Podcast odc. 8 Commonly mispronounced words

Welcome to a very special episode called “Commonly Mispronounced Words.” I’m your host, Justyna, as always. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of commonly mispronounced words in the English language.

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation, only to realize that you’ve been mispronouncing a word all along? It happens to the best of us. English, with its countless irregularities and phonetic curveballs, loves to keep us on our toes.

In this episode, we’ll unravel the mysteries behind some of the most commonly mispronounced words. We’ll shed light on those tricky terms that have caused embarrassment, confusion, and even hilarious misunderstandings.

From simple words that trip us up, like “delete” and “comfortable,” to more complex linguistic challenges such as “inevitable” and “extraordinary,” we’ll explore the correct way to say them.

Don’t just listen to this podcast; try to repeat the words and the sentences after me. I want you to feel the words and practice them actively. This will absolutely boost your confidence, get you used to your voice, and step by step, help you break the language barrier. Believe me! Long gone are the days when we practiced passively – you know it doesn’t work, and it’s time for a change.

Without further ado, let’s get this ball rolling!

Ok, here comes my favorite and commonly mispronounced pair of words.

RECIPE (with the E at the end) vs RECIEPT (with the T at the end) the first one means “przepis” and the second one means “rachunek”.

Ok, repeat after me:

• RECIPE, RECIPE
• RECEIPT RECEIPT

Let’s practice with sentences:

• I always use my moms recipe for chicken soup

• The receipt is in your bag, ma’am.

Another pretty tricky word is………Let’s try with a quick test! GÓRY: How would you say it in English? Did you say …………. or something like that? Nope, that’s not the correct answer – it’s supposed to sound like this “MOUNTAIN”

Repeat after me: MOUNTAIN.

Let’s practice with a sentence.

• I’d rather go to the seaside than to the mountains.
• I go to the mountains at least once a year.

Ok, that was easy!

Let’s test you again first. How do you say “WYGODNY” in English? Did you say COMFORTABLE? If you’ve been following me for quite a while, you probably now exactly how to pronounce this word but if not you might have said ……………. – but there’s no table in this word and it’s supposed to be pronounced this way: COMFORTABLE as in: Hey, this bed is really comfortable!

The ending “-able” here is not the same thing as the verb: to be able to do something. It’s actually reduced because of the rules of syllable stress in American English. But that’s a topic for another podcast.

Let’s practice more words with the -able ending:

• COMFORTABLE
• VEGETABLE
• AVAILABLE

Let’s check out the sentences:

• Hey, this bed is really comfortable.
• I’m sorry, I’m not available now.
• The progress was noticeable.

Another basic word that we tend to mispronounce is: DELETE. Yeah. I know – every IT teacher in school used to say CONTROL ALT DILEJT – thats why we all copy that but the proper way to pronounce it is “DELETE” and here comes another sentence.

• I’m extremely sorry to inform you that I accidentally deleted the file.

This word might come in handy especially when you’re traveling and ta da! HOTEL! Yep, your heard me – we don’t say it the way we do in Polish the o here is a bit flat in English we use a diphthong – /ou/- in pronouncing this words and repeat after me HOTEL

The following words require us to open our mouth, it’s a very important rule in American English when it comes to pronouncing vowels the correct way. So, repeat after me”

• LAW: LAW (prawo) vs LOW (nisko) these words mean two different things
• SAW

Let’s practice with a sentence.

• The new law aims to protect the environment and reduce pollution.
• Yesterday, I saw a rainbow after the rain stopped.

How’s it going so far? Ready for another batch of commonly mispronounced words?

Here’s one of my favoritve: BIRTHDAY = My birthday’s in August. Try to practice the /th/ sound.

The following words are tricky because of their spelling. The /p/ is always silent:

• PSYCHOLOGY: She’s pursuing a degree in psychology to better understand human behavior.
• PSYCHIATRY: His interest in mental health led him to study psychiatry.
• PSYCHE: The novel delves deep into the character’s psyche and motivations.
• PSYCHOLOGIST: The school psychologist provides support to students facing challenges.

Here’s another tricky word that I love. I love it because of its pronunciation that I find beautiful.

• EXTRAORDINARY: The sunset over the ocean was an extraordinary sight, painted with vibrant colors.

Did you know that the letter ‘v’ is always pronounced as our Polish “w”

• OVEN: The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen as it came out of the oven.
• VALLEY: The picturesque valley was nestled between two majestic mountains.
• VOLLEYBALL: We spent the afternoon playing volleyball on the sandy beach.

Let’s take a look at brand names

LINKEDIN

AMAZON

PULL & BEAR

HALF PRICE

IKEA

LEVIS

GUESS

And there you have it, my dear English Fighters! Language is a bridge that connects us, and by fine-tuning our pronunciation, we’re building stronger connections with the people around us. So keep practicing, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep having fun with it!

Don’t be afraid to laugh at your mistakes—after all, they’re the stepping stones on the path to fluency. Keep in mind, even seasoned English teachers trip over their words sometimes, and that’s all part of the exciting journey towards becoming a more confident and effective communicator.

As you continue on your language adventure, always remember: you’re not just learning words; you’re embracing the rich tapestry of culture and communication that English offers. So, let’s keep challenging ourselves, breaking down barriers, and celebrating the progress we make.

See you around! Keep pronouncing, keep progressing, and keep that enthusiasm alive. You’ve got this! Stay curious,, and remember that with each word you master, you’re opening doors to a world of endless possibilities. So keep exploring, keep engaging, and keep enjoying the wonderful journey of language learning. See you soon! Love ya!

---