The major news stories of 2025 didn't just dominate headlines; they also tied our tongues. From a historic political victory in New York to a sensational jewel heist in Paris, the year's biggest events left many English speakers, including news anchors and public figures, grappling with unfamiliar pronunciations.
The Political and Cultural Tongue-Twisters
Language-learning platform Babbel, in collaboration with The Captioning Group in the US and the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters in the UK, has compiled its annual list of the most commonly mispronounced words. The list, released on Thursday, 5th December 2025, serves as a unique linguistic snapshot of the year.
Topping many lists was Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist elected as New York City's next mayor. His political rise was often accompanied by a mangling of his name. The 34-year-old, who takes office in January 2026, will be the city's first Muslim mayor, first born in Africa, and first of South Asian heritage. Babbel states the correct pronunciation is zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee, with the most common error being a swap of the "M" and "N" in his surname.
Mamdani has noted he is understanding of genuine attempts but has called out intentional mispronunciations. During a mayoral debate, he corrected former Governor Andrew Cuomo, firmly stating: "The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I."
From Parisian Museums to Pharmaceutical Challenges
The October theft of France's crown jewels from the Louvre put the museum's name back in the news—and on the mispronunciation list. Despite being the world's most-visited museum, many English speakers stumble. The correct pronunciation is LOOV-ruh, with a very soft ending that can be challenging.
"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.
The list also featured medical and legal terms that made headlines. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen), gained attention after former President Donald Trump stumbled over the word while discussing its use during pregnancy. The case of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh (pronounced AL-ick MUR-dock) returned to public discourse with a dramatised Hulu series, while the diabetes drug Mounjaro (mown-JAHR-OH) became a household name amid its popularity for weight loss.
A Cross-Atlantic and Domestic Linguistic Struggle
Several words, including Louvre and Mounjaro, appeared on both the US and UK lists, highlighting shared linguistic hurdles. The UK-specific list, however, featured its own challenges. Storm Éowyn, which battered Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in January 2025, proved difficult. Babbel confirms the correct, three-beat pronunciation is ay-OH-win.
The list is compiled by captioners and subtitling professionals who note words that are repeatedly mispronounced or are newly emerging. In a surprising pronunciation note of the year, actor Denzel Washington revealed his birth name is actually pronounced DEN-zul, like his father's, but his mother later changed it to the now-familiar Den-ZELLE to avoid confusion.
This annual list underscores how global events and cultural shifts continuously shape and challenge our everyday language, leaving even the most articulate among us occasionally lost for the right sound.
