20 Commonly Mispronounced Brand Names

In the world of shopping, brand names matter a lot. But sometimes, we struggle to say them right. Whether it's because of language differences or just not knowing, mispronunciations happen. This guide will help us say 20 tricky brand names correctly. Let's look in and get better at saying them so we can shop smarter. 

20 Commonly Mispronounced brand names

1. Porsche: (German)

Correct pronunciation “porsh-aa”

The company, was founded by Ferdinand Porsche. In German, the last E is not silent.

2. Nike (American)

Correct “Nigh-key”

Nike was named after the Greek goddess of victory. Most Americans tend to pronounce it correctly, but in Britain and elsewhere, it often rhymes with Mike.

3. Hermès ( French)

Correct “Air-mez”

The brand was named after its founder, Thierry Hermès. The H is silent, but the S isn’t.

4. Louis Vuitton (French)

Correct pronunciation “Loo-ee we-taah” Another company bearing its founder’s name,

5. Hyundai (Korean)

Correct “Hun-day”

This name comes from a Korean word, meaning modernity. Despite what you might think, it has two syllables.

6. IKEA (Swedish)

Correct “Ee-keh-yah”

IKEA stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Ingvar Kamprad was the company’s founder; Elmtaryd was the name of the farm he grew up on. Agunnaryd is the village where the farm was.

7. Audi ( German)

Correct “Ow-Dee”

The automaker’s name is convoluted; according to its official statement, Audi means listen in Latin and loosely translates in German to Horch, which is, of course, a nod to the original founder, August Horcb.

8. Yves Saint Laurent (French)

Correct “Eve-sanh la-rahn”

The fashion house’s founder’s name, was a mouthful: Yves Henri Donat Mathieu, Saint Laurent.

9. Givenchy ( French)

Correct “Jhee-von-shee”

The founder mercifully decided not to use his full name: Count Hubert James Givenchy.

10. Versace ( Italian)

Correct “Vur-Sah-chay”

Likewise, Gianni Versace, used his last name as his brand.

11. Peugeot (French)

Correct “Poo-zhow"

The auto company, was founded by Emil Peugeot.

12. Adidas ( German)

Correct “Add-dee-dass”

This sportswear giant, is named after one man. His name was Adolf Dassler, but everyone called him Adi.

13. Bulgari (Italian)

Correct “ Buhl-guh-ree”

Bulgari is just a stylization; it imitates the classical Latin alphabet, which had no U. It’s an Italianized version of the founder’s name; he was a Greek man named Sotirios, Voulgaris.

14. Gucci (Italian)

Correct “ Goo-chi”

The fashion brand, was founded by Gucci.

15. Nutella (Italian)

Correct “ Noo-tell-uh”

This name is commonly bungled by Brits. They can be forgiven since it’s not really Italian. The spread is named after a nut, plus Stella, a Latin suffix for sweet.

16. Huawei ( Chinese)

Correct “Wah-way”

Chinese characters can have different readings; Huawei comes from Zhonghua Youwei. Meaning China has promised, but it can also be translated as splendid achievement, or China is able; in any case, it’s a two-syllable word.

17. Balenciaga (Spanish)

Correct “Bah-len-see-ah-gah”

The company is a Paris-based company nowadays. But it was founded by Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga.

18. Moschino ( Italian)

Correct “ Mos-key-no”

The founder’s name was Franco Moschino.

19. Tag Heuer (Swiss)

Correct “ Tahg-hoy-yeh”

The company was founded by Edouard Heuer. Tag stands for Technique d’Avant Garde, so it means Heuer’s advanced technologies. But despite the French name, it’s pronounced in German that’s Switzerland for you.

20. Adobe (American)

Correct “uh-doe-bee”

This is mostly a problem for non-Americans; Adobe is Spanish for mud brick

The word isn’t widely known; in other English-speaking countries, Brits and Australians, often pronounced “a-down”.

Adobe Inc. was named after Adobe Creek in Los Althos, California.

In conclusion, mastering the correct pronunciation of brand names is a small yet impactful way to enhance communication. Avoiding these common mispronunciations not only ensures clarity but also reflects a keen awareness of the brands we interact with daily. So, let's continue refining our linguistic finesse and elevate our communication one brand name at a time.