Have you ever stumbled over the name of your favorite dish, drink, or ingredient? You're not alone! Many food and drink names have names that can trip up even the most confident speaker. Some of these words come from other languages, while others have unique pronunciations that aren't immediately obvious.
We often find ourselves at a loss for words when chatting with friends, ordering at a restaurant, shopping at the grocery store, etc. And, let's be honest, if you pronounce these words incorrectly, your friends and family might desperately try to correct you but not quite know how to do so.
What food-related words are most mispronounced?
So, let's dive right in and take a look at some of the most common words people mispronounce. If you're one of those people who mispronounces these words and no one has pointed it out to you yet, this list might save you some embarrassment.
1. Charcuterie
Charcuterie is a relatively new word to many people, so confusion about how to pronounce it is understandable. You may have heard shark-cutchie, CHarcucherie, or charcherie, all of which are incorrect. To pronounce charcuterie correctly, just relax your mouth just a little. It's French, so you should pronounce it shar-KOO-tuh-ree.
Many food and drink names have names that can trip up even the most confident speaker. Some of these words come from other languages, while others have unique pronunciations that aren't immediately obvious. (iStock)
2. Mascarpone
Do you know that smooth, creamy cheese spread that isn't cream cheese? Is it mascarpone or is it mascarpone? One of the words we get confused the most is mascarpone. Many people try to translate it as marscapone, but it is actually marscapone.
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3. Bruschetta
Those bite-sized pieces of toasted bread that we all love to order? No, not crostini. The other one is bruschetta. How do you pronounce it? The SH is wrong. Bruschetta is simply broo-SKET-tah. Don't add the SH.
Bruschetta is simply “bruschetta.” (Getty Images)
4. Turmeric and marjoram
Let's move on to the spice cupboard for a bit. Let's start with turmeric. Did you know that turmeric can actually be pronounced TUR-muh-rik or TOO-muh-rik? Just add an r to the last syllable. Marjoram is another spice that is often mispronounced. It's MA-jor-um or MA-jer-um, not Major-ram. There are multiple correct pronunciations for both spices.
5. Chipotle
Whether referring to the restaurant or the smoked and dried jalapeño, chipotle is one of the most mispronounced words. The author has personally encountered chipotles, chipotle-rays, and chipo-ol-tai in the wild, raw and unfiltered. Whether referring to the restaurant or the chili pepper, the correct pronunciation is chipotle.
Whether you're talking about the restaurant or the smoked, dried jalapeños, “chipotle” is one of the most mispronounced words. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
6. Quinoa
How often has the word quinoa victimized you? Has it ever made you stop mid-sentence and wonder, “Is that pronounced right?” Nothing brings you to a screeching halt in a conversation or while grocery shopping like quinoa. This is an easy fix. If you're pronouncing it “keen-wah,” you're pronouncing it right. If you're pronouncing it “quinoa,” you're not.
Quinoa is pronounced “keen-wah.” (iStock)
7. Espresso
The next drink is not as fast or speedy as everyone wants to say it is not an EXpresso. This pulled shot coffee drink is just an ESpresso. Leave out the X and people will stop staring at you in the coffee line and your friends will breathe a sigh of relief that you figured it out without them having to tell you.
This drink is not fast, it's not speedy, and everyone just wants to say it's not EX-press-o. (Joe Raedl/Getty Images)
8. Kombucha
What is Kombucha? That's a story for another time. Today, we're just going to cover pronunciation. For some reason, this simple word is hard to pronounce. It's not KAM-booch-a, it's just Kom-boo-cha. Or it's sometimes shortened to just 'booch'.
9. Acai
Love smoothie bowls but can't pronounce acai? You're not alone. You'll be amazed at how easy it is. All it takes is an “ahhh, sigh.” Simple and easy, right?
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10. Worcestershire sauce
The queen of them all is Worcestershire sauce. There are loads of funny ways to say it, like wash your sister sauce. Then there's Worcester sauce. This makes sense, as there's a place in Massachusetts called Worcester that's pronounced the same way. The actual pronunciation of Worcestershire sauce is pretty easy. Again, just loosen your mouth a bit and say Worcestershire. Practice a few times and you'll suddenly be a pro and will no doubt wince when you hear other people pronounce it incorrectly.
Now, say it correctly.
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So, now you have your ticket to sounding like you know what you're talking about the next time you come across these tricky food words. No more embarrassing stumbles or awkward corrections from your friends. Instead, you can casually say mascarpone and quinoa like a pro. And if you notice someone mispronouncing them, gently, or not so gently, share your newfound knowledge with them. Even better, if you have a friend who messes up on these words, you might be able to help them out, too, by saying them correctly.
