Adam
Alex
Emma
Gill
James
15 English words that even native speakers don’t pronounce correctly
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been speaking English your entire life; you’re bound to make some mistakes. Sure, you learned the proper way to saylibrary when you were a kid, but do you pronounce prescription like “per-scrip-tion” or “pri-scrip-tion”? And what’s the proper way to say hierarchy? Improve your pronunciation or just satisfy your curiosity with this fun English lesson that proves you can always learn something new. And probably still keep making the same mistakes anyway because everyone else is making them too. Words in this lesson include: arctic, cavalry, especially, foliage, hierarchy, interpret, miniature, sherbet, February, and more.
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68 COMMENTS
See you in the comments! Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback on this lesson.
Very nice class, teacher. I am learnig a lot.
Thank you the lesson Alex,I am having hard time learning or understanding the consonant cluster. I will be appreciated if could do lesson on consonant cluster. Thank you in advance.
As a learner, I rarely misunderstand most of those words that you mentioned. I felt so relaxed when you told that the second month of the year was quite confusing to pronounce even for you ;). Feb… what? :)?
I say it both ways depending on the moment.
Hi Alex, thank you for sound advice about EngVid. I have had the same problem as you))) And for INTERPRET. I didn’t know that INTERPRETATE in no longer used.
That is correction! “Interpretation” is still a noun, but “interpret” is the correct verb form in English. “Interpretate” does exist in other Latin languages, though.
Thank you, Alex!
‘Hierarchy’ is still my nightmare, even though I’ve repeated it countless times. :)
It’s an annoying one. Like I said, most people will understand you even if you say it “wrong.” Common/Popular usage usually trumps prescriptive usage.
You’re right, Alex. Thank you for your response.
No problem! Thanks for checking out the video.
you are the best teacher
That’s very kind. Thank you.
Awesome, I got 100 on my first quiz.
Nice job! :)
Thanks a lot! I really enjoyed the lesson.
No problem! I’m glad you dug it!
Hello…I’d like to brush my speaking up. Is there anyone who is interested in speaking to me on a regular basis?
My whatsapp number is +8801812788727.
Thank you.
Rasho.
Good luck! I hope you find someone. You might want to consider an app like Tandem, or sites like Talki or Cambly.
thank you Mr. Alex,
such an interesting lesson
You’re very welcome. Thank YOU for studying with EngVid, and good luck!
thank you Mr. Alex,
You’re very welcome. :)
You are greate teacher. Reale
Thank you! If you don’t mind, just a few corrections…
“You are a great teacher. Really.”
Good luck with your studies. :)
HIIIIII Alex
i was wondering why the fuck there is no english lesson about future perfect in EngVid????
i’ll be grateful forever if you could do a lesson about it
Thank you so much
Good question! I just checked and Rebecca has recorded one, but I’m not sure when it will actually become available. For now, I would just use Google and look up some other websites to fill in the gaps.
The pronunciation sounds very natural in video lessons. The right stressed syllable becomes more clear. The entire words are well explained. I had a good understanding and grade on the quiz.
Thank you Alex!
That’s awesome to hear! Thanks for checking out the lesson, Roberto. I’m glad it was useful.
I’m delighted to came across this English Chanel on YouTube , I have learnt and correct my mistakes on the way i pronounced some words, in fact you’re my best teacher now!
Welcome to EngVid! I’m always happy to see new faces. :) Good luck with your studies!
Yes please,Get Instagram and go for a live lessons. :))
Haha. Right now that would be impossible. There would be kids in the background. :p
Ok, thank you so much!
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hi ,
Alex you are nice teacher . Your teaching method is so good . thanks to teaches me .
Again thank you
That’s very kind of you to say! Thank you so much. :)
Yes, I have heard English-speakers say “Febjiary”. I have also heard “eksetra” meaning “et cetera” from one of EngVid teachers which could be a nice #16 item for this lesson. Thanks very much for educating us Alex!
Ha! I have said eksetera many times, but I have corrected it now.
Dear Alex,
First of all, thank you so much and I have to share something with you about pronouncing of the word “prescription”.
couple years ago James had done a video and in there he told about its pronouns. He mentioned that the pronunciation of the word “prescribe or prescription” is like IPA code “pirˈskripSHən”.
I should have found that lesson but unfortunately, I could not find that. please let me know if I am wrong and get my bulb light.
No big deal! Both are perfectly acceptable even if prI is what I see in most dictionaries. James may have been using the pronunciation he’s most familiar with, but I can’t speak for him.
Thank you so much Alex, you are the best.
I am really sorry, in the middle of my note I had to write “its pronunciation”.
thank you
I’ve just found u??
Sir please tell me how could know my Level?
I like this video thanks
thank you Alex
Very nive and funny lesson!
Thanks
Very “nice” i mean…
Great Lesson Mr Alex…
Thank you, Mr. Alex; today, I am going to learn real English. I thought marrying a Canadian would help my English. I ended up learning a few limited sentences like: what did you cook today, is supper ready, I can’t find my socks, let me sleep, let me watch TV. I believed before your lesson that English is composed of this only vocabulary.
thank you sir
a good class for pronunciation learning.
You are the best teacher, Alex. Your pedagogy is utmost
English is my third language and I have never had any problem pronouncing any of these, could you please make a video with harder words? Thank you.
Also, I think we should note, that these pronunciations are American..
very interesting.. thank you so much !!
You are a great teacher, thank you for your excellent job.
Wow! I am thrilled that I have joined your site. Thank u, Alex.
Thanks a lot for your pronunciation lessons. I love this so much.
COMFORTABLE is a word that made struggle a lot, when I was in middle of pronunciating the word it just felt weird to me to pronounce the R after the T, but I looked for it on google and here I am, subscribed and everything. Thanks for the lesson!
80% not so bad. Thanks for the lesson
I dare say that in pronunciation exercises the students should not be given the wrong versions – anything but correct! Why should we know the ten-year-old mistakes of our esteemed teacher?
Hi Mr. Alex, I hope you’re OK
I want to ask how to make “research” in plural?
Thanks
Thanks a lot Sir
Thank you Mr. Alex.
Hello, this is Maria Milagros Alvarez, I am so glad to be in your class. I got a 100 evaluation, which is the best qualification
The lesson was so didactic and mastered academics word
YOu are an amazing teacher Mr. Alex