Tackle Mispronunciations: Quick Fixes for Common Mistakes!

Intermediate Level | July 27, 2025

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Have you ever said a word in English—and immediately realized it didn’t sound right? You’re not alone. Even intermediate speakers often mispronounce common words, especially in professional settings. That’s why today’s article is all about quick fixes for common pronunciation mistakes.

In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most frequent mispronunciations made by English learners and how to correct them. These small changes can make a big difference in how clearly and confidently you speak at work.

Why Pronunciation Matters in Business

Good pronunciation helps people understand you the first time. This is important in meetings, presentations, and networking. If people have to guess what you said, they may miss your point—or worse, stop listening.

Clear pronunciation builds trust. It shows that you’re confident and capable. And when your message is clear, your professional image becomes stronger.

Top 5 Mispronunciations—and How to Fix Them

Let’s look at five common pronunciation issues for intermediate speakers, especially in a business context.

“Comfortable” — Many learners say com-for-ta-ble. The correct pronunciation is more like “KUMF-ter-buhl.”
“Wednesday” — You don’t need to say every letter! Just say “WENZ-day.”
“Develop” — Some learners say DEE-vel-up. Instead, say “duh-VEL-up.”
“Entrepreneur” — A tricky one! Try “on-truh-pruh-NUR” instead of trying to say it like French.
“Jewelry” — Avoid saying jewel-er-y. Just say “JOOL-ree.”

Practice these out loud. Better yet, record yourself and compare it to a native speaker.

Practice Strategy: Slow Down and Chunk the Sounds

If a word feels difficult, try this:

Break it into parts (syllables).
Say each part slowly.
Put it back together.

For example:

En-tre-pre-neur → on-truh-pruh-NUR
Com-for-ta-ble → KUMF-ter-buhl

Slowing down lets your mouth learn the right movements. Once it feels natural, speed up again.

Use Tech to Improve Pronunciation

Apps like ELSA, Google Translate (mic feature), or YouGlish help you hear how real people say words. Use these tools daily for just 5 minutes.

Also try this tip: Read one paragraph a day aloud. Record yourself. Compare with the original. Repeat until it sounds closer.

Quick Fixes for Pronunciation Mistakes in English

Don’t try to sound perfect—aim for clear.
Practice one word at a time.
Use slow, relaxed speech.
Listen, repeat, record.

Build It Into Your Daily Routine

You don’t need an hour. Just take 10 minutes:

2 minutes: Read a short article aloud
3 minutes: Practice 3 difficult words
5 minutes: Shadow a native speaker

Small steps every day will improve your pronunciation—and your confidence.

Vocabulary List

Pronunciation (noun) — The way a word is spoken.
Example: Her pronunciation is very clear.
Confident (adjective) — Feeling sure of yourself.
Example: He felt confident during the interview.
Mispronounce (verb) — To say a word the wrong way.
Example: I mispronounced “comfortable” in the meeting.
Chunk (verb) — To break something into parts.
Example: Try chunking the word to make it easier to say.
Syllable (noun) — A single sound unit in a word.
Example: “De-ve-lop” has three syllables.
Tricky (adjective) — Difficult or tricky to deal with.
Example: “Entrepreneur” is a tricky word.
Shadow (verb) — To repeat after someone, copying their speech.
Example: Shadow a native speaker to improve fluency.
Speech (noun) — The act of speaking.
Example: Her speech was easy to understand.
Fluency (noun) — Smooth and natural speaking ability.
Example: Daily practice will improve your fluency.
Relaxed (adjective) — Calm and not tense.
Example: Try to keep a relaxed voice when speaking.

5 Questions About the Article

Why is clear pronunciation important in business?
What is the correct way to pronounce “comfortable”?
What technique is recommended to learn hard words?
How can technology help with pronunciation practice?
What is one example of a daily pronunciation routine?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions

What English word do you find hardest to pronounce?
How do you feel when someone can’t understand your English?
What pronunciation goals do you have?
Do you use any apps or tools for speaking practice?
What time of day is best for you to practice pronunciation?

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