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Pronunciation Guide
FREE LISTENING WORKSHEET · APG

20 tricky English spellings to pronounce

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

Open the guide & listening notes →Take the interactive quiz →

Videos and full notes: https://ipronounce.io/guides/challenging-spellings

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
acquireShe hopes to acquire new skills.
auxiliaryThe building has an auxiliary generator.
bourgeoisThe novel portrays a bourgeois family.
bureaucracyThe application was delayed by bureaucracy.
conscientiousHe is a conscientious student.
dilemmaWe faced a difficult dilemma.
ecstasyShe was in ecstasy after hearing the news.
exaggerateTry not to exaggerate the problem.
foreignShe enjoys watching foreign films.
jewelryShe keeps her jewelry in a small box.
maintenanceThe bridge is closed for maintenance.
necessaryBring only what is necessary.
privilegeIt was a privilege to meet her.
lieutenantThe lieutenant addressed the crew.
supposedlyThe shop is supposedly open until nine.
februaryHer birthday is in February.
wednesdayThe meeting is on Wednesday.
refrigeratorPut the milk in the refrigerator.
mosquitoA mosquito landed on my arm.
yachtThe yacht was anchored in the harbor.

Test your pronunciation knowledge

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

  1. What happens to the written ch in “yacht”?

    1. It sounds like sh.
    2. It has no separate sound.
    3. It creates another syllable.

  2. Which consonant comes before the final l in “supposedly”?

    1. b
    2. p
    3. d

  3. What does qu sound like in “mosquito”?

    1. k without w
    2. k followed by w
    3. The ch in chair

  4. How many syllables can “jewelry” have?

    1. Only four
    2. Two and three
    3. Only one
Show the answer key

Open this section before printing to include the answers.

  1. B. It has no separate sound. “Yacht” has one syllable, beginning with the y sound in yes and ending with t. The written ch is silent.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  2. C. d “Supposedly” has d before the final l. The word has four syllables, with the main stress on the second.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  3. A. k without w “Mosquito” has k before the stressed ee vowel, without w. The word has three syllables and middle-syllable stress.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  4. B. Two and three “Jewelry” has a reduced two-syllable pronunciation and fuller three-syllable pronunciations. All keep the main stress at the beginning.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

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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