Have you ever stumbled-mumbled over a word you’re not entirely sure how to pronounce? You’re not alone. With vocabulary borrowed from myriad sources and root languages, along with some plain old made-up words, English pronunciation rules aren’t really rules. You can try to sound out words phonetically, but you’re just as likely to be wrong as you are right. And sometimes you only know words from reading, so you’ve never heard the correct pronunciation out loud. Be proud of that — it means you’re well read. Here are 15 of the most commonly mispronounced words and how to say them clearly and confidently in American English.

Healthy food lovers know the benefits of this Amazonian fruit — but how many know how to say it properly? Four letters, three syllables: “ah-sigh-EE.”

Memes aren’t a millennial invention; the word has been around since the 1970s in the sense of a cultural element that spreads rapidly. However, the advent of social media allowed this word — from the Greek mimēma, meaning “that which is imitated” — to take on a life of its own. If you’ve ever said “mee-mee,” “may-may,” or “mem,” “you’re doing it wrong” (to quote a meme). The proper pronunciation is simply “meem.”

It’s easy to get confused with this one. A lot of people say “cash-AY” because it’s so similar to “cachet,” which does have that two-syllable pronunciation. But the correct pronunciation is “cash” — that final “e” is silent. (“Cache” refers to a collection of items in a hidden place, while “cachet” means “prestige.”)

Take a cue from Cher Horowitz — who declared in Clueless that there was no point in practicing parking for her driving test, because “everywhere you go has valet” — and pronounce it “val-AY.” However, if you’re referring to the out-of-date job as a man’s personal wardrobe attendant, you can pronounce that “t” — “VAL-et.”

This one’s a little controversial. The inventor of the graphics interchange format declared that “GIF” should be pronounced with a soft “g” (like the sound in “gin”). In fact, jokes were made that “choosey developers choose GIF” — a riff on Jif peanut butter’s famous catchphrase. But many folks on the internet have gravitated toward a hard “g” sound (basically “gift” without the “t”). Some dictionaries list both versions as correct, but if you want to go with the inventor’s intent, just remember the peanut butter when you share your next GIF.

If you’re into debating politics, “electoral college” is likely in your vocabulary. For the next presidential election, make sure you have the pronunciation down. It’s pronounced “e-LEK-tor-al,” not “e-lek-TOR-al.”

Next time you’re ordering a lunchtime gyro, resolve to say the word properly. This varies somewhat based on location, but you can get it right by asking for a “YEE-roh” or “ZHIHR-oh.” And don’t forget the tzatziki, or “tsah-TSEE-key.”

Many colors are so ubiquitous that everyone knows how to pronounce their names (no questions about ROY G BIV). That’s not the case when it comes to the not-so-often-mentioned mauve, which has slightly different pronunciations in British and American English. In the Queen’s English, it rhymes with “stove,” but in the U.S., it’s “mawv.”

The next time you’re ordering a tea latte, do it with confidence. This caffeine-free tea, which means “red bush” in Afrikaans, is often mispronounced as “roo-BE-ohs,” “rooh-IH-boos,” and “ROO-bus”. The proper pronunciation is the simple “ROY-bus.”

“Chicanery” means “the use of trickery to achieve some purpose.” It is often mistakenly pronounced “chi-CAN-er-ee,” but the correct pronunciation is “shi-CANE-er-ee.” It’s a tricky word to describe tricks.

This word, meaning “the right or privilege exclusive to an individual,” is often mispronounced by forgetting the first “r,” turning the word into “PER-og-a-tive.” When speaking it, pronounce that first “r” but put the emphasis on the second syllable: “pruh-RAH-guh-tive.”

All the “o’s” in this one can make pronunciation confusing. You know how to pronounce the word “zoo,” but what about the “-logy” tacked on at the end? This suffix actually changes the pronunciation of “zoo” by breaking up the first two “o’s” into two separate syllables. It’s up to you whether to keep “zoo” or turn it into a “zoh”: “Zoo-AWL-uh-jee” and “zoh-AWL-uh-jee” are both correct.

A boatswain is a member of a ship’s crew — the person in charge of equipment and crew. This word looks like it would be pronounced as two separate words, “boat” and then “swain,” but a sailor would look at you in confusion. It’s pronounced “BOH-sun,” dropping out the “t” and the “w.”

