As we bid farewell to 2025 and welcome the approaching New Year, here are the words that have been commonly mispronounced by individuals worldwide this year. From the names of actors and football players to Pokémon and collectible plush toys, there have been several words that many struggled to pronounce correctly throughout the year. Experts at Babbel, in collaboration with the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters (BIVR), have provided insights on the proper pronunciation of many of these challenging words.
Linguistic and cultural expert, Noël Wolf, at Babbel stated, “2025 showcased names, brands, and cultural references that have posed challenges even for proficient speakers.” Wolf added, “This year’s compilation is characterized by significant global events, viral music, and attention-grabbing medical terminology. Each word has seamlessly entered everyday conversations while presenting its own pronunciation conundrum.”
Among the words that have been commonly mispronounced in 2025 is the surname of England striker and Arsenal player, Michelle Agyemang. She gained prominence as a standout player in Euro 2025, consistently delivering stellar performances for the Lionesses and earning the title of Young Player of the Tournament.
Her surname, which translates from the Akan language spoken widely in Ghana as “saviour of a nation,” is correctly pronounced as “Ah–jeh–man,” as clarified by experts. Another name that made the list was the full name of the newly elected New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani secured victory as the mayor of New York City on November 4, 2025, making him the youngest mayor of NYC in over a century and the first mayor of African birth with South Asian heritage.
Mamdani’s name was frequently mispronounced throughout the year, with one notable error made by White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, who referred to him as “Zamdani” during a press briefing. Additionally, the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, experienced a daring daylight robbery in October, where thieves stole eight pieces of France’s historic crown jewels in less than eight minutes. Some news reporters struggled with the pronunciation of “Louvre,” overstressing the silent ‘re’ at the end. To pronounce it accurately, experts advised a very soft “ruh,” almost like “LOOV” with a subtle ending.
Babbel also highlighted the cult collectible toy Labubu (luh–BOO–boo) and words like the Pokémon, Rayquaza (ray–KWAY–zuh) as part of the list of frequently mispronounced words in 2025.
Many of these mispronunciations stem from languages other than English, attributed to the UK’s diverse cultural milieu. Noël Wolf emphasized the importance of approaching unfamiliar words with curiosity and confidence, stating, “Mastering pronunciation not only enhances communication but also strengthens our connection to the cultures behind the words.”