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One of the error patterns which is common for non-native speakers of English is to say an extra syllable in certain words. This usually occurs because the spelled word looks like it should have additional sounds/syllables, or the root word has a different syllable pattern.
Here are a few common words with this error pattern:
different This word has 2 syllables: dif - rent. Avoid saying 3 syllables, dif-er-ent.
difference This word has 2 syllables: dif -rence. Avoid saying 3 syllables, dif-er-ence.
vegetable This word has 3 syllables: veg - ta - ble. Avoid saying e syllables, veg-e-ta-ble.
several This word has 2 syllables: se - vral. Avoid saying 3 syllables, se-ver-al.
interest This word has 2 syllables: in - trest. Avoid saying 3 syllables, in-ter-est.
interesting, interested These words can be pronounced with either 3 syllables or 4 syllables. In most cases, we use 3 syllables to make our speech more fluent, especially when the word is in a sentence. Using 3 syllables will typically make your speech sound more American, and using 4 syllables will make your speech sound more accented.
3 syllables (preferable): in - tres - ting, in - tres - ted
4 syllables: in - ter - est - ing, in - ter - es - ted
groceries This word can be either 2 syllables: gros - ries or 3 syllables: gro - ser- ies. Like the above words, using 3 syllables will typically make your speech sound more American, and using 4 syllables will make your speech sound more accented.
general This word can be either 2 syllables: gen - ral or 3 syllables: gen - er- al. Using 2 syllables is preferable to sound like a fluent American speaker.
preferable This word can be either 3 syllables: pref - ra - ble or 4 syllables: pref - er- a - ble. Using the reduced version will help you sound like a fluent American speaker.
Adverbs with -ally:
basically, typically These words have 3 syllables. Ba - sic - ly; ty -pic - ly. Avoid using 4 syllables ba-sic-a-ly; ty-pic-a-ly.
specifically This word has 4 syllables. spe - ci - fic - ly. Avoid using 5 syllables, spe-ci-fic-a-ly.
automatically This word has 5 syllables. au - to - ma - tic - ly. Avoid using 6 syllables, au-to-ma-ti-ca-ly.
actually, especially These words can be either 3 or 4 syllables. Using the reduced version is advised.
3 syllables: ac-tul-ly; es-pesh-ly
4 syllables: ac-tu-a-ly; es-pe-shu-ly
For more help with words ending in -ly, see this post.
You can use the recording below to practice saying these words with the correct number of syllables.
Here are a few common words with this error pattern:
different This word has 2 syllables: dif - rent. Avoid saying 3 syllables, dif-er-ent.
difference This word has 2 syllables: dif -rence. Avoid saying 3 syllables, dif-er-ence.
vegetable This word has 3 syllables: veg - ta - ble. Avoid saying e syllables, veg-e-ta-ble.
several This word has 2 syllables: se - vral. Avoid saying 3 syllables, se-ver-al.
interest This word has 2 syllables: in - trest. Avoid saying 3 syllables, in-ter-est.
interesting, interested These words can be pronounced with either 3 syllables or 4 syllables. In most cases, we use 3 syllables to make our speech more fluent, especially when the word is in a sentence. Using 3 syllables will typically make your speech sound more American, and using 4 syllables will make your speech sound more accented.
3 syllables (preferable): in - tres - ting, in - tres - ted
4 syllables: in - ter - est - ing, in - ter - es - ted
groceries This word can be either 2 syllables: gros - ries or 3 syllables: gro - ser- ies. Like the above words, using 3 syllables will typically make your speech sound more American, and using 4 syllables will make your speech sound more accented.
general This word can be either 2 syllables: gen - ral or 3 syllables: gen - er- al. Using 2 syllables is preferable to sound like a fluent American speaker.
preferable This word can be either 3 syllables: pref - ra - ble or 4 syllables: pref - er- a - ble. Using the reduced version will help you sound like a fluent American speaker.
Adverbs with -ally:
basically, typically These words have 3 syllables. Ba - sic - ly; ty -pic - ly. Avoid using 4 syllables ba-sic-a-ly; ty-pic-a-ly.
specifically This word has 4 syllables. spe - ci - fic - ly. Avoid using 5 syllables, spe-ci-fic-a-ly.
automatically This word has 5 syllables. au - to - ma - tic - ly. Avoid using 6 syllables, au-to-ma-ti-ca-ly.
actually, especially These words can be either 3 or 4 syllables. Using the reduced version is advised.
3 syllables: ac-tul-ly; es-pesh-ly
4 syllables: ac-tu-a-ly; es-pe-shu-ly
For more help with words ending in -ly, see this post.
You can use the recording below to practice saying these words with the correct number of syllables.
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