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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.4.9

1

Tricky words with counterintuitive pronunciations

words in BOLD: beginner/intermediate level (A1-B1)
words in standard script: you need to learn them now (academic level B2-C2)

words in GREY: learn them if you are going to use them (specific purposes – medicine, chemistry, technology, Old English, or other rare words with an interesting pronunciation etc.)

Abbreviations: n – noun, pn – proper noun, v – verb/gerundive, adj – adjective, adv – adverb, sing – singular noun, pl – plural noun, 3

rd

– verb, Present Simple, 3

rd

person singular, OE – Old English

A

abbreviation
abdomen
abjure
above
abroad
absurd
abyss
academia
academic
accompaniment
accompanying
accomplish
accurate
ache
acid
acne
acquiesce
acquiescence
acre
actual
actually
adequate
adequate
adhesive

adieu

adjacent
adjust
admirable
ado

adolescence
adolescent
adult
advance
advantage
advantageous
adventitious
advertisement

advocaat

aerobics
aerosol
aesthete
aesthetic
affectionate

affidavit

affricate

aficionado

afoul
agile
agility
agricultural

ague

aide
aircraft
aisle
alas
albeit
alibi
alien
allergic
alliance
allied

allow
allowance
almond
altar
alternative
alternatively
although
altitude
aluminium
alumni
alveolar
amateur
amber
ambience
ambiguity
ambiguous
amenable
amiable
among
anaesthesiology
anaesthetics
analogous
analysis
anchor
ancient
android

anemone

angel
anger

anise

annihilation
annual

annuity

annulus

another
answer
ant
antepenultimate
antipodes
anxiety
anxious
apache
apartheid

apostate

apostle
apostrophe
appearance
applause
apple
appliance
apropos of
aquarium

aqueous

arch
archaic

archangel
archbishop
archduke

archipelago
architect
architecture
archive
arduous
area

aren’t
arena
argue
armoured
aroma
array

arthritis
artisan

askew
aspirin
assault
assembly
assiduous
asterisk
asteroid
asthma
asthmatic
astounding
asylum
asymmetric
asymmetry
ate
atheist
athlete
atmosphere
attorney

au pair

aubergine
auction
audience
audio
audiophile

audit
aunt
aural

aurora

austere
author
authority
auto-
autograph
automobile
autonomous
autonomy
autopsy
autumn
auxiliary
available
avalanche
avarice
avenue

aver

average
aviation

avoirdupois

awe
awesome
awful

awry

azure

B

bachelor

backward
bacterium
bald
ballet
balm
banana
banquet

barchetta

bargain
barriers
baseball
basic
basis
bath
bathe
bather
bathtub

bazaar

bear
beard

beatitude
beau
beaux

because
become
beer
befoul
begun
beige
besiege
beyond
biannual

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

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2

bias
biblical
bibliography
biennial

bijou

bilabial

billet

biome
biscuit
bison
bizarre

blazon

blood
blowsy
bluff
body
bold

bolide

bomb
bombard

bombardier

bombardment
bombing

bona fide

boot
borough
bosom
botox
bough
bought
boulder
bounce
bouquet

bourgeois
bout

bowel
bowl

bravado
breeches

brilliance
broad
brochure
bronchitis

brooch

brought
brow
browse

bruin

bruise
bruit

buoy
buoyant

burger
bury
bush
butcher

C

cabaret

cabriolet
cadet
caesarean

café
caffeine
calf
calm
calves
camomile
campaign
can
can’t
canal
canary
candidate
cannot
canoe
capitalism
captain
carbon dioxide
carnage

carnet

carton
cartoon

cassis

castle
casualty

catacomb

catarrh

catastrophe
cater
catering
caught
cautious
cease
ceaselessly
cemetery
censorship
centenarian
centenary
centennial
centuple
century
cereal
certain
certainly
certificate
certitude

chafe

chair

chaise

chalet
chamber
chameleon

chamois

champagne
chandelier
chaos
chapter
character
charlatan
chartered

chaste
chasten

chastity
chef
chestnut

chiasmus

chic
chicane

chimera

chimpanzee

chinchilla
chiton

chlorine
chocolate
choir
cholera

chorizo

chorus

chrome
chthonic

cigar
circuit
circumstance
circus
citation
cited
citizen

clairvoyance

clamour

clandestine

clangour

claw
cleanliness
cleanse
clerk
cliché
climate
climb
climber
closely
clothe
clothes
cloths
clout
clout
coach
coalesce
cocaine
cognate
coherent
cohesive

cold
coleslaw
collar
colleague
colloquial
cologne
colonel
colour
column
comb
come
comfort
comfortable
command
comment
commented
commenting
committee
company
comparison
compass
computer
conceited

concierge

concise
conclusive
condemn

conduit
conduit

confess
confidence
confidential
confirmation
confuse

conifer
conjunctivitis

connubial
conquer
conqueror
conquest
conscience
conscientious
conscientiousness

conscious
consciousness
consent
consequence
consequently
conservative
consider
considerate
consignment
consist
conspiracy theory
conspirator

