Akimbo, this must be one of the odder-looking words in…
Read the text aloud.
Akimbo, this must be one of the odder-looking words in the language. It puzzles us in part because it doesn’t seem to have any relatives. What's more, it is now virtually a fossil word, until recently almost invariably found in arms, akimbo, a posture in which a person stands with hands on hips and elbows sharply bent outward, one that signals impatience and hostility.
Opens question #010029 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Akimbo,|this must be one of the odder-looking words in the language.‖It puzzles us in part|because it doesn’t seem to have any relatives.‖What's more,|it is now virtually a fossil word,|until recently almost invariably found in arms akimbo,‖a posture in which a person stands|with hands on hips|and elbows sharply bent outward,‖one that signals impatience and hostility.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| invariably | in·VAR·i·a·bly | /ɪnˈvɛriəbli/ |
| hostility | hos·TIL·i·ty | /hɑˈstɪləti/ |
| impatience | im·PA·tience | /ɪmˈpeɪʃəns/ |
| virtually | VIR·tu·al·ly | /ˈvɝtʃuəli/ |
| akimbo | a·KIM·bo | /əˈkɪmboʊ/ |
| relatives | REL·a·tives | /ˈrɛlətɪvz/ |
64 words, aim for 25–29 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after language, relatives, the second akimbo and outward; short pauses at the other commas.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress: a·KIM·bo (both times), in·VAR·i·a·bly, VIR·tu·al·ly, im·PA·tience, hos·TIL·i·ty, REL·a·tives. Don't freeze on the opening Akimbo. Keep -s on puzzles, words, relatives, arms, hands, hips, elbows, signals.
General tip: the last sentence is a chain of clauses — let your voice dip slightly at each comma instead of speeding up to reach the end.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: Akimbo(叉腰),这一定是英语里最古怪的词之一。它令我们困惑,部分原因是它似乎没有任何同源词。而且,它如今几乎是个"化石词",直到最近几乎总是出现在 arms akimbo 这个短语里——指一个人双手叉腰、手肘向外弯曲的站姿,这种姿势表示不耐烦和敌意。
हिन्दी: Akimbo — यह भाषा के सबसे अजीब दिखने वाले शब्दों में से एक होगा। यह हमें कुछ हद तक इसलिए उलझन में डालता है क्योंकि इसका कोई संबंधी शब्द नहीं लगता। इसके अलावा, यह अब लगभग एक "जीवाश्म शब्द" है, जो हाल तक लगभग हमेशा arms akimbo में ही मिलता था — एक मुद्रा जिसमें व्यक्ति कमर पर हाथ रखकर, कोहनियाँ बाहर की ओर तीखी मोड़कर खड़ा होता है, जो अधीरता और शत्रुता का संकेत देती है।
नेपाली: Akimbo — यो भाषाका सबैभन्दा अनौठा देखिने शब्दहरूमध्ये एक हुनुपर्छ। यसले हामीलाई आंशिक रूपमा अलमल्याउँछ किनभने यसको कुनै नातेदार शब्द छैन जस्तो देखिन्छ। त्यसमाथि, यो अहिले लगभग "जीवाश्म शब्द" भइसकेको छ, जुन हालसम्म प्रायः arms akimbo मा मात्र भेटिन्थ्यो — एउटा मुद्रा जसमा व्यक्ति कम्मरमा हात राखेर कुहिना बाहिरतिर तीखो गरी मोडेर उभिन्छ, जसले अधैर्य र शत्रुता जनाउँछ।
Tiếng Việt: Akimbo — đây hẳn là một trong những từ trông kỳ lạ nhất trong ngôn ngữ này. Nó làm ta bối rối một phần vì nó dường như không có từ họ hàng nào. Hơn nữa, giờ đây nó gần như là một "từ hóa thạch", cho đến gần đây hầu như luôn chỉ xuất hiện trong cụm arms akimbo — tư thế một người đứng chống hai tay lên hông, khuỷu tay gập mạnh ra ngoài, biểu lộ sự thiếu kiên nhẫn và thù địch.
More Read Aloud questions
Read Aloud format (Pearson)
| Prompt | Text up to 60 words |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 30–40 seconds |
| Time to answer | Depends on the length of the text |
| Skills assessed | Speaking |
| Scored on | Content; Pronunciation; Oral fluency |
How it is scored
- Content is scored by counting the correct words in your response.
- If you stay silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording stops.
- You can record your response only once.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 1: Speaking & Writing, checked 9 October 2026.