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 ‘Worcestershire’? Yes–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, you’ll find the challenge instructions.

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And you’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 “top 10 most difficult English words to pronounce”—you’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 aren’t native? Let’s find out!

🎙Record an audio.

I. Introduce yourself:
1. I’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 world’s 10 hardest English words. So get your earphones ready!

  • Angola 🇦🇴
  • 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 🇦🇺
  • 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 🇦🇹
  • 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 🇧🇷
  • 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 🇧🇮
  • 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 🇨🇦
  • 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 🇨🇱
  • 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 🇨🇳
  • 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 🇨🇴
  • 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 🇨🇷
  • 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 🇨🇿
  • 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 🇩🇴
  • 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 🇪🇬
  • 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 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
  • 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 🇫🇷
  • 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 🇩🇪
  • 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 🇬🇷
  • 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 🇭🇺
  • 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 🇮🇳
  • Native Language: Hindi

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

  • Indonesia 🇮🇩
  • 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 🇮🇷
  • 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 🇮🇱
  • 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 🇮🇹
  • 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 🇯🇵
  • 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 🇰🇿
  • 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 🇲🇽
  • 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 🇲🇦
  • 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 🇳🇴
  • 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 🇵🇰
  • 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 🇵🇾
  • 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 🇵🇪
  • 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 🇵🇭
  • 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 🇵🇱
  • 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 🇷🇺
  • 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 🇿🇦
  • 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 🇰🇷
  • 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 🇪🇸
  • 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 🇹🇼
  • 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 🇹🇿
  • 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 🇹🇭
  • 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 🇹🇷
  • 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 🇺🇦
  • 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 🇺🇸
  • 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

  • Vietnam 🇻🇳
  • 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 haven’t join us yet, feel free to register to ConnectPals 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!

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