BOSTON (AP) — “Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa explained the significance of the Chicxulub impact crater to actor Domhnall Gleeson over a drink of negroni sbagliato in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia,” is the kind of sentence that just might tie your tongue up in knots.
It contains five examples from this year’s list of the most mispronounced words released Wednesday by The Captioning Group, which since 1991 has captioned and subtitled real-time events on television in the U.S. and Canada.
The Captioning Group has compiled the list since 2016 by surveying the words and names most often mangled on live television by newsreaders, politicians, public figures and others. It is commissioned by Babbel, the online language learning company based in New York and Berlin.
Yes, the list is a little humorous, but it’s also educational and highlights how some of the biggest international news events of the year have entered the North American consciousness, said Esteban Touma, a senior content producer and language teacher at Babbel.
“It really shows the ways we interact with other languages and really gives a good grasp of what’s going on in the world and how we connect with people abroad,” he said.
Don’t be intimidated by tough-to-pronounce words, he said. It is an opportunity to learn. After all, even professionals sometimes have problems.
“People want to get the right pronunciation but it’s hard to do so,” he said.
Just ask Joe Biden.
New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was infamously referred to as “Rasheed Sanook” by the U.S. president, but he wasn’t the only one to stumble over the name, which should be pronounced REE-shee SOO-nahk.
Then there’s Grammy-winning singer Adele, who informed the world in October that her fans have for years been mispronouncing her name. It’s not “ah-DELL” but “uh-DALE.”
Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Adele poses for photographers upon arrival at the Brit Awards in London on Feb. 8, 2022.
The other words on the list, with phonetic pronunciations provided by Babbel, were:
— Chicxulub (CHICK-choo-loob) — The crater in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the asteroid that scientists say likely caused the extinction of the dinosaurs was in the news recently.
— Domhnall Gleeson (DOH-null GLEE-sun) — The Irish actor called out talk show host Stephen Colbert for mispronouncing his first name.
— Edinburgh (ed-in-BRUH) — American news anchors faced criticism for mispronouncing the Scottish capital during coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial in September.
— Negroni sbagliato (ne-GRO-nee spah-lee-AH-toh) — The alcoholic beverage was introduced to the world by actor Emma D’Arcy, whose social media mention of the drink received more than 14 million views.
— Novak Djokovic (NO-vak JO-kuh-vich) — The Serbian tennis star was in the news in January when he was barred from competing in the Australian Open and deported for failing to comply with the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination rules.
— Ohtani rule (oh-TAHN-ee) — Major League Baseball’s rule named after 2021 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani allows a starting pitcher to remain in a game as the designated hitter even after leaving the mound.
— Tuanigamanuolepola (Tua) Tagovailoa (TOO-uh-ning-uh-mah-noo-oh-LEH-po-luh TUNG-o-vai-LOH-uh) — The Miami Dolphins quarterback became the center of discussion about NFL concussion protocols after suffering injuries in consecutive games.
— Zaporizhzhia (zah-POH-reezha) — The Ukrainian city is the location of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which was shut down in September as the nation’s war with Russia raged in the area.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
frantic00 // Shutterstock
Dictionary Day is Oct. 16, and it's a day for word lovers everywhere to revel in the many different meanings of words. For word lovers who also appreciate travel, it's a day where they can learn not only about what words mean in the United States, but also what they mean worldwide.
Stacker used a variety of sources, such as ShermansTravel, Merriam-Webster.com, Bookstr, and others, to compile a list of words that are used in the United States but mean something different abroad.
In some places, using the word "entree" the way it's used in the United States could mess up a food order. Using "brat" to describe someone might not have a negative connotation; if someone wants to take you out to eat some "glass," this isn't bad.
Keep reading to learn about words that mean different things in the U.S. and abroad.
