Just over two-thirds of holidaymakers attempt to speak the language of the country they are visiting. With almost half of the holidaymakers admitting they feel nervous at the thought of having to speak the local language.
Speaking the local language can often prove a challenge when traveling abroad and sometimes Britons don’t always get it right after new research has revealed.
As many as 62% of holidaymakers are pronouncing words incorrectly abroad. According to UK Gov modern foreign languages, last year was on a slight decrease within the UK’s educational system, and almost half of the holidaymakers admit they feel nervous at the thought of having to speak the local language.
With around half of attempts resulting in corrections of some sort when speaking a foreign language, the research by mobile home holidays, Al Fresco Holidays, commissioned a 2,000 person survey that looked closer into the puzzling pronunciations around the most common words from the continent.
“Being aware that you are not speaking English and that the [grammatical] rules have changed is the first step to pronouncing foreign words well” Sergio Afonso, founder of Absolute Translation commented.
How do you pronounce the following?
|
Paella |
Pah-ey-yah |
Pah-ella |
Pie-eh-er |
|
Cerveza |
Car-veh-sah |
Thehr-beh-thah |
Ser-ve-sah |
|
Chorizo |
Chuh-ree-zoh |
Chur-rits-oh |
Shore-ree-zo |
|
Gracias |
Grahs-yahs |
Grahth-yahs |
Gras-ias |
|
Merlot |
Mehr-loh |
Mer-lot |
Merl-ot |
|
Au revoir |
Ar-rev-wah |
Ov-wah |
Oh-re-vwahr |
|
Croissant |
Cross-awnt |
Krwah-sah |
Cwas-ont |
|
Merci beaucoup |
Mer-see-boh-koo |
Mer-see bo-coup |
Mer-see-boo-cup |
|
Bruschetta |
Broo-sheh-ta |
Bru-chetta |
Broo-sketta |
|
Ciabatta |
Chee-ah-baht-tah |
Tchah-bah-tah |
Cia-a-bah-tah |
|
Mocha |
Mo-ka |
Mow-ka |
Mock-a |
|
Gnocchi |
Nok-quis |
Nyohk-kee |
Gocc-ee |
Croissant revealed to be the most challenging word for holidaymakers to pronounce with 85% of holidaymakers incorrectly pronouncing it [cross-awnt] or [cwas-ont], finding only 20% of holidaymakers from London were pronouncing croissant correctly [krwah-sah].
In Spain paella caused a divide amongst holidaymakers [Pah-ey-yah] or [pah-ella]. To settle the debate over half the holidaymakers from Sheffield pronounced Paella correct [pah-ey-yah] leaving 50% of holidaymakers from Belfast pronouncing [pah-ella].
Katie Harris, language expert from joyoflanguages.com explains: “We "superimpose" our British spelling rules onto other languages.” With one in five Brits pronouncing merlot [mer-lot] Katie further explains: “Brits pronounce the "t" at the end of merlot because that's how we'd do it in English, without taking into account the fact that consonants are often silent at the end of French words.”
Remembering your manners proved difficult for Birmingham where 71% of people pronounce Gracias incorrectly by either saying [Gras-ias] or [Grahs-yahs], in comparison to Southampton who are most likely to pronounce thank you in Spanish correctly across the UK pronouncing it [Grahth-yahs].
Katie Richardson, Brand Manager commented: “When holidaymakers go abroad, they want to immerse themselves in the different cultures and cuisines of the places they visit.
“It’s very encouraging to learn that 67% of holidaymakers try and speak the language. Language is an integral part of the holiday, knowing a few key phrases from traditional greetings to making sure you order the correct food in a restaurant can make someone’s holiday that little bit more relaxing.
“Letting children immerse with different cultures and nationalities on holiday will only help feed their desire to explore the world.
“With foreign language education declining in England, it’s important holidaymakers do continue to make the effort when they go abroad. Trying to speak the local dialect will always contribute to cultural immersion.”
Paella- Pay-ey-yah
55.1% Get this wrong
Cerveza- Thehr-beh-thah
70.7% Get this wrong
Chorizo- Chuh-ree-zoh
63.8& Get this wrong
Gracias- Grahth-yahs
69.2% Get this wrong
Au revoir- Oh-re-vwahr
60% Get this wrong
Croissant- Krwah-sah
85.4% Get this wrong
Merci beaucoup- Mer-see-boh-koo
45.7% Get this wrong
Bruschetta- Broo-sketta
85.4% Get this wrong
Ciabatta- Tchah-bah-tah
76.9% Get this wrong
Mocha- Mock-a
54.9% Get this wrong
Gnocchi- Nyohk-kee
41.8% Get this wrong
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
