Holidaymakers are pronouncing 62% of words incorrect abroad

Speaking the local language can often prove a challenge when traveling abroad and sometimes Britons don’t always get it right after new research has revealed.

As many as 62% of holidaymakers are pronouncing words incorrectly abroad. According to UK Gov modern foreign languages, last year was on a slight decrease within the UK’s educational system, and almost half of the holidaymakers admit they feel nervous at the thought of having to speak the local language.

With around half of attempts resulting in corrections of some sort when speaking a foreign language, the research by mobile home holidays, Al Fresco Holidays, commissioned a 2,000 person survey that looked closer into the puzzling pronunciations around the most common words from the continent.

“Being aware that you are not speaking English and that the [grammatical] rules have changed is the first step to pronouncing foreign words well” Sergio Afonso, founder of Absolute Translation commented.

How do you pronounce the following?

Paella	Pah-ey-yah	Pah-ella	Pie-eh-er
Cerveza	Car-veh-sah	Thehr-beh-thah	Ser-ve-sah
Chorizo	Chuh-ree-zoh	Chur-rits-oh	Shore-ree-zo
Gracias	Grahs-yahs	Grahth-yahs	Gras-ias
Merlot	Mehr-loh	Mer-lot	Merl-ot
Au revoir	Ar-rev-wah	Ov-wah	Oh-re-vwahr
Croissant	Cross-awnt	Krwah-sah	Cwas-ont
Merci beaucoup	Mer-see-boh-koo	Mer-see bo-coup	Mer-see-boo-cup
Bruschetta	Broo-sheh-ta	Bru-chetta	Broo-sketta
Ciabatta	Chee-ah-baht-tah	Tchah-bah-tah	Cia-a-bah-tah
Mocha	Mo-ka	Mow-ka	Mock-a
Gnocchi	Nok-quis	Nyohk-kee	Gocc-ee

Croissant revealed to be the most challenging word for holidaymakers to pronounce with 85% of holidaymakers incorrectly pronouncing it [cross-awnt] or [cwas-ont], finding only 20% of holidaymakers from London were pronouncing croissant correctly [krwah-sah].

In Spain paella caused a divide amongst holidaymakers [Pah-ey-yah] or [pah-ella]. To settle the debate over half the holidaymakers from Sheffield pronounced Paella correct [pah-ey-yah] leaving 50% of holidaymakers from Belfast pronouncing [pah-ella].

Katie Harris, language expert from joyoflanguages.com explains: “We "superimpose" our British spelling rules onto other languages.” With one in five Brits pronouncing merlot [mer-lot] Katie further explains: “Brits pronounce the "t" at the end of merlot because that's how we'd do it in English, without taking into account the fact that consonants are often silent at the end of French words.”

Remembering your manners proved difficult for Birmingham where 71% of people pronounce Gracias incorrectly by either saying [Gras-ias] or [Grahs-yahs], in comparison to Southampton who are most likely to pronounce thank you in Spanish correctly across the UK pronouncing it [Grahth-yahs].

Katie Richardson, Brand Manager commented: “When holidaymakers go abroad, they want to immerse themselves in the different cultures and cuisines of the places they visit.

“It’s very encouraging to learn that 67% of holidaymakers try and speak the language. Language is an integral part of the holiday, knowing a few key phrases from traditional greetings to making sure you order the correct food in a restaurant can make someone’s holiday that little bit more relaxing. 

“Letting children immerse with different cultures and nationalities on holiday will only help feed their desire to explore the world.

“With foreign language education declining in England, it’s important holidaymakers do continue to make the effort when they go abroad. Trying to speak the local dialect will always contribute to cultural immersion.”

Paella- Pay-ey-yah
55.1% Get this wrong

Cerveza- Thehr-beh-thah
70.7% Get this wrong

Chorizo- Chuh-ree-zoh
63.8& Get this wrong

Gracias- Grahth-yahs
69.2% Get this wrong

Au revoir- Oh-re-vwahr
60% Get this wrong

Croissant- Krwah-sah
85.4% Get this wrong

Merci beaucoup- Mer-see-boh-koo
45.7% Get this wrong

Bruschetta- Broo-sketta
85.4% Get this wrong

Ciabatta- Tchah-bah-tah
76.9% Get this wrong

Mocha- Mock-a
54.9% Get this wrong

Gnocchi- Nyohk-kee
41.8% Get this wrong

Tags:Al Fresco Holidays