You may also like: 100 iconic moments from music history
frantic00 // Shutterstock
Dictionary Day is Oct. 16, and it's a day for word lovers everywhere to revel in the many different meanings of words. For word lovers who also appreciate travel, it's a day where they can learn not only about what words mean in the United States, but also what they mean worldwide.
Stacker used a variety of sources, such as ShermansTravel, Merriam-Webster.com, Bookstr, and others, to compile a list of words that are used in the United States but mean something different abroad.
In some places, using the word "entree" the way it's used in the United States could mess up a food order. Using "brat" to describe someone might not have a negative connotation; if someone wants to take you out to eat some "glass," this isn't bad.
Keep reading to learn about words that mean different things in the U.S. and abroad.
You may also like: 100 iconic moments from music history
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
When diners use the word "entree" in the United States, it's usually at a restaurant ordering a main dish, whether a bowl of spaghetti bolognese or a plate of seared salmon with greens on the side. In Australia, however, "entree" means "appetizer," the food that comes before the meal. Don't worry, though—when Down Under and ordering a main dish that sounds appetizing to you, simply tell the Aussie waiter that you want to order a main.
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
When diners use the word "entree" in the United States, it's usually at a restaurant ordering a main dish, whether a bowl of spaghetti bolognese or a plate of seared salmon with greens on the side. In Australia, however, "entree" means "appetizer," the food that comes before the meal. Don't worry, though—when Down Under and ordering a main dish that sounds appetizing to you, simply tell the Aussie waiter that you want to order a main.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
MNStudio // Shutterstock
In the United States, the word "grand" means impressive or stately, so it's a word that might describe a large, imposing building or a majestic view. However, in Ireland, "grand" is a much less powerful word, meaning "alright or fine." So if you're visiting that country, make sure not to accidentally describe your hotel, the restaurant you're dining at, or the city you're visiting as grand.
MNStudio // Shutterstock
In the United States, the word "grand" means impressive or stately, so it's a word that might describe a large, imposing building or a majestic view. However, in Ireland, "grand" is a much less powerful word, meaning "alright or fine." So if you're visiting that country, make sure not to accidentally describe your hotel, the restaurant you're dining at, or the city you're visiting as grand.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
Koltsov // Shutterstock
When someone uses the word "brat" in the United States, they're usually referring to a kid kicking and screaming in the middle of a store or a spoiled teenager. However, in Ukraine, "brat" means "brother," so it has a much more positive connotation—unless you happen to have a brother who is also very spoiled or badly behaved. "Brat" in Ukrainian also means a religious group member or a fellow member belonging to any group.
Koltsov // Shutterstock
When someone uses the word "brat" in the United States, they're usually referring to a kid kicking and screaming in the middle of a store or a spoiled teenager. However, in Ukraine, "brat" means "brother," so it has a much more positive connotation—unless you happen to have a brother who is also very spoiled or badly behaved. "Brat" in Ukrainian also means a religious group member or a fellow member belonging to any group.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
sebra // Shutterstock
"Glass," in the United States, refers to the material made of melted sand used to make windows, vases, and glasses. However, in Dutch, "glass" means something different: ice cream. So when visiting the Netherlands, don't panic if invited out to eat some glass—just enjoy the dessert.
sebra // Shutterstock
"Glass," in the United States, refers to the material made of melted sand used to make windows, vases, and glasses. However, in Dutch, "glass" means something different: ice cream. So when visiting the Netherlands, don't panic if invited out to eat some glass—just enjoy the dessert.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
Canva
In the United States, the word "thong" means a type of underwear and brings back memories of the 2000s and Sisqó's seminal song, "Thong Song." However, using this word in the United Kingdom while shopping will only cause confusion. In the United Kingdom, "thong" means a pair of flip-flops worn on a completely different part of your body. Australians also use the term "thongs" to refer to a pair of flip-flops, though they sometimes call these shoes "double-pluggers."
