Anyone who’s been afraid to order the dish or drink that they really wanted for fear of looking silly will know: there are some food names that are just hard to wrap your tongue around.
Whether they’re dishes or brands that many people get wrong, or ingredients that you rarely hear said out loud, it can be an edible minefield.
Here are some of the most mispronounced foods – and how we should be saying their names.
1. Croissant
A classic French pastry, “croissant” is commonly mispronounced as “croy-sant” or “cruh-sant.” The correct pronunciation is: kwah-sahn.
2. Worcestershire Sauce
This British condiment frequently trips people up. While many say “WUSS-ter-sheer” or “WUSS-ter-shire,” the accepted pronunciations are: wu-stuh-shuh or wu-stuh-shir .
3. Gyros
A popular Greek dish, “gyros” is often mispronounced as “guy-ros” or “jee-ros.” The correct pronunciation is: yee-ros .
4. Pho
This Vietnamese noodle soup is commonly mispronounced as “foh.” The correct pronunciation is: fuh.
5. Chipotle
A smoked jalapeño pepper and the name of a popular restaurant chain, “chipotle” is often mispronounced as “chip-ohl-tay.” The correct pronunciation is: chi-POHT-lay.
6. Quinoa
This South American grain is frequently mispronounced as “kwin-o-a.” The correct pronunciation is:
keen-wah.
7. Bruschetta
An Italian antipasto, “bruschetta” is often mispronounced as “broo-shetta.” The correct pronunciation is: broo-SKET-tah.
8. Acai
A Brazilian superfood, “acai” is commonly mispronounced as “ah-sigh.” The correct pronunciation is:
ah-sigh-EE.
9. Sherbet
This sweet, tangy powder often accompanies fruit-flavoured drinks. It’s commonly mispronounced as “sher-bert.” The correct pronunciation is: SHUR-buht
10. Espresso
A strong coffee brewed by forcing steam through finely ground coffee beans, “espresso” is frequently mispronounced as “ex-preh-sow.” The correct pronunciation is: eh-SPREH-soh
11. Lychee
This tropical fruit, known for its sweet and floral taste, is often mispronounced as “lie-chee.” The correct pronunciation is: LAI-chee
