Pronunciation in the PTE exam, especially in speaking section, plays a vital role; it can make or break your score. Sometimes, even after knowing the correct answer, students lose marks because of bad pronunciation. If you are also preparing for the PTE exam and dealing with “How to Pronounce Words in English,” then you need to bookmark this blog for your reference.
Why Pronunciation Matters in PTE?
Pronunciation is one of the skills evaluated in the Speaking section of PTE Academic and Core. This skill is assessed by AI software, and if that is not correct, then the scores drop even if your grammar and fluency are good.
The scoring system evaluates:
- Pronunciation: How similar are you to a native English speaker
- Oral Fluency: How easily you speak words
Tips To Enhance English Pronunciation For PTE Exam:
Practice For Improving Phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
- Understand how sounds of English words are represented in IPA, especially consonants and vowels.
Practice Word and Sentence Stress:
Try to stress the correct syllables in words and to sound natural, emphasize on keywords.
For example:
- “present” as a noun: PRE-sent
- “present” as a verb: pre-SENT
Incorrect stressing on syllables might change the meaning of the sentence.
Use the Shadowing Technique:
- Pay attention to the native English speakers and try to repeat what they say by copying their rhythm and intonation.
Record and Evaluate Yourself:
- One of the best ways to practice pronunciation is to record what you are speaking and identify areas for improvement.
Work on Difficult English Sounds:
- Practice commonly mispronounced sounds like /θ/ vs. /ð/, /v/ vs. /w/, and /r/ vs. /l/ to improve accuracy.
Read Aloud Regularly:
- Try to read texts aloud daily and focus on pausing, tone, and pronunciation of words.
Speak Slowly and Clearly:
- Avoid speaking too fast. Maintain a controlled pace and focus on clarity and precision in speech.
Here is a list of 100+ commonly used academic words in the PTE exam with a pronunciation guide. You can also refer to this list as a pronunciation dictionary to score high.
Nouns
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | Phonetic Hint |
| Observation | /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən/ | OB-zuh-VAY-shun |
| Illustration | /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/ | il-uh-STRAY-shun |
| Statistics | /stəˈtɪstɪks/ | stuh-TIS-tiks |
| Diagram | /ˈdaɪəɡræm/ | DYE-uh-gram |
| Development | /dɪˈveləpmənt/ | dih-VEL-up-ment |
| Pattern | /ˈpætən/ | PAT-urn |
| Variable | /ˈveəriəbl/ | VAIR-ee-uh-buhl |
| Knowledge | /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ | NOL-ij |
| Principle | /ˈprɪnsəpl/ | PRIN-suh-pul |
| Hypothesis | /haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/ | hy-POTH-uh-sis |
| Conclusion | /kənˈkluːʒən/ | kun-KLOO-zhun |
| Assessment | /əˈsesmənt/ | uh-SESS-ment |
| Curriculum | /kəˈrɪkjələm/ | kuh-RIK-yuh-luhm |
| Phenomenon | /fəˈnɒmɪnən/ | fuh-NOM-ih-non |
| Citizenship | /ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/ | SIT-ih-zuhn-ship |
| Equilibrium | /ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm/ | ee-kwi-LIB-ree-um |
| Consortium | /kənˈsɔːtiəm/ | kun-SOR-tee-um |
| Demographics | /ˌdeməˈɡræfɪks/ | DEM-uh-GRAF-iks |
| Accreditation | /əˌkredɪˈteɪʃən/ | uh-KRED-ih-TAY-shun |
| Jurisdiction | /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃən/ | JUR-is-DIK-shun |
Verbs:
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | Phonetic Hint |
| Accumulate | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ | uh-KYOO-myuh-layt |
| Alleviate | /əˈliːvieɪt/ | uh-LEE-vee-ate |
| Anticipate | /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ | an-TIS-uh-pate |
| Comprehend | /ˌkɒmprɪˈhend/ | kom-pri-HEND |
| Constitute | /ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt/ | KON-sti-tyoot |
| Correlate | /ˈkɒrəleɪt/ | KOR-uh-layt |
