PRECISION IN PRONUNCIATION

Common Pitfalls - Word List

1. abalone "æb' uh LOH nee" not “AH buh lohn" A delicious seafood.
2. accessory "æk SES uh ree” not “æk ses SOH ree” Subordinate part.
3. acknowledge “æk NAH lij" not "æk NOH lej" Admit; give credit to.
4. acoustic "uh KOOS tik” not “uh KOHS tik” Pertaining to hearing.
5. admirable "ÆD muhr uh buhl" not "æd MIR uh buhl" Worthy of admiration.
6. adolescence "ad'l ES ens" pronounced not "uh DOL luh sens" Period between youth and maturity.
minus the "o"
7. advocacy "ÆD vuh kuh see” not “uhd VO kuh see" Active support, especially for a cause.
8. affidavit "æfi DEI vit" not "æfi DÆ vit" A sworn statement in writing.
9. allegedly "uh LEJ id lee" not "uh LEJD lee" Supposedly.
10. almond “ÆM uhnd” not “ÆL muhnd” A delicious nut.
11. alms "ahmz" You don't pronounce the Money or goods given in charity.
"l"
12. alumnae “uh LAHM nee” not “uh LAHM nei” Feminine of alumnus.
13. amoebiasis “æm' uh BIGH uh sis” not “uh mib YAH sis” Infection caused by the amoeba
Entamoeba histolytica.
14. analgesic “æn uhl JEE zik” not “æn uhl JE sik” Pain reliever.
15. any “EN ee" not “EY nee” One chosen at random.
16. applicable “ÆP li kuh buhl” not “ahp LEE kuh buhl” Able to be applied; appropriate.
17. appreciate “uh PREE shee eit” not “AHP ree sheit” To recognize the quality, significance,
or magnitude of something or
someone.
18. associate “uh SOH shee eit” not “AH soh sheit" Colleague.
19. asthma "AHZ muh" not "AHST muh" A respiratory illness often arising from
allergies.
20. attaché "ah tuh SHEI” not "ah TAT chee" One assigned to the staff of a
diplomatic mission to serve in a given
capacity.
21. attorney “uh TURN nee” not “uh TOR nee” A legal agent qualified to act for
persons in legal proceedings.
22. awardee "uh wor DEE” not “uh WAHR dee” One that receives an award.
23. bamboo "bæm BOO” not “BÆM boo" Any of various woody mostly tall
tropical grasses including some with
strong hollow stems used for building,
furniture, or utensils.
24. beneficiary “ben uh FISH ee er ee” not “buh ne' fish YAHR Receiver of benefits.
ee"
25. bicuspid “bigh KAHS pid” not “BIGH kuhs pid” Having two points or cusps.
26. boutique "boo TEEK” not “boh TEEK” A kind of specialty shop, now used to
describe also small hotels.
27. broccoli "BROK uh lee” not “bro KOHL ee” A delicious vegetable.
28. bury/burial “BER ee”/”BER ee uhl” not “BUHR ee”/”BUHR ee Inter/internment.
uhl"
29. busy "BIZ ee” Pronounced with a “z” Filled with activity.
30. category “KÆT uh go ri” not “kuh TE go ri” Class.
31. cement "si MENT" not "seh MENT" Bond.
32. cemetery "SEM i ter ee" not "se MEN tuh ree" Burial grounds.
33. chocolate "CHOK lit” or “CHOK uh lit” not “CHO kuh leit” A food prepared from ground roasted
cacao beans.
34. cleanliness "KLEN lee nis" not "KLEEN li nes" State of being clean.
35. climb Pronounced with silent "b" To ascend using the hands and feet.
36. comfortable "KAHM fuhr tuh bl" or not "kuhm FOR tuh bl" Providing comfort or security.
"KAHMF tuh buhl"
37. condolence “kuhn DOHL ens” not “KON doh lens” An expression of sympathy with a
person in grief.
38. confirm “kuhn FURM" not "kuhn FEERM" To verify.
39. Connecticut “kuh NET i kuht” Silent “c” A US state.
40. controversy “KAHN truh vur' see" not "kon TRO vur see" A dispute characterized by the
expression of opposing views.
41. corps "kor" or "kohr” A group of people with special
training, organized for working
together, or associated under a
common direction.
42. coupon “KOO pahn” or “KYOO not “KOO p0n” A detachable slip.
pahn”
43. debut “dei BYOO” or “DEI byoo” not “di BOO” A first public appearance; the formal
presentation of a girl to society.