Learn How to Pronounce controversial
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How to pronounce:
controversial
Phonetic Transcription:
ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl
Examples:
The debate was fiery and controversial.
The argument of defensible space is controversial.
The issues are weighty and controversial.
Learn more about:controversial
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: controversial
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Common mistakes of controversial pronunciation
- Misplacing stress: Many people place stress incorrectly on the first syllable, saying "CON-traversial" instead of "con-TRo-versial" (/kənˈtrɒv.ə.ʃəl/ UK, /kənˈtrɑː.vɚ.ʃəl/ US). Tip: Remember to emphasize the "tro" syllable.
- Omitting syllables: Some speakers tend to drop the "tro" syllable, pronouncing it as "con-versal." This leads to a mispronunciation of "controversial" (/kənˈtrɒv.ə.ʃəl/ UK, /kənˈtrɑː.vɚ.ʃəl/ US). Tip: Be sure to articulate all three syllables clearly.
- Confusing vowel sounds: The "o" in "controversial" can be mispronounced as a short vowel sound, resulting in "con-truh-versal." The correct pronunciation uses a more open sound, as in "tro." Tip: Practice saying "tro" with a clear, open "o."
- Incorrect vowel length: Some learners pronounce "controversial" with a short "a" sound in the second syllable, as in "con-truh-VER-sial." The correct pronunciation has a longer vowel sound: "tro." Tip: Focus on elongating the "o" in "tro."
- Mispronouncing the ending: The final syllable is often mispronounced as "shul" instead of the correct "shəl." This can change the word's flow. Tip: Practice saying the last syllable softly, making it sound like "shəl."