15 Most Difficult Words to Pronounce – Can You Say Them All?

The English language is often called the most difficult to master. No kidding! With so many rules, and some of the most famous rules are incorrect (looking at you I before E except after C), it can be tough trying to pronounce or spell some common words.

Our co-worker Slone is one of the brightest people you'll ever meet. Not only in smarts but in spirit. Today, she walked into the studio and we heard a word we had never heard before.

"buhr-GO-zhen-ing".

Everyone in the room looked at each other puzzled. It sounded like a familiar word but... we couldn't quite place it. "Can you use that in a sentence," we asked, puzzled.

"Well... like... she was 'buhr-GO-zhen-ing' in her career. Or a 'buhr-GO-zhen-ing' flower." At that point we all understood what she was trying to say, but questioned our own pronunciation of "burgeoning".

We had Slone sit down, cracked the microphones and the video above is what transpired. Turns out, Slone had pronounced it correctly for years until a former co-worker in the building had her convinced - no - it's 'buhr-GO-zhen-ing'. Whether he was playing a prank on her or genuinely believed that, who knows.

The English language can be confounding at times, and occasionally it can be difficult to pronounce, or spell, a word we come across often. So here's some words to know so you can sound smart to your friends.

So, without further ado, here is our list of the top 15 most difficult words to pronounce:

This one has confounded English speakers for years. Is it “kernel” or “kurnl”? The correct pronunciation is actually “kurnl”, with the R being silent.

Two I's? An S that isn't really an S? It's pronounced “lee-ay-zohn”, and it means having a close bond or connection - it's not lesbian. That's a different word.

Much to the chagrin of creators everywhere, it is actually pronounced with a hard G as in “gift”, not like the peanut butter brand Jif. Sorry to make you question everything.

Say it with us: “uhg-nahs-tih-siz-uhm”. It's for people who believe nothing is, or can be, known about a higher power.

That frickin' sauce. We all say "wuh-stir-shy-er" but no. It's "wu-stuh-shr".

This healthy superfood looks like an alien the first time you see it. The "Qu-" makes you think "Kw" sound like "Queen" but no. The correct way to say it is “keen-wa”.

This is subtle (another hard word to say for some)... That E? It's a silent letter. It is actually pronounced “ih-PID-uh-mee”.

The irony! It’s pronounced “pruh-nuhn-see-ay-shuhn”, not “pruh-NOUN-see-ay-shuhn”.

Say it with a little Italian flair, it’s “ehs-press-oh”, not “expresso”.

Former Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter had some issues with this word. We all have. It's "NEW-clee-er" not "nuke-YOU-ler" or "new-CUE-ler".

This French term is commonly mispronounced as “whores-duh-vres”, when it should actually be pronounced “or-derv”.

Another French word, this one is often mispronounced as “pay-tay” when it should actually be pronounced “pah-tay”.

It's when a word is made by the sound it makes. Like "sizzle" or "cuckoo". It's "ah-nah-maa-tuh-pee-uh". Not whatever the heck you think it is.

This is Yiddish term for what Kanye West has. “HOUTS-pah” is how you say it. Don't come throwing that C at us.

It's that berry that's trendy. It's not "ACK-eye". It's "ah-sah-ee". See?