Lesson: Commonly Mispronounced English Words by Chinese and Vietnamese Learners
Objective: Help learners recognize, pronounce, and use commonly mispronounced English
words correctly. Each entry includes the correct IPA pronunciation, a simple definition, and
an example sentence.
1. Clothes
IPA: /kloʊdz/
Meaning: Garments you wear.
Example: I packed all my clothes for the trip.
Note: Many say "cloth" or drop the "th" sound entirely.
2. Comfortable
IPA: /ˈkʌmf.tə.bəl/
Meaning: Feeling relaxed and without discomfort.
Example: This chair is very comfortable.
Note: Often mispronounced as "com-for-ta-ble."
3. Vegetable
IPA: /ˈvɛdʒ.tə.bəl/
Meaning: Edible plant or part of a plant.
Example: Carrot is my favorite vegetable.
Note: Common mistake: pronouncing every syllable clearly like "veg-e-ta-ble."
4. Island
IPA: /ˈaɪ.lənd/
Meaning: A piece of land surrounded by water.
Example: We spent our vacation on a small island.
Note: The "s" is silent.
5. Colonel
IPA: /ˈkɜːr.nəl/
Meaning: A high military rank.
Example: The colonel gave the order to move forward.
Note: Spelled very differently from how it sounds.
6. Entrepreneur
IPA: /ˌɒn.trə.prəˈnɜːr/
Meaning: Someone who starts a business.
Example: She became an entrepreneur at the age of 25.
Note: French origin causes pronunciation confusion.
7. Choir
IPA: /kwaɪər/
Meaning: A group of singers.
Example: She joined the school choir.
Note: Often misread as "cho-er."
8. Receipt
IPA: /rɪˈsiːt/
Meaning: Proof of a purchase.
Example: Keep the receipt in case you return the item.
Note: The "p" is silent.
9. February
IPA: /ˈfeb.ru.ər.i/
Meaning: The second month of the year.
Example: My birthday is in February.
Note: Common error is skipping the first "r."
10. Pizza
IPA: /ˈpiːt.sə/
Meaning: A popular Italian food with cheese and toppings.
Example: We ordered a large pizza.
Note: Often mispronounced with a strong "z" sound.
11. Technology
IPA: /tekˈnɒ.lə.dʒi/
Meaning: Use of science for practical purposes.
Example: Technology has changed our lives.
Note: Some misplace the stress or say "tech-no-logy."
12. Architecture
IPA: /ˈɑː.kɪ.tek.tʃər/
Meaning: The design of buildings.
Example: He studied architecture in college.
Note: Learners might stress the wrong syllable.
13. Debris
IPA: /dəˈbriː/
Meaning: Pieces left from something broken.
Example: The storm left debris all over the road.
Note: The "s" is silent.
14. Subtle
IPA: /ˈsʌt.l/
Meaning: Not obvious.
Example: Her smile was subtle but sincere.
Note: The "b" is silent.
15. Rural
IPA: /ˈrʊə.rəl/
Meaning: Relating to the countryside.
Example: He lives in a rural area far from the city.
Note: Difficult due to the repeated "r" sounds.
16. Sixth
IPA: /sɪksθ/
Meaning: The ordinal number after fifth.
Example: My birthday is on the sixth of July.
Note: Learners often omit the "th" sound.
17. Specific
IPA: /spəˈsɪf.ɪk/
Meaning: Clearly defined or identified.
Example: Please be specific with your instructions.
Note: Often mispronounced as "pacific."
18. Jewelry
IPA: /ˈdʒuː.əl.ri/]
Meaning: Ornaments like rings or necklaces.
Example: She wore beautiful jewelry to the party.
Note: Extra syllables are often added.
19. Anxious
IPA: /ˈæŋk.ʃəs/
Meaning: Worried or nervous.
Example: He felt anxious before the interview.
Note: The "x" can be confusing; sounds like "ngk-shus."
20. Iron
IPA: /ˈaɪ.ən/
Meaning: A metal or the tool to press clothes
Example: I need to iron my shirt.
