English words we all mispronounce
Part 2
Teacher Elke is at your service again today for a second round with English words that are mispronounced and all ‘make that the cat wise’-like statements. Love it. Okay, maybe a bit more about words that are misused and said than really mispronounced, because everything along the lines of Louis van Gaal language is too fun not to share.
Worcestershire sauce (wus-tershear sauce)
Simone just presented this to me. When she lived in London, she couldn't find it in the supermarket once, but because she didn't know how to pronounce it well, she called her American love so he could explain where it was on the shelves. At least she didn't have to ask the staff. But Simone, are you paying attention? It's just: wus-tershear.
Yosemite (joh-sem-i-tie)
The most famous park in California, which is often mispronounced by Americans themselves. Instead of ‘jose-meid’ it’s ‘jo-sem-i-tie’.
Avondeten
Not necessarily mispronounced, but I often see the word ‘diner’ written when evening meal is meant instead of ‘dinner’. Yes, in Dutch it’s certainly correct, but if you use it like that in English, you’re talking about a place where you can often eat 24/7. Think of a little restaurant on Route 66 or something.
Irish names
I used to have a Siobhan in school and logically the first time I saw that name I thought you pronounced it as ‘see-o-ban’. That was completely wrong. Siobhan is pronounced as ‘Shiv-awn’. Other little names from the far north that can sometimes be a struggle:
– Aisling is pronounced as Ash-ling
– Saoirse is pronounced as Ser-shah
– Niamh is pronounced as Knee-ov
Milk bottles
I saw this recently on Instagram. Someone with her ‘milk bottles in the sun‘. Nope, sorry. Those bare legs of yours are just pale, okay? Just leave those milk bottles in your Dutch fridge.
How goes it now? (How are you doing (now)? How are things going?)
This is a literal translation of ‘Hoe gaat het nu?’ I could explain why this is grammatically incorrect, but just trust me: if you want to know how someone is doing, you just ask: ‘How are you doing?’ or: ‘How are things going?’ Great.
And let’s not forget the delicious broken English. My favorites? Here they come:
– I always get my sin.
– Bad luck birds.
– There comes the monkey out of the sleeve.
– We go in sea with you.
– I am not crazy Henkie.
– Now breaks my wooden shoe.
– He is getting the wind from the front.
– It smells an hour in the wind.
– I thank you from the bottom of my heart and also from my wife’s bottom.
– It’s raining pipestiles.
– I don’t trust you for a meter.
– Unfortunately peanutbutter.
– I fell with the door in the house.
– I shall let them smell a poopie.
Can you speak flawless English? Then there’s nothing on the hand. You may beautifully ignore this post. Byeee.
