Words you’re (probbly) pronouncing “wrong”

Why do we sometimes get the pronunciation of words “wrong?” This talk includes examples of such words and some reasons why we pronunciations get confused (for example, through the process of metathesis). At times it’s a tongue-in-cheek discussion, but you can use it to check which words you’ve been pronouncing incorrectly.
If you can say, without hesitation, “The mischievous child had a devious plan to put Worcestershire sauce in Daddy’s espresso,” your pronunciation is quite standard, yet you will enjoy learning about the linguistic processes involved in common mispronunciations.
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[@paulk3681]

Tack at 5.30 is to do with sailing, if the wind is not favourable for your course you change tack frequently.

[@snaplanguage]

Exactly. Essentially, you’re choosing a different angle toward the wind so you can move faster. Most people are unfamiliar with that meaning of the word, so they think it’s “tact” because it sounds similar and is a word they know. 👍 Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope you’re enjoying the rest of the channel :)

[@paulk3681]

@@snaplanguage very interesting thank you. I have always been interested in the etymology of words.

[@snaplanguage]

Me too! Once you learn a word's etymology, it comes to life and you never see it the same way afterwards :)

[@miewwcubing2570]

This video is the reason that I started learning the ipa script

[@snaplanguage]

That's awesome! It's exciting to know one of my videos inspired someone. Woohoo Thanks for such an awesome comment!

[@Leo007619]

The information given in your videos is so helpful and useful! It makes me enjoy watching it!!

[@snaplanguage]

Glad you found it helpful and useful! I hope you're enjoying the channel

[@marlenestewart7442]

It amuses me to hear the very smart Jeopardy! contestants pronounce words phonetically, which makes me think that they are extremely well read, but not as conversant, across diverse subjects.

[@snaplanguage]

LOL Yeah, that happens. Sometimes you see words in writing only and don't know how to pronounce it when it comes up in a conversation. Nothing a good dictionary with phonetic transcription can't solve Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel.

[@lili_dee]

When in doubt, I Google the word and pronunciation (e.g. "hyperbole pronunciation") and tap the speaker icon.

[@snaplanguage]

I also look up words in online dictionaries. They give alternate pronunciations, and you can hear the word in case you're not familiar with the phonetic alphabet. With all the computing power most of us carry in our pockets these days, we have no more excuses Thanks for watching and supporting the channel

[@hendmohammedT]

These video is an example of how to obtain rich and valuable informations in a short time thank you

[@snaplanguage]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and hope you enjoy the rest of the channel

[@hendmohammedT]

@@snaplanguage I really do ❤...actually your channels are a gift for me and I thank god finding you❤💜

[@hendmohammedT]

@@snaplanguage In addition..I wonder if we can relay on phonetics on telling us the correct pronunciation of any word!

[@sophiamac9100]

Loved this video! Might I also include two words I hate being mispronounced: "nuclear" (nucular) and "etcetera" (exetera)....? You already covered me on "mischievous"! P.S : I can't omit mentioning what an exceptional host you are!

[@snaplanguage]

Thanks for the kind words :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video and hope you're enjoying the rest of the channel. -- Cheers!

[@anasmostafa325]

Thank you. First time I hear about "metathesis"

[@snaplanguage]

Pretty awesome, huh? I'm sure it happens in all languages. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment

[@SharonH11100]

Thanks for the “realtor” one. Now if I could just change my husband’s pronunciation of, “popular.” He says it like “poplar,” the tree. I’m 76 and my mom made me say “forte” properly: the “e” for music and Italian people only, but I had to change with the times. “Worcestershire” is really so easy, isn’t it? I think people have fun making fun of words, and it is so easy to doThank you for your obvious sense of this phenomenon ~ 💁🏼‍♀️

[@snaplanguage]

Haha! If your husband hasn't been listening to you, what makes you think he'll listen to me? I used to make the difference between "fort" and "for-tay" myself, but my pronunciation ended up changing just from hearing people say "for-tay." In the end, language changes whether we like it or not, so we might as well go along for the ride. Thank you very much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel.

[@olehmikhaliuk2753]

Super video! Make more!

[@TheAnkurvyas]

Therefore I love Sanskrit, what we speak we write and pronounce, no confusion at all

[@snaplanguage]

Yes, there's much to be said about writing systems that keep it clear. Unfortunately for English, the language developed the way it did, so now people have to deal with this mess Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! Enjoy the channel.