constable

constant
constellation
constitution
construction
consulate
consultant
contagious
contemptuous
continent
continues (3

rd

)

continuous
contour
contractual
contribution
control
conveyance
copying
corporate
cosmetic
cosmic
cosmopolitan
cosmos

costumier

couch
cough
could
count
countenance
counterfeit
countless

country
coup d’état

coupé

coupon
courage
courageous
courier
course
courteous
courtesy
courtier
cover
covert
covet
covetous
coward
cowardice
coyote
crawl
creation
creative
creativity
creature
crèche
credentials
credulity
crescent
crevasse
crevice
crew
crisis

crochet

croissant
croquet
crouch
crow
crown
crucial
crumbs
cuckoo
cucumber
cuisine

cuneiform

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

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3

cupboard
curiosity
curious
current
curriculum vitae
cushion
cynicism

cypress

D

dairy
damage
damaging
damn

dandelion

dangerous
data
daughter
deaf
debris
debt
debut
decease

deciduous

decipher

décor

decreasing
defiant
definite
deity
delayed
delete
delicate

demesne

demise
demon
denial
dense
density
deposit
designate
dessert
detergent

determine
determined
determiner
determining
detritus
deuce
deuced
deucedly

deuterium

develop
developer
development
deviant
devil
devour
dew

dewy

diagnosis
diagonal
dial
diameter

diaphanous

diarrhea, diarrhoea
diary
diaspora
dictionary
difference
different
difficult
digression
diligence

dilute

dimension
diminutive
dinosaur

diocese
diplodocus

diploma
direct
directly
director
disabled
disappear

disappointed
disappointment
disciple
discipline
discrete
discretion
display
dissertation
dissolve
distinct

diuretic

divers
diverse
doh, d’oh, duh
domain
domicile
don’t
donkey
donor
dose
dosed
doses
dosing

dost (OE)
doth

doubt
dough
doughnut
dour

dowager

dowdy
dowry
dozen
draught
draw
drought
dual
dubious

duchess

due
duel
duet
duke

duly
dumb
dumbly
dune
dungeon
duo

duodecimal
duodenum

duplex

duplicitous

duress

dutiable

duvet
dynamic
dynasty

E

early
earring
earth

eau de cologne

eau de toilette
eclecticism

economic
economics
economy
ecstasy
educate
efficacy
efficient
effort
effortless
either
eject
elevator
eleven

embroidery

emirate
emphasis
emphasize

empress

emulsion
en route

enamoured
endeavour
endorphin
endow
endowment
endure
energy
engine
enhance
enhancement
enormous
enough
enquiry
enrol
ensemble
enthral
enthusiasm
enthusiastic
entire
entirely

entombment

entrepreneurial
envelop
envelope
environment

envisage

episode
equation
era

ere

err (v)

escalator

escherichia
esoteric

espionage
essential

estuarine

estuary
etc.

ether
eunuch

euphemism

euphoria

euro
euthanasia
evasive
event
eventual
eventuality
evidence
evil
exaltation
exam
examiner
excel
exclusive
executed
execution
executioner
exercise
exhibit
exhibition
existence

exothermic

expenses
expensive
explanatory
exploit
exploitation
explosive
exposé
exquisite

extenuate

extraordinary
eyebrow

eyrie

F

fact
factor
factory
factual
faculty
failure
fairy
falcon

family
famous
fantasy
farewell
farther
fascinating
fast
fasten
fatal
father
fatigue
fatuous
faucet
fauna
favourite
fear
feather

feline
feng shui
fenugreek

feud
feudal
fiancé
fiancée

fiduciary

fierce
fiesta
fight
figure
filing cabinet
finite
flirt
flood
flour
flourish
fluctuate

foal

focus
folder
foliage
folk

fondu

fool

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

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foot

force majeure
forecastle

forehead
oreign
foreigner

forfeit
forthwith

fortuitous

fought
foul
fountain
fowl
foyer
fragile
fragrance
fraud
freight
front
frontal
frontier
frown
frowsy
fruit

fuchsia

fudge
fungi
funnel
furlough
furry
further
fury

G

gaelic

galeon

gaol
garage
gas
gauge

gaunt

gauze
gear

gendarme
genealogical
genealogy
generosity
genesis
genre
gentle

genuflect

genuine
gerundive
gesture

geyser
ghoul
gibbet
gibbon
gill

ginger
giraffe
gist
glacier
gladiator
global
globalization
glove
gluttony
gnash

gnat
gnaw
gnome
gnostic
gnu

gonna
good
gooseberry
gorge
gorgeous

gouge

gourmet
govern
gown
gracious
gradual
grandma

granite

granule

graphene

gratuitous
gratuity
greasy
gregarious
grimace
gross

grouchy
grouse

growl
guarantee
guard
guerrilla
guess
guest
guide
guinea-pig
guise
guitar
gullible

