Your Mispronunciation Guide

No one can tell you how to pronounce a word.
This resource tells you how not to pronounce it.

**Nevada — not Nev-AH-dah**

Not unless you’re ready for

Moan-TAH-nah
AH-lah-BAH-mah
IN-dee-AH-nah

Rule of thumb: When considering a “language of origin” pronunciation, recall how you pronounce the capitals of France, Germany, and Italy in normal conversation. Do you say Pah-REE? Bare-LEEN? R-r-r-ROAM-mah?

So don’t be an ass (ahss) about Nevada.

And for heaven’s sake don’t say Nev-AH-dah in the same sentence with AIR-uh-ZONE-uh. Duh.

**Tourist — not TORE-ist**

It does not rhyme with “florist.” Consult the pronunciation of “tour” — which you know perfectly well from “three-hour tour” in the Gilligan’s Island song.

**Meteorologist — not someone who studies meters**

Meteor, with three syllables, is from ancient Greek — “in or from the sky.” The meaning is in the third syllable. Say what you mean.

**Mail — not MELL**

No one mispronounces “snail mail.” And yet:

shoot me an emell
with juicy detells
about the yard sell

Vowel Shift Alert: Long a is slumping into short e.

Short i may be headed the same way.

glass of melk
Jack and Jell up the hell
her and hem

**Auntie — not . . . er, not exactly sure**

Aunt and jaunt ought to rhyme. For many Americans they do rhyme. Yet “ant” has been the majority US pronunciation since the 1920s at least.

Very likely the “ants” came marching in during westward settlement in the early 1800s. Aunt with a short a predominates west of the Appalachians.

You don’t want to sound pretentious. On the other hand, you don’t want people thinking you’re anti-Mame.

Best advice: When in Rome . . .