| Deduce | /dɪˈdjuːs/ | dih-DYOOS |
| Deviate | /ˈdiːvieɪt/ | DEE-vee-ate |
| Disseminate | /dɪˈsemɪneɪt/ | dih-SEM-uh-nate |
| Emphasize | /ˈemfəsaɪz/ | EM-fuh-size |
| Facilitate | /fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/ | fuh-SIL-ih-tate |
| Hypothesize | /haɪˈpɒθəsaɪz/ | hy-POTH-uh-size |
| Illustrate | /ˈɪləstreɪt/ | ILL-uh-strate |
| Incorporate | /ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪt/ | in-KOR-puh-rate |
| Manipulate | /məˈnɪpjʊleɪt/ | muh-NIP-yuh-late |
| Mitigate | /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ | MIT-ih-gate |
| Navigate | /ˈnævɪɡeɪt/ | NAV-ih-gate |
| Optimize | /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/ | OP-tih-mize |
| Perceive | /pəˈsiːv/ | pur-SEEV |
| Presume | /prɪˈzjuːm/ | prih-ZYOOM |
| Procrastinate | /prəˈkræstɪneɪt/ | pro-KRAS-tih-nate |
| Reiterate | /riˈɪtəreɪt/ | ree-IT-uh-rate |
| Restructure | /ˌriːˈstrʌktʃə/ | ree-STRUHK-chur |
| Substantiate | /səbˈstænʃieɪt/ | sub-STAN-shee-ate |
| Transform | /trænsˈfɔːm/ | trans-FORM |
| Undermine | /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ | UN-der-mine |
| Visualize | /ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz/ | VIZH-oo-uh-lize |
| Differentiate | /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt/ | DIF-uh-REN-shee-ate |
| Contribute | /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ | kun-TRIB-yoot |
Adjectives
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | Phonetic Hint |
| Abundant | /əˈbʌndənt/ | uh-BUN-dunt |
| Ambiguous | /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ | am-BIG-yoo-us |
| Analogous | /əˈnæləɡəs/ | uh-NAL-uh-gus |
| Anomalous | /əˈnɒmələs/ | uh-NOM-uh-lus |
| Arbitrary | /ˈɑːbɪtrəri/ | AR-bih-truh-ree |
| Contemporary | /kənˈtemprəri/ | kun-TEM-pruh-ree |
| Consecutive | /kənˈsekjʊtɪv/ | kun-SEK-yuh-tiv |
| Contradictory | /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktəri/ | KON-truh-DIK-tuh-ree |
| Cumulative | /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/ | KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv |
| Deficient | /dɪˈfɪʃənt/ | dih-FISH-uhnt |
| Deliberate | /dɪˈlɪbərət/ | dih-LIB-er-it |
| Derivative | /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ | dih-RIV-uh-tiv |
| Discreet | /dɪˈskriːt/ | dih-SKREET |
| Disparate | /ˈdɪspərət/ | DIS-puh-ruht |
| Empirical | /ɪmˈpɪrɪkəl/ | em-PIH-rih-kuhl |
| Erroneous | /ɪˈrəʊniəs/ | ih-ROH-nee-us |
| Exhaustive | /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/ | ig-ZAWS-tiv |
| Hypothetical | /ˌhaɪpəˈθetɪkəl/ | hy-puh-THET-ih-kuhl |
| Implicit | /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ | im-PLIS-it |
| Incidental | /ˌɪnsɪˈdentl/ | in-sih-DEN-tuhl |
| Incompatible | /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl/ | in-kuhm-PAT-uh-buhl |
| Inadequate | /ɪnˈædɪkwət/ | in-AD-ih-kwut |
| Indispensable | /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl/ | in-dih-SPEN-suh-buhl |
| Inevitable | /ɪnˈevɪtəbl/ | in-EV-ih-tuh-buhl |
| Marginal | /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl/ | MAR-jin-uhl |
| Plausible | /ˈplɔːzəbl/ | PLAW-zuh-buhl |
| Preliminary | /prɪˈlɪmɪnəri/ | pri-LIM-uh-nair-ee |
| Quantitative | /ˈkwɒntɪtətɪv/ | KWON-tih-tuh-tiv |
| Sophisticated | /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/ | suh-FIS-tih-kay-tid |
| Tentative | /ˈtentətɪv/ | TEN-tuh-tiv |
Adverbs
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | Phonetic Hint |
| Accordingly | /əˈkɔːdɪŋli/ | uh-KOR-ding-lee |
| Additionally | /əˈdɪʃənəli/ | uh-DISH-uhn-uh-lee |
| Allegedly | /əˈledʒɪdli/ | uh-LEJ-id-lee |
| Approximately | /əˈprɒksɪmətli/ | uh-PROK-sih-muht-lee |
| Comparatively | /kəmˈpærətɪvli/ | kum-PAIR-uh-tiv-lee |
| Consequently | /ˈkɒnsɪkwəntli/ | KON-si-kwent-lee |
| Consistently | /kənˈsɪstəntli/ | kun-SIS-tuhnt-lee |
| Conventionally | /kənˈvenʃənəli/ | kun-VEN-shun-uh-lee |
| Critically | /ˈkrɪtɪkli/ | KRIT-ik-lee |
