Pronunciation · Word list
Famously mispronounced words
In short
These are the words fluent speakers get wrong. Each looks like it should follow an ordinary English spelling rule and does not, so anyone who meets the word in print before hearing it builds a pronunciation that can survive for years unchallenged.
The pattern
When a word looks like it should rhyme with something familiar, check it — that instinct is what created the error.
All 12 words
Tap the speaker to hear it, or open a word for the full breakdown, both accents and a recording drill.
- epitomeih-PIT-uh-meeɪˈpɪtəmi · 4 syllablesOften said as EP-ih-tohm — two syllables, rhyming with “home”
- hyperbolehy-PUR-buh-leehaɪˈpɜːbəli · 4 syllablesOften said as HY-per-bowl — three syllables ending like “bowl”
- colonelKUR-nulˈkɜːnl · 2 syllablesOften said as CO-lo-nel — three syllables, sounding every letter
- awryuh-RYəˈraɪ · 2 syllablesOften said as AW-ree — treating aw- as in “awful”
- segueSEG-wayˈseɡweɪ · 2 syllablesOften said as SEEG or SEG-yoo — reading the -ue as in “argue”
- cacheKASHkæʃ · 1 syllableOften said as ka-SHAY — borrowing the pronunciation of the different word “cachet”
- facadefuh-SAHDfəˈsɑːd · 2 syllablesOften said as fuh-KAYD — reading the c as /k/
- nicheNEESHniːʃ · 1 syllableOften said as Neither version is an error — but mixing them mid-conversation sounds odd
- hegemonyhih-GEM-uh-neehɪˈɡeməni · 4 syllablesOften said as HEDGE-uh-moh-nee — stressing the first syllable
- mischievousMIS-chiv-usˈmɪstʃɪvəs · 3 syllablesOften said as mis-CHEE-vee-us — four syllables, with an invented i before the ending
- anemoneuh-NEM-uh-neeəˈneməni · 4 syllablesOften said as uh-NEM-uh-nuh or an-uh-MOH-nee — losing or reordering the middle syllables
- paradigmPA-ruh-dymeˈpærədaɪm · 3 syllablesOften said as PA-ruh-dig-um — sounding the g
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common famously mispronounced words in English?
This list covers 12: epitome, hyperbole, colonel, awry, segue, cache, facade, niche, and more. Each has its own page with IPA, a syllable breakdown, audio in both accents, and a recording drill.
Is there a rule behind famously mispronounced words?
When a word looks like it should rhyme with something familiar, check it — that instinct is what created the error.
Do I need to fix all of these for IELTS?
No. IELTS scores intelligibility, not word-perfect accuracy, and it accepts every standard accent. Fix the words you actually use, starting with the frequent ones: a mispronounced everyday word costs far more than a mispronounced rare one.
Other word lists
Next step
Get scored on these 12 words
Every word above has a free recording drill, and SpeakMetry's Pronunciation Coach turns whatever you get wrong into a daily plan built on your own weak sounds.
Try it free