Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

Any to add ?

(308 Posts)
Lucca Wed 23-Jun-21 08:24:05

A survey has revealed the most irritating mispronounced words:

ixion Wed 23-Jun-21 08:30:01

Secretary/Secretree.

Kim19 Wed 23-Jun-21 08:32:40

'Febury' does it for me.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 23-Jun-21 08:33:12

Refuge for refuse. Sewage for sewerage and vice versa.

Newatthis Wed 23-Jun-21 08:34:31

‘Got’ e.g. He’s got the flu ( he has the flu) he got fired (He was fired) and many more.

MawBe Wed 23-Jun-21 08:35:39

Miss-chee-vius

Arthuritis

Coop de gra (coup de grace)

muffinthemoo Wed 23-Jun-21 08:38:34

breek-fist for breakfast

Spinnaker Wed 23-Jun-21 08:38:56

Of instead of have

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 23-Jun-21 08:46:37

'Mischeevee-us' for mischievous which I feel sure should be mis-chivus.

Seamstress which I've always said as 'semmtress' not 'seemstress.'

Forehead, I've always said 'forr-ed' but now many people say 'four-head' which I think is an American influence

Lucca Wed 23-Jun-21 09:42:24

Newatthis

‘Got’ e.g. He’s got the flu ( he has the flu) he got fired (He was fired) and many more.

Yes but that’s not mispronunciation!

nanna8 Wed 23-Jun-21 09:45:21

Paddick for paddock. Orstraya for Australia. Haitch for aitch

JackyB Wed 23-Jun-21 09:50:47

CONtribute, DIStribute,

But I've said that before here. Also agree with misCHEEveeous.

But there may be some I'm pronouncing wrong. Many new words have come into the language since I left the UK in 1973. I remember an embarrassing moment when I first tried to use the word coelecanth, which I had only seen written.

FannyCornforth Wed 23-Jun-21 10:12:26

Great thread! smile

Vica Versa envy

yggdrasil Wed 23-Jun-21 10:12:56

I do hate how Alexander Armstrong of Pointless cannot say Geography
He says Joggraphy, every time sad

FannyCornforth Wed 23-Jun-21 10:14:40

Jacky I say contribute and distribute like that.
I didn't realise that it was frowned upon blush
But then I'm from the Black Country, so I probably say most things wrongly...

Skydancer Wed 23-Jun-21 10:16:21

"Foliage" - pronounced "Folage". Lots of gardening presenters can't pronounce it. I think Monty Don is one. I find is so irritating.

Skydancer Wed 23-Jun-21 10:17:56

And when did Kenya get pronounced Kenya? In my day it was pronounced "Keenya".

Hiraeth Wed 23-Jun-21 10:19:42

Sweet shirt instead of sweat shirt

Blossoming Wed 23-Jun-21 10:20:24

Mr. B says ‘atherlete’ instead of athlete. So far the murderous thoughts have remained inside my head.

recklessgran Wed 23-Jun-21 10:21:00

People who mix up bought and brought.
Ditto borrow and lend.
As in " I borrowed him £10" instead of lent.
Drives me nuts!

Witzend Wed 23-Jun-21 10:29:18

Sickth for si*x*th

Sekketry for secretary

Often on the late night shipping forecast, (Cape) Wrath pronounced to rhyme with the American version of maths.

Grannynannywanny Wed 23-Jun-21 10:33:10

The word definitely frequently pronounced and written as definately.

Also the inability of some tv presenters and newsreaders to pronounce sixth.

FannyCornforth Wed 23-Jun-21 10:33:15

Witzend how should one pronounce Cape Wrath?

FannyCornforth Wed 23-Jun-21 10:35:19

recklessgran

People who mix up bought and brought.
Ditto borrow and lend.
As in " I borrowed him £10" instead of lent.
Drives me nuts!

That isn't pronunciation though!
It's using the wrong word (is there a word for this?)

Baggs Wed 23-Jun-21 10:39:03

In whatsapp messages to family, I deliberately write 'prolly' instead of probably. Shocking, eh?

MrB always says recodnise instead of recognise. I don't think he can change the way he says it.