Acai, a South American berry, tops a list of the most commonly mispronounced words, according to a recent study. The research, which polled 2,000 adults, found that words such as segue, charcuterie, quinoa, gnocchi, and Worcestershire also frequently cause confusion.
Other words identified as challenging include chipotle, phenomenon, and gyro. Even the common internet acronym 'gif' proved to be a stumbling block for some respondents.
The study highlighted the social impact of mispronunciation, with 85 percent of those surveyed reporting that they have been corrected by someone else. This correction led to embarrassment for 25 percent of respondents, and 24 percent admitted to lacking confidence when attempting to pronounce unfamiliar words. Despite this, 27 percent continue to use words incorrectly even when aware of their mistake.
The research was commissioned by Skoda to draw attention to the fact that many people mispronounce the brand's name. A spokesperson for Skoda noted that some words, including their brand name, do not sound as they are spelled, making them prone to misinterpretation. The brand's name, pronounced 'Sh-co-da,' is often incorrectly rendered as 'S-co-der' in the UK due to a diacritical mark.
Despite the challenges, the majority of people surveyed remain willing to attempt pronunciation of unfamiliar words. The study also indicated that 85 percent of adults believe correct pronunciation is important. Reasons cited include avoiding misunderstandings (59 percent), showing respect for language (52 percent), and appearing knowledgeable (38 percent) and professional (34 percent).
Attitudes toward pronunciation vary across generations. Fifty-three percent of Gen Z reported that a person's pronunciation influences their perception of that individual, compared to only 24 percent of Boomers. Similarly, Gen Z is more likely to correct others on pronunciation (57 percent) than Boomers (29 percent).
Among those who refrain from correcting others, common reasons include not wanting to embarrass the speaker (39 percent), avoiding appearing rude (35 percent), and feeling it is not their place to do so (33 percent).
The survey also revealed a sentiment that words should be spelled as they sound, with 47 percent of adults agreeing with this notion. Additionally, 30 percent credit social media with increasing their awareness of proper word pronunciation.