Note: Often mispronounced as "eye-ron."
21. Dessert
IPA: /dɪˈzɜːrt/
Meaning: Sweet food eaten after a meal.
Example: We had ice cream for dessert.
Note: Confused with "desert" due to spelling.
22. Develop
IPA: /dɪˈvel.əp/
Meaning: To grow or improve something.
Example: She wants to develop her skills.
Note: Stress should be on the second syllable.
23. Chaos
IPA: /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/
Meaning: Complete disorder or confusion.
Example: There was chaos in the room after the announcement.
Note: Learners often mispronounce the "ch" as /tʃ/.
24. Opportunity
IPA: /ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nə.ti/
Meaning: A good chance for advancement.
Example: This is a great opportunity for your career.
Note: Be careful with stress and vowel sounds.
25. Data
IPA: /ˈdeɪ.tə/ or /ˈdæ.tə/
Meaning: Information collected for use.
Example: We analyzed the data before the meeting.
Note: Both pronunciations are correct, depending on region.
Practice Tips:
Listen and repeat the word aloud.
Record yourself and compare to native pronunciation.
Use each word in a sentence about your own life.
26. Schedule
IPA: /ˈʃed.juːl/ (British), /ˈskedʒ.uːl/ (American)
Meaning: A plan for carrying out a process or events.
Example: I have a busy schedule this week.
Note: Learners may mix British and American pronunciations.
27. Often
IPA: /ˈɒf.ən/ or /ˈɒf.tən/
Meaning: Frequently; many times.
Example: She often goes jogging in the morning
Note: The 't' is usually silent in casual speech.
28. Vehicle
IPA: /ˈviː.ɪ.kəl/
Meaning: A machine used for transportation.
Example: He parked the vehicle outside.
Note: Learners often misplace stress or say "ve-HI-cle."
29. Focus
IPA: /ˈfəʊ.kəs/
Meaning: To pay attention to something.
Example: It’s hard to focus in a noisy room.
Note: Some pronounce it as "fo-cus" with incorrect stress.
30. Bury
IPA: /ˈber.i/
Meaning: To place something in the ground and cover it.
Example: They will bury the time capsule next week.
Note: Mispronounced as /ˈbʌr.i/ because of its spelling.
31. Height
IPA: /haɪt/
Meaning: The measurement from base to top.
Example: His height is above average.
Note: Often mispronounced as /haɪθ/.
32. Sword
IPA: /sɔːrd/
Meaning: A weapon with a long metal blade.
Example: The knight carried a sword.
Note: The "w" is silent.
33. Tomb
IPA: /tuːm/
Meaning: A large grave.
Example: The tomb was found under the temple.
Note: The "b" is silent.
34. Genre
IPA: /ˈʒɒn.rə/
Meaning: A category of art, music, or literature.
Example: My favorite movie genre is comedy.
Note: French origin; the "g" sounds like /ʒ/.
35. Buffet
IPA: /ˈbʊf.eɪ/
Meaning: A meal with many dishes to choose from.
Example: We had dinner at a buffet.
Note: Often pronounced like "buff-it," but the correct stress is on the second syllable.
36. Mischievous
IPA: /ˈmɪs.tʃə.vəs/
Meaning: Behaving in a playful or mildly naughty way.
Example: The mischievous boy hid behind the door.
Note: Often mispronounced with an extra syllable as "mis-chee-vee-us."
37. Coupon
IPA: /ˈkuː.pɒn/
Meaning: A voucher for a discount.
Example: I used a coupon to get 10% off.Note:
Mispronounced as /kʌp.ɒn/ or /kjuː.pɒn/.
38. Salmon
IPA: /ˈsæm.ən/
Meaning: A type of fish.
Example: We had grilled salmon for dinner.
Note: The "l" is silent.
39. Debt
IPA: /det/
Meaning: Money owed to someone.
Example: He paid off all his debt.
Note: The "b" is silent.
