28 words we can’t pronounce (and three no one should EVER get wrong)
Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorFrom quinoa to meme, here are the words we’re pretty sure we’ve been pronouncing wrong our whole lives.
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
From 'pacifically' to 'ex-presso,' a new survey has found that over half of Brits find it infuriating when people pronounce everyday words wrong.
What's more, the data also revealed that although two thirds of us might just be too embarrassed to correct someone, a sizeable 35% just can't resist correcting friends and family when they mispronounce a word!
One in 10 of us are even happy to correct a stranger for pronouncing a word wrong.
The survey carried out by Perspectus Global, an insights agency, listed key words that REALLY grate with us as saying 'specially' instead of especially and 'art-ick' rather than arctic.
Ellie Glason, who carried out the survey said:
'It seems Brits are a nit-picking bunch when it comes to how others say things, however interestingly the research shows that, in true British style, 65 percent are more likely to mutter under their breath than call someone out on it.'
But just in case someone does call you out on it, here are some of the top mispronounced words out there. Which are you guilty of?
1. Hygge
We loved the trend. We didn’t love the funny looks we got when trying to pronounce it.
How to pronounce: hoo-gah
2. Meme
We're always sharing memes on social media. But from ‘may may’ to ‘mee mee’ we have no idea how to actually say the word.
How to pronounce: meem
3. Acai
It’s a superfood in our favourite health drinks. Doesn’t mean we know how to say it.
How to pronounce: ah-sigh-ee
4. JK Rowling
She’s one of our favourite authors. But turns out we’ve been saying her surname wrong for years. Who knew?
How to pronounce: It’s ‘Rolling’ not ‘Rowl-ing’
5. Et cetera
We didn’t even know we’d been saying it wrong.
How to pronounce: It’s ‘et-set-ter-eh’ not ‘ecc-set-ter-eh’
6. Quinoa
Is it kwin-wah? Or keen-oah? Seriously, what’s up with this word?
How to pronounce: keen-wah
Learn the best way to cook quinoa here.
7. Ralph Lauren
We love a bit of designer wear. Shame we’ve never pronounced the name of this fashion brand properly.
How to pronounce: Ralf Lorr-uhn
8. Chorizo
Anyone else shouting at the telly when Masterchef is on? It’s chuh-RITS-oh, not chuh-REE-thoh, right?
Oh, apparently we’re wrong on this one as well …
How to pronounce: chuh-ree-zoh
9. Gif
We called it a jif for years. We will never use this word again.
How to pronounce: gif (with a ‘g’ sound not a ‘j’)
10. Chipotle
Ooh, we love this Mexican spice … even if we have no idea how to pronounce it.
How to pronounce: ‘chi-poat-lay’ not ‘chip-otle’
11. Prescription
We can’t be the only ones who say ‘per-skrip-shun’. Can we?
How to pronounce: ‘Pruh-skrip-shun’
12. Amanda Seyfried
The Mamma Mia! actress apparently spends lots of time correcting people who say her name wrong. Oops.
How to pronounce: Sigh-fred
13. Sriracha
Yum, it’s our favourite spicy sauce. That we’ve been pronouncing wrong forever.
How to pronounce: See-ra-cha
14. Espresso
So it’s really not ex-press-oh. Really?
How to pronounce: ess-press-oh
15. St Pancras
We admit it, we’ve never known how to pronounce this London train station.
How to pronounce: ‘Saint pan-krass’ not ‘Saint pan-kree-ass’
16. Charlize Theron
We love Charlize, even if we don’t know how to say her second name.
How to pronounce: Their-in
17. Sherbert
It’s one of our favourite childhood sweets. So basically we’ve been saying it wrong our entire lives.
How to pronounce: ‘shur-but’ not ‘sher-burt’
18. Bruschetta
Ah, so this is embarrassing ... *Thinks back to every Italian restaurant where we've ordered this.*
How to pronounce: It's ‘broo-sket-tuh’ not ‘broo-sheh-tuh’
19. Keighley
We’ve been to this West Yorkshire town loads of times. Apparently we have no idea how to say it though.
How to pronounce: It's ‘keith-lee’ not ‘kay-lee’
20. Worcestershire Sauce
Seriously, do you pronounce the ‘r’ or not?
How to pronounce: wooster-shire
21. Rioja
One of our favourite tipples. And it’s rio-ka, right?
How to pronounce: ree-o-ha
22. Probably
We've prob-ly been pronouncing probably wrong for our entire lives ...
How to pronounce: pro-bab-ly
23. Especially
It has an 'E' at the start?! This one is especially surprising!
How to pronounce: eh-specially
24. Arctic
We know that the Arctic has lots of polar bears and ice. But we don't know how to pronounce the word.
How to pronounce: arc-tick
25. Nuclear
Remember learning about nuclear energy in geography lessons? Bet the teacher even pronounced this word wrong. No, it's not nucular!
How to pronounce: nuke-lee-ar
26. Tenterhooks
Literally nobody can say this word correctly.
How to pronounce: ten-tuh-huks
27. Accessory
It's double 'C' and double 'S'!
How to pronounce: uhk-seh-suh-ree
28. Triathlon
We've been adding an extra 'A' syllable for no reason.
How to pronounce: trai-ath-lon
And the three words no one should ever get wrong …
1. Specific
Repeat after us: It. Is. Not. Pronounced. Pacific
2. H
It’s ‘aitch’, not ‘haitch’. Grrrrrr.
3. Saoirse Ronan
The Little Women actress has even worn a sign telling you how to pronounce her name. It’s Sir-shuh.
Anxious about the apostrophe? Confused by the comma? Stumped by the semicolon? Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss sorts the dashes from the hyphens. See more details here at Amazon.
Related stories
CHAT: Funny things you’ve misheard
17 everyday things we're doing wrong as parents
