There comes a time in every American’s life when they have to admit they are wrong, and my day has come.
I recently learned I’ve been mispronouncing dozens of brand names, like Godiva, Ikea and Nissan, and the revelation has sent me into a tailspin.
The most famous example is Cadbury – better known as ‘cad-berry’ in the US – which pierces the ears of chocolate-loving Brits every time I say it.
Of course, how we pronounce certain words differs depending on which part of the world we come from. But that can even be the case in different parts of the same country.
For example, I am from New Jersey and pronounce the famous hazelnut spread as ‘nuh-tell-uh’ while my colleague raised in Missouri calls it ‘new-tell-uh.’ Scroll down to discover which one of us is correct.
While mispronouncing famous brand names can be embarrassing, there are many that Americans get spot-on. Do YOU know how to pronounce Adidas, Pantene, and LaCroix?
DailyMail.com has compiled the 15 brand names Americans most commonly mispronounce:
AUDI (Americans say aw-dee)
Audi is a German automotive manufacturer known for its sporty vehicles and its logo of four interlocking circles.
Most Americans pronounce the brand ‘ou-dee’ or ‘aw-dee.’
In fact, it has been mispronounced so often that the carmaker has shared the official way to say it.
Loren Angelo, vice president of marketing Audi of America, said in a statement: ‘Audi means ‘listen’ in Latin, and loosely translates in German to ‘horch’, which is, of course, a nod to the original founder, August Horch.
‘Since Audi is so close to the word ‘audio,’ we often hear our name pronounced ‘aw-dee,’ but to set the record straight, the official pronunciation is ‘ow-dee’ similar to ‘howdy’ or ‘outie’ like the belly button!’
BMW (bee-em-double-you)
The German carmaker’s name is just a three-letter word – how hard can that be? Yet a survey in 2021 showed that 95 percent of people mispronounce it.
Most Americans pronounce the brand ‘ou-dee’ or ‘aw-dee.’ The official pronunciation is ‘ow-dee’
Another German brand, Bayer AG, is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. You have likely been saying it wrong all along – ‘bay-er’ – when it is actually pronounced ‘buy-er.’
Most English speakers say ‘Bee-Em-Double-You’, but the official way to refer to the high-end car brand is ‘Bee-Em-Vee’ – using the German pronunciation of the letters.
BAYER (bay-er)
Another German brand, Bayer AG, is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
It is probably best known in the US for creating medication that helps keep the blood flowing during a suspected heart attack.
However, you have likely been saying it wrong all along – ‘bay-er’ – when it is actually pronounced ‘buy-er.’ Now you know.
CADBURY (cad-berry)
Another interesting name is Cadbury, the famous British confectionery brand that makes Crunchie, Curly Wurly, Flake and Wispa bars – and our neighbors across the Atlantic cringe whenever they hear us pronounce it.
The most famous example is Cadbury – better known as ‘cad-berry’ in the US – which pierces the ears of chocolate-loving Brits every time I say it. The correct pronunciation is actually ‘cad-bree’
Americans have a tendency to pronounce it phonetically, when it should have a French twist. So while many say ‘car-tee-air’ the correct pronunciation is, in fact, ‘kahr-tee-ay’
Godiva is a popular chocolate found across the US, yet most Americans pronounce it wrong. We say ‘god-eye-va’ when it is actually ‘go-dee-vuh’
Americans say ‘cad-berry,’ but the correct pronunciation is actually ‘cad-bree’.
It all sounds the same when you have your mouth full of Dairy Milk!
CARTIER (car-tee-air)
Founded in Paris over 150 years ago, Cartier is known for its luxury watches, jewelry and signature red and gold boxes.
Americans tend to pronounce it phonetically, when it should have a French twist.
So while many say ‘car-tee-air,’ the correct pronunciation is ‘kahr-tee-ay’.
GODIVA (god-eye-va)
The Belgian chocolates can be found in nearly every American grocery store. But most people still manage to pronounce the candy as ‘god-eye-va’ when it is actually ‘go-dee-vuh.’
