Buzz
In today's increasingly multicultural Western society, a significant portion of our everyday conversations includes words borrowed from other languages or references to individuals from non-English-speaking backgrounds. As a result, it's no wonder that many of these terms are often mispronounced. This entertaining list will guide you to say them correctly!
10. Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel serves as Germany's chancellor, a role she has held since 2005. Her 14-year tenure is supported by Germany's grand coalition government structure, which lacks a single dominant party. Born in East Germany, she led the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, a Christian-based political party, until recently.
What’s the mistake in pronouncing her name? While 'Angela' in English uses a soft 'g' (like 'jello'), the German pronunciation requires a hard 'g,' similar to the word 'angle.' Therefore, her name is correctly pronounced as 'Angle-uh' Merkel, reminiscent of the character Steve Urkel.
9. Kim Jong-Un
Kim Jong-Un, also known as Kim Jong-Eun, is the present leader of North Korea. In Korean culture, as with many Asian traditions, surnames come first. Thus, 'Kim' is his family name, which is the most prevalent surname in Korea, comparable to 'John' in the U.S. or 'Mohammed' in the U.K.
While 'Kim' is straightforward, his first name often causes confusion. Many people incorrectly split it into two parts: 'Jong' and 'Un,' with the latter being mispronounced in various ways. In reality, 'Un' is closer to 'eun,' a sound that doesn’t have a direct English equivalent, blending 'err' and 'uhh.'
The correct pronunciation of 'Jong-Un' is a single two-syllable word, rhyming with 'Tongan' (someone from Tonga). If adapted to English conventions, his name would be written as Jongin Kim. Now, when discussing the diplomatic advancements between the U.S., South Korea, and North Korea, you can confidently pronounce his name accurately.
8. Che Guevara
Che Guevara, the infamous revolutionary whose image is ironically emblazoned on countless t-shirts—a symbol of capitalism—remains one of the most recognizable communist figures in the Western world. While conservative estimates place his death toll at 105, broader interpretations of his actions suggest numbers in the thousands.
Despite the widespread admiration for this controversial figure, many people mispronounce his name. The correct pronunciation is 'Chay' (with the 'ch' as in 'chase') Guevara, with the last name pronounced as gay-VAH-rah. Most people mistakenly say 'Shay,' which is incorrect.
7. Espresso
Espresso, a rich and flavorful coffee, is gaining popularity in America. It is created by forcing steam through finely ground coffee beans and serves as the base for beverages like cappuccinos and lattes. A common mispronunciation adds an 'x' sound, resulting in 'express-oh.' However, the correct pronunciation is 'ess-press-oh.' The term originates from Italian, meaning 'to express,' as the coffee's flavor is expressed from the beans. This linguistic similarity likely contributes to the frequent mispronunciation.
6. Bruschetta
Staying on the topic of Italian culinary delights, let’s explore another less commonly known one. Bruschetta consists of toasted bread topped with flavorful spreads like tapenade. Many mispronounce it as 'brush-etta,' but in Italian, the 'ch' is hard, not soft. The correct pronunciation is 'brusketa,' reflecting the typical Italian pronunciation of 'ch.'
5. Huawei
This one is surprisingly simple: 'wah-way.' Just like 'wah' as in a baby’s cry and 'way' as in direction.
4. Quinoa
This unique plant, known for its edible seeds, has its roots in pre-Columbian America. Once overshadowed by Western grains after European colonization, quinoa has recently gained popularity among environmentally conscious middle-class communities in Europe and America, particularly among vegans and vegetarians.
So, how do you pronounce the name of this unique plant? Chances are, you’ve been saying it wrong. Thankfully, Mytour is here to help—now you’ll always know it’s pronounced 'keen-wah.'
3. Nuclear
Surprisingly, I haven’t found this discussed elsewhere on Mytour, but it’s a prime candidate for this list. To keep it brief: the correct pronunciation is 'nuke-lear,' not 'nook-you-lah.' It’s 2019—we’re well past the Cold War era, so let’s get it right.
2. Treatise
A treatise is an extensive written work that thoroughly explores a specific subject, often more detailed than an essay. Among the most renowned treatises are Sun Tzu’s *The Art of War* and Niccolò Machiavelli’s *The Prince*.
Mastering the pronunciation of this word will make you seem like someone who spends their evenings immersed in scholarly works. If you want to appear at the pinnacle of intellectual society, it’s worth learning. The correct pronunciation is 'tree-tiss,' with the stress on 'tree.'
1. Joaquin Phoenix
Returning to personal names, Joaquin Phoenix is the brother of the late actor River Phoenix, who was a rising star in Hollywood before the industry transformed under global influences. Joaquin initially acted under the name 'Leaf' but later reverted to his birth name. Interestingly, his sister’s name is Rain Joan of Arc Bottom.
Joaquin, born in Puerto Rico, carries a name derived from the Spanish form of Joachim, a Hebrew name meaning 'lifted by Yahweh.' This likely reflects his mother’s Jewish heritage. Despite its appearance, the name is straightforward: 'hwah-keen,' almost the reverse of 'quinoa.'
