Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?!
I never knew how to pronounce “diaspora” until two years ago. It’s one of those words you read over and over again, but you rarely ever hear someone say in conversation. I like to think big words get a buy on proper pronunciation.
However, words in common usage should get a little respect, if you consider yourself well read and/or educated. That’s not to say intelligent people don’t pronounce things incorrectly. My brother says “Valentimes,” which I think is too cute, so I will never correct him.
For the following common everyday words, their mispronunciation probably drives you up the wall if you are a nerd.
Supposably?
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Specific
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We all know kids like to say “Pacific,” but fully grown adults? Come on, man! This is a word commonly written, read, and spoken… but unfortunately a lot of the time it’s pronounced the wrong way. Some people just can’t seem to get it right. No matter how many times you tell them it’s pronounced “specific,” they still seem to leave out the P. We’ll admit, its kind of cute when a baby or a child says it in that way, but when someone who has graduated college busts out the “pacifically,” it’s a sad sight to see.
Don’t be too specific when talking about the Pacific… ocean… right? Learn the difference people!
Library
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“Library” is another one of those words that seem hard to mess up. Still, there are millions of people out there who will say “liberry” every single time they try to say the word. Where are you going study? “The liberry.”
No, sound it out people! There’s an “r” in the word for a reason, and it’s a pretty big deal when it comes to the pronunciation. Again, sometimes there are people who have speech impediments that prevent them from saying things correctly, but usually if someone is saying “liberry,” the library is the last place you’ll ever see them.
Cache
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It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about your computer and it’s hidden memory files, or geocaching, don’t ever be tempted to add an extra syllable to the sound of the word cache. Some people like to pretend it’s supposed to sound like a French word and make it sound like it would be spelled “cachet” or “cash-ay,” when in reality the word is just one syllable and it sounds exactly like the word “cash.”
Don’t try giving us any reason of why the word should be pronounced differently, because it shouldn’t. You’re clearing out the cache on your computer, not the cachay. You’re going out on a fine evening to find a geocache, not a geocachay! Think about it people, all you have to do is say it in your heads a few times before you actually start to realize how silly it really sounds.