Spelling and Pronunciation

Correctly spell these words based on their pronunciation.
All the answers are a single word
Quiz by Quizmaster
Rate:
Last updated: October 12, 2016
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
First submittedJanuary 5, 2015
Times taken47,982
Average score57.1%
Rating3.61
6:00
Enter answer here
0
 / 21 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Pronunciation
Word
Flem
Phlegm
Sham pain
Champagne
Keen wah
Quinoa
Urb
Herb
Ree ceet
Receipt
Shall ay
Chalet
Plack
Plaque
Rah pore
Rapport
Fur low
Furlough
Fa hee ta
Fajita
Pear a dime
Paradigm
Cash ay
Cachet
Ahn wee
Ennui
Po pore ee
Potpourri
Ron day voo
Rendezvous
Hay nuss
Heinous
Air oo dite
Erudite
Die us
Dais
Huts puh
Chutzpah
Ay dill vice
Edelweiss
Cocks un
Coxswain
+2
Level 38
Feb 12, 2015
Ouch, haven't heard of a lot of those last words.

15 correct

+1
Level 79
Feb 12, 2015
Good quiz. Got stuck on On Wee thinking it could be ornery because that's how a child would probably say it. Did eventually get ennui though.
+2
Level 66
Sep 17, 2019
I first thought inuit. Then re-pronounced it in english and remembered that is not really how they pronounce it.

Also tried shellac for shall ay, and deus and dice for die us, (I think dice should be accepted actuallly) and coaxing for cocks un. All very close.

+1
Level 46
Feb 12, 2015
I read about Quinoa before I heard it pronounced. I asked in the health food store if they had any QUIN-OH-A, pronouncing it just like it looks on the page. It took a while to sort out - these little things are all fun.
+1
Level 27
Feb 13, 2015
I had never heard of quinoa (and my computer's spell-check doesn't recognize it), and I have only seen ennui and dais written, at least to the best of my knowledge. So I guess I don't need to be too ashamed I missed those three. Decent quiz!
+3
Level 69
Jun 11, 2016
Quinoa is technically a seed, but you cook and eat it like a grain. It has a bit of a nutty flavor, is happily un-mushy, and holds up well with veggies and dressing for a cold side-dish salad, or as part of many great hot entree recipes. In our house, we just do it up in our rice cooker (works perfectly!) as a side dish – it goes well with anything you would have chosen rice to accompany. Try it! You'll like it!

P.S. Note my username! ;-)

+4
Level 82
Feb 13, 2015
To make the point that English spelling is screwed up my Phonetics professor in college wrote the word "ghoti" on the board and asked us to try and say it. After we all failed he revealed that the word was "fish." He spelled it using the "gh" from "enough," the "o" from "women," and the "ti" from "nation." Then we started our lesson on IPA.
+2
Level 77
Feb 13, 2015
IPA <3
+7
Level 71
Oct 20, 2015
Come on Kalbahamut, that is such an old joke!
+3
Level 75
May 29, 2017
But still works as a great lesson. :)
+1
Level 43
Jan 17, 2018
But it would be pronounced "fosh" then
+4
Level 51
Jan 31, 2018
Women = 'wih-min'.
+3
Level 48
Oct 12, 2018
George Bernard Shaw, i believe
+1
Level 78
Mar 10, 2021
Only apocryphally. It doesn't actually appear in any of his written work, and it pre-dates Shaw's birth even. By the way, it is George Burr-nərd Shaw rather than George Burr-NARD Shaw.
+1
Level 33
Feb 16, 2015
I can't make out what half of these words are supposed to say written like this.
+2
Level 53
Feb 19, 2015
I'm thanking Divergent for erudite :')
+1
Level 45
May 9, 2018
Yeah, me too. Coincidentally, I just finished that book today. Loved it.
+2
Level 90
Feb 27, 2015
This probably makes me kind of an idiot, but I was so convinced that it was spelled caché, that I actually went off-site to copy-paste it with the accented e, imagining that it might actually matter.
+1
Level 31
Mar 21, 2015
This quiz is very difficult for me because I'm French. I don't know all these words.

English's pronunciation of French words is amusing.

I hope my message is understandable because my English is not very well.

