The Battle of Saying It Right
We all know how hard the English language can be. Even though we all learned the alphabet and the sounds they make, some words just don't make sense! If you've ever gotten into an argument with someone over the correct way to pronounce a word, this article is for you. Here are 20 of the most common words that people just can't seem to agree on.
1. Pecan
Do you pronounce this beloved snack as if there's a double "E" in the spelling, or do you prefer the "puh-can" sound? Regardless of what you choose, you'll definitely have a lot of people on your side. Pecan is one word where people generally go 50/50 on how they say it.
2. Route
Whenever you go on a road trip, does how your driving buddy pronounce the word "route" bother you? Because there's two very different ways of saying this word: like the nature word "root" or rhyming with the word "out". Which one feels right for you?
3. Coupon
While most people say the word "coupon" as it's spelled, others pronounce it as if there's an imaginary "Y" between the "C" and "O". Creating an "ew" sound, it completely changes up the pronunciation of this seemingly simple word.
4. Gyro
It might be easy to fall in love with this delicious Greek dish, but we can't say the same about pronouncing it correctly.
While it might be more accurate to say it like "year-o," it doesn't stop many from saying it exactly as it's spelled, "jai-roh".
5. Caramel
Arguably a word that becomes an instant hot topic if two people pronounce it differently, caramel is one you wouldn't think would have more than one way of saying it. But for some reason, some people enjoy taking out a few of the letters, saying it as if in a shortened sense, "car-mel".
6. Mischievous
When it comes to the word mischievous, it's certainly a tricky word to spell and say! Most people successfully get to "miss-che-vuss" after slowly sounding each letter out, but for others, they add in a mysterious "I" to the mix which creates an entirely new sound. Ever heard some say "miss-chee-vee-us" instead?
7. Data
Are you a "day-ta" or "dah-ta" kind of guy? Despite only being four letters long, this word certainly has people confused over what the right pronunciation is. At this point, both are entirely acceptable and commonly used.
8. Buoy
The "uo" combination of letters is much more rare than others, making this word a difficult one to say correctly right off the bat. While it's commonly said as "boo-ee," some like to keep things simple and just pronounce it as "boy".
9. Et Cetera
Often see more frequently in it's abbreviated form, the most common mistake made when pronouncing this phrase is somehow turning the "et" sound in to "ex". There's no "X" in this word at all, but people found a way to make it sound that way!
10. Espresso
Just like et cetera, espresso is another word that mysteriously gets an "X" added into its spelling when said by some. While Sabrina Carpenter's hit song might have helped make the correct pronunciation more clear, there are some very adamant in saying it like "expresso".
11. Often
Do you prounce the "T" sound when you say "often"? Or do you completely ignore it and say it more like "offen"? At least with this word, you likely won't be alone no matter how you say it.
It's pretty split down the middle between whether people use the "T" or not.
12. Leisure
With the "ei" combination making leisure seem like a much more complicated word than it actually is, this leaves people scratching their head about whether they should be saying "lee-sure" or "leh-sure". While the "lee-sure" is definitely the more popular of the two, don't doubt that there are plenty of people who will back the other pronunciation.
13. Either
Is it "ee-ther" or "ai-ther"? Funnily enough, for this word, sometimes people switch back and forth between the two depending on what comes out of their mouth first! This is easily a word that has people stuck on what the actual correct way of saying it is.
14. Been
Even though this short word clearly looks like it should be pronounced as "bean," some people like to switch things up and say "bin" instead. It's similar to "either" where both pronunciations are equally popular, and sometimes people say both depending on the sentence structure and what flows out of the mouth first.
15. Aunt
Do you treat the "U" as if it's silent? If so, you likely say this word like the little insect, "ant". If not, you probably change the vowel slightly so that it sounds more like "awe-nt". But regardless of how you say it, no one will have trouble understanding what you're saying - both versions are used so frequently it won't cause anyone to blink an eye.
16. New Orleans
This beloved city in Louisiana, most known for its delicious cuisine, is sometimes said in two different ways. People either say "New Orlins" or "New Orleens". But regardless of which way you choose to say it, you'll automatically have people thinking about those drool-worthy beignets, shrimp and grits, and so much more.
17. Caribbean
There's no better place to go to than the Caribbean for a tropical getaway, but be careful how you say it - not everyone agrees with your pronunciation! People are pretty stuck between saying "Care-ah-bee-an" and "Ca-rib-bee-an".
Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash
18. GIF
You likely send GIFs every single day to your best friends or significant other, but do you know how it's actually pronounced? Often causing quite a stir between the "G" or "J" sound, you might start an argument if you're with someone who says it the other way.
19. Salmon
To include the "L" sound or to not, that is the question. This tasty fish has often been up for many debates when it comes pronunciation. Because while the "L" is clearly there in the spelling, many opt not to include the sound when saying the word out loud.
20. Vase
You've definitely the heard the saying, "it's vay-se not vah-se," but you'd be surprised by how evenly split the pronunciations really are. Depending on how classy you want to sound, you might switch between the two!
