No matter how many grammar rules you know, no matter
how many words or phrases you know, ultimately none of
these will matter if you mispronounce the word.
So it's very important that your pronunciation
is gotten right, because when you get
that right, your English will sound smooth.
So today we are here to talk
about few words that are mispronounced.
Hi, my name is Kristine, and welcome to Let's Talk.
Now, let's get into our lesson for today, which
is everyday easy words that often are mispronounced.
This is part one.
The first word I'd like to
talk about is enquire, right?
How do we pronounce this?
It's enquirer.
Now, usually a lot of people say enquire, right?
That's not the way we say it.
It's enquire.
So when we break it down, okay, now say it with me.
Right?
Enquire.
Repeat enquire.
So this re is not really heard.
You don't really say it.
So when you say it, it's just
so simple and it's very subtle. Enquire.
I hope you got that right.
Now, the second word I'd like to
talk to you about is inquire.
Now, this sounds I know a lot of people get
confused between the two, and they do sound similar.
And I shall also tell you the difference.
Now, inquire means seeking information.
That is, you're inquiring about something,
whereas inquire means to investigate.
Now, a lot of people mix up these two words,
but when you actually know the meanings, it's easier when
to use them and when not to use them.
So how do you pronounce inquire?
Inquire. Right.
So this re, the sound is A, right? Inquire.
Say it again with me.
Inquire.
Enquire.
Inquire.
Okay, let's look at one more
word here, which is executive.
Say that with me.
Executive. Right.
So it's executive, right?
Not executive.
A lot of people say executive.
That is not correct.
We have to say executive.
Repeat executive. Well done.
The more you repeat, the more
you'll get the hang of it.
Okay, now let's look at an example where we
can use all three words in one sentence. Okay?
The executives called the company and
inquired or inquired about the vacancy.
Which word would you use?
Now, I want you to put the answer in the comments,
and we will tell you what the actual answer is, okay?
So try and see if you can use a
sentence on your own with these three words.
Okay, let's move on.
Now, how do you say across?
Now, we don't say a cross.
We don't say across.
We say a cross.
So A, the A is pronounced as A and cross, which is A.
We have an A in it. Across. Right?
So say it with me. Across.
Across. Perfect.
All right, the next word is accessory.
Accessory.
Not accessory.
A lot of people say sorry.
We're not being sorry here.
Okay, it's accessory, repeat accessory.
Well done.
Okay, the next word we're looking at is ask.
Okay, now, I know a lot of times
we have the British English, we have the
American English, where we say ask or ask.
But here we are saying ask.
Now, a lot of people tend to also say ax. Okay?
But the word is ask.
Repeat. Ask.
Ask. Well done.
Now let's look at a sentence where we
can use all three words together, okay?
Ask anyone across the street
about the new accessory store.
Let's say this together.
Ask anyone across the street
about the new accessory store.
Now, the whole idea why I'm giving
you these words in a sentence.
Now, it's okay.
Maybe when I teach you, you'll be able to get
the words right, you'll be able to pronounce them right.
But when you put them in a sentence, there
are times that you might get the words wrong.
So it's important you take the words that
you learn how to pronounce and put them
in a sentence which will help you pronounce
them properly when used in full sentences. Perfect.
I'm glad you're learning really quickly.
Now, let's move on to the next word.
Athlete.
It's athlete, right? Athlete.
Not athlete or athlete.
It's athlete.
Repeat.
Athlete.
Very good.
The next word.
Clothes.
If you notice the S, sounds like a Z.
Clothes.
Not clothes. OK.
Clothes.
Say that with me.
Clothes.
All right, so make sure you get that sound. Clothes.
Perfect.
Entrepreneur.
This is a very common word that
is very commonly mispronounced as well.
Now, it's not entrepreneur.
It's entrepreneur, right?
So next time you hear this word, either you can
correct somebody or make sure you say it right.
Entrepreneur.
Repeat entrepreneur.
Entrepreneur. Super.
Okay, now let's look at a
sentence with all three words.
The athlete turned into an entrepreneur
and started his clothes brand.
Isn't that a brilliant sentence with all three words?
Why don't you come up with a sentence and see if
you can use all these three words in a new sentence
of your own and put it in the comments.
I'd love to see them.
Okay, moving on.
Number ten.
Library. Say that.
Library. Correct.
Not library.
Library.
Library. Right. Library. Say that. Library.
Very good.
The next word is women.
Not woman.
Women.
Okay, so the wo, okay.
Is with wi. Okay? Women.
So the men is not women, it's women.
So say that. Women.
See how nice it sounds? All right. Perfect.
The next word is chaos. Chaos. I know. Ch.
Now, English, like they say,
is a funny language, right? Now, ch.
A lot of people say cha, but here the ch is C, right?
So chaos.
It's not AOS. OS.
AOS, but it's OS. Chaos. Chaos.
Repeat chaos. Super.
Sentencedine.
The women created a chaos at
the library and were thrown out.
I'm just imagining this.
I'm sure you must be, too.
The women created a chaos at
the library and were thrown out.