| Cumulatively | /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪvli/ | KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv-lee |
| Deliberately | /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ | dih-LIB-er-uht-lee |
| Empirically | /ɪmˈpɪrɪkli/ | em-PIH-rik-lee |
| Essentially | /ɪˈsenʃəli/ | ih-SEN-shuh-lee |
| Exclusively | /ɪkˈskluːsɪvli/ | ik-SKLOO-siv-lee |
| Explicitly | /ɪkˈsplɪsɪtli/ | ik-SPLIS-it-lee |
| Fundamentally | /ˌfʌndəˈmentəli/ | fun-duh-MEN-tuh-lee |
| Generally | /ˈdʒenrəli/ | JEN-ruh-lee |
| Gradually | /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ | GRAJ-oo-uh-lee |
| Hypothetically | /ˌhaɪpəˈθetɪkli/ | hy-puh-THET-ik-lee |
| Implicitly | /ɪmˈplɪsɪtli/ | im-PLIS-it-lee |
| Incidentally | /ˌɪnsɪˈdentli/ | in-sih-DENT-lee |
| Inevitably | /ɪnˈevɪtəbli/ | in-EV-ih-tuh-blee |
| Initially | /ɪˈnɪʃəli/ | ih-NISH-uh-lee |
| Marginally | /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəli/ | MAR-jin-uh-lee |
| Objectively | /əbˈdʒektɪvli/ | ub-JEK-tiv-lee |
| Predominantly | /prɪˈdɒmɪnəntli/ | pree-DOM-ih-nuhnt-lee |
| Presumably | /prɪˈzjuːməbli/ | pri-ZYOO-muh-blee |
| Proportionally | /prəˈpɔːʃənəli/ | pruh-POUR-shuhn-uh-lee |
| Subsequently | /ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/ | SUB-si-kwent-lee |
| Theoretically | /ˌθɪəˈretɪkli/ | thee-uh-RET-ik-lee |
Linking/Transition Words
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | Phonetic Hint |
| Nevertheless | /ˌnevəðəˈles/ | nev-uh-thuh-LESS |
| Consequently | /ˈkɒnsɪkwəntli/ | KON-si-kwent-lee |
| Furthermore | /ˌfɜːðəˈmɔː/ | FUR-thuh-more |
| Nonetheless | /ˌnʌnðəˈles/ | nun-thuh-LESS |
| Subsequently | /ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/ | SUB-si-kwent-lee |
| In contrast | /ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst/ | in KON-trast |
| On the contrary | /ɒn ðə ˈkɒntrəri/ | on the KON-truh-ree |
| Albeit | /ˌɔːlˈbiːɪt/ | awl-BEE-it |
| In light of | /ɪn ˈlaɪt əv/ | in LYTE uhv |
| In spite of | /ɪn ˈspaɪt əv/ | in SPYTE uhv |
| With regard to | /wɪð rɪˈɡɑːd tuː/ | with ri-GAARD too |
| In accordance with | /ɪn əˈkɔːdəns wɪð/ | in uh-KOR-duns with |
| Inasmuch as | /ˌɪnəzˈmʌtʃ æz/ | in-uz-MUCH az |
| Notwithstanding | /ˌnɒtwɪðˈstændɪŋ/ | not-with-STAN-ding |
| As a consequence | /æz ə ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ | az uh KON-si-kwens |
| On the whole | /ɒn ðə həʊl/ | on the HOHL |
| For the most part | /fɔː ðə məʊst pɑːt/ | for the MOHST part |
| By the same token | /baɪ ðə seɪm ˈtəʊkən/ | by the SAYM TOH-kuhn |
| For instance | /fə ˈɪnstəns/ | fur IN-stuns |
| To illustrate | /tuː ˈɪləstreɪt/ | too ILL-uh-strayt |
| That is to say | /ðæt ɪz tuː seɪ/ | that iz too say |
| In other words | /ɪn ˈʌðə wɜːdz/ | in UTH-uh words |
| Be that as it may | /biː ðæt æz ɪt meɪ/ | bee that az it MAY |
| Provided that | /prəˈvaɪdɪd ðæt/ | pruh-VY-did that |
| In effect | /ɪn ɪˈfekt/ | in ih-FEKT |
| On condition that | /ɒn kənˈdɪʃən ðæt/ | on kun-DISH-un that |
| To put it simply | /tuː pʊt ɪt ˈsɪmpli/ | too put it SIM-plee |
| As a matter of fact | /əz ə ˈmætə əv fækt/ | az uh MAT-uh-ruv fakt |
| In summary | /ɪn ˈsʌməri/ | in SUM-uh-ree |
| As a result | /æz ə rɪˈzʌlt/ | az uh ri-ZULT |
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Conclusion:
Understanding the importance of pronunciation is very important for scoring high in the PTE speaking section. With AI-driven evaluation, even minor mispronunciations can lead to lower marks, regardless of your fluency or grammar. In this blog, you will find 100+ frequently used academic words, complete with IPA transcriptions and phonetic hints. You can practice on Gurully to boost your scores and improve faster.
Also Read:
- PTE Academic Describe Image: Tips, Types, and Sample Question with Answers
- Gurully’s PTE Study Material – Guide for Your Exam Success
- Gurully – Your All-In-One Solution For English Language Proficiency Exams
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