You may also like: 100 best movies of all time
Canva
In the United States, the word "thong" means a type of underwear and brings back memories of the 2000s and Sisqó's seminal song, "Thong Song." However, using this word in the United Kingdom while shopping will only cause confusion. In the United Kingdom, "thong" means a pair of flip-flops worn on a completely different part of your body. Australians also use the term "thongs" to refer to a pair of flip-flops, though they sometimes call these shoes "double-pluggers."
You may also like: 100 best movies of all time
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
Di Studio // Shutterstock
Another word that might cause confusion while shopping in the United Kingdom is "pants." In the United States, "pants" means trousers, but in the United Kingdom, "pants" means underwear, and trousers are called "trousers." People there also use pants as a slang term for "awful"—so if you wanted to use all these words correctly in one sentence while raising a few eyebrows at the pub, you might say, "The weather is so pants today that the rain has soaked through both my trousers and my pants."
Di Studio // Shutterstock
Another word that might cause confusion while shopping in the United Kingdom is "pants." In the United States, "pants" means trousers, but in the United Kingdom, "pants" means underwear, and trousers are called "trousers." People there also use pants as a slang term for "awful"—so if you wanted to use all these words correctly in one sentence while raising a few eyebrows at the pub, you might say, "The weather is so pants today that the rain has soaked through both my trousers and my pants."
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
David Gyung // Shutterstock
When people are "fighting" in the United States, they're brawling. It's a pretty violent word in this country, but it doesn't have this connotation in Korea. In Korean, "fighting" is a word people use to encourage someone currently facing an obstacle, and it means something close to "cheer up." So, when visiting Korea, If someone uses this word, don't take it as an insult and feel encouraged instead.
David Gyung // Shutterstock
When people are "fighting" in the United States, they're brawling. It's a pretty violent word in this country, but it doesn't have this connotation in Korea. In Korean, "fighting" is a word people use to encourage someone currently facing an obstacle, and it means something close to "cheer up." So, when visiting Korea, If someone uses this word, don't take it as an insult and feel encouraged instead.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
Soloviova Liudmyla // Shutterstock
"Barf" in the United States refers to vomit and usually elicits a feeling of disgust when it comes up—figuratively or literally. However, "barf" means "snow" in Urdu and Hindi, both spoken in India. Barf also means "snow" in Farsi, a language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. So if you're traveling to one of these places and someone says, "Look at that barf," you should put aside all thoughts of vomit and look out to enjoy the beautiful view full of snow.
Soloviova Liudmyla // Shutterstock
"Barf" in the United States refers to vomit and usually elicits a feeling of disgust when it comes up—figuratively or literally. However, "barf" means "snow" in Urdu and Hindi, both spoken in India. Barf also means "snow" in Farsi, a language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. So if you're traveling to one of these places and someone says, "Look at that barf," you should put aside all thoughts of vomit and look out to enjoy the beautiful view full of snow.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
ImYanis // Shutterstock
In the United States, "handy" means useful. In Germany, however, "handy" means a "cell phone." When traveling through a part of Europe where people speak German, such as Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, just remember it's handy to have your cell phone to look up directions or translations.
ImYanis // Shutterstock
In the United States, "handy" means useful. In Germany, however, "handy" means a "cell phone." When traveling through a part of Europe where people speak German, such as Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, just remember it's handy to have your cell phone to look up directions or translations.
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Here are 10 words that mean different things in the US and abroad
SFROLOV // Shutterstock
In the United States, the word "braces" refers to a device for straightening teeth. In the United Kingdom, however, "braces" refers to suspenders. If someone is talking about the stylish braces they recently purchased, there's no need to start talking about how brave it is when adults choose to get those orthodontic devices.
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SFROLOV // Shutterstock
In the United States, the word "braces" refers to a device for straightening teeth. In the United Kingdom, however, "braces" refers to suspenders. If someone is talking about the stylish braces they recently purchased, there's no need to start talking about how brave it is when adults choose to get those orthodontic devices.
You may also like: 5 types of pet allergies and how to treat them
