Acai, a superfood often found in smoothie bowls, tops a list of commonly mispronounced words, according to a recent study. The research, which surveyed 2,000 adults, identified words like segue, charcuterie, quinoa, gnocchi, and Worcestershire as frequent tripping hazards for pronunciation.
Other words frequently misspoken include chipotle, phenomenon, gyro, hyperbole, aesthetic, and gif. The study found that 85% of respondents have been corrected on their pronunciation, leading to embarrassment for 25% of them. Despite this, 27% admit to continuing to mispronounce words even when aware of their error, while 24% express a lack of confidence in attempting unfamiliar words.
The research, commissioned by Skoda to highlight common mispronunciations of their brand name, also shed light on attitudes toward correct speech. A significant 85% of adults believe correct pronunciation is important, citing reasons such as avoiding misunderstandings (59%), showing respect for language (52%), and appearing more knowledgeable (38%) and professional (34%).
Generational differences in pronunciation attitudes were also noted. Fifty-three percent of Gen Z reported that pronunciation influences their impression of a person, compared to only 24% of Boomers. Similarly, Gen Z is more likely to correct others, with 57% admitting to correcting friends and family, versus 29% of Boomers.
Reasons for not correcting others often include not wanting to embarrass the speaker (39%), appearing rude (35%), or feeling it is not their place to intervene (33%). The study also indicated a split on whether words should be spelled as they sound, with 47% agreeing, while 30% credit social media with increasing their awareness of proper pronunciation.
The study listed the following as among the most difficult words and their correct pronunciations: acai (ah-sigh-ee), segue (seg-way), charcuterie (shar-koo-tuh-ree), quinoa (keen-wa), gnocchi (nyawk-kee), Worcestershire (wus-ter-sher), chipotle (chi-poht-lay), phenomenon (phe-nom-enon), gyro (yee-ro), and brewery (broo-wer-ry).