+1
Level 71
Oct 20, 2015
I wish I could speak French as well as you do English.
+1
Level 74
May 30, 2017
Les anglophones empruntent des mots au français, les mâchent avec leurs gros dents, et les crachent tout à fait méconnaissables aux francophones. :)
+2
Level 43
Jan 17, 2018
Is big teeth an insult or compliment?
+1
Level 78
Mar 10, 2021
Other than a french lech to a pretty English girl, have you ever heard a French person compliment an English person on any subject?
+4
Level 72
Apr 8, 2015
Why not just use IPA to describe the pronunciation? It would take away any ambiguity and make it much simpler for everyone.
+6
Level 22
Sep 29, 2015
are you serious? herb is not pronounced "urb".
+2
Level 82
Oct 4, 2015
Unless the quiz was set by a Jamaican, as in de... :)
+1
Level 66
Sep 17, 2019
I imagined a french person trying to speak english. " 'ere ve 'ave zee 'erbs"
+2
Level 76
Jan 19, 2021
That's how it's pronounced in the US.
+1
Level 66
Sep 24, 2023
Why we defaulting to the US's anomalous version bro
+6
Level 71
Oct 20, 2015
Not great, the hints are pretty bad, I think it is maybe too difficult to write phonetic sounds that will suit all people taking the quiz. When making a quiz give it a friend or relative first and see how they go before throwing it in at the deep end.
+3
Level 75
Oct 18, 2016
Herb is not alone. There is hour, honest, heir, honor and I'm sure, a few others.
+1
Level 43
Dec 11, 2016
Hmm... Excuse me, but I do believe I've learned from Mr. Walken's character that the accurate pronunciation is "shom pon ya" ;P
+1
Level 74
May 30, 2017
And I learned from Ms. Lumley's character that it's pronounced "champers".
+2
Level 32
Apr 5, 2017
Most of this quiz is working out what it's supposed to be pronounced as. Also say "Urb" is only an American thing
+1
Level 65
May 29, 2017
Stupid Normans spreading their ridiculous French spellings that make no sense in a Germanic language!
+6
Level 63
May 29, 2017
En-wee or On-wee, but NOT ahn-wee.
+1
Level 73
May 29, 2017
Yup.
+1
Level 74
May 30, 2017
No, "ahn-wee" is correct. "enn-wee" and "ohn-wee" are incorrect.
+2
Level 56
Jan 19, 2021
I'm not sure about "en-wee", but "on-wee" is definitely the one.
+5
Level 82
Jan 19, 2021
On-wee and ahn-wee sound virtually identical in my accent...
+1
Level 63
May 29, 2017
It's an honour to not get all of these - because it proves I don't speak the language 'stupid.'
+2
Level 65
May 29, 2017
Re: the Chutzpah one - my first thought was Hotspur, like the football club :)
+1
Level 76
May 29, 2017
I was just about to say that.
+1
Level 75
May 29, 2017
I remember taking this quiz before which probably explains how I managed to get them all with 4:51 left. Still a great quiz.
+4
Level 57
May 29, 2017
Who pronounces herb like urb????? you must be dizzy as
+2
Level 76
Jan 17, 2018
Who else? The Americans!
+1
Level 59
May 29, 2017
Since many are actually French words, as a native speaker they were easy for me. I missed only 2 words and they were words I've never heard before, so not bad.
+1
Level 67
May 29, 2017
21/21 with 2:48 left and I'm a slow typist. :-)
+1
Level 67
May 29, 2017
Got em all with 4:24 left! (I must revel in my few first-time 100-percent victories when I can. :) )
+1
Level 67
May 30, 2017
I understand. 21/21 with 5:05 remaining here...
+1
Level 77
May 29, 2017
Kept trying wrapper & rapper but wouldn't work
+2
Level 53
May 30, 2017
Really shows how different American and UK pronunciations are. Isn't phonology cool?
+1
Level 67
May 31, 2017
This quiz was fun if a little too easy. Could someone please make more of them?
+1
Level 54
Jul 8, 2017
I personally pronounce Quinoa as Keen-oh-ah. For my misfortune I have no idea on what Dais and Ennui are, and never imagined the existence of a coxswain. Oh well, good quiz though.
+1
Level 16
Jan 15, 2018
5:26 left nailed it :)
+1
Level 40
Jan 31, 2018
Fun quiz!
+3
Level 29
Mar 13, 2018
I don't think urb was remotely fair.
+2
Level 33
Mar 13, 2018
I would accept cockswain as a spelling of coxswain.
+4
Level 76
May 9, 2018
A lot of these completely bamboozled me, but now I see the answers I realise it's a guide to how those words are pronounced in an American accent.
+2
Level 37
Jun 21, 2018
Missed coxswain because I always mispronounce it as cock SWAIN!
+1
Level 55
Jul 12, 2018
ander217. I agree with your comment, I consider it to be the same in UK, it depends where you are! every region has its quirks. Having said that, I think we all say Graham! To my ears it is Gray ham. I did not even realise that gram crackers where the same thing! I thought it was a grain or flour!
+1
Level 83
Aug 8, 2018
I was tempted to put 'anus' but realised there was 'h' there.
+1
Level 51
Nov 17, 2018
You should accept "ennoi" as an answer
+2
Level 79
Nov 26, 2019
But that's an incorrect spelling.
+1
Level 84
Jun 23, 2019
i missed five words and all of the words i've never heard of before
+4
Level 66
Sep 17, 2019
This is a joy for a non english speaker (not.. well, it is interesting, but first you would have to figure out how you guys would pronounce what is written here, so it is two quizes at once (and well, you need to have heard of these english term, but that is the case for all other quizzes aswell)

Still only missed 4 though. Really didnt see chalet, and tried chutspah with an s instead of z (and many other variations, it is a tough, one, because yiddish gets "translated" (not really, just altered) differently per country. and the other 3 lowest I hadnt heard of, Ennui rang a bell before I even saw it, and seeing it I think ow yea that was the word in my head, but I have no idea what it is.

