2 syllables: mis, take. Stress on take.
/mɪˈsteɪk/
Say it backMistake is a misjudgment or error arising from incorrect understanding, improper action, or faulty perception. It typically refers to an act that deviates from intended or correct behavior, often leading to learning or revision. The term can describe specific incorrect choices, assumptions, or judgments in various contexts, from everyday tasks to formal reasoning.
"You made a mistake on the math problem, so you checked your work again."
"She realized her mistake after reading the report and apologized."
"The engineer corrected the mistake in the design before production."
Pronounce it as /mɪsˈteɪk/ in both US and UK accents. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ (as in kit), then the stressed syllable /ˈteɪk/ with a long vowel in the second syllable. Your mouth should begin with a relaxed jaw, slightly spread lips for /ɪ/ and a more open jaw for /eɪ/ as you glide into /k/. For reference, listen to native speech on Pronounce or YouGlish to hear the exact cadence.
The two most common errors are reducing the second syllable to a schwa or misplacing the stress (e.g., /ˈmɪsteɪk/ or /mɪˈsteɪk/). Another is blending the /t/ and /k/ too tightly, making it sound like /mɪˈsteɪk/ with a heavy, clipped end. To fix, hold the /eɪ/ as a distinct diphthong and release into a clear /k/. Practice slow, then fast, emphasizing the boundary between /teɪ/ and /k/.
US/UK/AU share the same /mɪsˈteɪk/ structure, but rhoticity affects surrounding sounds in connected speech. In many US varieties, the /r/ before vowels in phrases may color adjacent sounds slightly, but not within the word. UK and AU speakers keep non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech; in casual UK/AU, you might hear a stronger glottal stop before /k/ or slight vowel reduction after /s/.
The difficulty lies in sustaining the /eɪ/ diphthong clearly while ending with a crisp /k/ consonant. Many learners neutralize /teɪ/ to /ti/ or skip the glide, producing /mɪsteɪk/ or /mɪˈsteɪk/ with last consonant blending. Ensure your tongue elevates for /t/ and the soft palate closes just as you release to /k/. Mouth position shifts between vowel height and consonant closure require precise timing.
A unique angle is that 'mistake' functions as a loan-translation of Old English mis-tacan, where 'taken wrongly' laid the groundwork for current usage. The noun form emphasizes a misalignment between intention and outcome, not just a simple misstep. Emphasize the second syllable for meaning emphasis in many contexts; misplacing the stress can subtly change perceived emphasis in a sentence.
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Mistake comes from the Middle English take mistaken, from the phrase mis taken, meaning “taken wrongly.” The etymology traces to Old English mis- indicating negation and “taken,” from tacian (to take) in Latin-influenced roots. The word evolved through the sense of misperception or misinterpretation that leads to an error. In medieval and early modern English, the term often appeared in legal and moral contexts to denote a fault or misdeed. Over time, it broadened to cover any act or judgment that is incorrect or erroneous, not necessarily intentional wrongdoing. The semantic shift favors a general deviation from accuracy, suitable for both cognitive errors (thinking mistakes) and practical mishaps (clumsy actions). The current usage classifies “mistake” as both a noun and a verb (to mistake someone or something for another), though the noun form remains most common in everyday speech. First known print attestations appear in Middle English texts, with roots deeply embedded in the Germanic family of languages where mis- prefixes and take/tak- roots emerge in various forms. Contemporary usage continues to pair with “on” for making a mistake (make a mistake) and with “mistaken” as an adjective describing an incorrect belief or conclusion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "mistake" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "mistake"
-ake sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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