Difficult words in the English Language
Here are some of the most difficult words in the English language that have confused not only ESL students, but also us regular folk when it comes to the pronunciation and spelling of the words.
Check out these tougher than usual English words along with the correct spelling and pronunciation.
1. SYNECDOCHE / si-nek-duh-kee
A synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something represents the whole of it – or vice versa. For example, someone “showing off their wheels” or “buying new threads”.
2. FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILFICSTION / flok-suh-naw-suh-nahy-hil-uh-pil-uh-fi-key-shuh n
The longest F word in the dictionary! However, it’s not a cuss word.
It means the action or habit of estimating something as worthless.
3. WORCESTERSHIRE / woo s-ter-sheer
This word has baffled many! Probably because it’s pronounced differently depending on where you are based, but most people skip the first R when pronouncing it.
4. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS / soo-per-kal-uh-fraj-uhlis-tik-ek-spee-al-i-doh-shuh s
What a mouthful! Most will remember this word from the famous 1964’s Mary Poppins film where it was sang in a catchy tune, but the word actually dates back a little further according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The 1940’s to be exact.
5. SIXTH / siksth
This word doesn’t seem too difficult; it’s only one syllable. Still many people struggle to pronounce the written word correctly when it comes up unexpectedly.
6. DETERIORATE / dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt
When the pronunciation of words become progressively worse, try to use one of the many, many synonyms instead, like:
Decay, Decline, devolve etc.!
7. EXPONENTIALLY / ek-spoh-nen-shu lee
The meaning of the word is with reference to an increase (more and more rapidly). Commonly used in mathematics.
8. ISTHMUS / is-muh s
A narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and separates two bodies of water. Luckily only a small percentage of the world will use this word and we can avoid this pronunciation all together.
9. IGNOMINIOUS / ig-nuh-min-ee-uh s
It’s a synonym for dishonorable or despicable; the dictionary describes it as deserving or causing public disgrace. A lot like when you try to pronounce the word and it gets the best of you and now you must face the humiliating defeat.
10. MASSACHUSETTS / mas-uh-choo-sits
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the historic state name comes from the native people’s Algonquian word. People outside of New England tend to turn the last S into a “Sh” sound.
11. OFTEN / aw-fuh 'n
We use this word on regular basis and many pronounce the word as “off-ten”, but Merriam-Webster has said that T-less version is preferred, as it better reflects the evolutions from its Middle English roots.
12. ONOMATOPOEIA / on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh
This word is usually used for literal effect. It’s the act of naming something similar to the sound associated with it, for example:
The sizzle of a steak; the tick tock of a clock, or the ding-dong of a doorbell.
13. ASTERISK / as-tuh-risk
Referring to the small star like symbol (*), usually used in mathematics as a multiplication symbol. This word is hard to pronounce because people tend to rearrange the S and the K at the end, which then sounds like “Asteriks”.
14. ANEMONE / uh-nem-uh-nee
Anemone refers to a plant of the buttercup family. Sea Anemone refers to the plantlike home for fish found in the ocean. On the famous Pixar movie “Finding Nemo”, Nemo also had trouble pronouncing this word.
15. COMFORTABLE / kuhm-fer-tuh-buh l
Don’t get too comfortable with this one! It’s really easy to skip the “tuh” sound, and many people have learned the wrong pronunciation of this word.
Hopefully you found this article supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Spelling and pronunciation of these words can be difficult, whether you’re a native or non-native speaker!