5 English Words That Are Surprisingly Hard to Say

Okay, English can be pretty tricky sometimes. You might speak it for years and still run into words that make your mouth freeze halfway through. Some words seem designed to trip you up. They don’t sound like they look, or they’re just plain hard to say.

I put together a list of five English words that are surprisingly tough to pronounce. If you’ve ever stumbled on one of these, you’re definitely not alone.

The Words That Love to Trip Us Up

1. Worcestershire
   This one’s a classic. If you saw it written out, you might try saying every syllable, “wor-ces-ter-shire.” But nope, it’s actually pronounced more like “WUSS-ter-sheer” or “WUSS-ter-shuh.” It’s one of those words where English just decided to ignore the spelling and do its own thing. You’ll often hear people stumble over this one, even native speakers. Honestly, every time I try to say it, I sound like I’m speaking a whole other language.

2. Colonel
   This word is a weird one. It looks like it should rhyme with “kernel,” but the spelling is all over the place. The correct pronunciation is “KUR-nul.” The “l” and “r” sounds switch places, making it a confusing mess if you try to say it exactly how it’s spelled.

3. Anemone
   This one’s tricky because it has a lot of vowels and consonants all smashed together. People often trip over it or say it like “an-eh-moan” instead of “uh-NEM-uh-nee.” Try saying it three times fast!

4. Sixth
   This word is a mouthful because of the cluster of consonants at the end. It’s hard to say without slipping up and turning it into “siksth” or “sikth.” Getting that “ks” and “th” sound right in a row is a challenge for a lot of people.

5. Mischievous
   Many people say “mis-CHEE-vee-us” because it looks like it should have four syllables. But the correct pronunciation is actually “MIS-chuh-vus,” with just three syllables. This one still trips me up sometimes. It’s easy to add an extra syllable without realizing it, and honestly, I still catch myself saying it the wrong way sometimes.

Final Thoughts

English can be full of surprises, especially when it comes to pronunciation. Those words that don’t sound like they look are a challenge for pretty much everyone, even native speakers. The five words here are just a small sample of how confusing English can get.

If you’ve ever stumbled over any of these or other tricky words, you’re definitely not alone. Sometimes, just memorizing how a word sounds can make a big difference. For me, that little trick helps avoid embarrassing moments and keeps conversations flowing.

So don’t stress if English trips you up now and then. It’s all part of the process, and the more you practice, the easier it gets. Keep at it, and you’ll be saying those tricky words like a pro before you know it. For more on why learning English matters, check out The Importance of Learning English.