Foreign words Brits struggle to pronounce on holiday – from hygge to croissant
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THE most difficult foreign words Brits struggle to pronounce include ‘hygge, ‘quinoa’ - and 'croissant'. A poll of 2,000 adults found the Greek dish 'gyros', ‘sauvignon’, and the Vietnamese noodle soup 'pho' also featured high on the list of trickiest sayings.
![[The study found 21 per cent never speak in their holiday country's native tongue when abroad]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/two-young-female-friends-drinking-958770771.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
While 'rendezvous’, 'faux pas', and 'pain au chocolat' were also cited as some of the more awkward to pronounce French words. Exactly three in 10 find themselves often mispronouncing foreign phrases, with 25 per cent claiming place names as the trickiest to say, and 18 per cent struggling with food and drink the most.
![[53 per cent of Brits feel embarrassed whenever they knowingly mispronounce a foreign word in front of others, research shows]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/front-view-cheerful-men-women-958770677.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It also emerged 21 per cent never speak in the native tongue when abroad. And 53 per cent say that when eating in a restaurant they will typically point to something on a menu, rather than risking the embarrassment of saying it wrong out loud. The study was commissioned by bakery brand, St Pierre, to celebrate the launch of its new croissants, with the team taking to the streets to test Brits on their pronunciations.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “Mispronouncing foreign words is a relatable struggle for many of us. “From fumbling over 'croissant' to hesitating before attempting 'gnocchi', it’s a reminder of how diverse and rich languages truly are. “And it’s not just about getting it right – it’s about showing respect for the culture and making an effort.”.
