Does any one think that"probably", is the most mispronounced common word in the English Language?

Question

It's often pronounced with two syllables.

Answer 1

Probly.

Answer 2

English has correct grammar, correct spelling, and correct punctuation. However, English DOES NOT HAVE correct pronunciation (among native speakers). If a native habitually says it that way, it is good by definition. (If a non-native speaker says a word some peculiar way, then it's bad; because a non-native is attempting to imitate the native speakers.)
My undergraduate phonology instructor told us that there is a tendency (not by any means an absolute rule) in many languages to favor words having an even number of syllables. If this is true, that would explain the following:

probably as "prob'ly"
family as "fam'ly"
camera as "cam'ra"

There are many others -- these are all I can think of right now.

If the even-numbered-syllable explanation is not correct, then the other explanation is mere phonological erosion. You see, words erode over long periods of time the same as mountains. And it's not a bad thing; you could even say the language is becoming more efficient. According to one of my graduate Linguistics-instructors, "Language is like an air-mattress with a slow leak.". There is nothing to worry about in terms of the words ever getting reduced down to nothing. Historical Linguistics shows us that if the words ever start to get too eroded in a language, they will be re-lengthened via "augments", syllables added not for their meaning but simply to give more mass to the word. In the history of Chinese, a lot of final consonants were lost. At that time, one way the people were able to keep understanding one another was by saying the word twice and combining it with a near-synonym. This is similar to what we do in the US Southeast -- we pronounce "pen" and "pin" the same; if there is a need to disambiguate, we saying "writing-pen" or "straight pen".

I would like to encourage everybody who is interested in language to study Linguistics.

Paul N
MA Linguistics
BA Linguistics

Answer 3

Yes I do. Here's a list of 100 of the most mispronounced words.

Answer 4

Close to the top. I would also suggest recognize - reconize; February - Febewary/Febry/Febewry; secretary - secketary; paedophile - peediaphile, and lots of others about which many people are complaining, particularly (another one!) as pronounced by newsreaders and presenters on radio and TV!

Answer 5

Haha I usually say something that sounds like "prolly" or something, a jumble of letters, and just one syllable
I think "questionnaire" is the most mispronounced word... even though it might not be common... it's supposed to be like kest, not quest.

Answer 6

relies upon the position you're at. i'm from the excellent state of Va. and now stay in Oh. human beings continually seem at me humorous after I communicate. I artwork in a business laundry and the boss laughs after I say "washing gadget", he say's I pronounce it "warsher". i imagine it really is contained in the ear of the listener as to the way you listen it suggested!

Answer 7

Either that, or nuclear (and no, our current President is not the first denizen of the Oval Office to butcher that word).

Answer 8

How about comfortable?
I think it has 4 syllables, everyone else thinks it sounds like 'comfturble'.

Answer 9

Though probably is up there, I would venture to say that "comfortable" is at the top.

Answer 10

No. I think it's sherbet (i always hear it pronounced sherbert) and library (pronounce liberry).