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English as a second language learners: what words were really hard for you to pronounce? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 4 days ago by RockySalad@discuss.tchncs.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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If English wasn't your first language, maybe if you learned English later in life, were there any words that you had a really hard time learning how to pronounce? Do you think that had to do with the sounds made in your first language?

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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

For most new native English speakers, it's Spaghetti (pisketty) and Elephant (efalent). For my son it was Caterpillar (calapitter). I struggled with pronouncing Uncomfortable. I wanted to say every syllable.

[–] RockySalad@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

calapitter aww

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago

I know, my wife would melt every time he said it.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You would be accurate if you pronounced every syllable of the word uncomfortable. Americans are just lazy, not pronouncing every syllable. Nobody would look at you strangely if you pronounced every syllable of that word. It would just seem like you're emphasizing HOW UNCOMFORTABLE you are if you pronounce every syllable of the word :-)

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 3 days ago

No, I mean that as a kid, I wanted to say every syllable, but I found it difficult. I could hear adults saying it the easy way, but I wanted to know the real word. I loved to read as a kid, and soaked up every word I could find.