100+ Very Hard Words to Say, Spell, and Pronounce in English

Speech coach Patrick Muñoz shares the hardest words to pronounce (& why English is so difficult)

Co-authored by Patrick Muñoz and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

• Level 1
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• Level 2
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• Level 3
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• Why is English hard to pronounce?
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English is jam-packed with hard-to-pronounce words! Why is that? Well, English is a melting pot of languages. Most of the English language stems from Latin and Ancient Greek words. There are no clear-cut rules for pronunciation—there’s always a word with an exception! But what words are the hardest to say? We put together a little game for you. See if you can pronounce the words in each “level” of this article to see if you’re an English pronunciation master. And if you’re not, don’t sweat it; we’re not either! We also spoke to speech coach Patrick Muñoz to learn about his favorite challenging words and why English is so tough to pronounce.

The Hardest English Words to Pronounce

Speech coach Patrick Muñoz says these are some of the most difficult words to pronounce in English:

• Anemone (uh-NEM-uh-nee)
• Isthmus (is-muhs)
• Mischievous (MIS-chiv-us)
• Nuclear (NOO-klee-er)
• Rural (RUR-uhl)
• Worcestershire (WUSS-ter-sher)

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Hard Words to Say in English: Level 1

1. 
   These words aren’t too bad, but they’re still easy to trip over! There are a lot of tricky words in the English language; they look like they’ll be pronounced one way, but are pronounced another way! The words below are the most commonly mispronounced. Chances are, if you can say all of these words correctly, you know a thing or two about the English language:

   • Accessory: (ak-SES-uh-ree) something added to a machine or to clothing that has a useful or decorative purpose.
   • Almond: (ah-muhnd) an edible oval nut with a hard shell.
   • Antarctic: (an-TARK-tick) the very cold area around the South Pole.
   • Athlete: (ATH-leet) a person who is good at sports or physical exercise.
   • Bouquet: (boo-KAY) a group of flowers attractively arranged.
   • Bourbon: (BER-buhn) a type of American whiskey.
   • Brewery: (BROO-uh-ree) a place that makes beer.
   • Broccoli: (BRAHK-uh-lee) a green vegetable.
   • Bury: (berry) to put something in the ground.
   • Candidate: (KAN-di-date) a person who is competing or likely to receive something.
   • Caramel: (CAR-mel) burned sugar used to give flavor.
   • Ceiling: (SEE-ling) the inside surface of a room.
   • Choir: (kwa-eye-er) a group of people who sing together.
   • Comfortable: (kumf-fer-tuh-buhl) something that is pleasant.
   • Debris: (duh-BREEE) broken or torn pieces of something bigger.
   • Drought: (drowt) a long period of time with little or no rain.
   • Espresso: (es-PRE-so) strong coffee made by forcing hot water through crushed coffee beans.
   • February: (feb-yoo-air-ee) the second month of the year.
   • Illinois: (IL-uh-NOY) a state in the central United States.
   • Jewelry: (JOOL-ree) decorative objects made from valuable metals that are worn.
   • Knead: (need) to press something firmly and repeatedly with the hands.
   • Library: (LIE-brer-ee) a building or room that has a collection of books.
   • Mischievous: (MIS-chiv-us) behaving in a way that’s slightly bad but not harmful.
     • Muñoz says this is commonly mispronounced like “mis-CHEE-vee-us,” noting that “the ‘ie’ and ‘ou’ can throw you off.”
   • Mustache: (muh-stash) hair that grows on the upper lip.
   • Nauseous: (NAW-shus) feeling like you might vomit.
   • Nuclear: (NOO-klee-er) or (NYOO-klee-er) relating to the nucleus of an atom or cell, and/or the power it can produce.
     • Muñoz notes that “nuclear” is often mispronounced like “NOO-kyoo-ler.”
   • Penguin: (PEN-gwin) a black and white bird typically found in the Antarctic.
   • Rural: (RUR-uhl) in, of, or like the countryside.
     • Muñoz notes that the repeating r’s can make this word a challenge!
   • Rurally: (RUR-uhl-ee) in a rural way. Muñoz explains that the adverb form of “rural” is also a hard word to pronounce.
     • He says it leaves people questioning if it should be pronounced “RER-uh-lee” or “ROO-ruh-lee.”
   • Scissors: (sizz-ers) a device used to cut something.
   • Sixth: (siks-th) 6th written as a word.
   • Squirrel: (SKWIR-ull) a small animal found in woodlands.
   • Thorough: (THURR-uh) detailed and careful.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Patrick Muñoz is an internationally recognized voice and speech coach. He focuses on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting, and speech therapy.
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Section 2 of 4:

Hard Words to Say in English: Level 2

1. 
   These words are full of silent and tricky letters…making them a bit harder! So, you passed Level 1, huh? That’s great! But now’s where it gets tough. The words below are some of the trickiest and hardest to pronounce in the English language. Muñoz notes that “some words are tough because of tricky consonant combinations,” while others are hard due to their “length, stress patterns, or unusual letter groupings.”

