What Are The Most Mispronounced Words Of 2025?
What do a blockbuster painkiller, a Hollywood legend and a winter storm have in common? They all earned a place on this year’s list!
Every year since 2016, Babbel has partnered with TV captioning groups to identify the words that newscasters, politicians and other people in the media had the most trouble with. These mispronounced words spotlight the names and moments that shaped the conversation this year, even if part of the conversation was “How do you say that?” In 2025, the list features medication to iconic actors and more. This assortment of words is united by their strange consonant combinations, and the fact that many of them originate from other languages.
Below, you can master the pronunciations of these words with our two lists: one for the United Kingdom voted on by members of the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters, and one for the United States put together by The Captioning Group. You might even notice some overlap in the two lists, showing that mispronunciations are one thing that bring English speakers together.
The 2025 Most Mispronounced Words In The United States
Acetaminophen [uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen]
This common over-the-counter pain and fever medication - widely known under the brand name Tylenol - has a tricky pronunciation: many stumble over its soft vowels and multiple shifting syllables. In September 2025, Donald Trump famously faltered while using the word during a televised news conference, in which he asserted an unproven link between its use in pregnancy and autism.
Alex Murdaugh [AL-ick MUR-dock]
South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh returned to national headlines in 2025 as appeals and follow-up hearings unfolded in the aftermath of his conviction for murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul - a case that exposed years of financial crimes and collapsed his once-powerful South Carolina legal dynasty. His name also resurfaced in pop culture with Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family, prompting frequent on-air mispronunciations. Many instinctively say “Alex” rather than the correct “AL-ick,” and his surname is often misread as “MUR-daw,” “MUR-door,” or “MER-doh” instead of “MUR-dock.”
Denzel Washington [den-ZELLE]
Although the name Denzel is normally pronounced “DEN-zul,” Denzel Washington himself uses a different pronunciation. On Jimmy Kimmel Live, he explained that both he and his father were named Denzel, and whenever his mother called out “Denzel,” they would both turn around, leaving her unable to distinguish one from the other. To solve the confusion, she began pronouncing his name as “Den-ZELLE.” Because of that childhood distinction, Denzel Washington goes by “Den-ZELLE,” even though most people still default to the standard “DEN-zul.”
Louvre [LOOV-ruh]
The Louvre - the world’s most-visited museum - is housed in a former royal palace in Paris and home to an unrivaled collection of art and artifacts, from the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo. In October 2025, the museum was rocked by a daylight heist in which thieves escaped with eight pieces of France’s historic crown jewels in under eight minutes (worth €88m). The robbery reignited global fascination with the Louvre’s history of audacious thefts and its paradoxical status as both fortress and target. Correctly pronounced “LOOV-ruh” with a very soft “ruh” sound - almost like “LOOV” with a faint “r” on the end, as English speakers often over-enunciate the silent “re,” making the name sound less naturally French.
Rob McElhenney [MA-kuhl-HEH-nee]
In 2025, the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator and Wrexham A.F.C. co-owner made headlines after filing to legally shorten his name to “Rob Mac.” His surname has often been mispronounced by fans and broadcasters - regularly mispronounced as “Mc-HEL-en-nee” rather than the correct “MA-kuhl-HEH-nee.” The constant confusion, despite years in the public eye and Wrexham’s surge in global popularity, ultimately pushed him toward the change.
Mounjaro [mown-JAHR-OH]
Mounjaro exploded into public consciousness in 2025 as social media was flooded with people sharing their weight-loss journeys and the drug became a hot topic with celebrities like Meghan Trainor speaking openly about using it. The word is on everyone’s lips - creating plenty of opportunities for mispronunciation. The correct pronunciation stresses the second two syllables “mown-JAHR-OH,” with “mown” pronounced like the beginning of “mountain.”
Oneonta, Alabama [awh-knee-AHN-tuh]
The small city in Blount County, Alabama, became an unexpected stumbling block on American Idol in March 2025, when judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie repeatedly stuttered over contestant Isaiah Moore’s hometown. Though the three themselves are from the south, on air they cycled through versions like “One-eonta” and “On-eonta” before Moore stepped onstage and clarified the local pronunciation: “Ahn‑ee‑ahn‑uh,” dropping any traceable “t” sound. Formally, however, this “t” would be enunciated - becoming “Awh-knee-ahn-tuh.” Southern residents quickly responded, pointing to a mural in the town that even says “Welcome to Oneonta … no matter how you pronounce it,” celebrating its many pronunciations.
Rayquaza [ray‑KWAY‑zuh]
Rayquaza is a legendary dragon Pokémon from the Emerald era. It became a major talking point in 2025 when the Pokémon World Championships clarified its correct pronunciation. According to an official note shown at the event and confirmed by The Pokémon Company, the name is pronounced “ray‑KWAY‑zuh”. A common mistake is pronouncing the name as “RAY-kwah-zuh” or “ray-KWAH-zuh” which gets two things wrong: it puts the emphasis on the first syllable instead of the correct stressed syllable “KWAY,” and it replaces the intended “kway” vowel with “kwah”, shifting the sound from “ay” to “ah”.
