1. Nuclear
A classic in American mispronunciations, “nuclear” often becomes “nuke-you-lar.” Even presidents have gotten it wrong. The correct pronunciation is “new-clear.” The mistake likely persists because “nuke-you-lar” feels more natural to English-speaking tongues.
2. Sherbet
Why do so many Americans insist on saying “sherbert”? There’s no second “r”! The word comes from Turkish and Persian roots, and the correct way to say it is “sher-bet.” Maybe it’s just wishful thinking—extra “r,” extra flavor?
3. Espresso
For some reason, “espresso” often becomes “expresso” in the U.S. There’s no “x” in the word, folks! This misstep probably happens because Americans like words that sound snappy, and “expresso” just rolls off the tongue faster—even if it’s wrong.
4. Quinoa
This trendy grain has baffled Americans for years. It’s not “kwin-oh-uh” or “kwin-oh.” The correct pronunciation is “keen-wah,” thanks to its Quechua origins in South America. Given its global popularity, it’s time we nailed this one.
5. Mischievous
Here’s one that trips up even the most eloquent speakers. Many Americans add an extra syllable, saying “mis-CHEE-vee-ous” instead of the correct “MIS-chuh-vus.” The spelling doesn’t help, but the correct pronunciation has only three syllables, not four.
6. Bruschetta
If you’ve ever confidently ordered “broo-shetta” at an Italian restaurant, you’re not alone—but also not right. The “ch” in Italian is pronounced like a “k,” so it’s “broo-sketta.” Italians are passionate about food and their language, so they’ll definitely notice this one.
7. Croissant
Most Americans say “crah-sont” or “kwuh-sont,” which makes French speakers cringe. In French, it’s pronounced more like “krwah-san,” with a delicate roll of the “r” and no harsh “t” at the end. But hey, at least we’re trying to sound fancy while devouring buttery carbs.
8. Gyro
It’s not “jai-roh” or “gee-roh.” If you want to honor its Greek origins, say “yee-roh” or “yee-ros.” Americans struggle with this one because we aren’t used to the soft “g” in Greek words, but your local gyro vendor will thank you for getting it right.
9. Often
This one’s polarizing. Some Americans pronounce the “t,” saying “off-ten,” while others leave it silent, saying “off-en.” Historically, the silent “t” was the norm, but the pronounced version gained popularity later. Both are technically acceptable now, but linguists side-eye the “t” version.
10. Forte
Many Americans say “for-tay” when talking about someone’s strong suit, but technically, it’s just “fort.” This confusion arises because “forte” comes from French, where the “e” is silent. However, when referring to a musical term, “for-tay” is correct, so at least there’s some logic to the mix-up.
11. February
Let’s be honest—almost no one says “Feb-roo-air-ee” anymore. Most Americans simplify it to “Feb-yoo-air-ee,” skipping the first “r.” While the dictionary lists both as acceptable, the original Latin root “Februarius” includes that elusive “r,” so it’s worth trying to reclaim it.
12. Pecan
The great pecan debate divides America into two camps: “pee-can” and “puh-kahn.” Southern states lean toward “puh-kahn,” while Northerners often say “pee-can.” There’s no universal “right” answer, but saying “pee-can” in the South might earn you a few side-eyes.
13. Bologna
You’ve probably called it “buh-loh-nee” since childhood, but did you know it’s actually named after the Italian city of Bologna, where it’s pronounced “bo-lo-nya”? The Americanized version stuck because, well, rhyming is fun.
14. Cache
Tech enthusiasts, take note: it’s not “cash-ay.” The correct pronunciation is simply “cash.” This term for stored data comes from French, where the silent “e” is misleading to English speakers.
