20 English words Nigerians often mispronounce
English is a very interesting language; its inconsistencies add certain twists to it. As a result, the speakers are encouraged to study more and adapt to the new words coined. As if that is not hard enough for some people, they have to learn to use the words in the right context.
Nigerians' official language is English, an average Nigerian has to be able to speak this language in order communicate with people from other tribes.
We acknowledge that everyone cannot be on the same level; thus, it is near impossible finding people who would murder the language and commit as many grammatical blunders as possible in a sentence.
There are some words that Nigerians often mispronounce; while trying to check out these words, we have to pay attention to the tribes we have in Nigeria and how the people call words.
Firstly, Hausa people have a great difficulty with words that contain the letters 'F' and 'P', these letters are often used interchangeably and would make an average Hausa man call the word 'people' funnily.
Yoruba people also mispronounce words that contain the sound 's' and 'sh'. This also transcends into words that the 'ch' sound and explains why Yoruba people would replace 'ch' with 'sh' in the word 'church'.
The Igbos also have theirs as the letters 'r' and 'l' are often mixed up in words. This is the fundamental problem that makes most Nigerians mispronounce English words.
Find below some of the words Nigerians often mispronounce:
1. Fuel
Nigerians often pronounce this word as it is read. Native English speakers pronounce it as 'fyool'. A related example to this is the way Nigerians pronounce 'oil'. This is pronounced as 'o-yel' or 'o-yil'.
READ ALSO: Names of places Indians often mispronounce
2. Gear
Most Nigerians pronounce this word as 'jia'. The first letter in the word gear has the same sound with the letter 'g' pronounced in 'girl'.
3. Google
It is amazing that many learned Nigerians also mispronounce this word when they call it 'go-gu' which is actually the sound for the word 'goggle'. Google should be pronounced as 'guu-gul' since words that have two "o's" are transformed to 'u' when pronounced. This explains why words like book and cook are pronounced as 'buk' and 'cuk' respectively.
4. Gigantic
We are sure you read the word as 'jai-jan-tic' like a typical Nigerian would. However, the proper way to pronounce this word is 'jai-gan-tik'. The 'g' in the middle is pronounced like the first letter of the word 'goat'.
5. Amoeba
Most Nigerians call this word 'amo-iba'. The proper way to pronounce this word is 'ameeba'. It would be difficult for people in America to understand you if you call this word the way Nigerians do.
6. Apostle
Many Nigerians do not know that the 't' in this word is a silent one. This means that the word word is pronounced as 'aposl'. It should be noted that this does not affect the 't' sound in the word 'apostolic'.
7. Attorney
Nigerians often call this 'antoni' especially when the word is followed by general. Some learned Nigerians have unguarded moments where they are tempted to call this word like the name Anthony. Another thing that could be responsible is Nigerians' preference of the word 'lawyer'.
8. Ballet
Some Nigerians do not know that the 't' sound at the end of this word is a silent one. This makes the word become 'balei' as in the word 'balewa'. It is a kind of dance. Kids in Nigeria are being taught how this dance in their schools.
9. Bomb
This is one word many Nigerians use because of the current happenings in the country. The second 'b' in this word is silent as opposed to the way Nigerians lay emphasis on it. The same goes for the word 'debt', the letter 'b' is also silent.
10. Hyperbole and simile
Nigerians do not always sound out the last letter of the word 'hyperbole'; what many of them pronounce as 'hai-pa-bol' which ought to be 'hai-pa(r)-boli'. The letter 'r' is placed in brackets because Nigerians do not pay attention to the letter 'r' except it starts a word. 'Simile' is also pronounced as 'si-mu-lee' and not 'si-mail'.
11. Epitome
Nigerians simply pronounce this word as 'epi-tom' whereas it should be pronounced as 'epi-tomi'.
12. Issues
It is funny to see some Nigerians who claim to be fresh and posh calling out words the wrong way. Some even switch to some funny accent when it is time to speak English.
This word is either pronounced as 'izhus' or 'is-sus' by these Nigerians even though the right pronunciation is 'I-shoos'. It does not matter whether you sound like a typical Ibadan person on this one.
13. Plumber
Nigerians do not know that the letter 'b' in this word is silent like in the word bomb. It is shocking hearing them lay emphasis on the b sound. When indeed it should be 'ploma'; this applies to its derivatives: plumb (plom), plumbing (plomin) and plumbable (plomeibl).
14. Ritual
The proper pronunciation is 'ri-choo-al' and not 'ri-twal' as most Nigerians often call it.
15. Stipend
This is no doubt one of the words Nigerians often mispronounce. Corp members are being paid stipend which is pronounced 'stai-pend' and not 'sti-pend'.
16. Sword
The letter 'w' in this word is silent; this means the proper way of pronouncing it is 'sod' or 'sord'. But trust Nigerians, they would draw the letter 'w' the same way the blade would be pulled out of its sheath.
17. Tortoise
You would have a good time laughing if you ask a Nigerian to tell you tales involving this animal. Nigerians pronounce the word as 'to-tois' when it should be 'tortis'. The last letter 'o' is silent.
18. Wednesday
This is another word Nigerians mispronounce when they call out the word 'wed-nes-day'. The proper way of calling this word is 'wenz-dey' or 'wenz-dee'. The first letter 'd' is silent.
19. Verbatim
And yes you pronounced this word wrongly! It is 've(r)-bey-tim' and not 'va-ba-tim' as many Nigerians call it.
READ ALSO: See these Nigerian celebrities with the best bikini bodies
20. Listen and fasten
Some Nigerians do not know that the 't' in these words are silent. Even teachers who are training pupils mispronounce this word and teach the young ones the wrong thing. These words are pronounced as 'lisin', fasin' and 'hasin' as in the case of the word hasten.
Source: Legit.ng
