Language can be hard, especially English. There are so many weird rules and exceptions that even native speakers can hardly keep track of them. As a result, there are occasions you come across words you might not know how to pronounce. We're all guilty of this at one point or another but these are the 7 that bug me the most.
7. Nuclear
How it's supposed to be pronounced: New-clee-er
Most common mispronunciation: Nu-cu-ler
This one annoys me because for the life of me, I cannot figure out why this extra U sound is added. This is actually one of the most common ways for words to become mispronounced and that just makes me go nuclear.
6. Zoology
How it's supposed to be pronounced: Zo(rhymes with so)-ology
Most common mispronunciation: Zu-ology
So this one doesn't actually irritate me all that much but it reminds me of a zoology professor I once had. Apparently the fastest way to make a zoologist mad is to pronounce zoology incorrectly around them. Do not recommend unless you're ready for an etymology lesson.
5. Pronunciation
How it's supposed to be pronounced: Pro-nun-see-a-shun
Most common mispronunciation: pro-nounce-see-a-shun
I thought something like this was impossible when I was younger because I had never heard anybody actually say it like that before. Then one day at college, my ears were opened. This girl was talking to her friend in class and she said "mispronounciate" but I thought I misheard her. I did not. I know this because she said it three more times in that conversation! It still stuns me to this day thinking about it.
4. Reese's
How it's supposed to be pronounced: Reese-is
Most common mispronunciation: Ree-sees
This is the reason this list exists. It irks me so much when people say "Reesees" when referring to this candy brand. I have no idea how this pronunciation came about but it's super wrong. It's just Reese (like Reese Witherspoon) with an apostrophe s. I will not stand for this injustice for one of my favorite candies in the world.
P.S. that's why Reese's Pieces are called what they are. They're supposed to rhyme with each other.
3. The Giga Prefix
How it's supposed to be pronounced: It can actually be pronounced with a hard g (as in gold) or a soft g (as in giant).
Since both ways are correct to use, you may be wondering why this on the list. The problem I have with it is just that, there's two ways to say it. I (and many others) say a word like gigabyte with a hard g but then gigawatts uses a soft g? That inconsistency drive me insane and this isn't the only word to suffer this problem. Gif/Jif has this exact same problem and it confuses everybody. Kind of like that dress.
2. Melee
How it's supposed to be pronounced: May-lay
Most common mispronunciation: Me-lee
This a word I first heard when I played the game Super Smash Brothers: Melee. The announcer says the word on the opening screen so I was able to hear how it was pronounced. So I don't hold against people who may have not had the chance to hear it like I have. However, I have friends who say it incorrectly even after playing this game and it breaks my brain.
1. Wingardium Leviosa
You tell 'em Hermione.
