Brand names are tricky. Some of the most recognizable companies in the world have names that have been passed down through generations with pronunciations that are completely different from the original – and most people don’t realize it!
Even if you’ve seen them spelled out, or heard them on TV and radio a million times, there are still a few big names out there that might trip you up when it comes to correct pronunciation.
This is especially true for those names that aren’t spelled phonetically or pronounced similarly to how they look.
I’ve put together a list of 45 famous brand names that you pronounce incorrectly, along with the right way to say them so you never make that mistake again.
Read on!
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Famous Brand Names You Pronounce Incorrectly
1. Adidas
Image from Adidas website
There’s no denying the iconic status of Adidas, a brand that’s been around since 1949 and has become synonymous with “athletic wear.”
However, there’s a common misconception that Adidas is pronounced: “Add-i-das.” In reality, the right way to call this brand is “Uh-DEE-duhs.”
2. Adobe
Adobe is a very popular software company that you have probably heard of before. They make products like Adobe Software Suite and Photoshop.
Now, many people pronounce Adobe as “Add-obe” or “Ad-o-bé”, but this is wrong. If you want to say it correctly, try: “Uh-DOE-bee.”
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3. Audi
Audi is a German car manufacturer from Ingolstadt that has been around since 1909, making it one of the oldest companies in the world.
For a lot of people, it’s “Aw-dee,” with an emphasis on the first syllable. But if you’re saying it that way, you need to correct yourself.
In reality, the second syllable is supposed to be emphasized and pronounced kind of like “howdy” – with a long “A” sound at the beginning. This makes Audi sound like “OW-dee.”
4. Balenciaga
Like a lot of other fashion-forward brands, Balenciaga is a renowned company with a commonly mispronounced name. Some say “Buh-len-syah-guh,” while others say “Buh-len-syag-uh.”
But in fact, Balenciaga sounds like “Buh-len-see-aa-guh,” with equal stress on every syllable.
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5. Balmain
Image from Balmain website
Balmain is another prestigious brand in the fashion industry, but many people pronounce it “Ball-main”, which is incorrect.
If that’s how you call it, here’s how you should be saying it instead: “Baal-mayn.”
6. BMW
It’s safe to say that everyone knows that BMW stands for the Bayerische Motoren Werke famous car brand. But how do you pronounce it? “Bee-em-double-yoo”?
Well, the correct pronunciation for BMW is literally based on the way that the letters are pronounced in German. That is: “Be-em-vee”
7. Boeing
Boeing is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, missiles, rockets, and satellites.
You can mispronounce its name in two main ways: either “Bow-ing” or “Boe-ing.” The right way to say it, however, is “Bow-uhng.”
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8. Burberry
With a heritage that dates back to 1856, you’d think that Burberry’s name would be pronounced perfectly by everyone. But, no matter where you’re from or what your native language is, you probably pronounce it wrong.
Most people call it “Burr-berry”, but there’s actually no hard “r” in it. The correct pronunciation is “Bur-beh-ree”
9. Bvlgari
Image from Bvlgari website
When you think of Italian luxury goods, you probably think of Bvlgari. Their jewelry is an iconic staple in any fashionista’s wardrobe.
However, its name isn’t simple to pronounce. You may say “Buhl-garee” or “Boo-lgh-are”, but the proper way to pronounce it is simply “Bool-gaa-ree.”
10. Cartier
Despite being one of the most recognizable brands in the world, the French jeweler Cartier is surprisingly easy to mispronounce.
People usually read it as “Karr-tier”, but in French, when a word ends with a consonant, this one is silent. So next time you want to mention this brand out loud, make sure to say “Car-Tee-Ay”.
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11. Chipotle
Chipotle, the popular Mexican food chain, is often pronounced “Chee-poh-lete” or “Chi-poat-lay.”
However, both versions are wrong. The right way to say it is “Chuh-powt-lay.”
12. Chloé
Chloé, the French label famous for its minimalist designs and subtle sophistication, has a name that’s slightly more complicated than it looks.
Most people say “Klo-aay”, but it’s actually “Kloh-eh.”
13. Chopard
Image from Chopard website
Chopard is a Swiss jeweler that has been in business since 1860. It was founded by Louis-Ulysse Chopard, and most people pronounce it “Shaw-pahr.”, with the first syllable sounding like the “sho” in “shower.”
However, that’s completely wrong. The name’s actual pronunciation is closer to “Chaa-pard”, with a strong emphasis on the “ch”.
14. Chevrolet
The automaker Chevrolet is one of the best-known companies in the world, but when you think of it, you may hear yourself saying “Chev-ro-lay” – which is completely wrong.
The correct way to pronounce this name is “Sheh-vruh-lay”.
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15. Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel is another well-known brand name in fashion history, but you’ve probably been mispronouncing it your whole life.
It’s not “Koh-koh Chan-el”, but “Kow-kow Shuh-nel.” The stress is strongest on the first syllable, and the “ch” sounds like the “sh” on “shadow”.
