By Becca Glasser-Baker, BESTLIFE
Heads-up, folks. When you’re traveling to another country, you better do your research, because few things are more embarrassing than mispronouncing a country’s name… when you’re in that country.
[post_ads]It’s like going to a dinner party and addressing the host incorrectly. Except, instead of slighting one person, you’re slighting millions. No one wants to be that guest, and no one wants to be that tourist.
So, in the interest of burnishing your atlas accuracy, we’ve collected the 20 most commonly mispronounced countries in the world. Read on to sharpen your globetrotting savvy. And for more difficult-to-pronounce destinations, learn the 30 Major City Names You May Be Mispronouncing.
Heads-up, folks. When you’re traveling to another country, you better do your research, because few things are more embarrassing than mispronouncing a country’s name… when you’re in that country.
[post_ads]It’s like going to a dinner party and addressing the host incorrectly. Except, instead of slighting one person, you’re slighting millions. No one wants to be that guest, and no one wants to be that tourist.
So, in the interest of burnishing your atlas accuracy, we’ve collected the 20 most commonly mispronounced countries in the world. Read on to sharpen your globetrotting savvy. And for more difficult-to-pronounce destinations, learn the 30 Major City Names You May Be Mispronouncing.
1
Ukraine
The right way to pronounce it: Yoo-krAIn (That’s right, folks. Drop the “the.”)
If you find yourself booking a flight to Ukraine, you may want to The Secret Trick That Could Save You 50 Percent on Airfare.
If you find yourself booking a flight to Ukraine, you may want to The Secret Trick That Could Save You 50 Percent on Airfare.
2
Samoa
The right way to pronounce it: SARM-oh-uh
If you need an excuse to jet off to Samoa (as if), don’t miss The 35 Best Reasons to Take a Vacation.
If you need an excuse to jet off to Samoa (as if), don’t miss The 35 Best Reasons to Take a Vacation.
3
Iraq
The right way to pronounce it: ee-rock
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4
Colombia
The right way to pronounce it: Co-LOHM-bee-uh
5
Seychelles
The right way to pronounce it: Sey-shel
6
Uruguay
The right way to pronounce it: yuhr-uh-GW’EYE
7
Paraguay
The right way to pronounce it: pare-uh-GW’EYE
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8
Kiribati
The right way to pronounce it: Ki-ri-bas
9
Lesotho
The right way to pronounce it: Luh-soh-toh
10
Namibia
The right way to pronounce it: nah-MIB-ee-ah
As it so happens, Namibia is one of The 20 Most Zen Places on Earth.
As it so happens, Namibia is one of The 20 Most Zen Places on Earth.
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11
Antigua
The right way to pronounce it: An-tee-guh
12
Maldives
The right way to pronounce it: MOHL-deeves
13
Moldova
The right way to pronounce it: Mahl-DOH-vuh
14
Brunei
The right way to pronounce it: Brew-NEE
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15
Belarus
The right way to pronounce it: bell-ah-ROOZ
Before flying all the way to Belarus, you might want to master The 35 Secrets Only Airport Insiders Know.
Before flying all the way to Belarus, you might want to master The 35 Secrets Only Airport Insiders Know.
16
Niger
The right way to pronounce it: Nye-jer
17
Pakistan
The right way to pronounce it: PAH-kee-stan
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18
Djibouti
The right way to pronounce it: jeh-BOO-tee
19
Azerbaijan
The right way to pronounce it: azz-uhr-beh-JAHN
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20
Uzbekistan
The right way to pronounce it: ooz-BEHK-eh-stahn
And for more great travel tidbits, don’t miss The 15 Best Under-the-Radar American Escapes.
And for more great travel tidbits, don’t miss The 15 Best Under-the-Radar American Escapes.
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