19 Common Foods You’ve Been Pronouncing All Wrong

We’ve all been there at least once: You’re at a nice restaurant and you know exactly what you want, but you’re nervously waiting your turn to tell the server your order because… you have no idea how to pronounce the name of the dish. When they get to you, you either laugh your way through your attempt at saying it out loud, or you end up helplessly pointing to the option to try to spare yourself any more embarrassment. There are some food names that basically everyone is pronouncing all wrong.

Luckily, the internet exists, so learning how to avoid this type of foodie faux-pas in the future is super easy.

You can just google the name of the food or the dish, and find out the proper way to say it out loud! Practice a few times at home when you’re alone, and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done. And hey, don’t be too hard on yourself: food names come from all over the world, and some can be really tricky to say if you aren’t familiar with that particular language. It happens to the best of us!

Below is a list of some of the most commonly mispronounced words out there, with the way you should actually be saying them. Knowing how to say these perfectly is the most simple way to impress your friends, and anyone you’re eating with.

Check ’em out below:

1. Bruschetta

You probably say: Broo-sheh-tuh
You should say: Broo-SKET-tuh

2. Sriracha

You probably say: Sree-rah-cha
You should say: SEE-rah-cha

3. Açai

You probably say: Ah-kai
You should say: Ah-SIGH-ee

4. Espresso

You probably say: Ex-press-oh
You should say: ESS-press-oh

5. Turmeric

You probably say: Too-mer-rick
You should say: Tur-mer-ick

6. Dulce de leche

You probably say: Dul-CHE de -le-CHE
You should say: Dul-say de leh-chay

7. Gnocchi

You probably say: No-key
You should say: NYOH-key

8. Sherbet

You probably say: Sher-bert
You should say: Sher-BIT

9. Caramel

You probably say: Car-mel
You should say: Kar-ah-mhl

10. Focaccia

You probably say: Fo-ca-see-ya
You should say: Foh-kah-chuh

11. Edamame

You probably say: Ed-uh-mame
You should say: Eh-dah-MAH-meh

12. Charcuterie

You probably say: shar-choo-tuh-ree
You should say: shahr-KOO-tuh-ree.

13. Manchego

You probably say: Mahn-CHE-go
You should say: Mahn-chay-go

14. Poke

You probably say: po-kee
You should say: po-kay

15. Endive

You probably say: En-dive
You should say: On-DEEV

16. Maraschino Cherry

You probably say: Mare-uh-sheeno
You should say: Mare-uh-SKEENO

17. Gyro

You probably say: Jy-roe
You should say say: YEE-roe

18. Jicama

You probably say: Hick-uh-muh
You should say: He-ka-ma

19. Crudités

You probably say: Croo-dites
You should say: Croo-de-tay

Any other food words you’re guilty of mispronouncing?