See how you do on this 10-question quiz on pronunciation and mispronunciation!

Which syllable is stressed in the word "awry"?

first

second

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The pronunciation is uh-WRY. Don't feel bad if you've been mispronouncing it—you have a lot of company.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The pronunciation is uh-WRY. Don't feel bad if you've been mispronouncing it—you have a lot of company.

What is the difference between the number of syllables in the phrase "the boy's mother" and the number of syllables in "the boys' mother"?

zero

one

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

There is no difference, because they are pronounced identically.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

There is no difference, because they are pronounced identically.

How many syllables are there in "hyperbole"?

three

four

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The e gets into the action in this pronunciation, making the total syllable count four. You can hear the pronunciation here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbole.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The e gets into the action in this pronunciation, making the total syllable count four. You can hear the pronunciation here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbole.

Does the second syllable of "misled" rhyme with "bed"?

yes

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

When "misled" is encountered in print, it is not uncommon for it to be misread as mizzled, my-zld, missiled, etc. It sometimes takes readers a while to realize that this is in fact the spelling of the word sounding like miss + led that they have been hearing aloud for years.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Which syllable is stressed in "anathema"?

first

second

third

fourth

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Carrie's table manners are anathema to Greg" means that Greg hates the way Carrie eats, and "anathema" is stressed on the second syllable.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Carrie's table manners are anathema to Greg" means that Greg hates the way Carrie eats, and "anathema" is stressed on the second syllable.

Is there an audible l sound in the standard pronunciation of "salmon"?

yes

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Because of a complicated centuries-long language journey, today's salmon does not contain an l sound.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Because of a complicated centuries-long language journey, today's salmon does not contain an l sound.

The first two syllables of "pronunciation" ______ (do, do not) sound like "pronounce."

do not

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The pronunciation of "pronunciation" is pro-nun-see-ation.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The pronunciation of "pronunciation" is pro-nun-see-ation.

The first two syllables of "espresso" ______ (do, do not) sound like "express."

do not

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

It is common to hear "espresso" pronounced "expresso." That can inspire indignation among espresso lovers.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

It is common to hear "espresso" pronounced "expresso." That can inspire indignation among espresso lovers.

The first syllable of "etc." is pronounced ____ (ex, et).

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

People often say exetera. It's etsetera.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

People often say exetera. It's etsetera.

The stress falls on the ______ (first, second) syllable in the noun "rebel" and on the ______ (first, second) syllable in the verb "rebel."

first, first

second, second

first, second

second, first

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

It is common in English to see a stress pattern where the noun form of a two-syllable word will be stressed on the first syllable and the verb form will be stressed on the second syllable. Here are some other examples that work the same way: