50 Words People Say Differently That Will Have You Sounding Them Out Aloud
The English language is finicky, and in no way is this more obvious than when it comes to the different ways people pronounce words. The words people say differently often depend on where they're from—and sometimes the debate about which dialect is correct can get heated! Take a breath before reading these 50 words people say differently, and get ready to either argue or crack up (or both).
No matter what side you're on, exploring the different pronunciations of words like "tomato" and "adult" is fascinating (and good for a laugh.)
From common words like "been" to the less common "handkerchief" this list of 50 words with different pronunciations will have you sounding the words out aloud. You might be surprised at what you find!
Related: 'Loose' vs. 'Lose': What's the Difference, Exactly?
50 Words People Say Differently
1. Tomato
-Tuh-mah-toh
-Tuh-may-toh
2. Horror
-Hoar-er
-Hahr-er
3. Data
-Day-tuh
-Dah-tuh
4. Pecan
-Pee-can
-Peh-cahn
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5. Apricot
-Ape-rih-caht
-App-rih-caht
6. Leisure
-Leh-szuhr
-Lee-szuhr
7. Handkerchief
-Hayn-kehr-chiff
-Hayn-kehr-cheef
8. Adult
-Ah-duhlt
-Uh-duhlt
9. Realtor
-Reel-tuhr
-Reel-uh-tuhr
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10. Often
-Off-tehn
-Off-in
11. Our
-Ow-ihr
-Ahr
12. Either
-Eye-thehr
-Ee-Thehr
13. Bagel
-Bah-guhl
-Bay-guhl
14. Crayon
-Cray-ahn
-Kran
15. Been
-Bean
-Bihn
Related: 25 Palindrome Words
16. Aunt
-Ant
-Ahnt
17. Picture
-Pick-Tuhr
-Pit-chuhr
18. Tour
-Toor
-Too-uhr
19. Caramel
-Cah-ruh-mell
-Cahr-mell
20. Celtic
-Sell-tick
-Kell-tick
21. Syrup
-Sihr-up
-Seer-up
22. New Orleans
-New Ohr-Lihnz
-New Ohr-Leenz
23. Almond
-Al-muhnd
-Ahl-muhnd
24. Cauliflower
-Caw-lee-flou-ehr
-Cahl-ih-flou-ehr
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25. Oregon
-Oahr-ihg-ahn
-Oahr-ihg-ihn
26. Coupon
-Coop-ahn
-Cyoo-pahn
27. Mauve
-Mohv
-Mahv
28. Jewelry
-Joo-ehl-ree
-Jool-ree
29. Pajamas
-Puh-jam-uhz
-Puh-jahm-uhz
30. Envelope
-Ehn-vel-oahp
-Ahn-vel-oahp
31. Groceries
-Groh-sehr-eez
-Groh-shreez
32. Sherbet
-Shuhr-beht
-Shuhr-bihrt
33. Foyer
-Foy-ihr
-Foy-ay
34. Caribbean
-Ca-rihb-ee-ihn
-Cuh-rihb-ee-ihn
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35. Drawer
-Droahr
-Drahw-ihr
36. Florida
-Floh-rihd-uh
-Flah-rihd-uh
37. Poem
-Poh-ehm
-Pohm
38. Privacy
-Preye-vihss-ee
-Prih-vihss-ee
39. Schedule
-Skehd-yoo-uhl
-Shehd-yoo-uhl
40. Tournament
-Toohr-nuh-mehnt
-Tihr-nuh-mehnt
41. Museum
-Myooz-ee-uhm
-Myoo-zahm
42. Flourish
-Fluh-rihsh
-Floo-rihsh
43. Miracle
-Meer-uh-cuhl
-Mih-ruh-cuhl
Related: What Does ‘FWIW’ Mean, Exactly? Plus, How *Not* To Use the Term
44. Et cetera
-Eht-seht-ihr-uh
-Eht-seht-ruh
45. GIF
-Gihf
-Jihf
46. Mischievous
-Mihss-chihv-uhss
-Mihss-cheev-ee-uhs
47. Route
-Root
-Rahwt
48. Salmon
-Sam-uhn
-Sahm-uhn
49. Coyote
-Keye-oh-tee
-Keye-oht
50. Mirror
-Mihr-uhr
-Meer-uhr
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