18 Foods We've Been Pronouncing Wrong

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Did you ever confidently order a “croissant” in a French cafe without knowing how to pronounce it properly? Based on a study by Research Gate, people tend to feel embarrassed or worried about how they sound and are afraid of negative judgment and not being understood.

Here are 18 commonly mispronounced foods, how to pronounce them correctly, and why it all matters.

Croissant

Foods We've Been Pronouncing Wrong - And How To Say Them — Image Credit: Pixabay

Known globally as the French pastry, the croissant, many people incorrectly pronounce it as kruh-sant or kroy-sant. The proper French way of pronouncing it is “kwa-sahn.”

According to Vocabulary, the word comes from the French word for ‘crescent,’ which is the pastry’s shape. It’s a breakfast staple worldwide that is loved simply for its buttery, flaky layers.

Quinoa

The biggest drawback of quinoa is the pronunciation of the word. The right way to say it is keen-wah, but most people say it as kwi-noh-ah.

This ancient grain was originally cultivated in the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago in a language called Quechua, where its name is derived.

Gyro

Most people pronounce gyro as Jai-roh, but according to Reader’s Digest, the correct pronunciation is yee-roh. The term comes from the Greek for ‘turn,’ which refers to how its meat is cooked in rotisserie style.

Bruschetta

Many folks only know to say broo-shetta when they see this Italian appetizer, which should be broo-skeh-tah. The name comes from the Italian verb bruscare, which means “to toast,” as reported by Hotel Seymour Supperclub.

One way bruschetta presents itself is with garlic-rubbed bread topped with tomatoes and olive oil. It also expresses Italians’ passion for simple, flavorful ingredients.

Pho

Pho is Vietnam’s beloved noodle soup. Together with its broth, it is shorthand for resilience and comfort. Though rising in global fame, it is often articulated as a foe.

Instead, it is ‘fuh,’ — rhyming with ‘duh.’ Pho is rich in herbs and spices, reflecting the Vietnamese spirit, and it deserves to be spoken of with authenticity.

Acai

The purple acai bowl is a breakfast favorite, but its name is often spelled ah-kai. Sambazon says you pronounce it as ah-sigh-ee. It originated in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest.

Gnocchi

Italy’s famous dish, gnocchi, which is soft and light, is usually wrongly pronounced as noh-chee. It is pronounced as Nyo-kee.

These potato dumplings are versatile and go very well with almost any sauce. Knowing how to pronounce gnocchi will only enhance your dining experience at Italian restaurants.

Prosciutto

The Italian word for cured ham is often rendered pro-skoo-toh as prosciutto. But the Dictionary says the correct pronunciation is pro-shoo-toh.

Thanks to Italian culinary craftsmanship, this is surely a delicacy thinly sliced and cured over months.

Edamame

Edamame is a Japanese word for young soybeans, frequently misspelled as ed-ah-mame. However, as Pronounce It Right states, it is pronounced as eh-dah-mah-meh.

These beans are rich in nutrients and are popular in Japan. They can be eaten as a snack or a side dish. It is more polite to say their names as they are written in Japanese.

Sriracha

Some people fall for Sriracha and say it as srih-rah-cha, but it is see-ROTCH-ah. It is named after Si Racha, a city in Thailand, and is now a famous sauce worldwide. It retains its name to reflect its Thai origin.

Beignet

The sweet, fried dough treat associated with French and New Orleans is not pronounced beignet but ben-yay. It’s French in origin but popularized in the United States through Creole cuisine.

Knowing how to pronounce beignet makes you appreciate the dish’s cultural and food values even more.

Camembert

This French cheese is incorrectly pronounced as cam-em-bert, but the correct pronunciation is KAM-əm-bair. Camembert is a popular type of cheese that we consume on cheese platters. Its name is derived from the French region of Normandy.

Worcestershire Sauce

The trickiest on this list, it’s hard to argue that it’s not, is wor-ces-ter-shire, as in Worcestershire Sauce. The accurate pronunciation, according to Southern Living, is the Wuss-Terr-Sherr. This fermented sauce is named after Worcestershire County in England.

Turmeric

The vibrant yellow spice turmeric is vanishingly rarely pronounced turmeric: boiled over into too-mer-ic instead of tuhr-mer-ik. Turmeric, known for its health benefits, is used widely in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Mascarpone

Mascarpone cheese is not pronounced as mas-car-pone but as mas-car-poh-nay. A popular ingredient in desserts such as tiramisu, the spice’s name is derived from the Italian language.

Chorizo

Chorizo is a flavorful pork sausage originating on the Iberian Peninsula, which comprises modern-day Spain and Portugal. In English, “chorizo” is most often pronounced “chuh-REE-zoh.”

Other acceptable pronunciations are “chuh-REE-soh,” “chorr-EE-zoh,” and “chorr-EE-soh,” and the “-orr” sounds are as in “sorry.”

Mojito

Mojito is a refreshing and zesty drink often mispronounced as moh-jee-toh, but it should be pronounced as muh-hee-toh. This Cuban cocktail, made with lime, mint, and rum, perfectly captures tropical vibrancy.

Banh Mi

Bahn mi, the Vietnamese sandwich, is not ban-mee, but bahn-mee. It’s a blend of colonial history and local ingenuity. French baguettes are combined with Vietnamese fillings.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.