Here are the 70 hard-to-pronounce words with their definitions and simplified syllable-by-syllable pronunciation guides:
25 Words That Are Commonly Mispronounced
Anemone (uh-NEM-uh-nee) - a type of flower.
Bourgeoisie (boor-zhwah-ZEE) - the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
Colonel (KER-nul) - a military rank below general.
Draconian (dray-KO-nee-an) - (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.
Epitome (ih-PIT-uh-mee) - a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.
Faux pas (foh PAH) - an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.
Gubernatorial (goo-ber-nuh-TOR-ee-al) - relating to a governor.
Hyperbole (hi-PER-bo-lee) - exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Ichthyology (ik-thee-OL-uh-jee) - the branch of zoology that deals with fishes.
Jojoba (ho-HO-ba) - a shrub that produces seeds from which an oil is extracted, used in cosmetics.
Kaleidoscope (kuh-LIE-duh-skope) - a constantly changing pattern of shapes and colors.
Larynx (LAR-ingks) - the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords.
Mnemonic (nee-MON-ik) - a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something.
Ophthalmologist (off-thal-MOL-uh-jist) - a specialist in the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.
Phlegm (flem) - thick mucus secreted by the tissues lining the respiratory passages.
Quinoa (KEEN-wah) - a grain crop grown primarily for its edible seeds.
Rhetoric (RET-uh-rik) - the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
Synecdoche (si-NEK-duh-kee) - a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.
Tinnitus (tin-EYE-tus) - ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Ubiquitous (yoo-BIK-wi-tus) - present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Vicissitude (vi-SIS-i-tood) - a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
Worcestershire (WOOS-ter-sher) - a type of sauce.
Xenophobia (zen-uh-FOH-bee-uh) - dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
Yttrium (IT-ree-um) - the chemical element of atomic number 39, a soft, silvery, highly reactive metal.
Zephyr (ZEF-fur) - a soft gentle breeze.
25 Science Words That Are Hard to Pronounce
Amygdala (uh-MIG-duh-luh) - a section of the brain that is responsible for detecting fear and preparing for emergency events.
Bioluminescence (bye-oh-loo-mi-NES-ens) - the production and emission of light by a living organism.
Cytokinesis (sigh-toh-kih-NEE-sis) - the division of the cytoplasm of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells.
Dichotomy (dye-KOT-uh-mee) - a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities.
Ectoplasm (EK-toh-plaz-um) - the more viscous, clear outer layer of the cytoplasm in amoeboid cells.
Fibonacci (fih-boh-NAH-chee) - relating to a sequence of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones.
Glycolysis (gly-KOL-ih-sis) - the breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid.
Hematology (hee-muh-TOL-uh-jee) - the study of blood and blood disorders.
Isotope (EYE-soh-tope) - each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.
Jurassic (joo-RAS-ik) - relating to the second period of the Mesozoic era, between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods.
Karyotype (KAR-ee-oh-type) - the number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in the cell nuclei of an organism or species.
Lithosphere (LITH-oh-sfeer) - the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Myocardium (my-oh-KAR-dee-um) - the muscular tissue of the heart.
Neuroplasticity (noo-roh-plas-TIS-i-tee) - the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.
Oncogene (ON-ko-jeen) - a gene that in certain circumstances can transform a cell into a tumor cell.
Phenotype (FEE-noh-type) - the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Quantum (KWAN-tum) - the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction.
Ribosome (RY-boh-zome) - a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins, found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells.
Synapse (SIN-aps) - a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.
Thermodynamics (ther-mo-dye-NAM-iks) - the branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy.
Umbra (UM-bra) - the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object.
Virology (vye-ROL-uh-jee) - the study of viruses and viral diseases.
Wavelength (WAYV-length) - the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.
Xenotransplantation (zen-oh-trans-plan-TAY-shun) - the transplantation of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
Zygote (ZY-goht) - a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.
20 Art Words That Are Hard to Pronounce
Chiaroscuro (kee-ahr-oh-SKOO-roh) - an art technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms.
Impasto (im-PAS-toh) - a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface in very thick layers.
Trompe l'oeil (tromp LOY) - a painting or design intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object.
Grisaille (grih-ZEYE) - a method of painting in gray monochrome, typically to imitate sculpture.
Sfumato (sfu-MAH-toh) - a painting technique for softening the transition between colors, mimicking an area beyond what the human eye is focusing on.
Bouclé (boo-CLAY) - a fabric of looped yarn that creates a textured effect.
Fauvism (FOH-vizm) - a style of painting with vivid expressionistic and nonnaturalistic use of color.
Plein air (plen AIR) - the act of painting outdoors.
Decalcomania (de-kal-ko-MAY-nee-ah) - a technique of transferring designs from specially prepared paper to a wood or glass surface.
Bas-relief (bah ree-LEEF) - a low-relief sculpture.
Giclée (zhee-KLAY) - a technology for fine art or photograph reproduction using a high-quality inkjet printer.
Intaglio (in-TAL-yoh) - a printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate.
Diptych (DIP-tik) - a work of art that is composed of two panels.
Encaustic (en-KAWS-tik) - a painting technique using pigments mixed with hot wax.
Giornata (jor-NAH-tah) - the amount of painting that an artist expects to complete in a single day.
Oeuvre (OO-vra) - the complete works of an artist, viewed collectively.
Pietà (pee-AY-tah) - a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus.
Quattrocento (kwah-troh-CHEN-toh) - the 15th-century period of Italian art and literature.
Verre églomisé (ver ay-glo-mee-ZAY) - a technique of applying both a design and gilding onto the rear face of glass.
Rococo (roh-KOH-koh) - a style of art, especially architecture and decorative art, that originated in France in the early 18th century characterized by elaborate ornamentation.
It’s easy to get tongue-tied on tricky words like these, but once you can confidently drop them in conversation, you’ll be an even better communicator. Good luck, and happy pronouncing!
