2025 Pronunciation Challenges: Zohran Mamdani, Louvre, and More
This year, Americans faced challenges pronouncing names and words that made headlines, such as the election of Zohran Mamdani and the Louvre jewel heist. Babbel and The Captioning Group compiled a list of the most mispronounced words in 2025, shedding light on the struggles faced by public figures and news anchors in the U.S.
Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor of New York City, saw his name frequently mispronounced during his political ascent. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, will make history as the city's first Muslim mayor, born in Africa, and of South Asian heritage. His name, pronounced zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee, was often mispronounced due to the confusion between the "M" and "N" in his last name.
The Louvre museum in Paris also made the list of mispronounced words, with the correct pronunciation being LOOV-ruh. English speakers found it challenging to soften the pronunciation of the "ruh" sound. Esteban Touma from Babbel explained that adapting to unfamiliar sounds from different languages can be difficult for pronunciation.
Other words and names on the list included Acetaminophen, Alex Murdaugh, and Mounjaro. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen. Alex Murdaugh, a South Carolina attorney, was dramatized in a Hulu series, with his name pronounced AL-ick MUR-dock. Mounjaro, a diabetes and obesity medication, is pronounced mown-JAHR-OH, and gained popularity for its weight loss effects.
The U.K. list of mispronounced words also featured Louvre, Mounjaro, and Storm Éowyn. Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, is pronounced ay-OH-win. Throughout the year, captioners and linguists track challenging pronunciations and emerging words, providing insights into language trends and difficulties.
In a surprising pronunciation revelation, actor Denzel Washington shared on a talk show that his name is pronounced DEN-zul, but his mother decided to pronounce it Den-ZELLE to avoid confusion with his father's name. The evolving nature of pronunciation adds an interesting dimension to language learning and communication.
Overall, the list of mispronounced words in 2025 highlights the importance of linguistic diversity and the challenges faced in accurately pronouncing names and terms from different languages and cultures. Learning to pronounce unfamiliar words correctly can enhance communication and understanding in a globalized world.