parlament

parliament

Although some dictionaries have given up on it, there should be a [y] after [l]: [pahr-lyê-mênt]

perculate

percolate

Pronouncing this word as "perculate" is quite peculiar. (Also, remember that it means ''drip down'' not ''up.'')

pottable

potable

The adjective meaning "drinkable" rhymes with "floatable" and is not to be confused with the one that means "capable of being potted."

perogative

prerogative

Even in dialects where [r] does not always trade places with the preceding vowel (as the Texan pronunciations "differnce," "vetern," etc.), the [r] in this prefix often gets switched.

perscription

prescription

Same as above. It is possible that we simply confuse "pre-" and "per-" since both are legitimate prefixes.

persnickety

pernickety

You may think us too pernickety to even mention this one. It is a Scottish nonce word to which U.S. speakers have added a spurious [s].

preemptory

peremptory

The old pre-/per- problem. Do not confuse this word with "preemptive;" the prefix here is per-.

prespire

perspire

"Per-" has become such a regular mispronunciation of "pre-," many people now correct themselves where they don't need to.

plute

pollute

This one, like "plice" [police], spose [suppose], and others, commonly result from rapid speech syncope, the loss of unaccented vowels. Just be sure you pronounce the vowel when you are speaking slowly. Read here for more on the problem.

(probly, prolly)

probably

Haplology is the dropping of one of two identical syllables such as the [ob] and [ab] in this word, usually the result of fast speech. Slow down and pronounce the whole word for maximum clarity and to reduce your chances of misspelling the word.

pronounciation

pronunciation

Just as "misspelling" is among the most commonly misspelled words, "pronunciation" is among the most commonly mispronounced words. Fitting, no?

prostrate

prostate

Though a pain in the prostate may leave a man prostrate, the gland contains no [r].