Zohran Mamdani, Louvre Among Most Mispronounced Words of 2025

UPDATE: The names of New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and the iconic Louvre museum top the list of the most mispronounced words in 2025, according to a new report from Babbel and The Captioning Group. This announcement, made just today, highlights the ongoing challenges many Americans face with pronunciation amid significant news events.

As Mamdani prepares to take office in January, he will become the city’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian heritage. His name, which should be pronounced zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee, was frequently mispronounced throughout his campaign, often with an incorrect swap of letters in his last name. Mamdani has expressed that while he appreciates efforts to pronounce his name correctly, intentional mispronunciations can be frustrating. During a heated debate, he corrected former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying, “The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I.”

Meanwhile, the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, has also appeared on this list, particularly following the high-profile jewel heist in October. The correct pronunciation of the museum is LOOV-ruh, a fact that has posed challenges for many English speakers. Esteban Touma, a linguistic expert at Babbel, commented, “A lot of these words come from different languages, and we have to adapt to a sound that we’ve never made before.”

This year’s list also includes several other challenging terms that have caught public attention. For instance, acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen. Former President Donald Trump’s infamous stumble over this word during a public statement about pregnancy raised eyebrows and provided material for comedians nationwide.

The case of Alex Murdaugh, the South Carolina attorney sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 murders of his wife and son, also contributed to the list, with his name pronounced AL-ick MUR-dock. This year, Murdaugh’s story was dramatized in a Hulu series, further embedding his name in the public consciousness.

New drugs like Mounjaro, which has gained popularity for diabetes and obesity treatment, also made the list, with the correct pronunciation being mown-JAHR-OH. Babbel noted that many of the words on this list also appeared in the U.K. version, compiled with the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters, including the name of Storm Éowyn, pronounced ay-OH-win.

Babbel’s linguistic team tracks emerging pronunciation difficulties throughout the year, identifying names and terms that frequently challenge public speakers. In a surprising twist, actor Denzel Washington revealed on a late-night talk show that his name is pronounced DEN-zul—a fact that caused confusion leading his mother to pronounce it Den-ZELLE.

As the year progresses, the struggle with these challenging pronunciations reflects broader cultural dynamics and the impact of language in our daily lives. The ability to properly articulate names and terms is not just a matter of communication; it represents respect and recognition of diverse backgrounds.

With the new year approaching, expect to hear more discussions around these names as they continue to shape headlines and conversations across the nation. Stay tuned for updates and further developments on this evolving topic.