You think you know, but you may not know exactly. Are you saying it wrong? Here are 10 of the most mispronounced foods, at least according to Google searches. Take a look at these fairly common food names and see if you slayed or nayed.
You’ll find most of these foods are not of American origin, which is why are they a little more challenging. I mean do you know ANYONE who can pronounce the Italian pasta made of potatoes correctly? Is it Naww-kee or No-kee? We know how to spell it, gnocchi. But most of us get it wrong when trying to flex our foreign language skills.
If I’m not sure of exactly how to say something, I usually say it very quickly. And maybe a little under my breath. Probably the best thing to do when you don’t know is to outright admit it. “Is is Nock-kee? I never sure.”
Popular Mispronounced Foods
Pronouncing food names correctly is about as difficult as out-of-towners attempting our Massachusetts town names. It’s just a matter of familiarity. Gyro is not a word we use everyday, so practice and seeing a pronunciation in print helps. Here, you’ll get a pronunciation guide to aid in impressing your friends and family.
If you’ve ever Googled “acai,” you are not alone. In fact, that is one of the 10 most mispronounced foods. I found an article of this titillating subject through Quizgecko, an AI online question generator. The researchers survey Google data for to discover which particular food name people have the most trouble with.
The list below will reveal the results of the research from some of our favorite foods. The searches generally were for terms like “how to say acai.” Or “how to pronounce gnocchi.” The researchers then analyzed the number of searches for each food combined with the search terms.
We can all learn from this list, no doubt. I didn’t realize I was saying gyro wrong all these years! If nothing else, it’s certainly entertaining, and you can quiz your friends on mispronounced foods at the next dinner party.
1. Croissant
- Number of Searches: 589,670
- Pronunciation: kwah-sahn
No r, no t. Like the French do. This lovely, flaky French puff pastry is something most of us have enjoyed at some time in our lives. They are everywhere, from your favorite coffee shop to the grocery store bakery and beyond.
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3. Gyro
- Number of Searches; 170,240
- Pronunciation: yee-roh
Leave your G at home when ordering these delicious Greek sandwiches. Gyros are made with meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It’s sliced and served wrapped or stuffed in pita bread. Some other ingredients in a gyro include, tomato, tzatziki, onion and even fried potatoes. In Greece, gyros are usually made of pork or lamb. But here, you’ll also find it’s often made with chicken or beef. Delicious!
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5. Charcuterie
- Number of Searches: 79,140
- Pronunciation: shahr-koo-tuh-ree
This fancy word for a board of tray filled with bite size yummies has been all the rage since the pandemic hit us in 2020 and everyone was making food from Tik-Tok. And frankly, most of us have been saying it wrong. Now, we can get it right. Who doesn’t love a plate full of salami, prosciutto, cheeses, meats, fruits, olives, crackers and whatever? In French, Charcuterie literally translates to “pork-butcher’s shop.” But the world has now taken it to a whole new level, and I’m good with that!
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7. Quinoa
- Number of Searches: 69,210
- Pronunciation: keen-wah
This ancient South American grain gets a bad rap. It’s really tasty when prepared right. But it’s not “quin-oh-ah.” For those who don’t have it in their diet on a regular, you wouldn’t have a clue as to how to say it correctly. Quinoa is a whole grain that’s packed with all kinds of nutrients; fiber, protein, and plant compounds. It’s great served with chicken and a veggie, or on top of a salad. Forks up!
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