HERMÈS (her-mess)
Hermès is a French fashion brand that stumps many Americans who either say ‘her-mess’ or ‘her-meez’ – when it is actually ‘air-mez’
While many Americans might order a pint saying ‘hoe-gar-den,’ they’ve been mispronouncing it all this time. The correct way to say it is ‘who-gar-den’
Most Americans say ‘hi-un-die’ or ‘hee-yun-day’, but it’s actually closer to a two-syllable word – and the y is silent: ‘hun-day’
Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837 by Thierry Hermès and named in honor of the ancient Greek god and son of Zeus.
‘It’s a Hermès, supposed to be the best’, says Tony Soprano after buying a scarf to reconcile with his wife Carmela in The Sopranos.
But was his pronunciation, ‘her-meez’, correct? Sorry Tony, many Americans either say it your way or say ‘her-mess’, but it is actually ‘air-mez.’
HOEGAARDEN (ho-gar-den)
The Belgian white beer has flavors of citrus and spice. And while many Americans might order a pint saying ‘hoe-gar-den,’ they’ve been mispronouncing it all this time.
The correct way to say it is ‘who-gar-den’.
HYUNDAI (hi-un-die)
There are more than 800 Hyundai dealers across the US, yet most Americans still struggle to get the South Korean brand name right.
Most say ‘hi-un-die’ or ‘hee-yun-day,’ but it is actually closer to a two-syllable word – and the y is silent: ‘hun-day.’
IKEA (eye-kee-ya)
IKEA had a hunch Americans would not say the brand correctly – and they were right. We pronounce it as ‘eye-kee-ya’ when it is actually ‘ee-kay-yuh’
Nissan is another car brand Americans do not get right, but neither do Britons. Many Americans pronounce the brand ‘nee-san’ – with the emphasis on the ‘nee’ – while Britons say ‘niss-an.’ The correct way is ‘nis-san’
The brand’s website declares that the official way to say it is ‘new-tell-uh’ – not ‘nuh-tell-uh.’ I am from New Jersey and have been saying it wrong, but my colleague from Missouri says it correctly
An IKEA representative told ABC News in 2014 that the company predicted Americans would pronounce the name wrong when it opened a US location nearly 10 years ago – and it was correct.
The original Swedish sounded like ‘ee-kay-yuh’ – with the emphasis on the ‘kay.’ But, rather than push that agenda forward, the brand possibly accepted the inevitable and started pronouncing it the way it thought the rest of the world would. And so ‘eye-kee-ya’ was born.
NISSAN (nee-san)
Nissan, the Japanese carmaker, might look simple to say, but many Americans pronounce the brand ‘nee-san’ – with the emphasis on the ‘nee’ – while Britons say ‘niss-an’. Both have it wrong.
The correct way to say it – which is the way the Japanese pronounce the word – is ‘nis-san,’ with the emphasis on the second syllable.
NUTELLA (nuh-tell-uh)
The delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread is a staple of Italy but is also loved by anyone around the world with a sweet tooth.
Ralph Lauren might be an American fashion company, but we do not say it correctly. Most are likely to say, ‘ralph lo-REN’ when they should more accurately say ‘ralph LO-ren’
Sega has been a popular gaming system since the late 1980s. Most English speakers say ‘say-ga’ or ‘see-ga’. The correct pronunciation is the slightly different ‘seh-ga’
However, many of us have probably been pronouncing it wrong all along. The brand’s website declares that the official way to say it is ‘new-tell-uh’ – not ‘nuh-tell-uh.’
However, its Italian manufacturer Ferrero said it does not wish to force a universal articulation on the word and would prefer that people simply enjoy the ‘tasty, unique spread made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa’ – however they pronounce it.
RALPH LAUREN (ralph-lo-REN)
The American fashion house was founded in 1967 by the designer of the same name. Even though it is based in the US, most Americans still say it slightly incorrectly, with the emphasis on the wrong syllable.
