Top 10 Hardest English Words Fearlessly Pronounced By 40+ Different Nationalities

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Did you know that the hardest English word to pronounce is โ€˜Worcestershireโ€™? Yesโ€“that is according to a hugely popular Reddit poll! This English county (and a great British condiment) seems to confound most non-English speakers (and sometimes even native) when they attempt pronouncing it.

A Reddit user by the name of JustATreeNut asked people from around the world to submit English words they struggled with most. After garnering over 5,000 comments, the results were in!

Here are the top 10 hardest English words to pronounce.

-Rural
-Otorhinolaryngologist
-Colonel
-Penguin
-Sixth
-Isthmus
-Anemone
-Squirrel
-Choir
-Worcestershire

Rurr-rol
Oto-rhino-laryng-ologist
Ker-nal
Pen-gwen
Siks
Is-muss
Uh-nem-uh-nee
Sk-whirl
Kw-eye-er
Wuss-ter-sheer

In order to see if this is true, I challenged people from 40+ different countries, both English native and non-native speakers, to pronounce these 10 hardest words in the English language. In the below, youโ€™ll find the challenge instructions.

Join our FB group for more updates! You wonโ€™t be approved though if you have no ConnectPals account yetโ€“so create your language profile first at ConnectPals!

And youโ€™ll be the judge: whose country representative do you think has delivered the best pronunciations? The worst? And the most hilarious? Let us know in the comment section below.

CHALLENGE OF THE DAY

If you Google the โ€œtop 10 most difficult English words to pronounceโ€โ€”youโ€™ll most likely see the list below as identified & ranked by Reedit. But if these are already hard to pronounce by native English speakers, how about those who arenโ€™t native? Letโ€™s find out!

๐ŸŽ™Record an audio.

I. Introduce yourself:
1. Iโ€™m ___(your first name)
2. From __(your country)
3. I speak __(your native language)

II. Pronounce the words below:
-Rural
-Otorhinolaryngologist
-Colonel
-Penguin
-Sixth
-Isthmus
-Anemone
-Squirrel
-Choir
-Worcestershire

Top 10 Hardest English Words Pronounce Tried By 40+ Nationals
Are these words hard enough for you? | ConnectPals.org

With 40+ nationalities participating in this challenge, here are the audios shared by each participant while pronouncing the worldโ€™s 10 hardest English words. So get your earphones ready!

  • Angola ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ด
  • Native Language: Portuguese
Audio from Angola

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Australia ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ
  • Native Language: English
Audio from Australia

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Austria ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น
  • Native Language: German
Audio from Austria

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Brazil ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Portuguese
Audio from Brazil

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Burundi ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ
  • Native Language: Kirundi
Audio from Burundi

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • Native Language: English
Audio from Canada

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Chile ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Chile

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Native Language: Chinese
Audio from China

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Colombia ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Colombia

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Costa Rica ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Costa Rica

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Czech Republic ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ
  • Native Language: Czech
Audio from Czech Republic

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Dominican Republic ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ด
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Dominican Republic

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Egypt ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ
  • Native Language: Arabic
Audio from Egypt

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • England ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
  • Native Language: English
Audio from England

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: French
Audio from France

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Germany ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Native Language: German
Audio from Germany

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Greece ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Greek
Audio from Greece

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Hungary ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡บ
  • Native Language: Hungarian
Audio from Hungary

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • India ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Native Language: Hindi

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Indonesia ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
  • Native Language: Indonesian
Audio from Indonesia

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Iran ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Farsi
Audio from Iran

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Israel ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
  • Native Language: Hebrew
Audio from Israel

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
  • Native Language: Italian
Audio from Italy

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Japan ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
  • Native Language: Japanese
Audio from Japan

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Kazakhstan ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ
  • Native Language: Kazakh
Audio from Kazakhstan

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Mexico ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Mexico

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Morocco ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • Native Language: Arabic
Audio from Morocco

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Norway ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ด
  • Native Language: Norwegian
Audio from Norway

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Pakistan ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ
  • Native Language: Urdu
Audio from Pakistan

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Paraguay ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡พ
  • Native Language: Spanish & Guarani
Audio from Peru

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Peru ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Peru

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Philippines ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ
  • Native Language: Filipino
Audio from the Philippines

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Poland ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ
  • Native Language: Polish
Audio from Poland

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Russia ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ
  • Native Language: Russian
Audio from Russia

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • Native Language: Afrikaans
Audio from South Africa

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • South Korea ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Korean
Audio from South Korea

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Spain ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Native Language: Spanish
Audio from Spain

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Taiwan ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ
  • Native Language: Chinese
Audio from Taiwan

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Tanzania ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟ
  • Native Language: Swahili
Audio from Tanzania

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Thailand ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
  • Native Language: Thai
Audio from Thailand

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Turkey ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Native Language: Turkish
Audio from Turkey

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Ukraine ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • Native Language: Ukrainian
Audio from Ukraine

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Native Language: English
Audio from the USA

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

  • Vietnamย ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Native Language: Vietnamese
Audio from Vietnam

1. Rural
2. Otorhinolaryngologist
3. Colonel
4. Penguin
5. Sixth
6. Isthmus
7. Anemone
8. Squirrel
9. Choir
10. Worcestershire

So there you have it!

Did you learn something today? If you havenโ€™t join us yet, feel free to register to ConnectPalsย for free and be part of our growing Language Exchange community.

Anyhow, what Language Exchange Challenge do you want us to do next? Feel free to leave a reply in the comment section below!

UPDATE: Comments are disabled at this moment but do contact @connectpals if you have something to say. =)