Common Mispronounced Words: The Invisible Y Secret

In this lesson, I’ll let you in on the Invisible Y secret- if you’re not aware of this pattern you may be mispronouncing some very common words.

Practice sentences used in this lesson:

1) That’s a ridiculous accusation.

2) He has a fabulous sense of humor.

3) She couldn’t figure out how to use the computer.

4) You’ll have an annual evaluation.

5) They’ve built a huge user community.

6) This document is confusing. I can’t figure it out.

7) That’s an unusual excuse.

8) She refused to contribute. 

9) At this point, it’s pure speculation.

10) We had a monumental argument.

11) I’m just a regular human being.

12) He’s a very popular musician.

13) I think they’ll have a beautiful future. 

14) I don’t find that particularly amusing.

More Common Invisible Y Words

Single Syllable Invisible Y Words:

huge
use
pure
cure
cue
few
view
cute
fuse
mute
cube
puke

Words with Invisible Y in the Stressed Syllable

computer
community
future
beautiful
refuse
music
abuse
user
accuse
unusual
distribution
secure
security
communicate
dispute
mutual
funeral
humor
confuse/confusion
excuse
immune
debut
cure
reunion
uniform
cucumber
fuel
human
contribution
accumulate
amuse
peculiar
usual
deduce
cuticle
perfume
puny

Words with Invisible Y in the Unstressed (reduced) Syllable

regular
fabulous
failure
evaluate
figure
population
executive
popular
particular
argument
annual
document
visual
manufacture
reputation
deputy
monument
refugee
calculate
genuine
accurate
secular
manipulate
speculate/speculation
stimulate
stimulus
refuge
municipal
consecutive
contributor/ing
articulate
accusation
manual
ridiculous
circulate
formula
curriculum
commune
singular
muscular
ambulance
vocabulary

Words with Invisible Y in the Final Syllable

continue
value
argue
contribute
volume
distribute
menu
execute
rescue
refuge
vacuum
issue
commune
ridicule
molecule