The most commonly confused and mispronounced words in English (ESSENTIAL LESSON!)

Summary

In this video, Emma explores 10 commonly mispronounced and confused English words, helping learners master their pronunciation. She compares pairs like 'loose' and 'lose', 'want' and 'won't', 'advice' and 'advise', and more. Throughout, Emma provides clear explanations, helpful pronunciation tips, and example sentences for each pair. At the end of the video, there's a short quiz to test listening comprehension. Viewers also have the opportunity to take private lessons with Preply, using a special discount code. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, this video offers valuable insights to improve your English skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video provides an overview of 10 commonly mispronounced or confused words in English, aimed at helping learners improve their pronunciation.
• 😀 The lesson highlights the importance of understanding vowel sounds, consonant endings, and stress patterns in differentiating words like *loose* vs. *lose* and *want* vs. *won't*.
• 😀 Emma explains how native speakers use **assimilation** (blending sounds) in rapid speech, e.g., *would you* becoming *wouldya*.
• 😀 Some pronunciation issues stem from word **spelling**, as in the case of *bought* vs. *boat*, where the spelling may mislead learners into incorrect pronunciations.
• 😀 The concept of **intrusive R** is introduced, which is common in British English, where an 'r' sound is added between words for smoother speech transitions (e.g., *saw* becomes *saw-r*).
• 😀 Misunderstandings about **advice** (noun) vs. **advise** (verb) are explained, emphasizing that *advice* is uncountable, similar to *information* or *news*.
• 😀 The lesson explains the **dark L** sound in words like *world*, where the tongue stays at the top of the mouth before the /d/ sound is released.
• 😀 Pronunciation differences are explained with clear examples, such as *bear* (the animal) vs. *beer* (the drink), focusing on the vowel sounds.
• 😀 In words like *this* vs. *these*, learners are reminded to distinguish between a short *i* sound (this) and a long *ee* sound (these), as well as the voiceless and voiced ending sounds.
• 😀 The video includes a **quiz** at the end for learners to test their pronunciation and knowledge of the 10 word pairs covered in the lesson.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the video?

The main objective of the video is to help English learners correctly pronounce commonly mispronounced words and phrases. Emma explains the pronunciation differences between confusing word pairs, offers examples, and provides techniques to improve speaking skills.

What is the difference in pronunciation between 'loose' and 'lose'?

'Loose' has a voiceless 's' sound at the end, pronounced 'loose', while 'lose' has a voiced 's' sound, pronounced 'lose'. 'Loose' refers to something that doesn't fit tightly, like clothing, while 'lose' means to no longer have something, usually because you can't find it.

How should the word 'want' be pronounced correctly?

The word 'want' should be pronounced with an 'O' sound, not the 'A' sound that its spelling might suggest. It is pronounced 'wont', not 'wAnt'.

What is the distinction between 'advice' and 'advise'?

'Advice' is a noun, meaning guidance or recommendations, and is pronounced with a voiceless 's' at the end. It is uncountable, so you say 'some advice'. 'Advise' is a verb, meaning to give advice, and is pronounced with a vibration in the 's' sound at the end.

How do you differentiate between 'bear' and 'beer'?

'Bear' has a different vowel sound, pronounced 'bear', and refers to the animal or the verb meaning to carry weight. 'Beer', pronounced 'beer', refers to the alcoholic drink.

What is an 'intrusive R' and how does it affect pronunciation?

An 'intrusive R' is when a speaker adds an 'R' sound where it doesn't appear in the written word, particularly in British English. For example, 'saw a' can sound like 'saw/r/a'. It helps to smooth the transition between vowel sounds in rapid speech.

How do you pronounce 'wonder' and 'wander' correctly?

'Wonder' is pronounced with a 'w' sound and has a round vowel sound, as in 'wonder'. It means to feel curiosity or amazement. 'Wander' is pronounced with a more open vowel sound, as in 'wander', and means to walk aimlessly.

What is the correct pronunciation of 'boat' and 'bought'?

'Boat' is pronounced with a long 'o' sound, as in 'boat'. 'Bought' has a different, more relaxed vowel sound, like the one in 'law' or 'court'. 'Bought' is the past tense of 'buy'.

What is the key difference between 'this' and 'these'?

'This' has a short vowel sound and is used to refer to a singular noun, while 'these' has a slightly longer vowel sound and is used for plural nouns. Both have a 'th' sound, but it's important not to mispronounce it as 'dis' or 'dese'.

How do you pronounce 'year' and 'ear' differently?

'Year' is pronounced with the 'y' sound at the start (like 'y-ear'), while 'ear' does not have this sound. 'Year' refers to a 365-day period, while 'ear' is the organ used for hearing.

What is the difference in pronunciation between 'can' and 'can't'?

'Can' is pronounced with an open 'A' vowel sound when stressed, but when unstressed, it sounds much more relaxed. 'Can't' is pronounced with a longer vowel sound and a slight jaw drop. It is the contracted form of 'cannot'.

How do you pronounce 'word' and 'world' correctly?

'Word' is pronounced with a simple 'd' sound at the end, while 'world' has a more complex pronunciation with a dark 'L' sound after the 'r'. The 'L' in 'world' is not released like in 'love' or 'ball'; it is held and then released with the 'd' sound.