When it comes to ordering food in a restaurant, we're all guilty of hiding away from the foods we have absolutely no idea how to pronounce. Or getting round it by saying 'the lamb' – or even number 43, if that's an option. There's no need for ridicule from a waiter when you're just after something delicious to devour at lunch.
That said perhaps you're happily saying words as you think they should be pronounced. Get ready to stand corrected…
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The Co-Op and the Oxford English Dictionary have joined forces to create the ultimate list of fancy foreign foods that us Brits find glaringly difficult to pronounce.
Thankfully, they've also provided a handy guide advising exactly how they should be pronounced. Never again shall you be snubbed by your food server.
The list includes a variety of tasty tongue-twisters, such as quinoa, gnocchi, ceviche and tzatziki – ok, we admit those could be pronounced about seven different ways each – but there are some other culprits that we think are fairly easy to pronounce like halloumi, guacamole and espresso – commonly mistaken for 'expresso'. There's an 's' in there people!
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Many European meats and cheeses prove difficult to pronounce too, like Parmigiano Reggiano, Manchego and Proscuitto, as well as the fiery Mexican sauce, chipotle – should be pronounced chi-pot-lay.
Some French foods including Bouillabaise – should be pronounced boo-yah-behss – bouillon (bo-yon) and nicoise also proved challenging when it came to pronouncing correctly.
There are 20 foods in total, how many do you think you've been getting wrong?
1. Tzatziki - tsat-si-key
2. Bouillabaisse - boo-yah-behss
3. Ceviche - seh-bee-tche
4. Parmigiano Reggiano - par-mee-djah-no rehd-djah-no
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5. Edamame - ed-a-mar-mei
6. Acai - ah-sigh-ee
7. Nicoise - ni-swaz
8. Chipotle - chi-poat-lay
9. Manchego - man-chay-go
10. Prosciutto - pro-shoot-tow
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11. Crudites - krew-dee-tay
12. Gnocchi - nyohk-kee
13. Quinoa - keen-wah
14. Habanero - habe-a-ne-reu
15. Maraschino - ma-ra-skeeno
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16. Bouillon - bo-yon
17. Rioja - ree-o-ha
18. Halloumi - ha-lu-mi
19. Espresso - eh-spress-o
20. Guacamole - gwah-kah-moh-leh
Go forth and order food like a true gourmet. Or just carry on as you where (chances are your server is pronouncing these words the Anglicised way, just like you…
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(images: Getty)