40. Almond
IPA: /ˈɑː.mənd/ or /ˈæl.mənd/
Meaning: A type of nut.
Example: I added almonds to the salad.
Note: Some varieties drop the "l" sound.
41. Wednesday
IPA: /ˈwenz.deɪ/
Meaning: The day between Tuesday and Thursday
Example: The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.
Note: Often mispronounced as /wɛd.nɛz.deɪ/ due to spelling.
42. Chaos
IPA: /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/
Meaning: Complete disorder or confusion.
Example: There was chaos after the announcement.
Note: Learners may pronounce "ch" as /tʃ/.
43. Police
IPA: /pəˈliːs/
Meaning: A civil force maintaining law and order.
Example: The police arrived quickly.
Note: Stress is on the second syllable, not the first.
44. Category
IPA: /ˈkæt.ə.ɡɔː.ri/
Meaning: A group of things with shared characteristics.
Example: This movie belongs to the action category.
Note: Often mispronounced with incorrect syllable stress.
45. Comfortable
IPA: /ˈkʌmf.tə.bəl/
Meaning: Providing ease or relaxation.
Example: The sofa is very comfortable.
Note: Learners tend to pronounce all syllables instead of reducing them.
46. Pronunciation
IPA: /prəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
Meaning: The way a word is spoken.
Example: Her pronunciation is very clear.
Note: Often mispronounced as "pro-noun-ciation" due to spelling confusion.
47. Candidate
IPA: /ˈkæn.dɪ.dət/
Meaning: A person applying for a job or position.
Example: She is a strong candidate for the job.
Note: The third syllable is often overpronounced.
48. Entrepreneurial
IPA: /ˌɒn.trə.prəˈnɜː.ri.əl/
Meaning: Related to starting and running a business.
Example: He has a very entrepreneurial mindset.
Note: A long word with multiple tricky syllables.
49. Hierarchy
IPA: /ˈhaɪə.rɑː.ki/
Meaning: A system of levels of importance or authority.
Example: The company has a clear hierarchy.
Note: Often mispronounced by adding extra syllables or stressing incorrectly.
50. Quote
IPA: /kwoʊt/
Meaning: To repeat someone's words or give a price estimate.
Example: She quoted a famous author in her speech.Note: Learners sometimes
mispronounce the "qu" as /kwɒt/.
CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES and EXPRESSIONS
1. "Go with the flow"
Meaning: To relax and let things happen naturally.
Example: I didn’t plan anything—just going with the flow today.
Exercise:
What kind of situations make you go with the flow instead of planning everything?
2. "Spill the beans"
Meaning: Reveal a secret or surprise (usually accidentally).
Example: Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party!
Exercise:
Have you ever spilled the beans without meaning to? What happened?
3. "Kill two birds with one stone"
Meaning: Achieve two things at once.
Example: I walked the dog and got my exercise—killed two birds with one stone.
Exercise:
Think of a time when you were able to do two things efficiently at once.
4. "Take it easy"
Meaning: Relax or don’t work too hard.
Example: You’ve been working all week—take it easy this weekend.
Exercise:
What do you like to do when you take it easy?
5. "On cloud nine"
Meaning: Extremely happy.
Example: She was on cloud nine after getting the job offer.
Exercise:
Describe a moment in your life when you felt on cloud nine.
6. "Read between the lines"
Meaning: Understand a hidden or unspoken meaning.
Example: He didn’t say he was upset, but I could read between the lines.
Exercise:
How can you learn to read between the lines in professional conversations?
7. "On the ball"
Meaning: Alert, prepared, or doing a good job.
Example: She’s always on the ball during meetings.
Exercise:
What do you do to stay on the ball at work or school?
8. "Hit the books"
Meaning: Study hard.
Example: Exams are next week—I need to hit the books tonight.
Exercise:
What strategies help you when it’s time to hit the books?
9. "Cost an arm and a leg"
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: That new iPhone costs an arm and a leg!
Exercise:
What’s something you want but it costs an arm and a leg?