[@user-zm3tw6bd3n]

Thanks

[@snaplanguage]

You're very welcome! I hope you're enjoying the channel

[@Eduardo.R-0321]

et cetera : and the rest

[@snaplanguage]

www.etymonline.com/word/et%20cetera#etymonline_v_11647

[@ThePhilosopher29]

Great topic

[@snaplanguage]

I agree! Pretty fascinating stuff (especially for linguists LOL). Thanks for watching and for always supporting the channel

[@ThePhilosopher29]

@@snaplanguage Yes it is. Although I'm not a Linguist, yet my interest in Language was triggered as it is interconnected with my major (Philosophy)😉

[@snaplanguage]

​@@ThePhilosopher29 Whether you're a linguist or a philosopher, it's inescapable: eventually you have to deal with how these topics intersect. It can get a bit too esoteric for my brain, but I find it worth the effort.

[@darrelllancaster9554]

Love it

[@snaplanguage]

❤ :)

[@simsixzero]

Metathesis is an interesting process

[@snaplanguage]

Indeed! The idea that some words flip letters or sounds over time is pretty fascinating. Here's an example from English and Spanish: crocodile -- cocodrilo 🤯 Thanks for watching and always supporting the channel!

[@liamgibson7471]

Yep very good, English scholar.

[@snaplanguage]

Awesome! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel

[@Yuushz80]

"(probly)" Aaaaah I got you ;D

[@snaplanguage]

I hope it doesn't go over too many people's heads Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@donwayne9061]

What really bugs me is when people refer to pronounciation rather than pronunciation. I'm trying really hard to get over it, and although I kind of knew about metathesis it really helps to have it reiterated to me by someone who's expertise I cannot help but trust. 😄

[@snaplanguage]

Thanks for the kind, supportive words! Interestingly, I had "pronounciation" as one of the examples, but decided to leave it out so the video wouldn't be too long. Funny story... I was training to teach English as a second language, and this very arrogant know-it-all of a trainer kept emphasizing how "pronounciation" was extremely important. It took a tremendous amount of effort for me to keep my mouth shut. Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment

[@donwayne9061]

@@snaplanguage LOL!!

[@ukrover5087]

Nice

[@snaplanguage]

Glad you've enjoyed it! Enjoy the channel!

[@sirmeowthelibrarycat]

Hello, Marc. Another very informative video. But be careful here to avoid straying into ‘anything goes’ territory . . . that way leads to confusion of Babelian proportions 🥴. Kind regards from your friend in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

[@snaplanguage]

I don't believe in "anything goes," either. I made sure to mention in the video that some mispronunciations are... well... mispronunciations for this or that reason (e.g., hyper-bowl for hyperbole). Where appropriate, the notion that linguistic bias is not okay will always permeate my videos, though -- including the little jab about people who were likely horrified by "bridd" pronounced as "bird" Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Greetings from the US

[@BrightMessyWorld]

I grew up in Atlantic Canada often hearing "in-TEG-ral" rather than "IN-te-gral" thought both were used. There is a lot of British influence on the language there. I surveyed a few pronunciation videos, including British ones, and found only one that used it. I wonder about its origins.

[@snaplanguage]

Indeed. English has many words with alternate pronunciations. You may hear in-TEG-ral in the United States, too, but IN-te-gral is much more common. Once I head a Canadian pronouncing "bilingual" as /baɪˈlɪŋ gyu əl/ instead of /baɪˈlɪŋ gwəl/ and thought he was mispronouncing it. Then I found out it was just another way of pronouncing it. That's one of the beautiful things about languages. There are so many varieties you'll find gray (grey) areas all over. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I hope you're enjoying the channel!

[@RoyvanArem]

Quay.... How many times have I heard 'quay' instead of 'kee'

[@snaplanguage]

Yes, “quay” is a head scratcher. I remember realizing as a kid that “quay” and *kee were actually the same word LOL

[@jannlittle4745]

Advertisement or advertisment? Which one?

[@snaplanguage]

Same... depends where you live... I usually just say "ad," though. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel.

[@hussaintariq1]

I guess even the pronunciation of the word respite /ˈres.pɪt/ pronounced in US English is pronounced as /respaɪt/ in UK English.

[@snaplanguage]

I wasn't aware of that until after I posted the video (otherwise, I would've mentioned the difference). It's often difficult to say a word is pronounced this or that way because English is so rich in language varieties. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I hope you're enjoying the channel

[@snaplanguage]

P.S.: The "weird" thing is this dictionary lists British and American pronunciations quite well. Here www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/respite they first provide ˈrɛspɪt for "any English." Later on the page, they provide both ˈrɛspɪt (first) and ˈrɛspaɪt for British English... I wonder if the second pronunciation has become accepted over time on that side of the Atlantic 🤔

[@hussaintariq1]

@@snaplanguage thanks a lot for your reply.. I always enjoy watching the videos you posts and this one really captivated me because of the words and their etymologies which you explained quite well. With regard to other words, like niche and foyer, I reckon they are pronounced differently both in UK and US English. Anyways, your videos are and have always been great learning resource. Thanks a lot once again..

