Common words we mispronounce - including Dubai, Casio and Hyundai

Virgin Radio

24 Mar 2023, 12:26

Have you been pronouncing these words correctly?

Some words we know are hard. We avoid using them to prevent ourselves from sounding silly.

But there are also some words that we never think twice about that we actually mispronounce…

Dubai

Even though Dubai is the fourth most visited city in the world, it is regularly mispronounced.

Many of us Brits say “Doo-bye”, but it should actually be pronounced “Doo-bae”.

Ibiza

Ibiza is another popular holiday destination that we mispronounce.

We regularly hear people saying Ibiza in different ways, from “Eye-beeth-ah” to “Eye-beets-za”.

But the correct way is “Ee-beet-tha”.

Casio

Despite Casio being a commonly-used brand, due to their watches, calculators and keyboards, many of us cannot pronounce their name.

The correct pronunciation is “Kash-ee-oh”, based on the founder’s name Tadeo Kashio. 

Hyundai

Believe it or not, the correct pronunciation is “Hiyun-day”, not “Hi-un-die”.

The car company even had to state this in an advert after so many people kept getting it wrong.  

Ikea

Whether we go there to buy furniture, or just to get the tasty meatballs, visiting Ikea is always fun.

Many of us pronounce the Swedish company as “Eye-key-ah”, but the proper way to say it is “Ee-key-ah”.

At least if we get Ikea right, we will feel better when we have no idea how to pronounce their unusually named products.

Nike

Nike may be the leading sports brand in the world, but lots of people are still confused about how to pronounce their name.

Is it “Ni-ke” or “Ni-kee”?

The correct answer is “Ni-kee”.

Quinoa

Next time you’re at a food stall and you want to order quinoa but you’re unsure of how to pronounce it, fear not. 

Just say “Keen-wah”, instead of “Kwuh-no-ah”.

Espresso

When you visit a coffee shop, do you ask for an “Eh-spres-oh” or an “Ex-press-oh”?

Unfortunately, if you have been saying the latter, you have been pronouncing the drink wrong.

Not only have we been mispronouncing popular foods, brands and places, we have also been saying the names of famous fictional characters and artists incorrectly.

Voldermort

Whether you have watched the Harry Potter films or you have read the books, you have probably been saying Voldermort’s name wrong.

Many of us say “Vol-de-mort”, but the correct pronunciation of the villain’s name is “Vol-de-mor”. 

Adele

Adele is one of the world’s most loved pop stars. The 12-time Brit-award winner has sold over 23 million albums. She is from Tottenham, London. Surely us Brits are able to pronounce her name? Wrong!

I must admit I have been saying Adele’s name wrong all this time. I always thought it was “Ah-dell”, but the Hello singer’s name should actually be pronounced “Uh-dale”.

Dr Jekyll

Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, was an immediate success, selling over 40,000 copies in the first six months. Since then, it has become a classic.

We regularly use the phrase ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ to describe those with a two-sided personality. But do we pronounce Jekyll correctly?

The right way to say it is “Jeek-ul”, as if it were to rhyme with treacle.

Orkney Library believe his name was pronounced correctly until the 1941 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde was released, in which it was pronounced ‘Jeckle’, rhyming with heckle. 

“It has stuck ever since”, they explained.

How many of these words have you been pronouncing correctly?