10 of the hardest English words to pronounce

English is a fascinating language, full of quirks and complexities that often leave even native speakers scratching their heads. One of the most difficult aspects when learning English is pronunciation — some words just don’t sound the way they look.

Here’s our pick of 10 of the hardest English words to pronounce to help you understand their meaning, history, and — most importantly — their tricky phonetics.

1. Worcestershire

Worcestershire sauce, a famous English condiment from the county of Worcestershire, has been a staple in kitchens since the early 19th century. The county is also mentioned in records as far back as 1086.

Worcestershire is a word that seems designed to trip you up. With a jumble of letters that don’t correspond to how it’s pronounced, it’s no wonder people struggle with this one. People may say Wor-chest-er-shire or Wor-shesh-ter, but both are incorrect. 

How to say it: WUSS-ter-sheer or WUSS-ter-sher

2. Anemone

Anemones are beautiful, delicate flowers but are also a type of predatory sea creature. The word comes from the Greek word “anemos,” meaning wind, due to the flowers’ delicate, wind-blown appearance.

Anemone is a word with a rhythmic sequence of vowels and consonants that can easily trip up the tongue, making it challenging to say smoothly. A common mistake is to say an-eh-moh-nee. 

How to say it: uh-NEM-uh-nee

3. Colonel

The pronunciation of “colonel” comes from a French word (which was borrowed from Italian.) Over time, the pronunciation shifted while the spelling remained closer to the original form.

The spelling of “colonel” is deceptive, and it is one of those words that looks nothing like how it is spelled. The “l” is silent, and a soft “r” sound replaces the “o” sound. You might hear people mistakenly say co-lo-nel, but that’s incorrect.

How to say it: KER-nul

4. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is when a word mimics the sounds they describe, like “buzz,” “sizzle,” or “clang.” Onomatopoeia is not only a long word, but its unusual combination of letters makes it tricky to pronounce. People often struggle and end up saying on-oh-mato-pee-ah.

How to say it: on-uh-MAT-uh-PEE-uh

5. Squirrel

The blend of “sq” and “rl” sounds in squirrel can be tough, especially for non-native English speakers, as these sounds are rarely found together in other languages.

This is another one people commonly struggle with. You may hear skwi-rell or squir-ell, but these are both wrong. 

How to say it: SKWIR-uhl

6. Pneumonia 

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The word comes from the Greek “pneumon,” meaning “lung.” 

The silent “p” in pneumonia and the tricky combination of vowels catch many people off guard. Common errors include new-mon-ia or puh-neu-mon-ia.

How to say it: new-MOHN-yuh

7. Floccinaucinihilipilification

While it’s not a word you’re likely to encounter day-to-day, Floccinaucinihilipilification deserves a mention as the longest non-technical word in major English dictionaries at 29 letters! 

It’s an 18th-century word made up of four Latin prefixes, meaning "nothing," and is the act of estimating something as worthless.

How to say it: flok-suh-naw-suh-nahy-hil-uh-pil-uh-fi-KAY-shun

8. Mischievous

The spelling of “mischievous” often leads people to believe there’s an extra syllable, but the word is derived from the Old French “meschevous,” meaning “prone to cause trouble.” A frequent mistake is saying mis-CHEE-vee-uhs. 

How to say it: MIS-chuh-vuhs

9. Rural

Rural areas are also often called the countryside, distinct from urban areas, and are typically associated with farming or agriculture. 

The “r” sounds in “rural” are difficult to say back-to-back, making this word challenging for many. Some common mispronunciations include rool or rur-al. 

How to say it: ROO-ruhl

10. Draught

Draught is often used in British English to refer to draft beer, but it can also mean a current of cool air in a room. 

Draught is a word with an unusual spelling that doesn’t reflect its pronunciation, particularly with the silent “gh.” A common mispronunciation that you might hear is draw-gt or draff.

How to say it: draaft

Whether it’s silent letters, unexpected sounds, or just some wild spellings, English is definitely a language that keeps you on your toes. While learning English certainly comes with its challenges, it’s a language full of surprises and well worth mastering.