Acai, segue and charcuterie are among the words Brits find hardest to pronounce, according to a study of 2,000 adults. Other difficult terms include quinoa, gnocchi and Worcestershire, while Chipotle, phenomenon and gyro also feature in the top 10.
Survey reveals common mispronunciations
The research found that 85% of adults have had someone correct them after poorly pronouncing a word, leaving a quarter feeling awkward and embarrassed. As a result, 24% admitted they are not confident trying to pronounce unfamiliar words, while 27% have continued to say a word incorrectly despite knowing they were getting it wrong.
Words such as hyperbole, aesthetic and even gif also proved tricky for some Brits. The findings come from a survey commissioned by Škoda, which noted that people have been pronouncing the car manufacturer's name incorrectly for years.
Correct pronunciation seen as important
More than eight in 10 adults (85%) believe correct pronunciation is important, with 59% of those saying it helps avoid misunderstandings. Others think it shows respect for the language (52%), makes them appear more intelligent (38%) and professional (34%). Nearly four in 10 (38%) said the way someone pronounces words can influence the impression they have of them.
Kirsten Stagg, a spokesperson for Škoda, said: "Sometimes, there are words that simply don't sound how they are spelt, and even everyday terms tend to catch people out. Škoda is a perfect example. The distinctive mark above the S, known as a hacek, or caron, can throw people off, and here in the UK the name is commonly pronounced 'S-co-der' rather than the correct 'Sh-co-da'."
Generational differences in attitudes
Across generations, attitudes vary, with more than half (53%) of Gen Z saying a person's pronunciation would impact what they think of them, compared to just 24% of Boomers. Similarly, 57% of Gen Z have corrected family, friends and colleagues on pronunciation, while only 29% of Boomers do the same.
Among those who avoid correcting others, the most common reasons were not wanting to embarrass them (39%), not wanting to appear rude (35%) and not feeling it's their place to do so (33%). The study also found that 47% of adults believe words should be spelt the way they are said, but three in 10 say social media made them more aware of correct pronunciations.
Stagg added: "As a brand whose name people haven't always found easy to pronounce, we know better than most that some words can be trickier than others. That's exactly why we've launched our 'Šhhhkoda' campaign… along the way, hopefully we can help more people discover how we say ours."
