Beautiful British English Pronunciation Programme Common Errors

These vocabulary flashcards cover common pronunciation errors, word stress rules, individual phonemes, and connected speech patterns identified in the Beautiful British English Pronunciation Programme.

desert

A word stressed on the first syllable as /ˈdezət/.

dessert

A word stressed on the second syllable as /dɪˈzɜːt/.

balloon

A word where the second syllable is stressed and the first syllable is pronounced with a schwa /ə/ as /bəˈluːn/.

voiced /v/ sound production

Produced by pushing the bottom of the top teeth slightly into the bottom lip and pushing air through them; it is a continuous sound.

voiced /w/ sound production

Produced by bringing lips together to make a small circle without touching, then quickly pushing them away from the teeth.

Schwa /ə/ in '-er' endings

In British English, words ending in '-er' like September, brother, or weather typically use this relaxed sound, and the 'r' is usually not pronounced.

unforgettable

A word where specific vowels are pronounced as schwas: /ˌʌnfəˈɡetəbl/.

antique

A word where the stress should be placed on the second syllable: /ænˈtiːk/.

awesome and awful

Words where the first syllable is pronounced as /ɔː/ (like horse) rather than /aʊ/.

squatter

A word where 'ua' is pronounced as /ɒ/, as in 'octopus' (/ˈɒktəpəs/).

thrilling

A word starting with /θ/, which is often incorrectly replaced by /t/.

woods and books

Words containing the vowel sound /ʊ/ rather than /u:/.

peculiar

A word requiring a /j/ sound before the /u:/; this /j/ is also required in words like duel or consumed.

Silent 'l' words

Words where the letter 'l' is not pronounced, such as 'talks' (/tɔːks/) and 'walk' (/wɔːk/).

/uː/ monophthong

A long vowel that should be kept flat or level in pitch rather than turning into a 'sing-songy' diphthong.

meadow

A word pronounced as /ˈmedəʊ/, which is often incorrectly pronounced as /ˈmiːdəʊ/.

doubted

A word where the 't' is silent.

/ɪz/ syllable omission

A common error in words like 'closes' (/ˈkləʊzɪz/) and 'appliances' (/əˈplaɪənsɪz/).

majestic

A word with word stress on the second syllable: /məˈdʒestɪk/.

Phrasal verb stress

The rule that primary stress is usually on the second word, such as in 'pull OVER' (/ˌpʊl ˈəʊvə/).

voiced /ɡ/ in 'fog'

Produced by pressing the tongue against the soft palette to close the throat.

galore

A word stressed on the second syllable: /ɡəˈlɔː/.

clothes

A word pronounced as one syllable (/kləʊðz/ or /kləʊz/), never two.

can’t

Pronounced as /kɑːnt/ in British English, though often mispronounced as /kænt/.

/ð/ sound

A voiced sound made by placing the tongue between the teeth or against the back of the front teeth with vibration at the vocal cords.

/θ/ sound

An unvoiced sound made by placing the tongue between the teeth or against the back of the front teeth without vibration.

arranged

A word containing a schwa /əˈreɪndʒd/; some students incorrectly add an extra syllable for the '-ed' ending.

jockey

A word where the 'o' is pronounced as /ɒ/ (/dʒɒki/), not /əʊ/.

physique

A word with the stress on the second syllable: /fɪˈziːk/.

chaos

A word pronounced as /ˈkeɪɒs/, often incorrectly pronounced as /ˈkæ/.

laughing

A word where 'gh' is pronounced as /f/: /ˈlɑːfɪŋ/.

bridge

A word featuring a short /ɪ/ and a /dʒ/ ending; it should not be confused with 'breach'.

Assimilation in 'tin can'

A connected speech phenomenon where the final sound of 'tin' becomes /ŋ/.

Weak form of 'and'

The reduced form /ən/ commonly used as a conjunction between nouns, such as in 'fish /ən/ chips' or 'bread /ən/ butter'.

Linking /w/

An intrusive sound used in connected speech, such as 'Jo-waspires' for 'Jo aspires'.

Intrusive/Linking /r/

Sounds used to connect phrases, such as 'after /r/ a bizarre /r/ argument' or 'fa-raway' for 'far away'.

pre-adolescent

A word where the main stress falls on the third syllable of 'adolescent'.

excruciating

A complex word pronounced with exactly 5 syllables.

cartoon

A word where the first syllable is /kɑː/, not a schwa /ə/.

protest

A word where the first vowel is /əʊ/ (/ˈprəʊtest/), not /ɒ/.

forest

A word where the second vowel is /ɪ/ (/ˈfɒrɪst/), not /e/.