gunwale
gyrate
gyroscope

H

habitat
habitual
habituate
hair
half

halfpennyworth

hallowed
halo
halve
handkerchief
handsome
harass
hatred

haute cuisine
haute couture

haven

havoc
hawk
hazardous
heard

hearken

hearsay
hearse
hearth
heathen
heather
heave
heaven
heifer
height
heinous
heir
hemisphere
hence
here
heresy
hero
heroic
heroism
heron

herpes

hesitate
hiccough
hideous
hierarchical
hierarchy
hieroglyph
hi-fi
hind
hindrance
hindsight
hippopotami
hippopotamus
HIV
hobby
hockey

holly

holy
homage

honest
honey
honour
horizon
host
hostess
hotel

hough

hound
hour
hover
howl
humane
hungry
hurrah
hurricane
hybrid
hydraulic
hygiene
hygienic
hymn

hypernym
hypernymy

hyphen
hypnotized

hyponym
hyponymy

hypothesis

I

i.e.
idea
Illegal
illegible
illiterate
illustrative
image
immediate
imperial
imperialist
impetuous

impious

importance

importune

impromptu
impugn
in lieu
in situ

in vitro
inaugural
incapable

incense (n)
incense (v)

incestuous
incidence
inclusive
inconspicuous
increasing
incredulity

indent (n)
indent (v)

indict
indistinguishable
indubitable
inevitable
infamous
infatuation
infinite
influential

ingénue

ingenuity
ingenuous

ingenuous

inherent
initiate
innovative

innuendo

innumerable
innumeracy
innumerate
insatiable
insidious
install
instead
instinctual
institutionalization

institutionalize
insurance
integer
intelligence
interesting
interference
interior
Internet
intrepid
intrusive

intuit
inundate
inveigh
inveigle

invention
iron
ironic
irrational
irresponsible
island
isle
isolated
isolation

isotonic
isotopic

issue
italicized
italics
itinerary
ivy

J

jaguar
January
jargon

jaundice
jaunt

jaw
jealous

jeopardy

jewellery
jigsaw
joker

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

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5

journal
journey
joust
jubilee
judiciary
juice
jury
juvenile

K

karate
kernel
key
khaki
kindred
knee
knew
knife
knight
knock
know
knowledge
kung fu

kvas, kvass

L

labiodental
laboratory
lamb
last
later

lather

latte
latter
laughter
launch
laundry
laurel
law
lawn
lawyer
layer

leader
leasing

leavening

legit
legitimate
leisure
lemonade
lenient

lenis

lens
leopard
leprechaun
lettuce

lewd

liable

liaison

liar
librarian
library

lichen

liege
lien

lieutenant
lilac
limb
linen
lingerie

linoleum

liqueur
liquor
listen
literally

lithium-ion

litre
litter
local

loch

longevity
longitude
loose
loosely
loosen
lose

loth, loath
lounge
louse
louse
love
low
lubricate
lullaby
lunatic
lustration

lyceum
lychee, lichee

M

machete

machinery
madam
maestro
magic
magnificent
maintenance
majority
malaria
malignancy
mall
malnutrition
manageable
management
manager
manger
maniac
maniacal
manic
manifold
manoeuvre
mansion
manual
manufacture
manufacturer
manuscript
margarine
marihuana
marijuana

marine
maritime
marketing
marshal
martial
marzipan
massacre
massage
masseuse
matrix
mature
maturity

mauve

mayhem
mayonnaise
mayor
meadow
meagre
meander
means
measles
measure
mechanism
media
medicine
medieval
mediocre
medium
menial

meningococcal

menu
message
messiah
meteor
meteorite
meteorological

methane

might-have-beens
migraine
migrant

mildew

militia
millionaire

minutia

mirage
miscellanea
miscellaneous
mischief
misdemeanour
missile
mobile
modal
model
module
monarch
money

monger

monitoring
monk

mononucleosis

monster
month
morale
mores
morgue (US)
mortgage
mortuary (UK)
mosaic
motor

mound

mount
mountain
moustache
multi
multiculturalism
mundane
murdered
murmur
muscle
muscular
museum
mustang
mustard
mustn't
mutual

myrtle

mysterious

N

naked
narrative
nasal
national
natural
nausea
nauseating
nauseous
naval
necessary
née, né
negligence
negotiate
negotiation
neigh
neighbour
neither
nephew

nestle

nestling
neurologist
neurology

neuron
neuropathy
neurosis
neurotic
neuter

neutral
neutralization
neutrino
neutron

nevertheless
newsagent
newsmonger
nicotine
ninth
noble

nodule

none
northern

nothing
noticeable
notorious
nourishment
nous
novel
noxious
nuance

nuance
nubile

nuclear

nuclei
nuisance

numb
numeracy
numerology
numerous

numismatic
numismatist

nurse
nutrient
nutrition
nutritious
nutritive

O

oasis
oath
obedience
obituary
obligatory
oblivion
obnoxious

oboe

obsequies
observatory
obsolescent
obsolete
obstinate
obtain
occur
occurrence
odyssey

