20 Words Even Smart People Mispronounce

How to pronounce TRANSIENTIt has two syllables not three, so it’s “transhent,” not “tran-zee-ent.” (Mind blown? Ours too.) The most complicated word in the English language is a lot shorter than you would expect.How to pronounce STATUSIt should be “stay-tus.” These are company names you've been mispronouncing this whole time.How to pronounce PRELUDE“Pray-lood” is incorrect; the proper pronunciation is “prel-yood.” More words that can get complicated? Food names. Here are ones that you're probably pronouncing wrong.How to pronounce VALETDownton Abbey got it right. It’s not a French word, so pronouncing the last syllable as “ay” is incorrect. It should be sounded as “val-it.” (Another fake French word: foyer, which is pronounced “foy-ur,” not “foy-ay.”)How to pronounce FORTEIf you’re discussing someone’s “forte,” as in a strength, the “e” is silent. “Fortay” is correct only if you’re using it as a musical term.How to pronounce ERRRhymes with “hair?” No, it rhymes with “her.”How to pronounce GALAShould be: “gay-luh.”How to pronounce APPLICABLEThe first syllable is the one that should be emphasized, as in app-lic-able, rather than app-lic-able.How to pronounce SPHERICALIt's “sferr-i-kal,” not “sfeer-i-kal.”How to pronounce DECREASEIf you’re using it as a noun, it’s de-crease. If you’re using it as a verb, it’s de-crease.How to pronounce CARAMEL“Kah-ruh-mull” is the original way and still the preferred way, although “kar-mull,” which was once a Midwestern regional pronunciation, is also acceptable.How to pronounce MAUVEIt once rhymed with “stove,” but now the “au” is sounded as “aw.”How to pronounce REGIMEThe first syllable is sounded as “ray.”How to pronounce JOUSTIn the 13th century, it was pronounced (and spelled) like the word “just.”How to pronounce EITHER“Eee-thur” or “aye-thur”? “Eee-thur” is the preferred way. (And so is “nee-thur.”)How to pronounce QUASIToday it’s often pronounced “kwah-zee,” but it’s more correct to say “kway–zi.”How to pronounce LONG-LIVEDToday we say the “lived” as “livd,” but until the 20th century, it was pronounced “lyved.”ComptrollerShe doesn’t troll computers; she controls finances, which is why this management title is technically pronounced “con-tro-ller.” (These are uncommon English words we don't use but really should be.)GyroIt may have the same root word as gyroscope, but this spinning Greek meat deserves a proper Greek pronunciation: “yee-roh.” (These surprising words were added to the dictionary this year.)VictualsThis dated term for food rhymes with whittles, not rituals.Get more fascinating and fun facts!Looking for more amazing facts and good laughs? Check out the latest Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader® titles at bathroomreader.com.

Culture

20 Words Even Smart People Mispronounce

If you pronounce these words differently, don’t worry—many people do. But here’s how they were originally meant to be pronounced 50, 100, or 200 years ago—and, according to the dictionary, still should be.

How to pronounce TRANSIENT

How to pronounce STATUS

Culture

How to pronounce TRANSIENT

How to pronounce STATUS

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