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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

common mis-pronunciations

364 replies

wherethewildrosesgrow · 25/08/2016 14:40

Since using Facebook, I've noticed a lot of people pronounce things wrongly,
Discusing instead of disgusting
Pacific instead of specific
Brought instead of bought
Tenderhooks instead of tenterhooks
and this ones my favourite....
chester draws instead of chest of drawers

It make me wonder if I'm unknowingly guilty of some without knowing ?
list the ones you've noticed, don't forget to own up to any your guilty of, I will.

OP posts:
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BrendaFurlong · 25/08/2016 17:03

I spent over an hour doing an (awful) online safeguarding training course in which both presenters were seemingly unaware that the letter l appears twice in vulnerable.

By the end I was ready to scream. I did however include my displeasure in the feedback.

The day I heard a BBC newsreader say seck - e -tary for secretary was a low point as well.

IloveJudgeJudy · 25/08/2016 17:16

The pronunciation of forte is fortay in both meanings.

I did hear, in particular with regard to controversy, that the emphasis moved towards the beginning of the word as years go by.

ChocolateFuzz · 25/08/2016 17:27

IloveJudgeJudy
No, sorry www.grammarerrors.com/pronunciation/forte-pronounced-for-tay/

molyholy · 25/08/2016 17:53

I've seen 'Wallah' used for 'voilà' a couple of times.

Pineappletastic · 25/08/2016 18:17

I've been saying Forte wrong, not that I say it all that often. I also don't pronounce the first L in vulnerable. Oops.

Written rather than spoken - 'maybe' when it should be 'may be'.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 25/08/2016 18:20

The dc pronounce the l in almond. Drives dh mad. I am just hoping that they switch to a less controversial nut soon otherwise 2016 will go down in history as the start of the nut civil war.

Brentlicious · 25/08/2016 18:26

A pet hate is inless instead of unless. Jezza Kyle says it but that still doesn't make it right.
And my MIL used to talk about the creech at her church - where children were looked after during the service.

SardineJam · 25/08/2016 18:30

Congradulations and appauled 😵

PleaseGetOffTheTableDarling · 25/08/2016 18:30

Wait, what?! CONtroversy?? Mind. Blown. Grin

FithColumnist · 25/08/2016 18:31

Beckon call.

TheDowagerCuntess · 25/08/2016 18:41

Cleek instead of click for clique is one of my pet hates.

But it is pronounced 'cleek'.

PuppyMonkey · 25/08/2016 18:42

"Rest bite" instead of respite is my all time favourite of these. Grin

Laiste · 25/08/2016 19:23

I don't pronounce the first l in vulnerable either Blush

I pronounce Wednesday 'Wensdee', and i don't pronounce the r in February either. Febu'ry.

How man people here pronounce white with a bit of h at the beginning? I love to hear that.

(i really admire good diction. i hate mine)

Laiste · 25/08/2016 19:24

*many

OrlandaFuriosa · 25/08/2016 20:22

Completely disagree with grammar errors on forte. Rubbish...

Forte is only French if applied to the feminine. Fort is the French adjective, fierce the noun. France being a patriarchy, to use a generic adjective one would use the masculine adjective. On est fort.. Ils sont forts.

Forte, meaning strength in English , is pronounced for tay. See both CU and OU dictionaries

Dollypoppy · 25/08/2016 20:29

On a similar theme, can someone please explain the difference between in spite of and despite?

Waiting with bated breath Wink

alfagirl73 · 25/08/2016 20:30

More something I see written than spoken... but "would of" and "could of" instead of "would have" and "could have". Literally makes me want to stick things in my eyes! Drives me insane.

OneWaySystemBlues · 25/08/2016 21:38

My GP surgery called me up the other day to tell me that I was 'illegible' for a pneumonia jab. Last year I was also 'illegible' for a 'flu jab.

SENPARENT · 25/08/2016 21:46

I hate hearing/seeing "could of", "would of" and "should of" instead of
"could have", "would have" and "should have"

Gruffalosgrandma · 25/08/2016 21:47

"Tow the line " and " I can't bare it"
make me chuckle.

SENPARENT · 25/08/2016 21:48

Oops sorry duplicated your post alfagirl

Crunchymum · 25/08/2016 21:49

Queue instead of cue. Fucks me off!!

Horsegirl1 · 25/08/2016 21:52

Carnt instead of can't. Drives me insane

buckingfrolicks · 25/08/2016 21:52

Extract pronounced esstract or anything like that. Grrr

TheDowagerCuntess · 25/08/2016 21:56

In spite of, and despite, are interchangeable. :)