Mispronunciations That Drive You Nuts

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Car-dee-ya-zem.

It's car-di-zem. Or dil-ti-ya-zem.

Cardiazem isn't a real thing.

Can I get an amen?!

My mother has said "mim-a-ture" for "miniature" all of her life. I'm never going to change her!!!

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Honestly, grammar and spelling bug me more. I'll never understand why some find using "there", "their" and "they're" so difficult. It's really not that hard.

Mispronunciations don't bother me so much. The day I pronounce "metoprolol" correctly will be a happy one.

I'm also guilty of adding that extra u to "nuclear" and of sometimes saying "axe" in place of "ask".

And it was on this very website that I was surprised to be told that one does not pronounce the 't' in "often".

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I pronounce the T in "often"

I remember reading something a long time ago that stuck with me. It was to the effect of "Never make fun of someone who mispronounces a word, because it's likely they encountered it while reading."

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Tubular litigation, for tubal ligation. I always picture a brass-playing attorney.

For some strange reason, no one can pronounce Lisinopril. Can't even remember how it's mangled.

Attenol for atenolol.

Hyena hernia for hiatal hernia. (Picture laughing hyenas)

"I had my bladder removed" = gall bladder

Colonostomy = colonoscopy

Motrel, moprol = metoprolol

Arthro-scopey for arthROScopy

Linguini hernia for inguinal hernia

(Can you tell that I spend my days on the phone with mis-pronouncing patients?!)

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Yes, many "Mispronunciations" that people assume are a mark of unintelligence are simply regional variations.

The way ex-president Bush and I pronounce "nuclear", for example, has been recognized as an acceptable variation by most dictionaries.

And the use of the singular, gender-neutral "they" is widely accepted as a correct usage these days.

Languages change.

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Oh, but as far as medical stuff goes, "tibula" and "fibia" drive me crazy!

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Specializes in critical care.

and it was on this very website that i was surprised to be told that one does not pronounce the 't' in "often".

you must always pronounce the 't' in often.

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Specializes in critical care.
ixchel said:
you must always pronounce the 't' in often.

Hey, now, allnurses powers that be!! I wrote that in all caps on purpose!!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Simular for similar

Exaspiration instead of exacerbation (I guess that asthma or MS was angry)

Colonsostomy instead of colonoscopy

Melk instead of Milk (yes I am from Michigan born and raised and this still annoys me)

The grammar mistakes of there, they're, and their along with to,too,and two, along with you,your,and you're in the wrong context.

Accept and except in the wrong context. I accept your invitation , Everyone except Jane is going to the concert.

Stats instead of Sats.

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Specializes in Psych, Substance Abuse, Case Management.
Work-related:

Orientate

Contimeter

In daily life:

Too many to mention. The book that brought me and my husband together was "Eats, Shoots and Leaves". It was like two geeks meeting their gaze across a Mensa convention.

That is one of my favorite books! My biggest pet peeve is misuse of the intensive pronoun, myself. (I was an editor before I became an RN.)

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Alls timers for Alzheimer's

I have a family member that pronounces color as keller. We always tease her about it :)

Also have heard idear for idea, warsh for wash, torlet for toilet.....

I'm sure there's more, I'll have to think about it.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Prostrate for prostate. I work with a tech who says "warsh" for wash. "Hang on a minute, just let me warsh my hands". I hear it a LOT.

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