# Words that you mispronounce while reading.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 4, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727 "2003-02-04T17:34:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Fujerica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@Fujerica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fujerica)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/81 "2003-03-01T19:25:30Z")

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macabre -\>Mak-ra-bray  
hors d’ouvres -\>horse du-vres  
there’s another one, but… I don’t remember it (I never remember til I see it again)

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**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/82 "2003-03-01T19:50:08Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sir Dirx \*  
> \*\*That’s pronounced “draft”?? Ok, a new one for my list. I usually pronounce it “drouwt” or “drott.” \*\*

Ditto!

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**Author:** ![TwungTister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TwungTister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwungTister)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/83 "2003-03-02T16:06:24Z")

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**lingerie** the association with “linger” is too strong, and though I see the “ie” it’s too late to change the first syllable.

**infrared** I used to see it as infraird light, like refracted light. Now I know what it is.

**biopic** it looks like bi-op-ic, sortof like biopsy. I wish they wouldn’t abbreviate like this.

Then we could start a thread on words we mispronounce for the fun of it. When I get bored I mispronounce Menomonie, variety, ultraviolet, biology, Chippewa Falls and Idaho.

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**Author:** ![TwungTister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TwungTister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwungTister)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/84 "2003-03-02T16:07:58Z")

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D\*\* I forgot!  
**Yosemite**. Looks like yoze mite.

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/85 "2003-03-02T19:26:52Z")

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“lbs.” = libbs instead of pounds

ricochet = rik-o-chet instead of rik-a-shay

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**Author:** ![Evil\_Adam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e68b1a/32.png) [@Evil\_Adam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Adam)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-mispronounce-while-reading/152727/86 "2003-03-22T06:49:37Z")

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Every single time I read ‘Omnipotent’ I hear “Ohm-ni-PO-tent.” As soon as I finish it I yell (to myself) DAMMIT! I did it again!

There are some things I just cannot remember, such as pronouncing this word, and that square roots give you two possible answers. I _know_ it, but it always escapes me on tests and such. Arghh.

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