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

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6

oecumenical

offence
offensive
often
old
omega
omit
onion
only
opera
opinion
opponent
opportunism
opposite

oppugn
orator

orchard
orchestra
orchid
organization
orphan
orthodox
orthopaedics
other
ought

oust

outside
oval
oven
owl

P

paean

paediatric
pagan
pal
palace
palatal
palate
palette
paling

pall

pallid

palm
papyrus
parachute
paradigm
paragraph
paralysis

paramour

parent
parenthesis
parliament
parquet

parry

participle
particularly

parturition

parvenu

pass
passage
passionate
past
pasteurization
pastry
pâté
patrol
pause
paw
peace
pear
peas
peasant
peer
penal
penguin
pennants
pension
penult
performance
perilous

perjure
perjury

perpetuum mobile

perseverance
persistent

persuade
persuasive
pesticide
petrol
pharaoh
pharmaceutical
pharyngeal
phase
phenomenon
phlegm
phlegmatic
photocopy
photographer
pianist
piano
picture
piece
pier

pieta

piety
pint
pioneer

pious

pistachio
pithy

pituitary
pivot

pixel
pizza
placid
plagiarism
plague

plaid

plait

planetoid

plant
plaque
plasma

plat du jour

plateau
plethora

pleura

plough

plumber
plus
pneumatic

pneumococcus
pneumocystis

pneumonia
poem
poignant
police
politician
poll
pony
poor
porcelain

porpoise

portrait

posse

possess
postgraduate
posture
potential
poultry
pour
pout
prairie
praise
prayer
precede
precious
precipice
precise
precisely
predator
predecessor
preface
preposterous
presence
presidential
presumptuous

primordial

princes (pl)
princess
priority

pristine
privacy
private
privatization

privy

proceed
processor
prodigal
prodigy
professionalism
professor
profile
prognosis
prohibit
prohibited
pronoun
pronounce
pronunciation

propaedeutic

proprietor
prostate
prostrate
protein
prove

prowl

psalm
pseudonym
psyche
psychiatric
psychiatrist
psychic
psychoanalysis
psychology
psychosis
psychotherapy

pterodactyl

pudding

puisne

pukka

pulchritude
pulchritudinous
pulmonic
pulsation

pumice

purchase
purgative
purpose

pustule

Q

quadruple
qualm
quantitative
quantity
quarantine
quay
query
queue

quietude

quintuple
quiz
quotation
quote

qwerty

R

rabbis
rabies
radar
radio
raider
rally

rapier

rapport
rarely
ration
rational
rationale
raw
razor
real
realization
really
realm
ream

reasonable
rebus
receipt
recipe
recital
recurrent
reform (v, n)
regime
region
regularly
rehearsal
rehearse
reign
reinforce
reiterate
relatively
reliability
relocate
remembrance
reminiscent
renaissance
renown
repertory
report
resent
reservoir
residence
residue
resonance
resort (v, n)
resound
respite
restaurant
retinue
revenue
rhetoric
rhetorical
rheumatic
rheumatism
rhino
rhomb
rhyme
rhythm

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PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.4.9

7

ribald

rickshaw
ricochet

rifle
right
righteous
rigidity
rigorous
ritual
ritual
robot
robust
rogue
roll
romantic
root
rough

roughage

roughen

rouse

route
rowdy
royal
ruby
rugged
rum

S

sabre
sachet
sacral
sacred
sacrifice
sage
said
saint
salmon
sanctuary
sandwich
sapphire

sarnie

sauce
sauna

savant

saw
says
scarce
scarcely
scarcity
scene
scenic
sceptic
schedule
scheme

schism

schizophrenia

schnitzel

science
scientific

sclerosis
scour

scourge

scow

seat
secretary

sedan

sedate
seduce
seize
seizure
semi-annual
senate
sense
sensitive
sensor
sentence

septic
septuagenarian

serene
sergeant
series
serious
sesame

settee

severance
sew

sheer
shepherd
shone
should
shoulder
shovel

shroud

sieve
si-fi
sigh
sight
sign
significance
signing
silicon
silicone
simile
simultaneous
since

sine die
sine qua non
sinew

singer
singing

sinuous

situation
slander
sleight

sleuth

sloth
slouch

smother

snout
soar
sober
sobriety

sobriquet

sofa
soften
solar
soldier
solely
solemn

solicitous
solo
son

soot
sophism
sough

sought
soup
sour

souse

south
southern
sovereign
sovereignty
spear
special
speciality
specialization
specialty
species
spectator
sphygmomanometer
spirituous
sponge
spontaneous
spontaneously
spouse

spout

sprawl
spread
sprout
spur
staff
stalk
stampede
statuary
statuette
stature
statute
steady
steak
stereo
sterling

