mispronounced

Mispronounced is the past participle of mispronounce and functions as an adjective describing a pronunciation that diverges from the standard or expected form. In everyday use, something described as mispronounced is usually a word, name, or term spoken in a way that listeners deem incorrect, though the speaker may not intend to err. Mispronounced forms are distinct from regional accents or dialectal variations, which reflect systematic speech patterns rather than isolated errors.

Causes of mispronunciation include unfamiliar phonemes or phonotactics from a speaker’s first language, errors in learning new vocabulary, irregular spelling-to-sound correspondences, and rapid or casual speech. Interference from native language pronunciation patterns can lead to substitutions or simplifications, while some mispronunciations arise from hypercorrection or misapplication of rules. In many communities, certain mispronunciations are common yet socially tolerated; in formal settings, corrective feedback or model pronunciation may be expected.

In communication, mispronunciations can affect clarity or perceived credibility, though listeners often infer meaning from context. Teachers, editors, and broadcasters may strive to minimize mispronunciations by teaching standard pronunciations or by providing phonetic guidance. Some mispronounced words, however, persist and even become familiar over time, illustrating how language evolves and how speakers adapt.

Linguistically, mispronunciation is studied as a type of phonetic or phonological error, a marker of language acquisition stages, or a feature in speech processing data. Dictionaries and pronunciation guides document standard forms and note common mispronunciations, while speech technology systems aim to recognize and correct mispronounced input. Examples include pronunciation of “pronunciation” as “pronounciation” and “espresso” as “expresso.”