Waitrose, often called 'Britain's poshest supermarket', has a name that many people mispronounce, according to historian Annabel Port. Port, curator of The Other British Museum, shared on Instagram that the correct pronunciation is 'Wait-Rose', not 'Way-trose' as commonly said.
Origins of the Name
The supermarket chain dates back to 1904, starting as a modest grocer's shop in west London under the name Waite, Rose and Taylor, founded by Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose, and David Taylor. After Taylor left, the name became Waitrose in 1908. Port explained that the name combines the founders' surnames, Waite and Rose, so the original pronunciation is 'Wait-Rose'.
Company Confirmation
Port contacted Waitrose to verify the correct pronunciation. She said: "I contacted them to find out and they said the pronunciation Wait-Rose is the original way as it comes from the founders' last names, Waite and Rose. It's unclear when this morphed into Way-trose but it slowly became the norm." She added: "If you want to be both correct and retro, you should say Wait-Rose."
Social Media Reaction
The post garnered hundreds of responses. One user commented: "Can't tell you how many times I've just said 'wait-rose' and 'way-trose' trying to work out how they're different. In my voice both sound exactly the same." Another said: "My Mum (80) says Wait-Rose and I always give her a look," while a third added: "I'm going to start today. Just need an excuse to put it into a sentence."
Waitrose's Legacy
Waitrose is known as the first supermarket to sell organic food in 1983 and pre-packaged sushi in 1996. Despite the pronunciation debate, it remains a staple of British retail.
