The company published a list of the most mispronounced words of the year in the United States and the United Kingdom on Wednesday, including foreign words that have entered the English lexicon for one reason or another, as well as the names of various politicians and public figures.
US Vice President Kamala Harris is one prominent entry, with her first name the source of plenty of confusion.
“His name is pronounced (key-OH-gin), with a clear “g,” unlike many Irish variations where the “g” would be silent,” said Babbel.
If you’re discussing potential purchases, or reports that the company plans to list on the London Stock Exchange, remember that the name should be pronounced (SHE-in) rather than (SHEEN).
The Swedish language also contributes two words on the UK list: smokeless tobacco Snus, pronounced (SNOOZ), and flygskam, the name of a movement that aims to discourage people from flying that should be pronounced (FLEEG-skam).
Persons:
CNN — Messing, Kamala Harris, Barry Keoghan, “, ”, It's Barry, Michael Tran, SHEEN, Ozempic, Chappell Roan, uhl, Zendaya, Sabrina Carpenter’s
Organizations:
CNN, US, Getty, London Stock Exchange
Locations:
United States, United Kingdom, AFP, China