Check out this site for the most common mispronounced words in the English language.
This of course if one of my favorites:
Old-timer's disease instead of Alzheimer's disease. While it is a disease of old-timers, it is named for the German neurologist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer.
I'm not really sure I've ever heard this one before, but it's entertaining anyway.
Heineken remover instead of Heimlich maneuver (or manoeuvre, Br.). This term is mispronounced many different ways. This is just the funniest one we have heard. This maneuver (manoeuvre) was named for US surgeon Henry Jay Heimlich (1920- ).
Comments
>Old-timer's disease instead of Alzheimer's disease
Oh c'mon. People say Old-timer's disease as a joke. Not because they don't know how to say Alzheimers.
Posted by: writerdddd | February 2, 2007 8:15 PM
Most of these aren't mispronunciations just dialectical differences.
Also, spelling doesn't exactly remain constant with the vocal language.
Posted by: talboito | February 2, 2007 8:17 PM
I didn't see my favorite: pacific vs. specific!
Posted by: Michele | February 2, 2007 10:25 PM
Yeah, most of those are mis-categorized. Some real ones are "blessing in the skies" for "blessing in disguise." "Athlete" turning into "athelete" likely reflects a phonotactic constraint against the "th" and "l" sounds occurring together, so a dummy vowel (schwa) is inserted to break up this cluster. Those who "mis"-pronounce "diphtheria" with a "p" rather than an "f" sound at the end of the first syllable are actually remaining closer to the ancient Greek pronunciation -- so eat that. The "ph" (phi) was originally an aspirated "p" -- a "p" with a puff of air, unlike the puff-less "p" (pi).
A lot of them are obviously non-Germanic loanwords. How should we pronounce "Milan?" Brits and older Americans pronounce it to rhyme with "pan" or "span," while non-older Americans pronounce it to rhyme with "on" or "don." One version is closer to the historical precedent in English, while the other is closer to the native pronunciation in Italian. Who the hell cares? Or should that be "who in the hell cares?" I don't have time to worry about that: grammar pusillanimy is for people with nothing serious to say.
Posted by: Agnostic | February 2, 2007 11:11 PM
I was flipping through channels and saw an Emeril show on food network. He kept pronouncing the l in almonds: ALmunds (as in AL Bundy). I was amazed that either he hadn't encountered anyone who'd ever correctly pronounced it (the l in almond is silent), or did know how to pronounce it but just didn't care.
There is an ad playing now that bugs me. It's for Lacota pain relief. There is an elderly aboriginal spokesman who says it provides relief for "arthuritis". They also have a shortened version of the ad where they cut that part out. Perhaps they got complaints.
I bet those two are generally commonly mispronounced words.
Posted by: crf | February 2, 2007 11:14 PM
"Old-timer's disease instead of Alzheimer's disease
Oh c'mon. People say Old-timer's disease as a joke. Not because they don't know how to say Alzheimers. "
you really haven't heard people say it that way?
It's actually really common with people who haven't been to college. I never know whether to correct them or not ;)
Posted by: steve | February 3, 2007 1:13 AM
I didn't see "chaise lounge" / "chaise longue".
Posted by: Sara @ YellowIbis | February 3, 2007 3:14 PM
hi! i love your site.. keep it up... :)
Posted by: harry montez | February 17, 2008 2:45 AM