August M
A year of rapid-fire news left not just viewers but also anchors wrestling with pronunciation pitfalls.
From pharmaceuticals to political newcomers to Hollywood confessions, Americans repeatedly confronted names and terms that didn’t roll off the tongue.
A survey released by Babbel and The Captioning Group — cited by the Express — maps out the linguistic hurdles that dominated broadcasts and public conversations.
When celebrities surprise us
According to The Express, one of the more unexpected entries came from actor Denzel Washington, who used a late-night interview to reveal that both he and his father are technically pronounced DEN-zul
He added that his mother opted to pronounce his name as Den-ZELLE to sidestep confusion.
This kind of personal revelation underscores a broader point in Babbel’s analysis: pronunciation difficulty isn’t limited to obscure terminology. Even widely recognised figures can unsettle assumptions about how their names should sound.
Science, storms and the sounds we avoid
Medical language has long challenged English speakers, and 2025 was no exception. “Acetaminophen” — rendered by Babbel as uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen — resurfaced in national coverage after Donald Trump mishandled it verbally while cautioning pregnant women against the drug despite lacking evidence of risk.
Linguists said the word’s uneven stress pattern often triggers hesitation.
Weather terminology also intruded on the list. In the U.K., Storm Éowyn swept across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, forcing reporters to tackle ay-OH-win — a rhythm many found unfamiliar.
Subtitling groups noted that its spelling prompted frequent second-guessing.
The pharmaceutical world contributed another mouthful: ‘Mounjaro,’ pronounced mown-JAHR-oh.
As the diabetes and obesity drug drew widespread attention, captioners documented recurring confusion over its vowel shifts and unexpected emphasis, The Express notes.
The mayor whose name defined a debate
Madani has become New York City’s first Muslim mayor — and the first African-born and South Asian–descendant leader to hold the office.
He will take office in January, and he frequently heard his name distorted as he gained national prominence
Mamdani has said he distinguishes between honest mistakes and pointed misuses. During a debate, he stopped Andrew Cuomo mid-sentence to clarify: ‘The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I,’ The Express reports
Sources: Express.