10. "Out of someone’s league"
Meaning: Too good or too high in status for someone.
Example: He thinks she’s out of his league, but they get along well.
Exercise:
Have you ever felt something or someone was out of your league? Why?
11. "Take it with a grain of salt"
Meaning: Don’t believe everything completely; be a little skeptical.
Example: He said he’s getting a promotion, but I’d take it with a grain of salt.
12. "Cut to the chase"
Meaning: Get to the point; skip the small talk.
Example: We’re short on time, so let’s cut to the chase.
13. "Bite the bullet"
Meaning: Do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
Example: I finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist.
14. "Up in the air"
Meaning: Uncertain or not decided yet.
Example: Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
15. "Hit the nail on the head"
Meaning: To describe something exactly right.
Example: When you said we need better time management, you hit the nail on the head.
16. "Get the ball rolling"
Meaning: Start something, especially a process or project.
Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on the new marketing plan.
17. "Back to square one"
Meaning: Start over from the beginning after a failed attempt.
Example: Our plan didn’t work, so we’re back to square one.
18. "Think outside the box"
Meaning: Be creative or think in a new, unconventional way.
Example: We need to think outside the box to solve this issue.
19. "Pulling someone’s leg"
Meaning: Joking or teasing someone.
Example: Don’t believe him—he’s just pulling your leg.
20. "Speak of the devil"
Meaning: Used when the person you’re talking about suddenly appears.
Example: Speak of the devil—there’s John now!
21. "Break the ice"
Meaning: To start a conversation in a social situation to make everyone feel more
comfortable.
Example: Telling a joke helped break the ice during the team meeting.
22. "Out of the blue"
Meaning: Something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly.
Example: She called me out of the blue after five years of no contact.
23. "On the same page"
Meaning: Agreeing or having the same understanding about something.
Example: Before we move forward, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.
24. "Throw in the towel"
Meaning: To give up or quit.
Example: After three failed attempts, he finally threw in the towel.
25. "Call the shots"
Meaning: To be in control or make the decisions.
Example: In our team, the project manager calls the shots.
26. "Burn the midnight oil"
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: She burned the midnight oil to finish the project on time.
27. "The ball is in your court"
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: I’ve done my part—now the ball is in your court.
28. "Beat around the bush"
Meaning: To avoid saying something directly.
Example: Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.
29. "At the end of the day"
Meaning: Ultimately; when everything is considered.
Example: At the end of the day, what matters is your happiness.
30. "Go the extra mile"
Meaning: To do more than what is expected.
Example: She always goes the extra mile to help her students succeed.
31. "In hot water"
Meaning: In trouble or a difficult situation.
Example: He was in hot water after missing an important client meeting.
32. "Let the cat out of the bag"
Meaning: Reveal a secret by accident.
Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
33. "Hit the ground running"
Meaning: Start something quickly and with enthusiasm.
Example: She hit the ground running on her first day at work.
34. "Throw someone under the bus"
Meaning: Blame someone to protect yourself.
Example: He threw his teammate under the bus to avoid getting in trouble.
35. "Bend over backwards"
Meaning: Make a great effort to help or please someone.
Example: They bent over backwards to make their guests feel welcome.
36. "By the book"
Meaning: To follow rules strictly.
Example: The accountant does everything by the book.
37. "A blessing in disguise"
Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise—I found something better.
38. "Cut corners"
Meaning: To do something cheaply or quickly, often sacrificing quality.
Example: The builder cut corners, and now the roof is leaking.
39. "Keep your fingers crossed"
Meaning: Hope for a good outcome.
Example: I have my job interview tomorrow—keep your fingers crossed for me!
40. "Put yourself in someone’s shoes"
Meaning: Imagine how someone else feels.
Example: Try to put yourself in her shoes—she’s under a lot of pressure.
41. "Take it or leave it"
Meaning: The offer is final—accept it or not, no negotiation.
Example: That’s my final price—take it or leave it.