Most are likely to say, ‘ralph lo-REN’ when they should more accurately say ‘ralph LO-ren.’
SEGA (say-ga)
Most Americans and Britons say ‘volks-wa-gon,’ but in German, the ‘v’ is pronounced as an ‘f’ and the ‘w,’ as in BMW, is a ‘v’. That means the correct way to say it is actually ‘folks-vagen’
While mispronouncing famous brand names can be embarrassing, there are many that Americans get spot-on, like Adidas. The correct pronunciation is ‘AH-dih-dahs’
Nike is another brand name Americans get right. Many in the UK might pronounce it with a single syllable to rhyme with ‘bike’ or ‘ni-kay.’ Most Americans, meanwhile, pronounce it correctly, with a long ‘ee’ sound at the end – ‘nigh-kee’
The gaming console Sega was all the rage for Americans who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
When you turned on the game, a voice quickly said ‘Sega’ – but it seems many people didn’t hear it correctly.
Most English speakers say ‘say-ga’ or ‘see-ga’. The correct pronunciation is the slightly different ‘seh-ga.’
VOLKSWAGEN (volks-wa-gon)
Another German tongue twister, it seems – this car brand is one that nearly every English speaker pronounces wrong.
Most Americans and Britons say ‘volks-wa-gon,’ but in German, the ‘v’ is pronounced as an ‘f’ and the ‘w,’ as in BMW, is a ‘v’. That means the correct way to say it is actually ‘folks-vagen.’
While many Americans get these brands wrong, there are several we pronounce correctly that the rest of the world often gets wrong. How many do you get right?
ADIDAS (ah-DEE-das)
The German sports brand – famous for its triple stripe logo – is popular worldwide.
There’s an urban myth that the letters are an acronym standing for All Day I Dream About Soccer or Sports. However, it’s most likely to be named after the brand’s founder Adolf (‘Adi’) Dassler.
Americans pronounce the brand ‘ah-DEE-das’ – with the emphasis on the middle ‘dee’ – while in many other parts of the world, they say ‘AH-dih-dahs.’ In this case, the Americans have it right.
Britons tend to say ‘pan-ten’ while Americans use ‘pan-teen’ – the latter is correct
The American pronunciation eliminates the ‘i’ – making it ‘MOE-bl’ while the British include it – as in ‘MO-bile.’ But the former is correct
Most people outside of the US may think LaCroix is French and say it accordingly, but Americans pronounce it properly – ‘la-croy’
NIKE (nigh-kee)
The Portland, Oregon-based sportswear brand – named after the winged goddess of victory – is such a global phenomenon it doesn’t even need to use its name to be recognized – it just uses its ‘swoosh’ logo.
But there can be some confusion about pronouncing it correctly – does it have one syllable or two?
Many in the UK might pronounce it either with a single syllable to rhyme with ‘bike’ or as ‘ni-kay.’
Most Americans, meanwhile, pronounce it correctly, with a long ‘ee’ sound at the end – ‘nigh-kee.’
PANTENE (pan-teen)
The Swiss hair product company might look straightforward enough to pronounce, but it is said differently in each nation.
Britons tend to say ‘pan-ten’ while Americans use ‘pan-teen’ – the latter is correct.
T-MOBILE (tee-MOE-bl)
The communication service is based in the US but provides cellphone service worldwide.
And the reason Americans and Brits say it differently is because of how we pronounce the word ‘mobile.’
The American pronunciation eliminates the ‘i’ – making it ‘MOE-bl’ while the British include it – as in ‘MO-bile.’
That means those in the US say ‘tee-MOE-bl,’ but across the Atlantic, it is ‘tee-MOE-bile.’ Apologies British readers, the former is correct.
LaCroix
The American brand of sparkling water comes from the heart of Wisconsin.
Most people outside of the US may think LaCroix is French and pronounce it accordingly, like the French fashion designer Christian Lacroix. But Americans pronounce it properly – ‘la-croy.’
