DALLAS — In 2025, names and terms that frequently appeared in the news have notably caused pronunciation challenges for many in America. Among these, Zohran Mamdani, a progressive leader and the first Muslim mayor of New York City, frequently faced mispronunciation of his name, which is articulated as zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee. His rise in politics highlighted the need for better recognition of diverse names and their correct pronunciations, especially as he will assume office in January.
Language learning company Babbel, along with The Captioning Group, compiled a list of names and words American public figures stumbled over this year. Mamdani's name made the list after becoming a focal point during his campaign, even prompting him to correct a mispronunciation from former governor Andrew Cuomo during their debates.
Another major name on the list is the Louvre, the world-renowned museum in Paris whose name was frequently misarticulated. According to Babbel, the correct way to say it is LOOV-ruh, which can present a challenge for English-speaking individuals.
Esteban Touma, a cultural expert from Babbel, explained, A lot of these words come from different languages and so we have to adapt to a sound that we’ve never made before.
Other names and terms causing confusion include Acetaminophen, pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen, and Mounjaro, part of a new wave of diabetes medications, eliciting mispronunciations from various public figures. Linguistic trends continue to change, reflecting a broader cultural need to adapt and accurately pronounce an increasingly diverse array of names and terms. This highlights an essential challenge in embracing multicultural representation as society evolves.
Language learning company Babbel, along with The Captioning Group, compiled a list of names and words American public figures stumbled over this year. Mamdani's name made the list after becoming a focal point during his campaign, even prompting him to correct a mispronunciation from former governor Andrew Cuomo during their debates.
Another major name on the list is the Louvre, the world-renowned museum in Paris whose name was frequently misarticulated. According to Babbel, the correct way to say it is LOOV-ruh, which can present a challenge for English-speaking individuals.
Esteban Touma, a cultural expert from Babbel, explained, A lot of these words come from different languages and so we have to adapt to a sound that we’ve never made before.
Other names and terms causing confusion include Acetaminophen, pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen, and Mounjaro, part of a new wave of diabetes medications, eliciting mispronunciations from various public figures. Linguistic trends continue to change, reflecting a broader cultural need to adapt and accurately pronounce an increasingly diverse array of names and terms. This highlights an essential challenge in embracing multicultural representation as society evolves.
