Language learning website Babbel has already published its annual list for the most mispronounced words of 2024 based on politicians’ names and public figures, as well as foreign terms that keep confusing the minds of US and UK English speakers.
The Linguistic List According to the news, names of politicians along with other public figures or foreign terms feature in the long list compiled by Babbel that shows challenges facing speakers throughout the world.
Among the most often mispronounced names is that of US Vice President Kamala Harris, whose first name continues to puzzle many. According to Babbel, she should be pronounced as “COM-a-la”. Harris’s political campaigns made a point of the pronunciation when her great-nieces Amara and Leela explained on stage: “First you say ‘Kama,’ like a comma,” Amara said, followed by Leela‘s, “Then you say ‘La,’ like ‘la-la-la.'”
Another well-known individual to appear on the list is Irish film actorBarry Keoghan for his work in Bird and Masters of the Air. His name is often mispronounced, but is said instead as “KEE-oh-gan.”
Brand Names and Celebrity Last Names
Chinese fashion company Shein, often pronounced “SHEEN,” is the correct pronunciation of the last name as “SHE-in.” Actress Zendaya, who appeared in Dune: Part Two and Challengers, also appeared on this list, with Babbel stating that her last name is pronounced “zen-DAY-uh.”
Trending Words and Foreign Terms
The list contains semaglutide, an active ingredient in the popular weight loss drug Ozempic, pronounced “sem-ah-GLOO-tide.” Musical artist Chappell Roan, whose popularity rose this year, is pronounced “CHAP-uhl ROHN.”
From the Swedish language, two terms caught my attention on the UK list:
Snus: A smokeless tobacco product, pronounced “SNOOZ.”
Flygskam: A movement discouraging air travel, pronounced “FLEEG-skam.”
Also, the recurring malproning of espresso cropped up again. Babbel stresses the right pronunciation is “es-PRESS-oh,” and not “EX-press-oh.” The term entered the spotlight as Sabrina Carpenter‘s song “Espresso“ shot up the UK charts.
Advocating for Linguistic Precision
Babbel‘s annual list is a good-natured reminder that languages are diverse and their correct pronunciations matter. And with these common errors on its list, it intends to encourage better appreciation of world languages.
