Acai has been named the most mispronounced word in the UK in a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Czech car manufacturer Skoda.
The Brazilian superfood, a small dark purple berry harvested from South American palm trees and widely used in smoothie bowls and fruit drinks, topped a list of challenging terms compiled by market research agency OnePoll.
Other terms identified in the research as causing tongue-twisters for British speakers included segue, charcuterie, quinoa, gnocchi and Worcestershire.
Chipotle, phenomenon and gyro also featured within the top 10 mispronounced words, while hyperbole, aesthetic and gif were cited as proving tricky for many respondents.
The research was commissioned by automobile manufacturer Skoda, which was founded in the Czech Republic, to draw attention to the widespread mispronunciation of its own brand name among the British public.
Brand mispronunciation and public confidence
Skoda spokesperson Kirsten Stagg explained that phonetics often mislead readers when encountering unfamiliar terms in daily life.
She said: "Sometimes, there are words that simply don't sound how they are spelt, and even everyday terms tend to catch people out."
Addressing the manufacturer's own name, Stagg noted: "Skoda is a perfect example. The distinctive mark above the S, known as a hacek, or caron, can throw people off, and here in the UK the name is commonly pronounced 'S-co-der' rather than the correct 'Sh-co-da'."
The hacek, a diacritic accent mark used in Slavic languages, alters the phonetic sound of the initial letter.
Stagg added: "What's great to see from the research is that the majority of people are still willing to have a go, even when they're unfamiliar with a word and risk getting it wrong."
According to the survey, 85 per cent of respondents reported that someone has previously corrected their pronunciation, resulting in 25 per cent feeling embarrassed by the encounter.
Furthermore, 24 per cent of adults admitted that they are not confident giving unfamiliar words a go, whereas 27 per cent continue to spout a word incorrectly despite knowing they are getting it wrong.
Attitudes towards correct speech
The poll revealed that 85 per cent of adults believe correct pronunciation is important in everyday communication.
Among those who value proper pronunciation, 59 per cent stated that it helps avoid misunderstandings, 52 per cent felt it shows respect for language, 38 per cent believed it makes them appear more knowledgeable, and 34 per cent said it makes them seem more professional.
Overall, 38 per cent of respondents noted that the way someone pronounces words can influence the impression they have of them.
The OnePoll data highlighted significant generational divides between Generation Z, referring to young adults born from the late 1990s onwards, and Boomers, born in the post-war era between 1946 and 1964.
While 53 per cent of Gen Z respondents claimed a person's pronunciation would impact what they think of them, only 24 per cent of Boomers expressed the same view.
Likewise, 57 per cent of Gen Z respondents reported correcting family, friends and colleagues on their pronunciation, compared to just 29 per cent of Boomers who do the same.
Correction etiquette and language learning
Among adults who avoid correcting others, the most common reasons given were not wanting to embarrass them (39 per cent), not wanting to come across rude (35 per cent), and not feeling it is their place to do so (33 per cent).
The study also found that 47 per cent of adults believe words should be spelt the way they are said.
Meanwhile, 30 per cent of respondents credited social media for making them more aware of how to pronounce words.
2The top 10 mispronounced words quiz
The research featured a ten-question quiz testing how well respondents could identify the correct pronunciations of tricky terms:
- 1. Acai: A. Ah-sigh, B. Ah-kai, C. Ah-sigh-ee. Answer: C (Ah-sigh-ee)
- 2. Segue: A. Seeg, B. Seg-way, C. Seg-u-ee. Answer: B (Seg-way)
- 3. Charcuterie: A. Khar-koo-ter-ree, B. Shar-cut-eree, C. Shar-koo-tuh-ree. Answer: C (Shar-koo-tuh-ree)
- 4. Quinoa: A. Keen-wa, B. Kwin-wa, C. Kwin-no-a. Answer: A (Keen-wa)
- 5. Gnocchi: A. Ja-no-key, B. Nyawk-kee, C. Nok-kee. Answer: B (Nyawk-kee)
- 6. Worcestershire: A. Wor-chest-er, B. Wus-ter-sher, C. Wor-sest-er-shy-er. Answer: B (Wus-ter-sher)
- 7. Chipotle: A. Chip-oh-ttul, B. Chi-poht-lay, C. Chi-pot-lee. Answer: B (Chi-poht-lay)
- 8. Phenomenon: A. Phe-nom-enon, B. Phenom-nom-non, C. Phen-omey-none. Answer: A (Phe-nom-enon)
- 9. Gyro: A. Yee-ro, B. Gi-ro, C. Gee-roy. Answer: A (Yee-ro)
- 10. Brewery: A. Broo-wry, B. Broo-woo-ree, C. Broo-wer-ry. Answer: C (Broo-wer-ry)
