Top mispronounced words of 2025: Are you saying them correctly?

As the year draws to a close, a look back at the most mispronounced words of 2025 offers a chance to reflect on our language skills before the year ends. Babble, a language-learning platform, has compiled a list of words that have made waves and generated viral attention, but have also been mispronounced by public figures, including news anchors and politicians. Let’s explore some of the most commonly mispronounced words of 2025 and how to pronounce them correctly.

Among the top entries is Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City. As he prepares to take office, his name has been often mispronounced. The correct pronunciation is “Zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee,” with the “M” and “N” sounds often swapped.

Hollywood star Denzel Washington also makes the list. His name is frequently mispronounced as “DEN-zul,” but the correct way is “Den-ZELLE.” Washington himself clarified this on a talk show, explaining that his mother pronounced it this way to distinguish him from his father, who shared the same name.

The Louvre, the famous museum in Paris, is another word that has tripped people up this year. It’s correctly pronounced “LOOV-ruh,” with a soft “ruh” sound, not “LOO-vre.”

Other notable mispronunciations include Mounjaro, the medication for diabetes and obesity, which should be pronounced “mown-JAHR-OH,” not “mown-JAR-OH.” Labubu, a popular toy, is correctly said as “luh-BOO-boo,” not “la-bu-bu.”

Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard’s last name is often mispronounced as “Skars-GARD,” but the correct pronunciation is “skarz-GORD,” similar to “guard.”

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, has been mispronounced as “uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen,” but it should be pronounced “un-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen.”

Storm Éowyn, the first major storm of 2025, caused confusion with its Tolkien-inspired name. It’s pronounced “ay-OH-win,” not “air-wyn.”

Now that you know the correct pronunciations, take a moment to check if you’ve been saying these words right throughout 2025. It’s never too late to start practicing!