Names which you mispronounced for years, before eventually realising...

Yoshiki!

Niamh (Neem-h)
Siobhan (Si-oh ban)
Sean (Seen)

And I thought lingerie was lin-ger-ee. That became very embarrassing at work one day. (It was a long time ago!)

Haha oh dear

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 622

Eveiebaby

12

subtitles, I used to pronounce subil-itees.
DURRR

Reply 623

Dagnabbit

14

I've always found Chinese people struggle with the word 'European'. I was born in England so I've always found it easier but Chinese people always stress the wrong syllable! :tongue:

Reply 624

minniiee

12

Original post by OU Student

For reasons unknown to me, no-one can pronounce my first name or surname. I've had several debates with people how I spell and pronounce them.

I'm now wondering how people think you say "Haidon"? (my surname)

like hayden?
(ps sorry lol)

and i cant think of any now
but my mum can't make the "v" noise very will
so she can't say victoria
s'quite funny
she also couldnt say liquid for a long time
she used to say likid instead lol

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 625

Tiger Rag

22

Original post by minniiee

like hayden?
(ps sorry lol)

yes! Always get asked if it's "Hi (as in another word for hello) - den"

Reply 626

minniiee

12

Original post by OU Student

yes! Always get asked if it's "Hi (as in another word for hello) - den"

lol i thought you were gonna tell me hayden was wrong n that hiden was correct!!

Reply 627

philistine

OP

14

I have only just realised that I was mispronouncing the Japanese for 'mobile phone'.

What it should actually sound like: kay-tie

What I was saying: kee-tay

I have no idea why I mispronounced it for so long really; I'm fully aware of the rules of pronunciation, how the syllables sound, the appropriate inflection, etc.

Force of habit, getting about the place.

Phoebe.

My name was often mispronounced before everyone thought I was actually Count Omar.

Reply 630

effofex

18

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllandysiliogogogoch

Reply 631

winniey

8

Johnny Deep instead of Johnny Depp.

Reply 632

Village Whisper

11

When I first started reading the Harry Potter books in primary school, I also had the Hermione problem. I also thought Gryffindor was pronounced "Gry-fin-door", and Slytherin was "Slie-ther-in". Luckily the first film came out soon after, and saved me some embarrassment...

My sister also got through the House of Night series which I hadn't read (still haven't), before telling me about this character or something called "Percy-phone".

(...It's "Per-seff-uh-nee")

Reply 633

Mequa

13

Original post by Village Whisper

My sister also got through the House of Night series which I hadn't read (still haven't), before telling me about this character or something called "Percy-phone".

(...It's "Per-seff-uh-nee")

Hah, that reminds me of a kid at primary school who pronounced "Penelope" as "peen-a-loap".

When we visited Cyprus, my dad pronounced "Cypriots" as "sick pricks".
And when my younger brother was about 6, he used to pronounce the brand name "Pritt Stick" as "pricks' dicks".

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 634

Bhumbauze

15

Original post by Mequa

Hah, that reminds me of a kid at primary school who pronounced "Penelope" as "peen-a-loap".

My dad also pronounced "Cypriots" as "sick pricks".
And when my younger brother was about 6, he used to pronounce the brand name "Pritt Stick" as "Pricks' dicks".

Ahh yes, Penny-loap. I said that too.

Also or "Nye-am" or "Neem" (Niamh, pronounced "Neev")

and "Mye-ry" (Mhairi, pronounced "Varry").

Stupid "mh"...

Although the best has to be "Siobhan" in a book when I was about 12. "Shivon"?? I was reading it "See-yo-buh-han" :biggrin:

.

Pronounced Hermione "Hermy-own" in my head all the way through the Harry Potter books... even after the films started coming out and I knew how to pronounce it. My "brain voice" was having none of it.

Reply 635

Mequa

13

And in the movie "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" they pronounced "Socrates" as "Sah-cratez."

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 636

Village Whisper

11

Original post by Mequa

And in the movie "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" they pronounced "Socrates" as "Sah-cratez."

Oh, and that reminds me of when I was in year 11 ages ago before I started AS Philosophy, and I was reading through the course material...I was convinced Nietzsche was pronounced "Nee-et-zish" :frown:

When I heard my teacher say his name for the first time, I didn't even realise he was talking about the same person until he wrote it on the board. At that point I was reeeeally glad I'd never had to say it out loud...

Reply 637

jelly1000

21

Original post by Village Whisper

Oh, and that reminds me of when I was in year 11 ages ago before I started AS Philosophy, and I was reading through the course material...I was convinced Nietzsche was pronounced "Nee-et-zish" :frown:

When I heard my teacher say his name for the first time, I didn't even realise he was talking about the same person until he wrote it on the board. At that point I was reeeeally glad I'd never had to say it out loud...

Don't know if you have seen the History boys- one of the characters pronounces Nietzsche as Neeshaw, and I completley misunderstood what he was saying and though that was the correct pronouncation!