Monday, March 7, 2011

Most commonly mispronounced words in India.

It is an undeniable fact that we Indians have acquired a not-so-bad command of English language but the mispronunciation of certain words is very common among a good majority of English speakers in India. Here are a few examples I frequently notice:

Without a doubt, it can be said that almost every Indian, even those who don't speak English, pronounce the word 'cycle' accurately. But when it comes to bicycle, it's a different story; most of Indians pronounce it as /baisaikl/ whereas the correct pronunciation is /baisikl/!

Another very common word that many utter in the wrong way is 'bury'. Almost every Indian pronounce this word just as it is spelt (apologies to those who don't). But the actual pronunciation should be /bery/. The same rules goes with 'burial' too - /beriəl/.

'Blessed', when used as an adjective is mispronounced as /blessd/ in India whereas the English say /blesid/! However, as a verb (in past tense), it must be pronounced as /blest/, not /blesd/.

Likewise, many Indian speakers of English have two different pronunciations for the words 'blue' and 'blew'; in this country, it is /blyoo/ for 'blue' and /bloo/ for 'blew'. The standard English has, but, the same pronunciation for both the words i.e. 'bloo'. The same pattern must be followed in the case of 'flew' and 'flu' as well!

Another widespread misuse is in the pronunciation of the word 'chassis' which means the frame that a vehicle is built on. While the internationally accepted pronunciation of the word is /shaesi/, many Indians speak it as /chesis/!

Regards & Happy Learning!
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

7 comments:

Imran Khan said...

I think most indians pronounce bicycle correctly, as baisikal

Here is my addition

1) comfortable-- Kamftabal not kamfartable
2) Oven -- avan not ovan (few people mispronounce this)
3) Restaurant -- RestRaun not Restorant (Not sure of this one)
4) Casette -- Kasait and not Kaisit
5) Bowl -- Bol not bowl (few mispronouce this)

Anonymous said...

Work in tech and hear:
Oracle - or-ACK-uhl
Determine - DAY-ter-mIn (I=eye)

Anonymous said...

one more addition it is not pronounciation it is pronunciation.

Anonymous said...

Opportunity, Tortoise, Sew, et' cetera, Vehicle, Finance, Miracle, Associate....many more. In fact too many to be listed here....

Anonymous said...

hyperbole
epitome
sew
vitamin



Henry said...

How about "science". Almost 100% Indians pronounce it exactly like "signs" which is wrong, including English Teachers. I think this is the most commonly mispronounced word in India. Even the (Indian) host of the program "Science of Stupid" pronounces it like that. "Saayans" is the correct pronunciation. Check Oxford Dic.
Henry

buzzhawker said...

List Of English Words That We Indians Have Mispronounced From Long

INDIAN PRONOUNCIATION ENGLISH WORDS