Alexander Skarsgård [skarz‑GORD]
Swedish‑Hollywood actor Alexander Skarsgård is known for True Blood, The Northman, Big Little Lies and in 2025, for his role as a mysterious biker at the center of a BDSM romance, Pillion. Despite the “gård” ending looking like “gard,” the correct pronunciation is “skarz‑GORD” - the Swedish umlaut “å” produces the “-gourd” sound. Skarsgård confirmed this in a May 2025 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Victor Wembanyama [wem-bahn-YA-mah]
In 2025, the 7'4" French phenom remained one of the NBA’s biggest storylines. He is widely viewed as the league’s next potential generational superstar and even a future “Michael Jordan-level” figure, while his season made news after a spring diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis briefly sidelined him before his July clearance to return. Victor’s surname continued to trip up broadcasters, who often shift the stress to the first or second syllable or flatten the French “a” sounds, producing versions that sound more Americanized and choppy; the correct pronunciation keeps the soft “a”s and places clear emphasis on the “YA” syllable: “wem-bahn-YA-mah.”
Zohran Mamdani [zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee]
In a decisive victory on 4 November 2025, Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, its youngest mayor in over a century, and the first of South Asian heritage and African birth. His name became a flashpoint after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mispronounced his surname as “Zamdani” during a press briefing. Other key public figures who have mispronounced Mamdani’s name include former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and current New York Governor Kathy Hochul - both of whom stumbled over or altered his surname in widely publicized moments. The key moment came in Mamdani’s response: he reposted a TikTok in which he is stating plainly, “The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I.” He later explained in an interview that he does not take issue with genuine mispronunciation, but repeated or deliberate mispronunciation crosses the line. His surname is most commonly mispronounced by swapping the “M” and “N,” turning Mamdani into “Man-da-mi,” instead of the correct “mam-DAH-nee.”
Babbel’s Honorary Mentions
Laos [louse]
The Southeast Asian nation returned to the spotlight in 2025 when political spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mispronounced its name as “LAY-ose” during a speech, prompting widespread criticism online. In English, the general consensus is that “Laos” is pronounced “louse” (LAOW-ss), while within the country the “s” is silent, making it “lao” (rhymes with cow).
Diana Taurasi [tau‑RAH‑see]
The legendary American basketball star made headlines aplenty in 2025, announcing her retirement in February. Often lauded as one of the greatest women in the sport, Taurasi had her surname mispronounced by Whoopi Goldberg during an appearance on The View. Goldberg said “Tor-EE-si” instead of “Tau‑RAH‑see.” Taurasi responded with a pointed quip: “Good to see you Whippie - I mean Whoopi.”
The 2025 Most Mispronounced Words In The United Kingdom
Michelle Agyemang [Ah-jeh-maŋ]
England striker and Arsenal player Michelle Agyemang became one of Euro 2025’s standout stories, repeatedly saving the day for the Lionesses and being crowned Young Player of the Tournament. Four years earlier, she had been a ball girl at Wembley; this year, she became a key player for England, scoring crucial goals in the Lionesses’ knockout victories over Sweden and Italy. Fittingly, “Agyemang” translates from Ghanaian as “saviour of a nation”. Her meteoric rise was recently interrupted by an ACL injury. In Akan (Twi), her surname is rendered “ad͡ʒɛmaŋ” and pronounced “ah-jeh-maŋ”, ending with a nasal “ŋ” rather than a hard “g”. In the UK, however, many Ghanaians soften the final “ŋ” to “n”. Because Akan does not use strong English-style stress, no particular syllable is emphasised.
Denzel Washington [den-ZELLE]
Although the name Denzel is normally pronounced “DEN-zul,” Denzel Washington himself uses a different pronunciation. On the the Jimmy Kimmel Show, he explained that both he and his father were named Denzel, and whenever his mother called out “Denzel,” they would both turn around, leaving her unable to distinguish one from the other. To solve the confusion, she began pronouncing his name as “Den-ZELLE.” Because of that childhood distinction, Denzel Washington goes by “Den-ZELLE,” even though most people still default to the standard “DEN-zul”.
Storm Éowyn [ay-OH-win]
The UK’s first major storm of 2025, named by the Met Office as ‘probably the strongest’ to hit the UK in 10 years, caused havoc not only on land but also in studios, where its Tolkien-derived name was regularly misread. Broadcasters often said “air-wyn,” “Ee-ow-win,” or “Ee-oh-win.” The correct form has a smooth three-beat pattern - “ay-OH-win” - with the accent guiding the long opening vowel.
Glyndŵr National Park [glyn-DOOR]
Announced in 2025 as the proposed name for a new national park in north-east Wales, “Glyndŵr” honours the medieval leader Owain Glyndŵr. Typical mispronunciations include “Glin-dower,” “Glin-doer,” and “Glin-door-uh,” which ignore the Welsh “ŵ” - a long “oo” sound - and the clean two-syllable structure.