stew
steward
stimuli
stimulus
stir

stoicism

stolen
stomach
stout
straight
strategic
straw
strength
strenuous

strewn

studio
studious
studying
stuff
stupefaction
stupendous
stupor
subsequent
subsidiary
subtle
succinct

succour

succumb
sudden
suffice
suffix
suicide
suit
suitable
suite

sulfur, sulphur

sultan
sumptuous
superb
superfluous
support
suppose
supposedly

sure
surface
surmise
surprising
surprisingly
surveillance
survey
susceptible
suture
swallow
swan

sward

sweat
sweater
sweet
swollen
sword
synonymous
synthesis

syringa

syringe

T

taking
talk
talking
tattoo
taught
technical
technique
techno
tedious
telepathy
temperature
tempestuous
temporal
tension
tenuous
tenure
terrace
territory
terrorist
thaw

theatre
theme
theoretically
theory
therapeutic
therapy
there
therefore
thermometer
thermonuclear
thesaurus
theses(pl)
thesis
thigh
thorough
thoroughly

thou (OE)

though
thought
threat

threepence

threshold
thrive

thrombolysis

thrombosis

through
throughout
thumb

thwart

thyme
tight
tights
timbre
tinnitus
tinny
tiny
titan
toll
tomb
ton
tongue
tortious
tortoise

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.4.9

8

tortuous
total
tough
tour

tousle
tout

tout court
tow
towards
trajectory
tranquil
tranquiliser
tranquillity
trauma
treason
treasure
treatise
trebuchet
triad
trial
triangle
tributary
tripod

triticale

triumph
triumphant
trivial
trolley

trough

trout
truism

tuberculosis

tuition

tulip
tulle

tumescence

tumour
tumult
tumultuous
tuna
tundra
tune
tunnel
turban
turbine
turbo
turbulence

tureen

turkey
turpitude

turquoise

turtle
tutelage
tutor
twenty

twopence

typically

U

ubiquitous

UFO

ukulele

ultimate
ultimatum
ultra-

ultrasonic
ultrasound
ultraviolet
uncouth

unctuous

undulate

unduly

unleaded
unreliable
unsociable
urban
useless
uselessness
usually

usurer

utensil
utterance

uvular

V

vacancy
vaccination
vacuum
vague

valet

valour
vampire
vapour
variable
variety
vary
vase
vegetable
vegetarian
vehemence
vehicle
velar

velour

vengeance
venial

verbatim
verdict

verisimilitude

veterinary
veto
via
viaduct
vial
vibrant
vibrate

vicereine
viceroy
victual

video

vignette

village
villain
vineyard
vinyl
violence
violin
viral
virtual
virtue

virtuosic
virtuoso
virtuous

virus
visa

viscount
vituperative

vivacious

voila

volatile
volcano

volcanology

volleyball
voluntarily
voluntary
volunteer
voluptuous
voucher
vow
vulgar

W

walk

wan

wan

WAN (net)

wander
want
ware
warm
wasp
wax
wealth
weapon
wear
weary
Wednesday
weigh
weighed (v)
weight
were
weren't
where
whereas
whereas

whey

whistle
who
whole
wholly
whose
wicked
width
wi-fi

wight

wigwam

wilderness
wolf
woman
womb
women
won
won’t
wonder

wont

word
work
world
worm
worry
worse
worst

wort

worth
woven
wraith
wrap
wrath
wreak
wreath

wreathe

wrong
wrought

X

xenon

xenophobia
xenophobic

xeric
xylophone

Y

yacht
yachtsman

yarmulke
ye
yea

year
yearn
yeast
yeoman

ylang-ylang

yogurt
yolk
youth

yowl

Z

zephyr
zodiacal

Task: Put the above words in the following categories:

1. Words of foreign origin

a. French, Latin, Scottish, Welsh, Irish etc.

2. words with counterintuitive stress pattern
3. Words with silent letters

a. Discover pronunciation rules, e.g. ‘o’ is pronounced as /ʌ/ in cover, won …

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.5.0

9

H

OMOGRAPHS

absent (adj)
absent (v)
abstract (n, adj)
abstract (v)
abuse (n)
abuse (v)
accent (n)
accent (v)
addict (n)
addict (v)
address (n)
address (v)
advert (n)
advert (v)
advocate (n)
advocate (v)
affiliate (adj, n)
affiliate (v)
affix (n)
affix (v)
aggregate (adj, n)
aggregate (v)

alloy (n)
alloy (v)

ally (n)
Ally (pn)
ally (v)
alternate (adj)
alternate (v)
analyses (3

rd

)

analyses (n)
animate (adj)
animate (v)
annex (n)
annex (v)
appropriate (adj)
appropriate (v)
approximate (adj)
approximate (v)
articulate (adj)
articulate (v)

associate (n,adj)
associate (v)
attribute (n)
attribute (v)
augment (n)
augment (v)
august (adj)
August (month)

