Mispronounce: meaning, definitions and examples

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mispronounce

 

[ ˌmɪsprəˈnaʊns ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

incorrect pronunciation

To mispronounce means to say a word in a way that is not correct according to standard pronunciation norms. This can include using the wrong phonetic sounds, emphasizing the wrong syllable, or altering the word so it becomes unrecognizable. Mispronunciation can occur in various languages and is often a result of language barriers or lack of familiarity with a word. It is important to note that mispronunciation can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in communication.

Synonyms

misarticulate, misstate, mistranslate

Examples of usage

  • He mispronounced her name during the introduction.
  • She often mispronounces difficult words in her speech.
  • The teacher corrected his mispronunciation of 'quarantine'.

Translations

Translations of the word "mispronounce" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pronunciar mal

🇮🇳 गलत उच्चारण करना

🇩🇪 falsch aussprechen

🇮🇩 mengucapkan salah

🇺🇦 неправильно вимовляти

🇵🇱 źle wymówić

🇯🇵 誤って発音する

🇫🇷 mal prononcer

🇪🇸 pronunciar mal

🇹🇷 yanlış telaffuz etmek

🇰🇷 잘못 발음하다

🇸🇦 تلفظ بشكل خاطئ

🇨🇿 špatně vyslovit

🇸🇰 nesprávne vysloviť

🇨🇳 错误发音

🇸🇮 napačno izgovoriti

🇮🇸 ranga ranglega

🇰🇿 қате айту

🇬🇪 არასწორად წარმოთქვა

🇦🇿 səhv tələffüz etmək

🇲🇽 pronunciar mal

Etymology

The word 'mispronounce' is formed from the prefix 'mis-', meaning wrong or badly, and the verb 'pronounce', which comes from the Latin 'praenuntiare', meaning to announce or declare. Over time, 'pronounce' in English has evolved to represent the act of producing sounds that constitute words according to the accepted phonetic standards of a language. The use of 'mis-' adds a layer of meaning indicating an error or incorrectness in that action. The earliest records of 'mispronounce' in English date back to the mid-20th century, when it began to be used more widely in educational contexts to address errors in speech and language learning. This development reflects broader trends in language awareness and the importance of pronunciation in effective communication.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,154, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.