10 Common Words You May Be Mispronouncing

Language is always in flux, but you still don't want to look like a fool. A FOOL!

1.

How you may be pronouncing it: mis-CHEE-vee-ous.

How it's actually pronounced: MIS-chə-vous.

Despite the fact that many people drop an extra "I" in there, "mischievous" is three syllables, not four.

2.

hotsauce.wikia.com

How you may be pronouncing it: Chi-POL-tay.

How it's actually pronounced: Chi-POAT-lay.

You would never do this, of course, because Chipotle burritos are the crux of your vernacular. But SOME people do it.

3.

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How you may be pronouncing it: OF-ten.

How it's actually pronounced: OFF-en.

The temptation lurks to add that extra "T," but historically, it's pronounced without it, just like the way we pronounce "soften."

4.

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How you may be pronouncing it: SHER-bert.

How it's actually pronounced: SHER-bet.

Remember, only Ernie says, "sure, Bert."

5.

Joe Raedle / Getty

How you may be pronouncing it: Can-a-dit.

How it's actually pronounced: Can-di-dit.

Just make sure to, uh, stick that second "D" in there.

6.

How you may be pronouncing it: BAY-nal.

How it's actually pronounced: ba-NAHL.

Like "canal," sort of.

7.

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How you may be pronouncing it: PUR-rog-uh-tiv.

How it's actually pronounced: PRE-rog-uh-tiv.

Just like it's spelled. Thanks Bobby Brown/Britney.

8.

rocketboom.com

How you may be pronouncing it: SOOS.

How it's actually pronounced: SOICE.

Yep, we've been saying Theodore Geisel's pseudonym improperly our whole lives. The German name is supposed to be pronounced to rhyme with "voice," although Geisel himself eventually accepted the erroneous pronunciation.

9.

How you may be pronouncing it: Broo-SHETT-a.

How it's actually pronounced: Broo-SKETT-a.

In Italian, that's a hard "CH."

10.

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It's a hard "G." Come on now.