Have you ever realised you've pronounced something wrong your whole life?

Nevah.

Yes, but not too often. Most everyone in my family is merciless about (mis)pronunciation, so we tend not to make the same mistake more than once. Every once in a while, though, something slips through.

As for 2012, I say “two thousand twelve.” I’m not sure that I’d go so far as to say that you are wrong for saying “two thousand and twelve,” though, as I’m not convinced this is not merely a personal or regional preference.

P.S. You might find this related discussion interesting.

Different parts of the country pronounce the year in different ways. It makes no difference, as long as you get the message.

Yes. Yosemite, Chipotle.

I say “twenty twelve”. I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way to say it.

This question reminded me of this poem.

I’ve never said two thousand ’‘and’’ whatever, myself. Just two thousand twelve. I denno which one is right or wrong, but people always understood, so whatever lol.

Not a native English speaker here, but I have been speaking English for a hell of a long time, and yet, one word I pronounced wrong for ever was event. I always used to say it as ’‘ee vent’’.

Viagra Falls. Took me awhile to realize it was Niagra Falls.

I have heard people pronounce “chipotle” as “chipoltay.” I heard Paula Deen say it that way, too, which was surprising because I would think they would have corrected her.

I had a friend that pronounced “penguin” as “penquin.” I had to correct her, I could not pass that up.

Someone told me once that the word “forte” which I always pronounced (and the way I hear other people pronounce) as “for-tay” but my friend told me it’s also in the dictionary pronounced “fort.” I have never heard anybody pronounce “forte” as “fort.”

I have heard people pronounce “lackadaisical” as “lax-a daisical.”

I have a pet peeve about people mispronouncing things.

Yep. Chipotle was one of mine too. Apperently my pronunciation of the word pasta is funky too. (I say pass-ta instead of pah-sta)

@FluffyChicken: A lot of people, including Paula Deen, pronounce chipotle as “chip-ol-tay.” I was surprised that her handlers didn’t correct her when she said it on her cooking show. I am guessing that people mispronounce it often because it’s unusual to have the “L” sound after the letter “T.”