Long words that are simpler than they look

1. 1
   unfortunately/ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/iAlso said ənˈfɔːrtʃuːnətli.

   adverb

   Sadly, as a matter of bad luck.
2. 2
   particularly/ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/iAlso said pərˈtɪkjələrli.

   adverb

   Especially, more than the others.
3. 3
   immediately/ˌɪˈmiːˌdiːətli/

   adverb

   Right now, with no delay.
4. 4
   responsibility/riːˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/

   noun

   A duty that is yours to handle.
5. 5
   opportunity/ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

   noun

   A chance to do something.
6. 6
   international/ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl/iAlso said ˌɪnərˈnæʃənəl.

   adjective

   Involving more than one country.
7. 7
   communication/kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/

   noun

   The passing of information between people.
8. 8
   understanding/ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/

   noun

   The state of knowing what something means.
9. 9
   unnecessary/ənˈnesəˌseri/

   adjective

   Not needed.
10. 10
    environment/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

    noun

    The conditions around you.

The sentences

1. Unfortunately the room is not ready yet.

2. It was particularly busy on the train.

3. Could someone look at it immediately?

4. Whose responsibility is this part of it?

5. This is a good opportunity for us.

6. Is there an international desk in this building?

7. There was no communication about the change.

8. My understanding was completely different.

9. All that paperwork seems unnecessary to me.

10. It is a very quiet environment to work in.

Pronunciation

• unfortunately/ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/

  Stress the second syllable: un-FOR-tu-nate-ly. The rest is unstressed.

• particularly/ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/

  Stress the second syllable: par-TIC-u-lar-ly.

• immediately/ˌɪˈmiːˌdiːətli/

  Stress the second syllable: i-MEE-dee-ate-ly.

• responsibility/riːˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/

  Six syllables, stress on the fourth: re-spon-si-BIL-i-ty.

• opportunity/ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

  Stress the third syllable: op-por-TU-ni-ty.

• international/ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl/

  Stress the third syllable: in-ter-NA-tion-al.

• communication/kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/

  Stress the fourth syllable: com-mu-ni-CA-tion.

• understanding/ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/

  Stress the third syllable: un-der-STAND-ing.

• unnecessary/ənˈnesəˌseri/

  Stress the second syllable: un-NEC-es-sar-y.

• environment/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

  Four syllables, stress on the second: en-VI-ron-ment.

Questions

What do I say if something needs to be dealt with right now?

Use immediately, as in 'Could someone look at it immediately?'

What does environment mean here?

The conditions around you, as in 'It is a very quiet environment to work in.'

What's a good way to say something wasn't needed?

Say unnecessary, as in 'All that paperwork seems unnecessary to me.'