Hummous & Other Surprising Food Mispronounciations
You'll be surprised by how many of these common foods are mispronounced. I bet you didn't know hummus!
Açai (ah-sah-ee)
Known by some as the “power berry” this word is pronounced with a soft “c”.
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Bruschetta (broo-skeh-tah)
To order this Italian appetizer, just remember that the “ch” forms a hard “k” sound, as in Pinnocchio.
Chipotle (chih-poht-lay)
This smoky hot pepper enveloped in a dark and wrinkly skin is a popular addition to Mexican cuisine.
Basil (bay-zihl, ba-zihl)
According to The Food Lover’s Companion, both pronunciations of this pungent summer herb are correct.
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Hummus (hoom-us)
There is only one way to properly pronounce this popular Mediterranean dip, and it isn’t humm-us!
Shallot (shal-uht, shuh-lot)
Foodies often disagree on the proper pronunciation of this word, but it seems that both are correct. The former is more commonly used is American English, the latter in British.
Chorizo (chor-ee-zoh)
A spicy sausage commonly used in Mexican or Spanish cooking.
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Sherbet (sher-bit)
A popular frozen treat that’s often made with sweetened fruit and water, this word usually contains an extra “r” in the last syllable.
Mascarpone (mah-skar-poh-nay)
Almost every culinary professional messes this one up by throwing an extra “r” between the “a” and the “s”, and pronouncing the “pone” as one syllable; both are incorrect.
Quinoa (keen-wah)
Relatively new to the North American market, this ancient grain is often wrongly referred to as kin-oh-ah.
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Worcestershire Sauce (woos-tuhr-shuhr)
North Americans commonly add the –shire suffix to the word making it a four or five-syllable word, however the three syllables shown here are all that’s required.
Pasta (pah-stuh)
The Food Lover’s Companion confirms the proper way to say this word is with an “a” like apple in the first syllable. However, certain American regions prefer to say “paw-stah”.
Sriracha (shree-ra-cha)
This Southeast Asian ketchup is tricky to say. The –sri is missing the “h” that is part of the proper pronounciation.
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Niçoise (nee-swaahz)
The most commonly mispronounced item on a French menu.
Herb (erb, herb)
How you say this word is a matter of where you live; North Americans drop the “h” while those who favour British English keep it intact and pronounce it.
Gyro (jeer-ho)
This hot roasted meat just might be one of the most challenging words to say correctly.
Fillet (fih-lay)
Not only is the pronunciation a challenge with this word, but so is the spelling. English favours the double “l” while the French variation uses just one.
Crudité (kroo-dee-tay)
Raw seasonal vegetables served with dip might be easier to say than this tricky French word.
Prix-fixe (pree-fihks)
A complete meal served for a preset price.
Foie Gras (fwah-grah)
A delicacy often served as an hors d’oeuvres, this is another challenging menu item to say correctly.
Beignet (ben-yay)
When ordering this deep fried fritter, it’s very important to remember the “g” and the “t” are silent.
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