# Words that seem like they are spelled wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797 "2024-07-25T22:12:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/101 "2024-08-13T20:37:49Z")
Seems more British since it inserts an unnecessary ‘u’ in the word. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/102 "2024-08-13T20:44:14Z")
I believe that tendency dates from the Norman conquest, when William brought over a whole bunch of extra U’s from France. Ever since, English people have been trying to get rid of them by sneaking them into words where they are not needed. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/103 "2024-08-13T20:56:58Z")
Paraphernalia. And I always have to look at “maneuver” for a few seconds before I’m satisfied I got it right. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/104 "2024-08-13T21:04:18Z")
But…um… it inserts an unnecessary “a,” not “u.” “Flutist” and “flautist” both have the proper amount of “u”s. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/105 "2024-08-13T21:21:52Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I agree. I think flautist is from Italian, IIRC and I refuse to use it. I also dislike classical plurals. I use phenomenons, octopuses, cactuses, etc. Just as long as you don’t use “octopi” or “platypi”. Using an English plural for a word adopted into English is fine. Showing off your classical education by using the pluralization rules from the language of origin for a loanword is fine. But trying to use the pluralization rules of the language of origin and getting it wrong is just pretentious. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/106 "2024-08-13T21:48:49Z")
Yes. I just wanted to poke the Brits about those 'u’s. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/107 "2024-08-13T22:09:17Z")
Probably the same people who add syllables to athlete and mischievous. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/108 "2024-08-13T22:36:29Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Paraphernalia. I know it’s correct, but pronouncing that second “R” hard enough to hear sounds hick-ish. (to my ear anyway) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/109 "2024-08-13T23:48:00Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Probably the same people who add syllables to athlete and mischievous. And jewelry and realty/realtors. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/110 "2024-08-14T00:50:37Z")
We spell it ‘jewellery’ so the extra syllable is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/111 "2024-08-14T01:24:48Z")
Separate, which many people spell “seperate”. Our fourth-grade reader pointed out that there’s a rat in the middle of the word – **sep A RATe**. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/112 "2024-08-14T02:35:58Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > We spell it ‘jewellery’ so the extra syllable is allowed Yep another poster here used to gripe about this pronunciation, and I don’t think he realized it’s how it’s pronounced in many countries outside the US. I wonder how Canadians spell/pronounce it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/113 "2024-08-14T03:06:02Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I wonder how Canadians spell/pronounce it? Well, Canadians pronounce ‘taco’ and ‘Mazda’ with a short ‘a’ (‘tack-o’ and ‘Mazz-da’). ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/114 "2024-08-14T04:32:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Well, Canadians pronounce ‘taco’ and ‘Mazda’ with a short ‘a’ How does this relate to pronouncing/spelling jewelry/jewellery? Am I missing something (again)? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/115 "2024-08-14T15:05:07Z")
Just that Canadians can’t be relied upon for proper pronunciation. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/116 "2024-08-14T15:25:26Z")
If the origin of the word taco is Spanish then the one pronouncing it wrong is you, not the Canadians. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/117 "2024-08-14T15:29:22Z")
[How to pronounce ‘taco’ in Spanish.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqDOlA_fgRU) Clearly, it’s ‘tah-co’, not ‘tack-o’. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/118 "2024-08-14T15:32:51Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > “Queue” is spelled the stupidest way possible. Actually it’s spelled as it means. The letter Q with four more letters just standing in line. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/119 "2024-08-14T16:04:45Z")
OMfG! No, that is not how it is pronounced in Spanish, nor is the way he speaks English an acceptable affectation. What a horrible thing to post! ETA: And now my YouTube page will be swamped with suggestions from his channel. Aaaarrrgh! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797/120 "2024-08-14T16:46:30Z")
If you’re in Europe, maybe you hear Castilian Spanish as spoken in Spain. Tacos originated in Mexico. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-seem-like-they-are-spelled-wrong/1004797.md?page=7)