#Lesson 1

Hello everyone...

My name is Hilary Okoh; lover of eloquent speaking, fine diction and Queens English—A seasoned public speaker, uplifting writer and social influencer. My passion for coherent speaking fuels this penchant for teaching basic techniques to anyone with a genuine interest in the aforementioned 'Queens English'.

PS This lesson is not at all for everyone—so please do not derail the thread, or mock learners here—It is not for everyone especially those who are inherently ladened with the opinion 'who English help for this our naija sef?! However for those who could leverage on the long-term benefits of great articulation, welcome on board

In today's lesson, we consider some often mispronounced words in Queens English. The aim here is to sharpen pronunciations, so we sound savvy, and equally articulate in our day to day corporate and domestic dealings.

Here are words to consider:

Fiancee ---- fi yon say (not "fi-yan-si" )
Fiance ---- fi yons (not "fi-yans" )
Chelsea fans ----- fanz (not "fance" )
Court chamber ---- tchem ba (not "tcham ba" )
Talcum powder ---- tal come (not "tal coom" )
Cucumber ---- cue come ba (not "ko coom ba" )
Tourist ---- too rist
Climb ---- klime (not "klimb" )
Thumb ---- thom (not "thomb" )
Numb ---- nom (not "nomb" )
Succumb ---- sor com (not "sor comb" )
Margerine ---- maj rin (not "ma jeh rin" )
Automobile ---- or to mo bill (not "or to mo bye" )


Mischievous ---- mis chi voss (not "mis chi vi-yoss" )
Magnificent ---- mag ni fi sent (not "mag ni fi shent" )
Opthalmology - off thal mor lor ji (not "up ta mor lor ji" )
Almond fruit ---- ah mond (not "al mond" )
Guidance ---- guy dance (not "guy di-yance" )
Facade ---- fur sad (not "faa kay'd " )
Sanctuary ---- sank choo ri (not "sank chwa ri" )
Actuary ---- ak choo ri (not "ak chwa ri" )
Actually ---- ak choo li (not "ak chwa li" )
Gradually ---- gra ju li (not "gra juwa li" )
Camel ---- cah mool (not "cah mell" )


Vigilante ---- vi ji lan ti (not "vi ji lan tay" )
Paedophile ---- pi doe file (not "pay doe file" )
Souvenir ---- soo veh neh (not "sor vay nia" )
Exam ---- ek zam (not "eh zam" )
Epitome ---- eh pi toe mi (not "eh pi toam" )
Cache ---- cash (not "caa shay" )
Draught ---- draft (not "drawt" )
Anxious ---- ank shoss (not "an shoss" )
Anxiety ---- ank zai ti (not "an zai ti" )


Academy ---- ah ka de mi (not "ah ke de mi" )
Bomb ---- bom (not "bomb" )
Worm ---- wherrrm (not "warm" )
Vowel ---- vowl (not "voe well" )
Consonant ---- konz nant ( not "kon so nant" )
Vaccine ---- vak sin (not "vah sin" )
Chef ---- shef (not "tchef" )
Chivalry ---- shi val ri (not "tchi val ri" )
Sensor ---- cen zor (not "cen sor" )


Sir ---- seh (not "saa" )
Where ---- weh (not "we-yeah" )
Wear ---- weh (not "we-yeah" )
Were ---- wor (not "we-yeah" )
Tear ---- teh (not "tee-yeah" )
Bear ---- bare (not "bee-yeah" )
Pear ---- pair (not "pee-yeah" )
Benign ---- beh nine (not "bee nin" )
Visa ---- vee zah (not "vi sah" )
Vignette ----- vin yet (not "vig net" )


Machinery ---- meh shin ri
Stationery ---- stay shun ri
Roar ---- raw (not "ro-aaah" )
Soar ---- saw (so-aaah" )
Cook ---- cooke (not "cuuk" )
Look ---- looke (not "luuk" )
Hook ---- hooke (not "huuk" )
Book ---- booke (not " buuk" )
Snooker ---- snow ker (not "snou ker" )


Faux pas ---- foe paa (not "fox pas" )
Bucket ---- bor kit (not " bor ket" )
Pocket ---- por kit (not "por ket" )
Blanket ---- blan kit (not "blan ket" )
Prophet ---- praw fit (not "praw fet" )
Chameleon ---- ka mi lee-on (not "ka meh lee-on" )
Beret ---- beh ray (not "beh ret" )
Burger ---- beh gaa (not "bor gaa" )


PC suite ---- PC swit (not "syute" )
Ballet ---- baa lay (not "baa let" )
Ubiquitous ---- you be kwi toss
Autonomous ---- or tor nor moss
Continuity ---- con ti new wi ti (not "con ti nu e ti" )
Virtuous---- veh choo wus (not "veh choss" )
Fossil ---- for sole (not "foe sil" )
April ---- ay prol (not "ay pray" )
Utensil ---- you ten sole (not "you ten ceel" )
Pencil ---- pen sole (not "pen ceel" )
Pupil ---- pew pole (not "poo pill" )

Our ---- aah wah (not "aaaah" )
Hour ---- aah wah (not "ha wah" )
Sour ---- saa wah (not "saaah" )
Sour sop ---- saa wah sop (not "sha waa shop" )
Flour ---- flaa wah (not "floor" )
Flower ---- flaa wah (not "flaaah" )
Power ---- paa wah (not "paaah" )
Shower ---- sha wah (not "shaaah" )
Tower ---- taa wah (not "tor wah" )
Towel ---- taa wool (not "tor well" )

Hope you learned something useful, guys. Feel free to contribute so we all could learn from you too. Do have a fabulous week ahead, and expect more informative content from me. I'm on instagram, check out and follow http://instagram/hilzvoice

very educating, thanks for sharing

zagadat442:
very educating, thanks for sharing

You are welcome...

adewest1999:

Well done op. Following on Instagram already. Learning is fun

loveliveshere:
Well done op. Following on Instagram already. Learning is fun

Thanks very much. Stay tuned in.