Mispronunciation Milestones: Zohran Mamdani, Louvre, and more make the list

This year's news cycle left many Americans struggling to get their tongues around certain words and names. From the historic mayoral win of Zohran Mamdani to the high-profile jewel heist at the Louvre, several terms made it onto Babbel's list of most mispronounced words in 2025. The incoming mayor of New York City, Mamdani, has faced his fair share of mispronunciations. His name, which should be pronounced "zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee," often gets mangled, with people frequently swapping the "M" and "N" in his last name. Mamdani has taken it in stride, even playfully correcting former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a mayoral debate. The Louvre museum, also on the list, has been a source of confusion for many, with its correct pronunciation being "LOOV-ruh." Esteban Touma, a linguistic expert at Babbel, notes that many of these mispronounced words come from foreign languages, requiring a new sound that English speakers may struggle to adapt to. Other notable entries on the list include: - Acetaminophen (uh-SEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen), the active ingredient in Tylenol, which President Donald Trump notoriously struggled to pronounce. - Alex Murdaugh (AL-ick MUR-dock), the South Carolina attorney who was sentenced to life in prison for a high-profile murder case. - Mounjaro (mown-JAHR-OH), a popular diabetes medication. Interestingly, several words on the U.S. list also made it onto the British list, compiled by Babbel and the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters. Storm Éowyn, which battered Ireland and Scotland, was a notable entry on the U.K. list, with a correct pronunciation of "ay-OH-win.