16. Comme des Garçons
The famous French fashion line Comme des Garçons gets its name often mispronounced by English speakers as “Commay day gar-soons.”
In reality, the proper way to say it is “Kom de Gar-son”. The “s” in Garçons indicates a plural, which isn’t pronounced in French.
Also, you have to roll your tongue to produce what sounds like gargling when saying the “r”.
17. Desigual (Desi-Gwaul)
Image from Desigual website
Desigual is a clothing brand that originated in Spain and grew to be one of Europe’s most popular clothing lines.
The name Desigual comes from the word “desigual”, which means uneven or unequal in Spanish. Although it’s spelled exactly the same way as it’s pronounced, many English speakers mispronounce it as “Dez-a-gull” or “De-seeg-ahl.”
The right way to pronounce this brand name is “Dee-seh-goo-ahl.”
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18. Deutsche Bank
This German bank has been around for over 152 years, so you’d think that by now we’d all be able to pronounce “Deutsche Bank” correctly. However, if you say “Doo-che Bank”, you’re doing it wrong.
The name of this company is actually pronounced “Doytch Bank”. The first syllable is stressed and there is no “e” at the end.
19. Dior
If you’ve been pronouncing the name of the French fashion house Dior like “Dye-or”, you are not alone. In fact, most people who have a casual interest in fashion pronounce it that way, because it’s much easier to say.
But if you are an aspiring fashionista or just a fan of the brand, then you should know that the proper pronunciation is “Dee-or.”
20. Dolce & Gabbana
Unless you’re a high-end Italian fashion guru (and even if you are one) there’s a good chance that you pronounce the brand Dolce & Gabbana wrong.
It’s not “Dol-cheh uhn Gabb-a-nah”. Instead, it sounds like ““Dowl-chay uhn guh-baa-nuh”
In Italian, the name Dolce is pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable, and Gabbana with an emphasis on the second syllable.
21. Givenchy
Image from Givenchy website
The French luxury label Givenchy is another brand whose name you’re probably mispronouncing.
Instead of saying something like “Jee-vain-chee”, you should be saying “Zhee-vaan-shee”.
22. Gouda
When it comes to cheese, the word “Gouda” is one of the most recognizable in the world. You’ve seen it on menus and packages your whole life, and you probably thought that you knew how to pronounce it.
But if you say “Gow-da” or “Goou-dey”, you’re pronouncing it incorrectly.
This brand name is actually pronounced “Goo-duh”, with a long “ew” sound in the first syllable and a short “a” sound in the second.
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23. Gucci
There’s no denying that Gucci has made a huge splash in the world of fashion. Unfortunately, like the rest of the companies in this list, it has one of the most mispronounced names in the world.
The right way to say Gucci is “Goo-chee”, but most people call it “Goo-chay”.
24. Guerlain
Guerlain is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world and has been making perfume for more than 190 years. But there’s still confusion over how to pronounce its name correctly.
Is it “Gher-lay”, “Gher-len”, or “Gher-lein”? Well, none is correct.
The proper way of saying Guerlain is simply “Gehr-lan.”
25. Hermès
Image from Hermès website
Hermès, the legendary Parisian fashion house, isn’t pronounced “Her-mees”.
If you want to pronounce it correctly, you have to say “Air-mez.”
26. Huawei
Huawei is a Chinese company that produces cell phones and, more recently, computer systems.
It’s pronounced “Waa-way”, not “Whee-way” or “Hoo-wah-way.”
27. Hyundai
Hyundai, a recognizable South Korean automotive brand, is often pronounced “Hy-ound-yee” or “Hy-ound-dee”.
However, its correct pronunciation is “Huhn-day.”
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28. Ikea
There’s no denying that Ikea is a household name. But, if you’re like many people, you probably have trouble pronouncing the name correctly.
This could be due to the fact that the word “Ike” is non-English and has no connection to any words that sound similar to it.
The correct way to pronounce it is “Ai-kee-uh”, not “I-kah-uh” or “eye-ke-ah.”
29. Jean Paul Gaultier
Image from Jean Paul Gaultier website
Another popular brand in the fashion world is a French designer named Jean Paul Gaultier, but it’s often mispronounced with a hard G.
The right way to say it is “Zhaan paal gaal-tee-ay.”
30. La Croix
La Croix is a sparkling water that’s been around for decades, and during all this time people have been calling it “La Kwah”.
To set the record straight, the correct way of saying this brand name is “La Kroa”, with a French “r”.
31. Lamborghini
Lamborghini, a renowned automaker with a rich history, is well-known by many people today.
However, despite its fame, the brand has to deal constantly with the mispronunciation of its name. The most common one is “Lam-borh-gee-ne”, but the proper pronunciation is in fact “Lam-br-gee-nee.”
32. Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is a renowned French fashion house founded in 1854 by the eponymous craftsman. Today, however, most people don’t know how to pronounce it correctly.
It’s not “Louie” or “Lewis”, nor is it “Vwee-ton” or “Vwee-tohn.” This famous brand name is actually pronounced “Loo-ee Vuh-taan.”
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33. Moschino
Image from Moschino website
While Moschino is a household name in the fashion world, many people don’t know how to pronounce it. And that’s because the pronunciation of this Italian brand name is actually quite different from the way it looks.
It’s not “Moe-key-noh” or “Moe-shee-no”. If you want to say it correctly, this is how you should pronounce it: “Muh-shee-now”
34. Nike
It turns out that “Nike” derives from the Greek goddess of victory, who was named Niké (“Nee-ké.”) So, somehow, people have gotten the idea that “Nyke” and “Nee-ké” are interchangeable ways of saying the same thing.
The truth? Neither is correct.
According to Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight, the right way to say it is “Ni-key.”
35. Nutella
If you’re speaking about the famous brand Nutella, you might pronounce it “Nutty-ella” or even “New-tella.”
However, the brand name for this delicious hazelnut spread is actually “Noo-teh-luh.”
36. Peugeot
Peugeot is a French car manufacturer whose name is pronounced differently than it’s spelled.
If you say something like “Peo-got,” most people will understand what you mean. But in fact, the proper pronunciation is “Poo-zhow,” with a strong emphasis on the last syllable (which sounds kind of like the “sh” in “shine.”)
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37. Porsche
Image from Porsche website
Porsche is a German brand that’s known for its top-of-the-line sports cars, and it’s named after Ferdinand Porsche, the Austrian engineer who founded it back in 1931.
While you’ve probably been saying “Porsh” this whole time, the proper way to pronounce this brand name is “Por-shuh”. The key is to use a strong “P” at the beginning and place an emphasis on the “shuh.”
38. Quechua
Though “Quechua” is the name of an indigenous South American people and language, it has become synonymous with a famous brand of outdoor apparel and gear, sold in stores across the world.
It’s not “Kew-choo-ah” or “Quay-choo-ah.” Instead, to pronounce this brand name correctly you have to say “Keh-chuh-wuh.”
39. Renault
Most people know that Renault, the famous car manufacturer, is a French company, but they may still be confused about how to pronounce its name. Some call it “Ren-olt”, or even “Reh-nult”.
The real name sounds like “Ren-oh”, with the accent on the second syllable and a hard ‘r’.
40. Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf is a German hairdressing company that’s really well-known worldwide since 1898. But if you’ve been pronouncing it “Shvarts-cof”, then you’ve been saying it wrong all these years.
If you want to pronounce it correctly, say instead “Shworz-kaaf.”
41. Stella Artois
Image from Stella Artois website
Stella Artois is a Belgian beer brewed by the Stella Artois Brewery, located in Leuven. Many people pronounce it “stella art-wah”, but this is incorrect.
The right pronunciation is “Steh-luh aar-twaa.”
42. Sriracha
It’s no secret that Sriracha is a godsend to anyone who loves spicy food. But its name is difficult to pronounce for anyone who’s not from Thailand.
The most common mispronunciation of Sriracha is “Seer-racha”. The right way to say it, however, is “Sr-aa-chuh”
43. Versace
Versace is a high-end fashion house founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The brand is known for its bold, feminine designs and has stores all over the world.
However, most people pronounce it like “Versa-ché”, stressing the last “e”, while the correct way to say it is “Versach-eh”.
44. Volkswagen
The German car company Volkswagen has been in existence since the 1930s, and its iconic cars include the Beetle, Golf, and Passat. However, many people get it wrong when they pronounce the brand name.
If you say “Wolf-s-wagen” or “Vols-vagen” when referring to Volkswagen, you’re saying it wrong. Since it’s a German word, the “V” in Volkswagen is pronounced like an “F”, which means that it’s pronounced like “Folks-va-gun”, or “Folks-wagen”, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
45. Yves Saint Laurent
Image from Yves Saint Laurent website
The French luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent has been making some of the world’s most classic pieces of clothing since its namesake designer founded it in 1961. However, despite the brand’s popularity on the market today, consumers are still getting their tongues tied over its name.
When you’re talking about Yves Saint Laurent, it’s tempting to pronounce “Saint” with a hard “T” sound. But in fact, it’s actually closer to the French pronunciation of “Saint,” which is more like “sahn.”
So, the proper way to pronounce this way looks like this: “Eev saan law-raan”
Wrapping Up
It can be hard to pronounce brand names if you’re not used to them or if they’re not in your native language. So if you’ve been calling these famous companies the wrong way, don’t worry – you’re not alone!
All you need is practice. The more often you try to pronounce them properly, the more natural they will become.
With the help of repetition and this guide, you’ll eventually become more confident about pronouncing these famous brand names correctly and sounding like a pro when you’re discussing them.
