From a dramatic jewel heist in Paris to the rise of a new political star in New York, the biggest news stories of 2025 have left many people tongue-tied. A new report has revealed the year's most commonly mispronounced words and names, offering a unique linguistic snapshot of the headlines that captivated the public.
Political Rises and Museum Mysteries
The language-learning platform Babbel, in collaboration with The Captioning Group in the US and the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters in the UK, compiled the lists. They tracked the words that news anchors, politicians, and public figures stumbled over most frequently throughout the year.
In the United States, the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City's incoming mayor proved a particular challenge. The democratic socialist, who will become the city's first Muslim mayor, first born in Africa, and first of South Asian heritage in January, saw his name frequently mangled. Babbel notes the correct pronunciation is zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee, with a common error being a swap of the "M" and "N" in his surname. Mamdani has stated he doesn't mind genuine attempts but has called out intentional mispronunciations.
Meanwhile, the October theft of France's crown jewels from the Louvre museum had people worldwide grappling with the institution's name. The correct pronunciation, LOOV-ruh with a very soft "ruh," is often a hurdle for English speakers. "A lot of these words come from different languages and so we have to adapt to a sound that we've never made before," explained Esteban Touma, a linguistic and cultural expert at Babbel.
Medications, Murders, and Storms
The list also highlights trends in health and popular culture. The diabetes and obesity medication Mounjaro (pronounced mown-JAHR-OH), part of a wave of hugely popular weight-loss drugs, featured prominently. Even former President Donald Trump provided a memorable moment, struggling to say acetaminophen (uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen) during a speech about the painkiller.
The dramatisation of a major American crime story also made an impact. The name of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh (AL-ick MUR-dock), the South Carolina attorney sentenced for killing his wife and son, was another frequent stumbling block following a popular Hulu series.
In the UK, several American entries crossed over, including Louvre and Mounjaro. A uniquely British addition was Storm Éowyn, which battered Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in January. The correct pronunciation, according to Babbel, is ay-OH-win, said with a distinct three-beat pattern.
The Surprises of Speech
The annual list is compiled by captioners who note words that are repeatedly difficult to pronounce, spell, or are newly emerging. Linguists at Babbel also track fresh pronunciation challenges.
In a charming pronunciation surprise of the year, actor Denzel Washington revealed on late-night television that his name, inherited from his father, is technically meant to be said as DEN-zul. He explained that this became confusing, leading his mother to decide on the now-familiar Den-ZELLE for her son.
Ultimately, the list serves as more than a guide to elocution; it is a reflection of the people, events, and cultural phenomena that defined the conversation in 2025, from the halls of power to the pharmacy shelf.
