kwin,” not “queen.”

/ahn-truh-pruh-NUR/

The stress lands on the last syllable, and several vowels are reduced; don’t try to pronounce every written vowel fully.

/MOO-suh-leen/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle vowel soft; don’t add extra consonants to match the spelling.

/vee-zah-VEE/

The final stress is on the last part, and the middle word is not pronounced like the English preposition “vis.”

/too-SHAY/

The final é sounds like “shay,” and the word has a single clear stress on the second syllable.

/KEEN-wah/

Stress the first syllable and avoid saying the written vowels separately; many people say "kwin-OH-a," but the common pronunciation is KEEN-wah.

/BOOR-zhwah/

The ending sounds like "zhwah," not "goy" or "gois," and the stress is on the first syllable.

/KOO/

This word keeps only the sound of the first letters; the p is silent, so it is just KOO, not koop.

/DAY-byoo/

The final t is silent in standard English pronunciation, and the stress is on the first syllable: DAY-byoo, not deh-BYUT.

/blah-ZAY/

The accent marks the final stress, and the final e is pronounced, so it sounds like blah-ZAY rather than BLAYZ.

/duh-BREE/

The final s is silent, and the stress falls on the second syllable; avoid the common mistake of saying DEB-ris.

/nah-EEV-tay/

Keep the stress on the middle syllable and pronounce the final vowel, not the written t, so it is nah-EEV-tay.

/PROH-tuh-zhay/

The last syllable sounds like "zhay," and the stress is at the beginning, so do not say PROT-eh-gee.

/DAH-see-ay/

The stress is on the first syllable, and the ending sounds like "ay," not "er," so avoid saying dos-EE-er.

/MAT-ih-NAY/

The stress stays on the first syllable, and the ending sounds like NAY, not nee or nay-AY.

/FEE-aht/

Say the two vowels separately and keep the stress on the first syllable; do not reduce it to "fee-ut."

/zhah-LOO/

The j-like sound is soft and the final x is silent, with stress on the second syllable: zhah-LOO.

/PAH-pee-ay mah-SHAY/

The stress shifts to the final syllables, and the final e is heard in the last word; avoid flattening it into "paper mash."

/soo-BRET/

The ending t is pronounced, and the stress is on the second syllable, so do not make the final vowel sound out loud.

/GLOS-ter-sher/

Say the first part like "glos," not "glow-ces," and avoid sounding every written letter.

/BUR-ming-um/

The middle syllable is light, and many speakers reduce the last part to "-um" instead of "-ham."

/HERE-fud-sher/

Stress the first syllable and blur the middle part; people often over-pronounce the written "-der-" sequence.

/BORN-muth/

Do not say every letter in "-mouth" separately; the final part is usually reduced to a soft "muth."

/truh-FAL-gar/

Stress the second syllable, and avoid saying the first vowel too strongly.

/PLIM-uth/

The first vowel is often reduced, so it sounds like "PLIM-uth," not "PLY-muth."

/roh-DEE-zhuh/

The middle stress matters, and the ending sounds like "zhuh," not "see-uh."

/KISH-in-ow/

The first sound is a hard "k" sound, and the last syllable rhymes with "now."

/lyoo-BLYAH-nuh/

Do not try to pronounce every letter separately; the tricky cluster at the start is smoothed into one quick sound.

/RAYK-yah-vik/

The spelling is intimidating, but the word is usually broken into three clear syllables with stress at the start.

/OR-hoos/

The first part is not pronounced like the written "aa" in English spelling; it is closer to a long "or" sound.

/HY-duh-ruh-bad/

Stress the first syllable and keep the middle vowels light; many learners put stress in the wrong place.

/boo-buh-NESH-war/

The stress falls near the end, and the written consonant cluster is much smoother in speech than in spelling.

/thih-roo-vuh-NAN-thuh-poo-ruhm/

Break it into manageable chunks and stress the middle; do not rush or try to force every written vowel.

/kol-KAH-tuh/

Stress the second syllable, and avoid pronouncing the final vowel too strongly.

/KOH-chee/

The first syllable is long and clear, while the second is a simple "chee" sound.

/goy-AH-nyuh/

The written vowels can mislead English speakers, so keep the stress on the second syllable.

/gwah-dah-lah-HAH-rah/

The stress lands on the fourth syllable, and the middle consonants are softer than many learners expect.

/mon-tuh-RAY/

The final syllable sounds like "ray," and the stress is at the end, not the beginning.

/kets-al-ten-AHN-goh/

The spelling looks difficult, but the stress is near the end and the first part is pronounced "kets."

/teh-goo-see-GAL-puh/

Keep the stress on the fourth syllable and avoid making the "g" too hard in the middle.

/sow toh-MAY/

The second word is usually stressed on the last syllable, and the first word sounds like "sow."

/wah-gah-DOO-goo/

The first written vowels are not all pronounced separately; the main stress comes on the third syllable.

/gah-boh-ROH-nee/

Stress the third syllable, and do not flatten the final vowel into a short ending.

/mah-SEH-roo/

The middle syllable carries the stress, so avoid saying it like a single long chunk.

/an-tah-nah-nah-REE-voo/

The stress is near the end, and the many vowels are best spoken clearly but not over-emphasized.

/mah-POO-toh/

Stress the middle syllable, and keep the first vowel short and relaxed.

/moh-gah-DEE-shoo/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the ending is a simple "shoo" sound.

/kee-GAH-lee/

Do not stress the first syllable; the main emphasis is on the middle.

/boo-jum-BOO-rah/

The stress is on the third syllable, and the final vowel should stay light.

/nyee-ROH-bee/

The first sound is like "nyee," and the stress falls on the second syllable.

/mom-BAH-suh/

Stress the second syllable and avoid putting equal weight on all three parts.

/kam-PAH-luh/

The middle syllable is stressed, and the last vowel is reduced rather than fully pronounced.

/dah-KAR/

The stress is on the second syllable, so do not say it with equal emphasis on both parts.

/doo-AH-luh/

Keep the stress in the middle and avoid turning the word into three equally heavy syllables.

/kar-uh-KOR-um/

The stress falls on the third syllable, and the ending is usually softened to "-um."

/ZAH-greb/

Say the first syllable clearly and keep the second short; many learners overdo the final consonant.

/DOO-brov-nik/

The first syllable is stressed, and the "vnik" ending should not be broken apart too much.

/SHEH-chin/

The opening letter cluster is the challenge, and the pronunciation is much simpler than the spelling suggests.

/VROT-swaf/

The first written letter is not sounded like English "w," and the ending is closer to "-swaf" than "-claw."

/zah-rah-GOH-thah/

Stress the third syllable, and remember that the written "z" can sound more like a soft "th" in some pronunciations.

/soh-chee-MIL-koh/

The first letter is silent-like for English speakers, and the stress is on the third syllable.

/ab-ər-IS-thwith/

The stress sits in the middle, and the ending is not pronounced like the spelling might suggest.

/GLAZ-go/

The first syllable is stressed, and the middle sound is a soft "z," not "glass-go."

/bor-DOH/

The final letters are silent in English pronunciation, so it ends with a long "oh" sound.

/juh-NEE-vuh/

Stress the second syllable, and keep the first vowel short and relaxed, not "JEE-neh-vah."

/luh-VEEF/

The stress is on the second part, and many speakers soften the first syllable to a quick "luh."

/LIK-tin-stine/

The middle is compact in English, and the common mistake is to read every written letter too literally.

/AWK-land/

It has two clear syllables, with the first one stressed and the second reduced.

/muh-KOW/

The stress is on the second syllable, and the final sound is like "cow," not "see-oh."