42. "Jump on the bandwagon"
Meaning: Join something popular or trending.
Example: Everyone’s on TikTok now, so I finally jumped on the bandwagon.
43. "The elephant in the room"
Meaning: A big, obvious issue that no one wants to talk about.
Example: We need to address the elephant in the room—our budget cuts.
44. "On thin ice"
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous situation.
Example: He’s on thin ice after arriving late three days in a row.
45. "Get cold feet"
Meaning: To suddenly feel too nervous to do something.
Example: She got cold feet before the big presentation.
46. "Not playing with a full deck"
Meaning: Acting strangely or not thinking clearly.
Example: He’s a nice guy, but sometimes he’s not playing with a full deck.
47. "A dime a dozen"
Meaning: Very common and not valuable.
Example: Cheap plastic toys are a dime a dozen.
48. "Go down in flames"
Meaning: Fail dramatically.
Example: Their new product launch went down in flames.
49. "Let bygones be bygones"
Meaning: Forgive and forget past problems.
Example: Let’s let bygones be bygones and move forward as a team.
50. "Kick the bucket"
Meaning: (Informal) To die.
Example: He finally kicked the bucket at age 92.
Conversational Practice Questions with Expressions
1–10
Have you ever been on the fence about a big decision? What helped you decide?
When was the last time you called it a day and felt good about your progress?
What’s something that’s not your cup of tea, but your friends love it?
Has anyone ever kept you in the loop on an important issue?
When was a time you were completely swamped at work or school?
What’s a time something slipped your mind, and how did you handle it?
Have you ever gone the extra mile for someone? What happened?
Can you remember a time when someone broke the ice in an awkward situation?
What’s something that happened out of the blue and changed your day?
When was the last time you had to bite the bullet and do something uncomfortable?
11–20
Have you ever had plans that were still up in the air? How did you feel?
What’s a time when you really hit the nail on the head with an idea or comment?
Do you prefer to work by the book or think outside the box? Why?
When did you last need to cut to the chase in a conversation or meeting?
Share a moment when you had to let the cat out of the bag by accident.
Have you ever felt in hot water at school or work? What did you do?
Tell about a time you threw in the towel on something. What made you stop?
Do you like to jump on the bandwagon, or do you prefer to wait?
What’s a situation where you were clearly on thin ice with someone?
Have you ever gotten cold feet before doing something important?
21–30
Describe a time when you hit the ground running in a new job or task.
When have you had to pull someone’s leg, just for fun?
Do you know anyone who tends to beat around the bush when they speak?
What’s something in your life that was a blessing in disguise?
Have you ever worked with someone who cut corners? How did it affect the result?
What’s a moment you’ll never forget that went down in flames?
What’s a secret or issue that felt like the elephant in the room?
Have you ever had to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand their point of
view?
What’s something you would describe as a no-brainer?
Have you ever felt like someone threw you under the bus?
31–40
Can you give an example of someone who calls the shots in your life?
What kind of tasks make you want to burn the midnight oil?
What topic would you say you're on the same page with your family or coworkers about?
Have you ever had a chance to get the ball rolling on a team project?
What’s a decision you made that was take it or leave it for someone else?
Share a time when you had to let bygones be bygones to fix a friendship.
What kind of things are a dime a dozen in your city or culture?
Have you ever met someone who clearly wasn’t playing with a full deck?
What’s something you often say off the top of your head, even if unsure?
Have you ever told someone to keep their fingers crossed for you?
41–50
What’s a time you felt like you had to break the ice in a professional situation?
When was the last time someone bent over backwards for you?
Share a moment where you really had to put your foot down (be firm).
What’s something in your life that you took with a grain of salt?
Have you ever felt like the ball was in your court, and you had to decide?
What’s a task you’d describe as not rocket science, but people overthink?
Have you ever had to admit defeat and say, “I’m back to square one”?
Can you describe a time where you let someone off the hook?
What’s one thing you’d never sweep under the rug?
And just for fun—what do you want to do before you kick the bucket?
