If a radio station holds a talk back session on words and language, it is pretty well guaranteed to kick off. I listened to a podcast.
ABC broadcaster
Indira Naidoo hosted a talk back show about mispronounced words, that is those where you don't really connect with what you read with the correct pronunciation. Oddly it was kind of co-hosted with a New York State librarian, who was fine and agreeable to listen to, but I would have thought with the different pronunciations between our countries, well, it was an odd choice.
I'm sure I've done this before and I am also sure there are mispronounced words I have forgotten, but here are a few of mine whereby I did not connect the written word with what I heard.
Penelope...it is not pronounced like antelope.
Hyperbole is not hyper bowl. They were at a young age but I went on with not getting words right.
While visiting Sydney, I learnt that the hotel called Beauchamps in Oxford Street is pronounced Beechams and that is how you pronounce the name too.
Hermione which I had read in many books, Her Moyne, was a puzzling one for me until the arrival of Harry Potter books and films, none of which I have read or watched but somehow I picked up enough to know it is Her Marn E.
The Irish can do your head in. Music performer Sinead O'Connor is Shinade O'Connor. This other Irish name really got me though. I should have learnt from Sinead but Siobhan pronounced She-a-vaughn.
When we visited South Africa one of the wonderfully amusing Irish nurses we toured with and was kind to us old gay blokes was Orlaith, pronounced Orla.
It was also years before I knew Sean is said Shaun.
In Australia we have a least two places named Albany. One is pronounced as Al-banny and the other Or-banny. Over to you on that one
Strayer.
So come on. Fess up. What are yours?