   • Accede: (ak-SEED): to agree to do what people ask you to do.
   • Adamant: (AD-uh-muhnt) impossible to persuade.
   • Aisle: (eye-l) a long, narrow space between rows.
   • Alias: (AY-lee-uhs) used when giving the name that a person is generally known by after giving their real name.
   • Archetype: (AR-kuh-type) a typical example of something.
   • Beguile: (bih-GILE) to persuade or attract someone.
   • Cache: (kash) a hidden store of things.
   • Cacophony: (ka-kof-uh-nee) an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds.
   • Cajole: (kuh-JOHL) to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do.
   • Callous: (KAL-uhs) unkind or cruel feeling for other people.
   • Caricature: (KAIR-uh-kuh-choor) the art of creating an image of someone that makes them look silly.
   • Charcuterie: (shar-ku-ter-ee) cold, cooked, or preserved meat.
   • Colonel: (KER-nl) an officer of high rank in the army or air force.
   • Conscience: (KON-shuhns) the part of yourself that judges your morality.
   • Coup: (koo) an unexpectedly successful achievement.
   • Decrepit: (di-KREP-it) in very bad condition.
   • Entrepreneur: (on-truh-pruh-nur) someone who starts their own business.
   • Epitome: (uh-PIT-uh-mee) the typical or highest example of a stated quality.
   • Foliage: (FOH-lee-ij) the leaves of a plant or tree.
   • Foyer: (FOY-er) a large open area inside an entrance.
   • Fuchsia: (FYOO-shuh) a small plant with red, purple, and white flowers.
   • Gauge: (GAYJ) to calculate an amount.
   • Guarantee: (garr-uhn-TEE) a promise that something will be done or will happen.
   • Heinous: (HAY-nis) very bad or shocking.
   • Hierarchy: (hahy-er-ahr-kee) a system where people are arranged by importance.
   • Hyperbole: (hai-PER-buh-lee) a way of speaking that makes someone sound bigger and better.
   • Liaison: (lee-AY-zon) communication between people who work together.
   • Necessary: (NESS-uh-sair-ee) needed in order to achieve.
   • Phenomenon: (fuh-nah-meh-naan) a fact or event, often one that’s rare or significant.
     • Muñoz explains that people often get the m’s and n’s mixed up.
   • Quinoa: (KEEN-wah) seeds of a South American plant that are cooked and eaten.
   • Sherbet: (SHER-but) a sweet food similar to ice cream.
   • Statistically: (stuh-tis-tuh-kuh-lee) relating to statistics.
     • Muñoz notes that “the consonant clusters can tangle the tongue.”
   • Subtle: (sut-uhl) not loud or obvious.
   • Worcestershire: (WUSS-ter-sher) a county in western central England. Muñoz adds that it also refers to the steak sauce.
     • Muñoz says this word is often mispronounced as “WOR-chester-shire.”

Section 3 of 4:

Hard Words to Say in English: Level 3

1. 
   Level up! These words are the most difficult to pronounce in English. Woah! You passed Level 1 and Level 2? You’re some pronunciation wizard! But it’s not over yet. The words below are the most difficult to pronounce ever. With silent letters and lengthy syllables, these words can trip up even the most brilliant speakers (so don’t be discouraged if they throw you off).