August (pn)
axes (sing:ax,axes)
axes (sing:axis)
ay/aye (always)
ay/aye (yes)
bass (fish)

bass (music)
blessed (adj)
blessed (v)
bow (n:łuk)
bow (n:ukłon)
bow (v)
bronze
Brougham

brougham

buffet (n)
buffet (v)
certificate (n)
certificate (v)

chassis (pl)
chassis (sing)

close (adj, adv)
close (v)

collect (n)

collect (v)
combine (n, v)
combine (v)
commune (n)
commune (v)
compact (adj)
compact (v)
complex (adj)
complex (n)

component
compound (n,adj)
compound (v)
compress (n)
compress (v)
concert (n)
concert (v)
concrete (v)
concrete (v,n,adj)
conduct (n)
conduct (v)
confine (n)
confine (v)
conflict (n)
conflict (v)
conjure (v:ask)
conjure (v:evoke)
conscript (n)
conscript (v)
console (n)
console (v)
consort (n)
consort (v)
content (adj)
content (n)
content (n)
contest (n)
contest (v)
contract (n)
contract (v)
contrast (n)
contrast (v)
converse (n, adj)
converse (v)
convert (n)
convert (v)
convict (n)
convict (v)
coordinate (n)
coordinate (n,adj)
coordinate (v)

coordinate (v)
corps (pl)
corps (sing)
crooked (adj)
crooked (v)
decoy (n,v)
decoy (v)
decrease (n)
decrease (v)
defect (n)
defect (v)
defile (n)
defile (v)
delegate (n)
delegate (v)
deliberate (adj)
deliberate (v)
descant (n)
descant (v)
desert (n)
desert (v)
dictate (n)
dictate (v)
digest (n)
digest (v)
discard (n)
discard (v)
discharge (n)
discharge (v)
discount (n)
discount (v)
discourse (n)
discourse (v)
does (3

rd

)

does (n, animal)
dogged (adj)
dogged (v)

dove (n)
dove (v)
drawer (szuflada)
drawer(rysownik)

duplicate (n)
duplicate (v)
elaborate (adj)
elaborate (v)

ellipses (sing: elipse)
ellipses (sing: elipsis)

entrance (n)
entrance (v)
escort (n)
escort (v)
essay (n:attempt)
essay (n:writing)
essay (v)
estimate (n)
estimate (v)
evening (n)
evening (v)
excess (adj)
excess (n)

excise (n)
excise (v)

excuse (n)
excuse (v)

executor (legal)
executor (performer)

exploit (n)
exploit (v)
export (n)
export (v)
extract (n)
extract (v)
ferment (n)
ferment (v)
fragment (n)
fragment (v)
frequent (adj)
frequent (v)
graduate (n)
graduate (v)
house (n)
house (v)

impact (n)
impact (v)
implant (n)
implant (v)
import (n)
import (v)
impress (n)
impress (v)
imprint (n)
imprint (v)
incarnate (adj)
incarnate (v)
incense (n)
incense (v)
incline (n)
incline (v)
incorporate (adj)
incorporate (v)
increase (n)
increase (v)
indent (n)
indent (v)

inlay (n)
inlay (v)

insert (n)
insert (v)

inset (n)
inset (v)

insult (n)
insult (v)
interchange (n)
interchange (v)

interdict (n)
interdict (v)

intern (n)
intern (v)
intimate (adj)
intimate (v)
intrigue (n)
intrigue (v)
introvert (n)

introvert (v)

invalid (adj)
invalid (n, v, adj)
inverse (adj)
inverse (n)
invite (n)
invite (v)
just (adj)
just (adv)
laminate (n)
laminate (v)
lead (n)
lead (v)
learned (adj)
learned (v)
live (adj)
live (v)
lives (n)
lives (v)
mandate (n)
mandate (v)
mare (horse)

mare (lunar plain)

minute (adj)
minute (n)
misconduct (n)
misconduct (v)
misprint (n)
misprint (v)
moderate (n, adj)
moderate (v)
moped (n)
moped (v)
mouth (n)
mouth (v)
mouths (v, n)
multiply (adv)
multiply (v)

Niger (country)
Niger (river)

number (n)

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.5.0

10

number (numb)
object (n)
object (v)
overall (adv)
overall (n)
overbid (n)
overbid (v)
overcharge (n)
overcharge (v)
overflow (n)
overflow (v)

overhang (n)
overhang (v)

overhaul (n)
overhaul (v)
overlap (n)
overlap (v)
overlay (n)
overlay (v)
overstay (n)
overstay (v)
overstrain (n)
overstrain (v)
overthrow (n)
overthrow (v)
overwork (n)
overwork (v)
perfect (n, adj)

perfect (v)
perfume (n)
perfume (v)
permit (n)
permit (v)
pervert (n)
pervert (v)
Polish (adj)
polish (v, n)
postulate (n)
postulate (v)
predicate (n)
predicate (v)
prefix (n)

prefix (v)
presage (v)
presage (v)

present (adj, n)
present (v)
proceeds (n)
proceeds (v)
process (n, v)

process (v)
(procession)

produce (n)
produce (v)
progress (n)
progress (v)

