Let’s face it, we’ve all mispronounced something in our lives. It’s only human after all, but when you’re in the company of friends it can be a tad embarrassing if you pronounce Gren-ITCH as Green-WITCH. To avoid any future blunders, here’s a handy list of 15 countries and cities you’ve probably been mispronouncing your entire life.
Seoul
© GuitarPhotographer / Shutterstock
Don’t say: see-oohl
Say: soul
Phuket
© Parshina Marina / Shutterstock
Don’t say: foo-ket (and don’t get that muddled up with the profanity either)
Say: POO-ket
Beijing
© Songquan Deng / Shutterstock
Don’t say: bay-zhinngg
Say: bey-JING
Colombia
© Jess Kraft / Shutterstock
Don’t say: co-LUM-bee-uh
Say: co-LOHM-bee-uh
Dubai
© Nick Starichenko / Shutterstock
Don’t say: du-BYE
Say: du-BAY
Iraq
© Vastram / Shutterstock
Don’t say: EYE-RACK
Say: EE-ROCK
Qatar
© Fitria Ramli / Shutterstock
Don’t say: kuh-TAR
Say: CUT-TER
Greenwich, London
© Nopparut.J / Shutterstock
Don’t say: green-witch
Say: grEN-ITCH
Oaxaca
© Byelikova Oksana / Shutterstock
Don’t say: walks-ah-kuh
Say: WUH-HAWK-UH (we were a little confused too)
Antigua
©loneroc / Shutterstock
Don’t say: an-TEE-gwah
Say: an-TEE-GUH
Reykjavik
© romeovip / Shutterstock
Don’t say: RYE-kah-vik
Say: RAY-kah-vik
Budapest
© Artur Bogacki / Shutterstock
Don’t say: boo-duh-pest
Say: boo-duh-PESHT
Worcester, England
© Caron Badkin / Shutterstock
Don’t say: were-chester
Say: WOOS-ter
Edinburgh, Scotland
© f11photo / Shutterstock
Don’t say: edin-BOROUGH
Say: edin-BUR
Melbourne, Australia
© Iammotos / Shutterstock
Don’t say: mel-BORN
Say: melb’n
Love words and their meanings? Here are 15 unusual travel words you’ve probably never heard of before!