   • Anathema: (uh-NATH-uh-muh) something that’s strongly disliked.
   • Anemone: (uh-NEM-uh-nee) a brightly colored sea creature that looks like a flower or rock.
     • Muñoz says people sometimes mispronounce this by switching the n and m.
   • Bureaucracy: (byoo-rok-ruh-see) a system for controlling or managing a country, company, or organization.
   • Cacciatore: (kah-chuh-TAWR-ee) used to describe Italian dishes prepared using tomatoes, onions, and herbs.
   • Camaraderie: (kahm-uh-RAHD-uh-ree) a feeling of friendliness toward people you share an experience with.
   • Chauvinism: (SHOH-vuh-nih-zuhm) the strong belief that your own country or race is the most important.
   • Choleric: (KOL-uh-rik) very angry or easily annoyed.
   • Colloquialism: (kuh-LOH-kwee-uh-liz-uhm) an informal expression.
   • Connoisseur: (kon-uh-SUR) a person who knows a lot about something.
   • Demagogue: (DEM-uh-gog) a person who wins support but doesn’t have morally right ideas.
   • Dengue: (DENG-gee) a tropical disease carried by mosquitoes.
   • Diaphragm: (DIE-uh-fram) the muscle that separates the chest from the lower part of the body.
   • Emollient: (i-MOL-yuhnt) a cream or liquid that makes dry skin less painful.
   • Ennui: (ahn-WEE) a feeling of being bored or mentally tired from uninteresting things.
   • Fatuous: (FACH-oo-us) stupid or not correct.
   • Grandiloquent: (gran-DIL-uh-kwuhnt) a way of speech that is complicated in order to attract admiration and attention.
   • Hegemony: (heh-JEM-uh-nee) the position of being the strongest and most powerful.
   • Hors d’oeuvres: (or-DURVZ) a small savory dish eaten at the start of a meal.
   • Ignominious: (ig-nuh-MIN-ee-us) embarrassing because of failure.
   • Isthmus: (is-muhs) a narrow piece of land with water on each side that joins two larger areas of land.
     • Thankfully, Muñoz says this is “not a word you’ll be saying every day.”
   • Noisome: (NOY-suhm) unpleasant and offensive.
   • Onomatopoeia: (on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh) words that sound like noises.
   • Otorhinolaryngology: (oh-toh-rye-noh-larr-in-GOL-uh-jee) the area of medicine that deals with diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
     • Similarly, Muñoz notes that “otorhinolaryngologists” is hard to say—it’s what you call an ear, nose, and throat doctor. Luckily, he says most people just say “ENT.”
   • Paradigm: (PARA-dime) a model of something.
   • Pneumonia: (noo-MOH-nee-uh) an illness in which the lungs swell and fill with liquid.
   • Pseudonym: (sue-duh-nim) a name someone uses instead of their real name.
   • Queue: (kyoo) a line or series of data.
   • Quintessential: (kwin-tuh-SEN-shuhl) being the most typical example or most important part of something.
   • Quisling: (KWIZ-ling) a person who helps an enemy.
   • Sanguine: (san-gwin) positive and hopeful.
   • Sycophant: (SICK-uh-funt) someone who praises powerful or rich people insincerely.
   • Truculent: (TRUK-yuh-luht) unpleasant and likely to argue.
   • Vicissitude: (vuh-SISS-uh-tood) change that happens at different times during life.
   • Zephyr: (ZEF-er) a light wind.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Patrick Muñoz

   Speech Coach

   Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

   

   Patrick Muñoz
   Speech Coach

   English pronunciation can be difficult, but it’s possible to sound like a natural. With patience and practice, you can make English sound natural and flowing—and even master the “hardest” words out there.
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Section 4 of 4:

Why are English words hard to pronounce?

1. The English language is full of irregularities. “English isn’t necessarily one of the hardest languages to learn, but it’s often considered one of the hardest to pronounce,” says Muñoz. Why? “Because English is full of irregularities,” he explains. “Patterns exist, but they vary widely, and exceptions are everywhere.” Muñoz notes that “part of this comes from English’s history—it borrows from many other languages,” which “gives it depth and richness, but also leads to unpredictable pronunciation.”

   • “In languages like Spanish, what you see is what you say—the spelling tells you exactly how to pronounce each word,” Muñoz says. However, that’s not the case in English.
   • For example, Muñoz asks you to consider the letter “o.” He says, “Say these words out loud and notice how each ‘o’ sounds completely different: no, got, one.”
   • Additionally, Muñoz says that letters can be silent depending on their placement, like the “l” in talk, the “gh” in bought, and the “w” in saw.
   • “Another challenge is how much pronunciation changes in everyday, casual speech,” says Muñoz. For example, “Listen to how the ‘t’ sound shifts in sit, little, and kitten.” He explains that “when we connect words in natural speech, those subtle changes can completely alter the sound.”

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Why are some words hard to pronounce when English is not my native language?

  

  Ronnie Ramos
  English Language Teacher

  Ronnie Ramos is an English language teacher. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Ronnie provides lessons in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, slang, spelling, and more to help anyone improve their confidence with speaking English. She shares her lessons and insights on YouTube @engvidRonnie to over 4.8 million subscribers. In addition, she offers private classes with the option to focus on conversation or accent reduction, IELTS and CELPIP exam preparation, writing workshops, and kids' classes. Ronnie is also the author of the book, The Magic of Teaching English, written for aspiring ESL teachers, which was published in 2022.

  

  Ronnie Ramos

  English Language Teacher

  Expert Answer

  Honestly, even as an English teacher, I mispronounce words all the time, so you’re not alone. A lot of it comes down to your mother tongue. Different languages use different sounds, so your mouth and tongue just aren’t trained for certain combinations. For example, Rs and Ls can be tricky, and TH sounds give almost everyone trouble. Portuguese speakers mix up T and D or R and D, so instead of saying “red,” you might hear “head.” And then there’s the infamous -ed ending. People see E D and think it should sound like “ed,” but in words like washed or watched, it turns into a T sound. It feels completely illogical when you look at the spelling. So really, English pronunciation is tough because it doesn’t always match what you see on paper.

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