Every year since 2016, Babbel has partnered with TV captioning groups to determine the words that newscasters, politicians and other people in the media had the most trouble with. These mispronounced words show the names and events that dominated the conversation this year, even if part of the conversation was “How do you say that?” The list for 2024 features Irish actors, American politicians and more. This assortment of words is united by their strange consonant combinations, and the fact that many of them originate from other languages.
Below, you can master the pronunciations of these words with our two lists: one for the United Kingdom voted on members of the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters, and one for the United States put together by The Captioning Group. You might even notice some overlap in the two list, showing that mispronunciations are one thing that bring English speakers together.
The 2024 Most Mispronounced Words In The United States
Kamala Harris [KOM-a-la HAR-iss]
Kamala Harris [COM-a-la], the current Vice President of the United States, has spoken out many times about the pronunciation of her name, most recently in the run up to the election in November 2024. This year, Kamala’s two nieces, Amara and Leela, gave a quick lesson on stage to the DNC on how to pronounce Kamala correctly: “like a comma in a sentence,” Amara said. “Then you say ‘la,’ like ‘la la la,’” little sister Leela pitched in.
Barry Keoghan [BARR-ee key-OH-gin]
Award-winning Irish actor Barry Keoghan made waves in 2024 for his relationship with Sabrina Carpenter and his role in Gladiators II alongside Paul Mescal. His name is pronounced [key-OH-gin], with a clear “g,” unlike many Irish variations where the “g” would be silent.
Kooikerhondje [COY-ker-HUND-che]
Shohei Ohtani, the world-renowned baseball star, made headlines when his dog, Decoy, a Dutch Kooikerhondje, delivered a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium. Kooikerhondje is pronounced [COY-ker-HUND-che] with emphasis on the first syllable. After Ohtani signed a record deal with the Dodgers, reporters were quick to ask about the dog. Interestingly, at a conference, Ohtani revealed his pet’s Japanese name, Dekopin, but noted Decoy was simpler for Americans to pronounce.
Pete Buttigieg [peet BOOD-ih-judge]
In 2024, Pete Buttigieg emerged as a top Vice Presidential candidate in the polls. The famously multilingual politician has a suitably tricky surname. He confirmed himself that his name is pronounced [BOOD-ih-judge], but is so often a cause for confusion.
Shein [SHE-in]
Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant Shein, pronounced [SHE-in] and not [SHEEN], has often puzzled shoppers with its name. Known for making headlines over ESG concerns, the brand announced plans in November to enter the London Stock Market in 2025.
Speculoos-3b [SPEK-yuh-lohss three bee]
In May 2024, astronomers discovered Speculoos-3b pronounced [SPEK-yuh-lohss three bee], an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf, sparking excitement for potential habitable zones.
Phryge [FREE-je]
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic mascot, the Phryge [FREE-je], has sparked plenty of conversation—not least because so many people are struggling to pronounce their name.
Semaglutide [sem-ah-GLOO-tide]
One of the active ingredients in injectable weightloss drug Ozempic, Semaglutide, has caused a buzz this year. The weight loss ingredient has been a hot topic – but are we saying it correctly? Semaglutide is pronounced [sem-ah-GLOO-tide] not [SEE-mah-gloo-tide].
Zendaya [zen-DAY-uh]
This American actress garnered huge buzz in 2024 for her starring roles as tennis player Tashi Duncan in Challengers and as Chani in Dune II. Zendaya [zen-DAY-uh] settled all confusion surrounding the pronunciation of her name, which is often mistaken as [zen-DIE-uh].
Chappell Roan [CHAP-uhl ROHN]
Chappell Roan, an emerging American pop artist, made waves in 2024 not only for her music and her Christmas collab with Sabrina Carpenter, but also for correcting fans about her name’s pronunciation. During a performance, she called out those mispronouncing her name [SHA-pel ROW-an], firmly stating the correct way: [CHAP-uhl], like the word chapel, and [ROHN] pronounced similarly to road.
The 2024 Most Mispronounced Words In The United Kingdom
Barry Keoghan [BARR-ee key-OH-gin]
Award-winning Irish actor Barry Keoghan made waves in 2024 for his relationship with Sabrina Carpenter and his role in Gladiators II alongside Paul Mescal. His name is pronounced [key-OH-gin], with a clear ‘g,’ unlike many Irish variations where the ‘g’ would be silent.
