For example, the word “vacuum” comes from the Latin word “vacuus,” which means “empty.” That’s why it’s spelled with a double “u.” This happens mainly because the English language uses many words borrowed from other languages, such as French, Latin, Greek, or German. Linguistically speaking, the graphemes (the written words) and the phonemes (sounds) do not always coincide in English. Sometimes, how you spell a word has nothing to do with how you pronounce it or vice versa. What makes English words difficult to pronounce and spell?Īs an English learner, you may have noticed a disconnect between the pronunciation and spelling of certain words in English. So buckle up for an ephemeral, eclectic vocabulary explosion that will test your equanimity. Even if you don’t master them immediately, simply having a go at the pronunciation and having fun with them will make you a more confident English speaker. To give you some extra value, we’ve compiled a list of more than 250 hardest words to pronounce in English. This is mainly because the English language is a mishmash of words borrowed from other languages.

Which is why it makes total sense that, as an English learner, you most likely aim to master your pronunciation to sound as close to a native speaker as possible.īut while English may not seem like the most difficult language to pronounce, it has its fair share of words that can be hard to get your tongue around.

Mispronouncing words may lead to many misunderstandings… sometimes funny or even embarrassing. Without a doubt, pronunciation is one of the most important aspects of learning a new language. Are you tired of stumbling over hard English words to pronounce? From common words with silent letters to tongue twisters that leave you tongue-tied, we delve into the nuances of English pronunciation to help you master the trickiest ones.

Phew pronunciation