Which words are the most difficult to pronounce?

[ngoc_lan]

I started this thread in order to know what are the most difficult words to pronounce, according to you.
To me, "Laos" is the most difficult one. I pronounce incorrectly at the first attempt!!
List some words you know and we'll learn together!

 

[5jj]

What individuals find difficult to pronounce will vary according to the sounds that exist in their own language.

Even native speakers would have problems with the sequence of underlined sounds in George the Sixth's throne if they tried to give the 'correc't pronunciation

 

[ngoc_lan]

Sometimes it's easy to speak one word but difficult to speak the whole sentence like this:
She sells seashells on the sea shore!!!!!!

 

[Tdol]

Try saying the sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick. ;-)

 

[riquecohen]

I started this thread in order to know what are the most difficult words to pronounce, according to you.
To me, "Laos" is the most difficult one. I pronounce incorrectly at the first attempt!!

As it was for President Kennedy. Listen to his pronunciation of Laos here.POV - Watch Video | President Kennedy Describes U.S. Role in Laos (Clip 2 of 5): Classroom Clips | PBS

 

[Raymott]

I started this thread in order to know what are the most difficult words to pronounce, according to you.
To me, "Laos" is the most difficult one. I pronounce incorrectly at the first attempt!!
That's not so unusual. It would be more remarkable if you could not pronounce it after repeated practice and correction.
List some words you know and we'll learn together!

So, how do you pronounce Laos?

This dictionary rhymes it with 'blouse'.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Laos

Wikipedia gives three choices (none of which rhymes with 'blouse'):
Laos (i/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/)[4][5][6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos


PS: I have trouble with: ngoc_lan

 

[Tdol]

As it was for President Kennedy. Listen to his pronunciation of Laos here.POV - Watch Video | President Kennedy Describes U.S. Role in Laos (Clip 2 of 5): Classroom Clips | PBS

A creative pronunciation :shocked!:

 

[Tdol]

PS: I have trouble with: ngoc_lan

Me too- I really struggle with ng at the start of a word.

 

[5jj]

So, how do you pronounce Laos?

I read once that Laotians pronounced it as laʊs/, but American 'advisers' changed it to /ˈleɪ.ɒs/ for their home consumption. They felt that the American public would not be happy supporting the government of a country whose name sounded like Louse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This may be just a myth.

 

[Raymott]

I read once that Laotians pronounced it as laʊs/, but American 'advisers' changed it to /ˈleɪ.ɒs/ for their home consumption. They felt that the American public would not be happy supporting the government of a country whose name sounded like Louse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This may be just a myth.

Maybe. I think it was understandable that JFK made it rhyme with "chaos".

 

[riquecohen]

Maybe. I think it was understandable that JFK made it rhyme with "chaos".

He subsequently changed his pronunciation to laus/.

 

[nguyencuong]

Rerounciation

I found it very useful fof practice pronunciation. I need websites or softwares supporting practising and teaching pronunciation. Who knows, please tell me, thank you very much!

 

[ngoc_lan]

Interesting! I don't know that LAOS is so complicated!
:-D