+1
Level 79
Nov 26, 2019
Argh, tried 'potpurri', so close..
+1
Level 79
Jan 19, 2021
Did the same again...
+3
Level 80
Nov 26, 2019
It's hard second-guessing an American pronunciation of a French word... ahn wee?
+1
Level 45
Jan 19, 2020
As a French speaker this is *really* fun.
+3
Level 59
Jul 26, 2020
Please accept cockswain, I have always seen it written like this, this is the first time I've had to write it, I've never needed it before.

Definitely thought that ennui was aren't we! Never heard an English speaker use it before.

+4
Level 82
Jan 19, 2021
As many have noted, this is a distinctly American set of pronunciations - might be worth specifying that in the introduction to avoid all the arguments about "urb".

Me, I'm just glad you didn't include the word "buoy", which is probably the only American pronunciation I genuinely can't stand.

+1
Level 63
Jan 19, 2021
Oh my. If you are not an english native speaker, this is absolutely impossible.
+3
Level 71
Jan 19, 2021
I wouldn't have got 'herb' if I was here all day. Presumably it is the American pronunciation as surely it is pronounced the same as it is spelt
+1
Level 76
Jan 19, 2021
It is indeed the American pronunciation! But surely you're not going to imply that British English always pronounces things the way they're spelled/spelt? Do you pronounce the "h" in hour, honest, heir, or honour?
+1
Level 56
Jan 19, 2021
Surely hay nuss is part of one's anatomy as well as being a character from the Dukes of Hazard !!
+1
Level 56
Jan 19, 2021
Cox'n should be accepted also!
+1
Level 56
Jan 19, 2021
I was pleased that I only missed 2 considering that I am Scots and living in France since 1984 !!!
+1
Level 71
Jan 19, 2021
As the great Eddie Izzard said, Americans say "urb" and we (Brits) say "herb", because there's a f**king "H" at the beginning.

Just a joke, everyone! Brits don't pronounce the "h" at the beginning of honour, honest, etc.

+3
Level 59
Jan 19, 2021
"Chutzpa" and "hutzpah" are both proper ways to spell the word as well. I know "chutzpah" is the most common spelling, but the others should probably still be accepted.
+1
Level 56
Jan 19, 2021
"Pear"??

(I love this quiz)

+1
Level 66
Jan 19, 2021
The talk to type feature really helped me on this one.
+1
Level 78
Jan 19, 2021
I will never get used to the fact that /e/ becomes 'ay' in English pronunciation.
+2
Level 55
Jan 19, 2021
I must admit, I, too, have seen and heard "cache" pronounced "Cash ay" on multiple occasions.
+2
Level 77
Jan 19, 2021
People who say "Huts pah" are saying it the lamest and most milquetoast way. Get that velar fricative in there! Hkhkhkutspah.
+1
Level 49
Jan 21, 2021
i got 6/21 and thought i was really dumb, then i realized i never heard half these words
+2
Level 58
Jan 21, 2021
Who on earth pronounces paradigm with 'pear'?
+1
Level 59
Jan 21, 2021
I somehow pulled cachet out - even though I was SURE it was cache. I think that should be an accepted answer. But 21/21, I'll take it!!
+1
Level 57
Jan 22, 2021
the only one i missed was herb because i pronounce the H... laaaaaaaame
+1
Level 45
Mar 18, 2021
This quiz helped me get into the Colorado State Bee. so thank you. 2 of the words in this quiz were on the test
+1
Level 66
Apr 13, 2021
Please remove or replace "herb". It's not fair because many people pronounce the H.
+2
Level 64
May 29, 2021
Goodness. You Yanks really do know how to mispronounce things! I've certainly never come across any Urbs in my garden!
+1
Level 76
Jan 1, 2022
To my American ears, pronouncing the "h" in "herb" turns it into a man's name, short for "Herbert." I've certainly never come across any of them in my garden!
+1
Level 66
Sep 24, 2023
...yet
+1
Level 20
Oct 26, 2022
i only got 8/21 but it was fun laughing inappropriately at hay nuss and cocks un with my friends. (fyi we tried them and they aren't the correct answers)
+1
Level 66
Nov 5, 2022
Great quiz. I missed the last 3, even though I knew the answers....just couldn't spell them. Tried starting Chutzpah with an H; added an i to Edelweiss thinking "ay" was ei, duh..; knew coxswain from my sailing days.

Thanks for the challenge.

+1
Level 46
May 9, 2023
i am dissapointed in myself for not getting erudite.

edit: i know it from the book "divergent"

+2
Level 55
Aug 16, 2023
The H sounds in Herb, just as it does in Herd
+1
Level 82
Aug 22, 2023
not in American English
+1
Level 66
Sep 24, 2023
Ok but it should say that we're using American English version for this quiz