Zohran Mamdani, Louvre Headline Babbel’s 2025 Mispronounced Words List
Babbel’s 2025 ranking identifies Zohran Mamdani and the Louvre as among the year’s most mispronounced names.
New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and the Paris landmark Louvre have been named among the most mispronounced words of 2025 in an annual list released Thursday by language-learning platform Babbel and The Captioning Group. The compilation tracks terms that repeatedly tripped up American news anchors, politicians, and broadcasters over the past year.
Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist set to become the city’s first Muslim, first Africa-born, and first South Asian-heritage mayor in January 2026, saw his name frequently mangled during his high-profile campaign. The correct pronunciation (zoh-RAHN mam-DAH-nee) was often rendered as “Man-dah-nee” or similar variations, with many speakers inadvertently swapping the “M” and “N” in his surname.
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Mamdani has taken a relaxed stance on honest mistakes but has publicly called out deliberate mispronunciations, notably correcting former governor Andrew Cuomo during a mayoral debate. “The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I,” he reminded his opponent on live television.
The Louvre surged back into pronunciation debates following a widely covered jewel heist at the museum, prompting anchors to stumble over the French name once again. Despite years of exposure, many reverted to the anglicised “LOO-vur” instead of the proper “LOO-vruh” with its characteristically soft final consonant.
Babbel noted that sudden prominence in the news cycle is the biggest driver of mispronunciations, forcing broadcasters to tackle unfamiliar names under pressure without adequate preparation. The 2025 list reflects the intersection of global headlines and linguistic challenges faced by English-language media.
As Mamdani prepares to take office, New Yorkers and national viewers alike are getting an extended crash course in saying his name correctly, while the Louvre’s recurring appearance underscores how even centuries-old cultural icons can still baffle pronunciation guides.
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