Okay, so come up with another sentence and see if you
can use all three words and get innovative with it.
Superb.
The next word is infrastructure.
Infrastructure. Right.
Now, even though there's A-T-U re, which is tier.
Okay, we're not saying tier.
We're using it as a ch.
Yeah, so get this right.
Infrastructure.
Very good.
The next word is a simple word,
but not everybody gets it right.
It's vegetable, not vegetable. Right?
I know there's a table here, but we are
not putting anything on the table as yet.
It's vegetable.
So this is very subtle. Vegetable.
Vegetable. Okay.
We're not even saying veggie.
We're saying vegetable.
I have to tell you, there's someone
I know who actually says waitable.
Yes, it's a fact.
And that is something we shouldn't be saying.
So say vegetable.
Very good. All right.
The next word is develop.
DVR lup. Develop. Develop.
Not develop. OK? Develop.
Get that? Develop.
All right, sentence time.
We need to develop infrastructure
to grow organic vegetables. Nice.
I know you're liking these
sentences, so repeat after me.
We need to develop infrastructure
to grow organic vegetables. Perfect.
Alrighty, let's move on to number 16, which is figure.
Figure.
Okay, so when I think figure, I know it
is confusing sometimes, and I don't blame you, because
when we literally, you know, look at a word,
we want to say it the way it is.
In this case, it is not the way it is.
So figure. Figure.
Okay, so this is again, you're not saying the re.
The next word we're looking at is excuse. Excuse.
Not excuse. A.
That's very French.
It's excuse.
Now, again, the S is sounding like a z over here.
Excuse.
So you say excuse me.
Okay, so practice that.
You'll get it?
The next word is comparison. Again.
Okay, it's compare. Zin.
Now, son is not sun.
Here, it's zin. Zin. Okay?
We're using it as a z.
That's why we're here to help you.
So when you pronounce them right, you'll also
feel confident about the way you're saying it.
Not everybody gets these words right or not all
teachers themselves know how to teach the words right.
So here, just say the word comparison.
Comparison. Repeat.
Comparison. Super.
Let's look at a sentence.
What's your excuse for lower sales
figures in comparison to last month?
Okay, so I'm loving these
sentences because it's so perfect.
And I would like to encourage you to use these words
in full sentences so you get the hang of it, right?
So keep practicing this and you'll just
get better and better and better.
The next word is heart.
Heart.
You're not saying heart.
OK, you're not saying heart.
It's heart.
Very soft, very subtle.
Just like the heart. Perfect.
Okay, the next word is picture.
Picture.
Again, we're not saying chur.
We're not saying this word.
We're not pronouncing this exactly the way it is.
It's picture.
This is looked at as a cha. Picture.
Picture. Picture. Perfect. Super.
Okay, 21 is ticklish.
I know not many of you use this word
often, but it's important when the time comes, how
to use it, when to use it.
Ticklish. Okay?
It's a simple word. Ticklish. Ticklish.
So what does ticklish mean?
It means when you're sensitive, when somebody puts
their fingers around you, it could be on
your feet, it could be on your waist.
Or when somebody just comes to try
and tickle you, you feel ticklish. All right?
So it's a very funny feeling.
Some can handle it, some can't.
So that's what ticklish is all about.
Let's use this in a sentence
and see how it comes across.
When I picture you in my heart, I feel ticklish.
I'm loving this sentence.
So when I imagine you or picture
you in my heart, I feel ticklish.
Alright, I hope this makes you smile.
Let's see our next word, which is truth. Okay.
Truth.
It's very gentle.
Truth.
Okay, repeat. Truth.
Good.
Next word is position.
Position.
Again, the S is like a z position, not position.
We're not trying to get the S right. Position.
It's not even PO. It's per. Position.
Good. Position.
Very good.
Now, potential per tenture.
Again, this is now the ti is like sh. Potential. Right?
This entire thing potential.
Repeat potential.
Good.
Just sounding better. Keep practicing.
Like I said, you have the potential to speak
good English and pronounce all the words well.
There you go.
Okay, now let's look at this sentence.
The truth is, I've reached this position
in the company because of my potential. Simple.
Superb.
Okay, let's move on to the next word, which is answer.
Answer.
Not answer or answer it's. Answer.
Okay, so we're not saying er, we're saying answer.
Keep it subtle. Right?
So let's look at a sentence here.
The answer to your question is keep practicing English.
What a perfect way to end, right? Right. Okay.
Now, at this point of time, I'd like to
tell you in the English language, you'll notice when
we pronounce words, there's a lot of er.
Er sounds, right?
You've noticed in most of these words
I've said these are called schwa sounds. Right?
In English, it's called schwa sounds.
Now, I intend to do another lesson just
on these words and sounds because it's important
that you understand how these words are pronounced,
because this is extremely important.
So I really hope that these words were useful to you.
I know they were simple, but I need you to practice.
Practice them as words individually and practice them in sentences
as well so that you get your words right.
Pronounce them well and you will feel so
much more confident in your daily conversation.
My name is Christine Zerk, and thank you
for watching until our next lesson together. See you.
Bye.