One of the most interesting things about this vast Earth of ours is the various ways that people have tackled the basic task of communication. Language has become so diverse on our planet that it’s virtually impossible to become skilled in every single language and dialect present in modern society. And while a lack of familiarity with the language should never dissuade you from traveling to a new place, you don’t want to let the locals know that you’re a visitor right off the bat, right? So, when you find yourself in a new area, don’t assume that you know how to pronounce the location just because that’s how they do things where you’re from. Here are some popular places that you’ve probably been mispronouncing your whole life.
1. They May Be Fans of Capitalism in Dubai, but ‘Buy’ Isn’t in the Name
You’re saying “Doo-BUY”
When you should be saying “Du-BAY”
2. You Never Really Notice How the ‘Y’ in Reykjavik Comes Before the ‘K’
You’re saying “Rek-EE-uh-vek”
When you should be saying “REY-kya-vik”
3. Apparently, They’re Real Sticklers for Subtlety in Beijing
You’re saying “BAY-zhing”
When you should be saying “Bay-Jing”
4. Like the French, Aussies Love to Drop Random Syllables Out Of Their Words
You’re saying “Mel-BORN”
When you should be saying “Melb’n”
5. No, Seriously, Australians Are Not Fond of Pronouncing All Their Consonants
You’re saying “Bris-BAYNE
When you should be saying “Brisb’n”
6. We Might Be On Sticky Terms with Iraq, But That’s No Reason to Mispronounce Their Name
You’re saying “EYE-rack”
When you should be saying “ee-ROCK”
7. No Anglophile Worth Their Salt Should Be Caught Blending the “TH” Sound Near London’s Big River
You’re saying “THAYmes”
When you should be saying “TEMs”
8. Disney’s Neighbor in Florida is NOT an Adult’s Only Hot Spot
You’re saying “KISS-ih-mee”
When you should be saying “Kuh-SIM-mee”
9. The Sea Lions at La Jolla Hate When You Think There’s an ‘L’ Sound In the Name of Their Home Town
You’re saying “Luh Jole-uh”
When you should be saying “Luh HOY-uh”
10. India’s Cantankerous Neighbor, Pakistan, Is Also a Big Fan of Silent ‘H’s
You’re saying “PAK-ih-stan”
When you should be saying “PAH-kee-Stahn”
11. No, Bangkok is Not Pronounced As Though it Was the Setting For a Porno
You’re saying “Bang-kok”
When you should be saying “Bahng-Gawk”
12. They Take Phonics Very Seriously in the Rockies
You’re saying “CALL-uh-ROD-o”
When you should be saying “CALL-uh-RAD-o”
13. New Yorkers Just Have to Do Everything Their Own Way, Even Pronunciations
You’re saying “Hyoo-stun” Street
When you should be saying “HOW-stun”
14. Just Listen to How Hawkeye Says Budapest In ‘Avengers’
You’re saying “Boo-duh-PEST”
When you should be saying “Boo-duh-PESHT”
15. Qatar is One of the Most Advanced Countries in the World, So You Should Just Accept That You’ll Have to Say It’s Name Out Loud At Least Once
You’re saying, “Kuh-TAR”
When you should be saying, “Kuh-Ter”
16. Michigan’s Famous Mackinac Bridge (and Peach) Gets Pronounced On Its Own Terms
You’re saying “mack-uh-NAK”
When you should be saying “MACK-uh-naw”
17. Phuket Is Not Pronounced Like a Curse Word, But It’s Still Silly
You’re saying “Foo-kit” or … well, you know
When you should be saying “Poo-get”
18. Worcester, the Little English Hamlet Often Confused for the Home of the Sauce
You’re saying “WOR-shis-ter”
When you should be saying “WOOS-ter”
19. If You Really Think About It, There’s No Such Thing As a Soft ‘O’ in Spanish
You’re saying “Co-LUM-bee-uh”
When you should be saying “Co-LOHME-bee-uh”
20. Norfolk Sounds Like Bostonians Were Allowed to Name Exactly One Place in Virginia
You’re saying “NOR-foke”
When you should be saying “NAW-fik”
21. How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Tell the Cab Driver the Right Name
You’re saying “CAR-nuh-gee”
When you should be saying “kerr-NEGG-ee”
22. We Always Forget the French Influence on Niger
You’re saying “Nye-JEER”
When you should be saying “nee-ZHAIR”
