DALLAS (AP) — The newly released list of words that left American anchors and public figures fumbling in their pronunciations has shed light on 2025's notable names and key events. The language-learning company Babbel and the Captioning Group have compiled the names and terms that caused the most mispronunciations among media, reflecting major political changes and cultural phenomena.
Among the highlighted entries is New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who is set to assume office in January as the city’s first Muslim mayor. His name—expected to be pronounced as zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee—often faced mix-ups. Voters and commentators frequently swapped letters, leading to a range of inaccurate pronunciations throughout his campaign. Mamdani, who will be the first African-born mayor in NYC history, has indicated that while he appreciates efforts to pronounce his name correctly, intentional mispronunciations have been a challenge. He notably corrected former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during a debate, stating, “The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I.”
The list also features the Louvre, notorious recently for the jewel heist that left many confused about the museum's name pronunciation. Correctly spoken as LOOV-ruh, the soft ending seems to present difficulties for many English speakers, particularly in light of recent events at the museum.
Babbel's report emphasizes that many of these challenging words stem from diverse languages, requiring speakers to adapt to unfamiliar sounds. Esteban Touma, a linguistic and cultural expert, noted the challenges presented by such words. Other words that made the list include the painkiller acetaminophen, pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen, and the name Alex Murdaugh, which gained notoriety through legal dramas.
This ongoing examination of language in media not only highlights mispronunciations but also reflects evolving cultural dynamics, illustrating how unfamiliar names and terms can capture public discourse.
