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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
FREE LISTENING WORKSHEET · APG

20 business and professional words to pronounce

Listen, notice one detail, and say the word in a phrase.

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Videos and full notes: https://ipronounce.io/guides/business-pronunciation

Name: ________________________　 Date: __________________

A five-word listening round

  1. Choose five words below. Open each linked word and play its APG video.
  2. Write one sound observation: the strongest syllable, a silent letter, a consonant connection, or a variant you hear.
  3. Say the original practice phrase, then write and say your own sentence.
  4. Read the word’s listening note and compare it with your observation. Repeat any word you want to revisit.
Your listening record — choose five, then return for another round
Word & videoPractice phraseWhat I hear / my sentence
entrepreneurAn entrepreneur with a new idea.
revenueAnnual revenue increased.
liaisonOur liaison with the team.
analysisA careful analysis of the results.
analysesTwo independent analyses.
dataThe data support this conclusion.
financeShe works in finance.
nicheA niche market.
portfolioA diverse portfolio of projects.
procurementThe procurement team reviewed it.
consensusWe reached a consensus.
logisticsShe manages the logistics.
leverageWe discussed the use of leverage.
colleagueI asked a colleague.
debtThe company reduced its debt.
receiptPlease keep the receipt.
Amicus CuriaeAn amicus curiae brief.
fiduciaryA fiduciary responsibility.
amortizationAn amortization schedule.
arbitrageAn arbitrage opportunity.

Test your pronunciation knowledge

Choose one answer for each question. The answer key includes explanations and source links.

  1. How does the plural noun “analyses” end?

    1. With an “eez” sound
    2. With an “eye” sound
    3. With a “sis” sound

  2. Which first-vowel sounds are used for “data” in American English?

    1. Only the vowel in day
    2. Only the vowel in cat
    3. Both the day and cat vowels

  3. Which letter is silent in “receipt”?

    1. The r
    2. The p
    3. The t

  4. Where is the primary stress in the American pronunciation of “entrepreneur”?

    1. On the last syllable
    2. Only on the first syllable
    3. Equally on every syllable
Show the answer key

Open this section before printing to include the answers.

  1. A. With an “eez” sound “Analyses” ends in /iz/. Compare the singular “analysis,” whose ending uses an s sound with a shorter or weaker vowel.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  2. C. Both the day and cat vowels “Data” can be /ˈdeɪtə/ or /ˈdætə/, using the vowel in day or cat. Both pronunciations have first-syllable stress.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. B. The p “Receipt” is /ɹɪˈsit/. The p is silent, but the final t remains.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. A. On the last syllable “Entrepreneur” has its primary stress at the end. A secondary beat occurs earlier, while the intervening syllables are lighter.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Sources & reuse

The pronunciation notes are based on the dictionary sources linked from each word page. Practice phrases and exercises are original APG learning material, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and keep the source links when adapting this worksheet. Videos and reference quotations retain their own terms.

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