[@snaplanguage]

No doubt there are many differences between English in different parts of the world. In the UK or the US, for example, you can't say there's only "one British English" or "one American English." Even when you go by "the standard" version of the language, sometimes there are alternate pronunciations... English can be weird that way Thank you for watching and for supporting the channel. I really appreciate it!

[@hussaintariq1]

@@snaplanguage quite agree...

[@davidbarber3821]

Studying Biblical Hebrew metathesis is a feature of the language & I thought it was pronounced meta•thesis until I seen an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation & Data ranted about the correct pronunciation of it

[@snaplanguage]

LOL You can learn so much from Star Trek, especially from Data I understand metathesis is actually a productive rule in some word formations in Hebrew, right? That's such an interesting feature! (Languages never cease to amaze me.) Thanks for watching and leaving an amusing comment

[@davidbarber3821]

@@snaplanguage Yes metathesis occurs in the Hithpael binyan when taw(ת) in the prefix הת is affixed to the root & the 1st root radical is a sibilant the prefix & 1st toot radical switch places to pronounce it easier

[@snaplanguage]

תודה. Languages are awesome :D

[@Leo007619]

Great! I think you should buy a better microphone🎤

[@snaplanguage]

Thanks for the tip. I already have a good Zoom H4n microphone. To improve sound quality further, it would involve converting my home office into a studio, which can be very costly. I hope the channel will at some point generate enough revenue for me to afford that. Thanks again!

[@Leo007619]

@@snaplanguage the information given in your videos is so helpful and useful! It makes me enjoy watching it!!

[@snaplanguage]

Awesome!... Despite technical issues, I do hope that the content is helpful. Thanks for your support

[@piitii8348]

+

[@snaplanguage]

I'll take that as a positive... I wish it was 5 +s out of 5 Thanks for watching and leaving a (quick) comment

[@piitii8348]

@@snaplanguage it's for the algorithm :)

[@snaplanguage]

I love it! Thank you so much. Every bit helps, especially in the summer (the so-called KZbin summer slump). 👍

[@piitii8348]

@@snaplanguage I really liked the video! Sometimes I just don't have anything to add to the discussion (publicly). Just commenting "+" in that case was a trend that started in the vlogbrothers community years ago. Might have died out already but I like it. :p

[@SnapLanguageLearner]

Oh cool, I didn’t know this had a backstory (which I love because it beats those darn algorithms). I think it’s extremely kind of you to do it. Thanks for the + and for the kind words about the video 😎

[@Arundhathi99089]

👍👌💐💐

[@snaplanguage]

✨🙏🏻

[@Arundhathi99089]

@@snaplanguage did you know the meaning of my name too? 🙂 I was rather surprised to see the star symbol. I am always fascinated by your word analysis and explanation of origins...and you do it exactly the way I imagine. Please post more videos like this. 🙏🙏

[@snaplanguage]

I’ll keep posting videos as long as people are watching them :) thanks for your support!

[@salwat4857]

What’s the word probly? Did you mean probably?

[@snaplanguage]

Some people pronounce it like that. It’s a video about common mispronunciations… so… 😆

[@salwat4857]

l thought so but wasn’t sure. Thanks

[@snaplanguage]

That happens in fast speech in any language. For example, in British English, some people say "propply" (meaning, "properly").

[@akrammohammad7014]

I can't understand u what do u say speak clearly as non natives hardly understand. U

[@snaplanguage]

Hi, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. When people start learning a new language, they generally have the impression that native speakers speak "too fast" or "unclearly." That changes after a lot of practice listening and speaking the language. In the meantime, you can try Snap Language Learner at kzbin.info Our second channel is designed to help English-language learners keep improving their language skills in English. Cheers!

[@paulk3681]

Two words that Americans can't pronounce are Route and Mirror

[@snaplanguage]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. It's all about perspective, isn't it? "Route" can be pronounced / rut / or / raʊt /. Your preferred pronunciation doesn't make the alternate "wrong." For Americans, the way people pronounce "squirrel" or "garage" in British English is amusing; to some it might even sound like a mispronunciation. For an Australian... well, you get the point, I'm sure. Happy Friday!