English pronunciation · Words Starting with S
Special Pronunciation
Special is pronounced SPE-shuhl, IPA /ˈspɛʃəl/.
SPE-shuhl
US /ˈspɛʃəl/ · UK /ˈspɛʃəl/
Syllables: SPE · shuhl (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective and noun: Better or different from what is usual, or a one off item such as a dish on a menu.
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Special in a Sentence
- Tonight there is a special on the fish.
- She keeps the good plates for special occasions.
- Nothing special happened all week.
Common Mispronunciations of Special
Not SPE-see-al
Read cial as a single shuhl. The c and the i merge into one sh, so the word never reaches three syllables.
Not e-SPE-shuhl
English lets sp begin a word directly. Speakers of Spanish and Portuguese often add a small e in front, which is where especial comes from.
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