Top mispronounced words of 2025: Find out here if you are saying them correctly

As the year is coming to a close, looking back at the most mispronounced words lets us reflect before it ends.

A language-learning platform Babble has furnished a list with the correct pronunciation for the words that have been instrumental in shaping the trends and generating viral buzz.

The list consists of words that American news anchors, politicians, and other public figures have struggled to pronounce correctly throughout the year.

Let’s find out what the top eight most mispronounced words of 2025 are and learn their correct pronunciation before we say goodbye to 2025.

Zohran Mamdani—New York City’s Mayor-elect

Among the most commonly mispronounced names is Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor-elect.

Upon taking the oath of office in January next year, the 34-year-old will make history as the city’s first Muslim, African-born mayor with South Asian roots.

Babble noted that Zoran’s last name, pronounced “Zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee,” is often mispronounced due to swapping the “M” and “N” sounds.

Denzel Washington—pronounced Den-ZELLE

70-year-old actor Denzel Washington has been a Hollywood staple for decades, but it turns out you may well have been saying his name wrong.

If you have been saying “DEN-zul,” you are part of the reason why this word made it to the list of 2025’s most mispronounced words.

While making an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Show, Washington revealed that Mom pronounced his name “Den-ZELLE” to distinguish him from his father, who shared the same name.

Louvre—“LOOV-ruh”

Another mispronounced word was "Louvre," which surfaced in online trends after the theft of France’s crown jewels, with the correct pronunciation being “LOOV-ruh” with a soft “ruh” sound.

Some other words and names that made it to this year’s list include:

Mounjaro—pronounced “mown-JAHR-OH”

Mounjaro (pronounced “mown-JAHR-OH”), which is part of a medication for diabetes and obesity, has surged in popularity as a rapid weight loss solution.

Labubu—"luh-BOO-boo"

Labubu (“luh-BOO-boo”—not “la-bu-bu”), the cult collectible toy that drove everyone crazy this year.

Alexander Skarsgard—pronounced “skarz-GORD”

Another Hollywood star makes the list, and this time it’s Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard, known for True Blood, The Northman, Big Little Lies, and in 2025, his role as a mysterious biker at the center of a BDSM romance, Pillion

The “gard” ending is pronounced like “GORD,” similar to “guard,” not “gard.”

Now that you know “Skarz-GORD” is the correct pronunciation, you’ll make sure to get it right next time you meet the Swedish star.

Acetaminophen—“un-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen”

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (correctly pronounced (“un-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen”), which President Donald Trump mispronounced while advising pregnant women not to take it, despite a lack of evidence linking it to autism.

Storm Éowyn—“ay-OH-win,” not “air-wyn”

The UK’s first major storm of 2025, with its Tolkien-derived name, battered Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in January.

It also caused confusion inside TV studios, where anchors commonly mispronounced it as “Ee-ow-win” or Ee-oh-win.”

So, now it’s up to you to decide how many of them you’ve been saying correctly so far in 2025.

Though the year isn’t over yet, you can still try it for yourself and practice the correct pronunciation.