Frequent English Word Mistakes / myLot

Toccoa, Georgia

May 10, 2022 4:00pm CST

There are 5 English words that are pronounced wrong a lot. I wonder if you have heard these mistakes. First is one my Mom heard a boy say in school. She said that when he said it, he was laughed at by other kids. The word is a female name. It is "Beatrice". She said the kid said it this way "Beet Rice". Second is the State name of Washington or Washington DC. My Mom has a friend who says "Warshington". There is no R in Washington. Third is the city name of Norfolk like in Norfolk Virginia. There are talk show hosts who have actually said "Norf*ck" instead of Norfolk. The way they say it, it almost sounds like they are cussing, get it? The fourth is "Often". The T is silent but I have heard people say it with a hard T. The fifth is Salmon. The L is silent but I have heard people say it with the L.

20 people like this

21 responses

Amber

@AmbiePam (85660)

• United States

10 May 22

I cannot tell you how many times I hear people pronounce the 't' in often. It always makes me wonder if their teachers skipped that in class, or maybe the teachers did it too! My best friend pronounces the 'l' in salmon; it tickles me. I also know a person who pronounces the 'w' in sword. She used to sing a song with the word 'sword' in it, so I'd hear that all the time.

3 people like this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11 May 22

That's interesting about the 'w' in sword. I never heard that one.

2 people like this

snowy

@snowy22315 (170307)

• United States

10 May 22

People who are from Norfolk say it the way the talk show host did. Just don't ever call it Nor- Folk like I used to before I moved to VA. I think it is S f ck in Massachusetts too.

3 people like this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11 May 22

Interesting about the Massachusetts word.

1 person likes this

Carmela

@Carmelanirel2 (8084)

• United States

12 May 22

I passed, except I noticed I also pronounce then "T" in often, I didn't know it was silent, but when I say it without the "T" sound, it does make more sense. As for Washington, I think that depends on your location. I am from Ohio, so I say it correctly, but my husband is from Pennsylvania and he adds the "R". I've learned to ignore it. lol

2 people like this

Sabrina Traversa

@sabtraversa (12995)

• Italy

10 May 22

I always say "salmon" with an L and never thought I was wrong. Too many silent letters, what's the pointing in writing them?

3 people like this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

10 May 22

I wondered about that too. But I am thinking it is one of those exceptions that different languages have.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458760)

• Switzerland

11 May 22

Most of the time I heard people pronounce the T in often, this is not a mistake I make... even if English is not my native language. Beatrice is Italian, I pronounce it correctly.

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Xavier Bage

@franxav (13605)

• India

11 May 22

Salmon reminds me of almond where the " l" is silent as well.

2 people like this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11 May 22

I have never heard of the L being silent in the word "almond".

ShannyBananny

@shaggin (71663)

• United States

20 Oct 22

Beatrice is my daughters middle name. My son says it Beet Rice sometimes to be silly. People from certain areas say Washington that way it’s odd. I think it’s NJ people who say it that way but I could be wrong.

They don’t give Norf*cks! I’ve never heard anyone say salmon in correctly thankfully.

1 person likes this

Kayla Tsukino

@kaylachan (58027)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

10 May 22

I am a bad speller, and when learning to spell words like "often" I would pronounce the "t" but now I don't now. Probably would with words like salmon, to learn to spell it correctly. I also think it depends on who you are. British for example, often will pronounce letters that are supposed to be silent in American English.

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Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11 May 22

That's true about the British.

Ken

@kanuck1 (4394)

•

5 Jul 22

The fourth is "Often". The T is silent but I have heard people say it with a hard T. I have heard people say it with a hard T so often that once I had to check how it should be pronounced.

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Ken

@kanuck1 (4394)

•

9 Jul 22

@LeaPea2417

1 person likes this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

5 Jul 22

Yes, I have heard people say it with the hard T, and it bothers me

1 person likes this

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Marlina

@marlina (154165)

• Canada

25 Aug

I heard it that way also

1 person likes this

GreatMartin

@GreatMartin (23675)

• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

15 May 22

Sometimes a regional accent can sound like the person talking making !! You can always tell a New Yorker as they pronounce it New Yawker!!!! And it is wartar! So many other words

1 person likes this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

16 May 22

Yes

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (49090)

• United States

25 Aug

I’ve definitely heard these mispronounced.

1 person likes this

Xavier Bage

@franxav (13605)

• India

10 May 22

Thanks for reminding. There are many more.

1 person likes this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36486)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11 May 22

Yes there are, your welcome.

Sexy Girl

@JimBo452020 (42629)

• United Kingdom

18 Jun 22

It can be a confusing language Norfolk lol I have heard it pronounced the other way many times

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OceanTiara

@RebeccasFarm (86830)

• United States

11 May 22

You got some really good ones here Anne.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326098)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 May 22

I've heard most of these mistakes too but not Norfolk or Beatrice.

1 person likes this

Dena Miller

@Dena91 (15907)

• United States

14 May 22

Interesting I am sure there are many more.

1 person likes this

Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (17838)

• London, England

11 May 22

It is quite fascinating how word pronunciation have evolved over the years. The other one is words that sound the same, but are spelt very differently, like poor, pour and pore

1 person likes this

Thelma

@thelme55 (76481)

• Germany

14 May 22

I heard some of these mistakes but not Beatrice or Washington.wrongfully pronounced.

1 person likes this

LindaOH

@LindaOHio (156804)

• United States

11 May 22

Often is getting to be a thing with some people. Certain groups are always pronouncing the "t".

1 person likes this