Havaianas [ah-vah-YAH-nas]
Havaianas is a Brazilian footwear brand founded in 1962, best known for its iconic rubber flip-flops. Originally a practical beach shoe in Brazil, it has evolved into a global fashion staple. Havaianas had a major resurgence in 2025, propelled by Vogue features spotlighting their “city flip-flop” comeback and celebrities styling them far beyond the beach - paired with tailored trousers, maxi skirts, slip dresses, and even evening looks. With the renewed spotlight came renewed mispronunciations: many English speakers default to “hav-EYE-anas,” often pronouncing the “h” or shifting stress to the final syllable. In Brazilian Portuguese, the “h” is silent and the emphasis falls on -YAH-, giving the correct ah-vah-YAH-nas.
Can’t Get Knafeh of It [cah-NEFF-eh]
The viral Dubai chocolate bar is inspired by the Arab dessert Knafeh. It melds milk chocolate with pistachio cream, tahini, and thin filo pastry, offering a crunchy, gooey texture. Since launching in the UAE, it has exploded in popularity thanks to TikTok, with demand so high that sales are capped to a two-hour window each day. Priced around £15, each bar is handmade using premium ingredients, including hand-picked pistachios. Its name nods to the pull of the sweet cheese pastry dessert, correctly pronounced “cah-NEFF-eh” - stressing the middle syllable - though pronunciation and spelling varies by country in the region.
Louvre [LOOV-ruh]
The Louvre - the world’s most-visited museum - is housed in a former royal palace in Paris and home to an unrivalled collection of art and artefacts, from the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo. In October 2025, the museum was rocked by a daylight heist in which thieves escaped with eight pieces of France’s historic crown jewels in under eight minutes (worth £76m). The robbery reignited global fascination with the Louvre’s history of audacious thefts and its paradoxical status as both fortress and target. Correctly pronounced “LOOV-ruh” with a very soft “ruh” sound - almost like “LOOV” with a faint ending, as English speakers often over-enunciate the silent “re.”
Mounjaro [mown-JAHR-OH]
Mounjaro exploded into public consciousness in 2025. The NHS rollout in June kicked off a social-media storm, with people sharing their weight-loss journeys, GPs scrambling to meet demand, and private dose prices soaring 170%. Amplified by celebrities like Meghan Trainor speaking openly about using it - the word is on everyone’s lips - making it a common subject of discussion and a frequent source of mispronunciation. The correct pronunciation stresses the second two syllables “mown-JAHR-OH,” with “mown” pronounced like the beginning of “mountain.”
Rayquaza [ray-KWAY-zuh]
Rayquaza is a legendary dragon Pokémon from the Emerald era. It became a major talking point in 2025 when the Pokémon World Championships clarified its correct pronunciation. According to an official note shown at the event and confirmed by The Pokémon Company, the name is pronounced “ray‑KWAY‑zuh”. A common mistake is pronouncing the name as “RAY-kwah-zuh” or “ray-KWAH-zuh” which gets two things wrong: it puts the emphasis on the first syllable instead of the correct stressed syllable “KWAY,” and it replaces the intended “kway” vowel with “kwah”, shifting the sound from “ay” to “ah”.
Alexander Skarsgård [skarz‑GORD]
Swedish‑Hollywood actor Alexander Skarsgård is known for True Blood, The Northman, Big Little Lies and in 2025, for his role as a mysterious biker at the centre of a BDSM romance, Pillion. Despite the “gård” ending looking like “gard,” the correct pronunciation is “skarz‑GORD” - the Swedish umlaut “å” produces the “-gourd” sound. Skarsgård confirmed this in a May 2025 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Babbel’s Honorary Mentions
Labubu / Lafufu [luh‑BOO‑boo] [luh-foo-foo]
Labubu is a cult collectible toy from Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, produced by Pop Mart as part of The Monsters series. Instantly recognisable by its impish grin and nine sharp teeth, the figure has become a global craze, with Pop Mart’s profits surging nearly 400% in six months by August 2025, helped by viral demand spurred by fans Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Lafufu refers to counterfeit versions, often sold cheaply online. Labubu and Lafufu are often mispronounced by over-emphasising the first syllable and the “a” sound (“LA-boo-boo” or “LA-foo-foo”). The correct pronunciation shifts the stress to the middle syllable with an “uh” sound: “luh-BOO-boo” or “luh-FOO-foo.”
Nonmonogamummy [non-muh-NOG-uh-mum-ee]
“Nonmonogamummy” is a track from Lily Allen’s viral album West End Girl (released October 2025) - the first release of her career to be so openly raw and honest about relationship breakdown, which helped it explode across social media, and gain global attention. The title fuses “non-monogamy” and “mummy”, pointing to her struggle to be both an open-relationship partner and a steady, caring figure. Pronounced non-muh-NOG-uh-mum-ee, the word is tricky to say because it stacks multiple syllables from two similar-sounding words, giving it a deliberately tangled feel - much like the relationship it describes.
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