Snus [SNOOZ]
This smokeless Swedish tobacco originating from Sweden, pronounced [SNOOZ] with an extended “o” and a slightly “z” sounding “s,” has gained popularity across the United Kingdom, particularly among footballers as an alternative to smoking, but health concerns have sparked debate.
Flygskam [FLEEG-skam]
Flygskam, the Swedish word meaning “flight shame,” is a movement that discourages air travel due to its environmental impact. Pronounced [FLEEG-skam], it gained significant traction thanks to Greta Thunberg’s activism and Sweden’s decision to scrap its aviation tax in 2025.
Joško Gvardiol [YOSH-ko GVAR-dee-ol]
Joško Gvardiol is a professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the Croatian national team. The defender’s first name is pronounced [YOSH-ko] and his surname is pronounced [GVAR-dee-ol]. He is best known for his impressive goal catalogue despite his position as a defender.
Espresso [es-PRESS-oh]
Sabrina Carpenter’s hit Espresso, pronounced [es-PRESS-oh], topped UK charts this Summer and reignited frustration over its common mispronunciation as [EX-press-oh].
Speculoos-3b [SPEK-yuh-lohss three bee]
In May 2024, astronomers discovered Speculoos-3b pronounced [SPEK-yuh-lohss three bee], an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf, sparking excitement for potential habitable zones.
Cryptosporidium [krip-toe-spuh-RID-ee-um]
Cryptosporidium [krip-toe-spuh-RID-ee-um] is a microscopic parasite that recently hit headlines after an outbreak in Devon, affecting both humans and animals.
Phryge [FREE-je]
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic mascot, the Phryge [FREE-je], has sparked plenty of conversation—not least because so many people are struggling to pronounce their name.
Ncuti Gatwa [n-SHOO-ti GAT-wah]
Ncuti Gatwa, Sex Education star, and the newest Doctor on Doctor Who, admits he was 26 when he finally discovered how to pronounce his own name. The actor clarifies that it’s pronounced [n-SHOO-ti GAT-wah].
Shein [SHE-in]
Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant Shein, pronounced [SHE-in] and not [SHEEN], has often puzzled shoppers with its name. Known for making headlines over ESG concerns, the brand announced plans in November 2024 to enter the London Stock Market in 2025.
Honorable Mentions: How Do You Pronounce Hwachae, Noah Kahan and Primark?
Adidas Samba [AH-dee-dahs SAM-bah]
Adidas trended when Rishi Sunak wore a pair of the brand’s Samba trainers, sparking criticism and a sales dip. This reinvigorated debate around the pronunciation of the word, with the correct being [AH-dee-dahs]. A commonly accepted pronunciation in the United Kingdom and the United States is [ah-DEE-dahs], with an emphasis on the second syllable.
Eluned Morgan [ay-LEE-ned MOR-gan]
Appointed First Minister of Wales in August this year, Eluned Morgan’s name is pronounced [ay-LEE-ned] not [eh-LOO-ned].
Nvidia [en-VID-eeyah]
Tech giant Nvidia [en-VID-eeyah] became the world’s most valuable company in 2024, surpassing Apple and Microsoft. There is ongoing debate around the pronunciation: some people say [NUH-vid-ee-uh], but the company itself has the correct way to say it in its brand guidelines. Inspired by the Latin word invidia, the name reflects its founders’ hope to evoke envy.
Primark [PRY-mark]
This year, Primark celebrated 50 years since first opening its doors on the UK high street. The fast-fashion giant this year clarified one of the UK’s longest-running retail debates: it’s pronounced [PRY-mark], not [PREE-mark]. Despite the clarification, mispronunciations persist, with regional variations and personal habits keeping the debate alive.
Noah Kahan [NO-uh KAH-n]
Noah Kahan who carried on their run of form into 2024 making their debut performing on Saturday Night Live, selling out Madison Square Gardens and raising over $2.5 million for his mental health foundation The Busyhead Project, but still there are some who pronounce his name wrong, with Kahan himself saying some people have gone so far as to pronounce his surname “cayenne, like the pepper.” The correct pronunciation is [KAH-n].
Hwachae [HWAA-cheh]
In 2024, Hwachae, a colourful Korean fruit punch, went viral on social media for its refreshing appeal and creative variations shared by influencers. The sweet treat, pronounced [HWAA-cheh], was often mispronounced as [hoo-AH-chay] or [HWA-chay].