project (n)
project (v)

prolapse (n)
prolapse (v)

prospect (n)
prospect (v)
protest (n)
protest (v)

putting (golf)

putting (v)

quark (cheese)
quark (particle)
ragged (adj)
ragged (v)
rampage (n)
rampage (v)

read (past)
read (present)
Reading (city)
reading (v)
rebel (n)
rebel (v)
rebound (n)
rebound (v)
recap (n)
recap (v)
record (n)
record (v)

recount (v)
recount (v)

recoup (n)
recoup (v)

recover (v:cover again)
recover (v:get better)
refill (n)
refill (v)
refit (n)
refit (v)
refund (n)
refund (v)
refuse (n)
refuse (v)
rehash (n)
rehash (v)
reject (n)
reject (v)
relay (n)
relay (v)
remake (n)
remake (v)
remount (n)
remount (v)
replay (n)
replay (v)
reprint (n)
reprint (v)

require
resign (quit)
resign (sign)
résumé (n)
resume (v)
retake (n)
retake (v)
rethink (n)
rethink (v)

retread (n)
retread (v)

rewrite (n)
rewrite (v)
row (n, v: argue)
row (n: line)

sake (alcohol)

sake (n)
second (n,adj,adv)

second (v:duty)

segment (n)
segment (v)
separate (adj, n)
separate (v)
sewer (drain)
sewer (job)
shower (bath)
shower (job)
sin (n, v)

sin (sinus)

Sioux (pl)
Sioux (sing)

slough (n:swamp)
slough (v, n:skin)

sow (n)
sow (v)
subject (n)
subject (v)
subordinate (v)
subordinate(adj, n)
surmise (n)
surmise (v)
survey (n)
survey (v)
suspect (n)
suspect (v)

tarry (adj)
tarry (v)

tear (n)
tear (v)
tier (job)
tier (v,n:layer)
torment (n)
torment (v)
transfer (n)
transfer (v)
transplant (n)

transplant (v)
transport (n)
transport (v)
undercharge (n)
undercharge (v)
undercut (n)
undercut (v)

underline (n)

underline (v)

undertaking (funeral)

undertaking (task)
upgrade (n)
upgrade (v)
uplift (n)
uplift (v)
upset (n)
upset (v, adj)
use (n)
use (v)

viola (flower)
viola (instrument)
Viola (pn)

wind (n)
wind (v)
wound (n)
wound (v)

Exercise: Put the homographs into the following categories:

1. Homographs with stress shift
2. Homographs with /ət/, /eɪt/ endings
3. Homographs with /s/, /z/ endings
4. Homographs with /θ/, /ð/ endings
5. Homographs with different stem vowels
6. Homographs with /t/ or /d/ vs. /ɪd/ endings
7. Others. Find pronunciation rules among the other homographs.

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.5.0

11

P

ROPER

N

AMES

&

T

RADEMARKS

Aaron
Abraham
Achilles
Adobe Acrobat
Aegean
Aeneas
Aesop

Africa
Agatha

Ajax

Albuquerque
Alcester

Aleutian Islands

Alexander

Alfa-Romeo

Algeria
Alnwick

Alsatian

America
Anthony

Aphrodite

Apollo

Appalachia

April
Aquarius

Aquinas

Arabic

Archibald

Archimedes

Ares

Argentine
Aries
Aristotle

Arkansas (river)

Arkansas (state)

Artemis

Arthur
Arundel

Athena
Athens
Audi

August

Augustine
Aurora

Aussie
Australia
Austria

Babylon
Bacchus
Bach

Baltic

Beelzebub
Beijing

Belarus
Beowulf
Berkeley
Berkshire

Berlin

Birmingham
BMW

Boethius
Boleyn

Bosnia
Bournemouth

Braun
Brisbane

Brougham
Buckingham

Bugatti
Buick

Bulgaria
Burgh

Byzantine
Byzantium
Cadillac

Caernarfon
Caerphilly
Caius College

Calliope

Cambodia
Cambridge
Canadian

Caribbean
Carlisle

Carnegie

Carpathian
Caucasian
Celtic

Charon
Chelsea
Chevrolet
Cheyenne

Chicago

Chilean

Cholmondeley
Chopin
Christ
Christian
Christmas

Chrysler
Cicero
Citroen
Clio

Colombia

Confucianism
Confucius

Connecticut
Constantinople
Copenhagen

Cretan

Crete
Crimea

Cymru

Cyprus
Czech
Danish

Danube
Danubian

Daytona

Derby

Descartes

Diana

Diogenes

Diomedes
Dionysus

Disney

Dolittle
Dominica
Doug

Dover

Dulcinea
Dulux
Dumas

Edinburgh
Egypt
Egyptian
Einstein

Electrolux
Emmanuel
Eos
Epictetus
Erato

Estonia

Euclid
Euphrates
Europa (moon)

Europe
European

Euterpe

Exeter

Fabergé

Falklands
Featherstonehaugh
Fiat
Fitzgerald
France

Freixenet

Friern Barnet

Gabriel

Gaelic

Galilee
Gauguin
Ge'ez

Gemini

Geoffrey

Ghana
Ghanaian

Gibraltar
Gilbert
Giles
Glamis
Gloucestershire

Gouda

Graham
Greenwich
Gulliver

Gwaun-cae-Gurwen

Gwydir

Haiti

Hamburg

Hamish

Hastings
Hawaii

Hephaestus
Hera
Heracles
Heraclitus
Hercules
Hermes

Herzegovina

Hewings

Himalaya
Himalayan

Hindi

Holmes

Homer
Hoosier

Hungary

Hyundai

Ian
Iceland
Idaho

IKEA

Illinois
Indianapolis

Inuit

Iowa
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Islington
Israel
Israeli

Israelite

Japan
Jews

Joaquin Phoenix
Job (Hiob)
Judea

Kiev

Knopfler
Kosciusko
Ku Klux Klan
Kyocera
Kyoto
Ladefoged
Lagos
Lamborghini

Lancashire
Leicester
Leicestershire
Leigh
Leonard
Leonardo da Vinci
Lincoln
Lisa
Lithuania
Liverpudlian

Llanuwchllyn

London
Long Mynd

Lucretius
Luna

Luxor

Lvov
Macbeth

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.5.0

12

Machynlleth
MacLeod, McLeod
Madeira
Madeleine

Madrid
Magdalen College

Malta

Mancunian

Marcus Aurelius

Maria
Mars
Mary

Mbabane

Mediterranean

Melpomene
Menelaus

Mercedes-Benz

Mercury
Metheny

Michigan

Minerva

Minnesota
Missouri

Mohave

Montenegro

Montreal
Morpheus
Myanmar

Mytholmroyd
Napoleon
NATO
Nazis

Nemesis
Neoptolemus

Nepal

Neptune
Nestlé

New Orleans
Newcastle
Niagara

Nicaragua
Nickelodeon
Nike

Norwegian
Norwich
Nottingham

Nubia
Oceanus
Odin
Poseidon
Odysseus

Ohio
Oklahoma

Oldsmobile
Orion

Oxford

Padua
Panama
Pauline
Penelope

Pennsylvania

Penthesilea
Penwortham
Persian
Peugeot
Phaeton
Philoctetes

Pisces

Placerville

Plato

Plotinus
Plutarch

Plymouth
Poland

Polish

Polyhymnia
Polyxena
Pontypool
Porsche

Portsmouth
Portuguese

Priam
Priscilla
Prometheus
Proteus
Prussia
Punjab

Putin
Pythagoras

Ralph Fiennes
Rayleigh

Reading
Reagan

Regina
Rhesus
Richter

Romania
Roosevelt
Rotherhithe
Rothersthorpe

Routledge

Rudyard Kipling
Sagittarius
Sarah

Sarkozy
Sarpedon

Sean

SEAT (trademark)
Seine
Selene
Seneca

Seoul
Sexwale

Shakespeare

Shiite

Shire
Shrewsbury
Siberia
Silesia

Sistine

Sisyphus
Socrates

St John’s wort

Stephen

Strachan

Streatham

Subaru
Suez

Surrey
Sydney

Taoism

Taurus

Telephus

Tennessee

Terpsichore
Tethys
Teutonic
Thai
Thales

Thalia

Thames
the Hague

Thebes
Theresa
Thersites
Theseus

Theydon Bois
Thomas

Thompson
Thursday
Tibet

Tigris (River)

Tolkien
Tottenham

Troilus

Trojan
Tucson
Tudor
Tunisia
Turkey

Tuscany

Twinings

Tyr

Venus

UEFA

Ukraine
Upshire

Urania
Uranus
Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Utah

Uzbek
Vaughan

Vauxhall

Veda
Vedic

Venezuela
Venus

Vergil

Vermont

Vesuvius

Viking
Virginia
Virgo

Viscount Althorp

Volkswagen
Vonnegut
Vulcan
Wachowski

Warsaw
Warwickshire
Washington

Whiskas

Wimbledon
Windsor
Wisconsin
Worcestershire
Wrangler
Wyoming

Xavier

Xerox

Xhosa
XP (Christianity)

XP (Windows)

Xsara
Yahveh
Yahweh
Yamaha

YMCA
Yosemite
YouTube
Yugoslavia

Zarathustra
Zeus
Zion
Zoroastrianism

©

[e-mail]

PRONUNCIATION Tricky Words

ver.5.0

13

Exercise: Group the above words under the following categories:

1. Geographic and historical names

a. country names & national adjectives
b. places in the UK
c.

places in the USA

d. notable British castles
e. other places worldwide

2. First names and family names
3. Planets, stars, constellations, Zodiacs
4. Classical antiquity – ancient gods, heroes, poets, philosophers etc.
5. Biblical names
6. Trademarks

a. car makes
b. others

7. Others, unclassified.