Soldering is the act of joining metal pieces together with a low-heat metal alloy through higher heat. It looks easy enough to pronounce, but it’s another word where the pronunciation doesn’t match the spelling. The “l” is silent, so the correct pronunciation is “SOD-er.”

Bridgerton fans have a leg up here. A viscount is a lord in the peerage of Great Britain, ranking above a baron and below an earl. The word looks like it should be pronounced as “VISS-count,” but with this British aristocratic rank, the “s” is silent — it should be pronounced “VIGH-count.” Now you can read more of those period romance novels with the correct pronunciation.

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The human body is amazingly complex, made up of 11 organ systems, 206 bones, and more than 640 skeletal muscles. And that’s before you get to the molecular level, where we have approximately 37.2 trillion cells. Most of us know the basic names for major body parts, but there are definitely at least a few we skipped over in anatomy class. For instance, what’s the space between our eyebrows called? What about the one between your upper lip and nose? And is there a name for the white coloring at the bottom of your nails? The next time you’re at the doctor’s office, impress her by throwing out a few of these bodily names.

Imagine there’s an itch on your back that you can’t quite manage to scratch. It’s right in the middle and always seems just a little out of reach — that spot is your acnestis, quite possibly the reason back scratchers were invented. The name comes from an ancient Greek word for “spine,” or “backbone,” and has been in English medical textbooks since the mid-18th century. However, more recent usage is mostly humorous, as pointed out by a 1927 citation in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED): “That spot known to crossword solvers as the acnestis.” (The joke is that the obscure word would only be of use to regular word-game players.)

Hold your hand up, palm facing away, and spread your fingers. Look in between your thumb and index finger, and you’ll notice a triangular depression formed in the slight webbing at the base of the joining. This deepening is sometimes called the “anatomical snuffbox.” Years ago, when ground smokeless tobacco (snuff) was more in fashion, people would place the substance in that groove and ingest it through the nose.

The canthus is the inner point where the upper and lower eyelids meet. The little red blob at the inner canthus is called the “lacrimal caruncle,” or caruncula lacrimalis. It’s the tear duct and helps keep eyes moist.

“Dimples of Venus” refers to where the sacroiliac joints lie in the tailbone area, connecting the sacrum to the ilium in the pelvis. Confused by those terms, too? The dimples of Venus are the little divots on the lower back, right above the buttocks. They’re named after Venus — the Roman goddess of beauty, equivalent to Aphrodite in Greek mythology — as they’re believed to be a mark of beauty. You might know them as “back dimples,” or even “butt dimples.”

The glabella is the flat area above the nose and between the eyebrows. The name is Latin for “smooth,” which isn’t necessarily an accurate descriptor, as many people sport the occasional hair here (kudos to Frida Kahlo for keeping the unibrow forever cool). Here’s a helpful tip: If you gently pinch and lift your glabella and it remains tented, that’s a sign of dehydration.

The white semicircle at the base of your fingernails is the lunula. It gets its name from luna, Latin for “moon,” because of its crescent shape. It’s usually most noticeable on the thumbs, but many people’s lunulae (the plural comes from Latin) are covered by the cuticle (eponychium), so don’t worry if you can’t spot it.

The vertical groove stretching from the bottom of the nose to the top of the upper lip is the philtrum. The depth, length, and width of the philtrum has historically been used in facial readings (similar to palm readings) to derive certain characteristics; supposedly, a wide philtrum indicates luck.

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Airport jargon can sound like a different language. Between the flight attendant’s instructions and the pilot’s announcements, most travelers probably won’t know every term in the aviation handbook. If you’re wondering about a cross-check before takeoff, or where the airport’s apron is, read up on some popular air travel terms to understand their meanings and ensure that your next trip to the airport is a breeze.

The tarmac is the paved area where planes take off, land, and taxi. The word “tarmac” is a shortened version of “tarmacadam,” which refers to a type of pavement made out of crushed stone, covered in tar. Any area at an airport that is surfaced with this material can be called the tarmac. The material was named after Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam, who invented “macadam” (the earliest form of this pavement) in the 18th century.

When the pilot asks the crew to “cross-check” before takeoff or deplaning, they’re asking their flight attendants to verify that the cabin doors are armed or disarmed. Attendants first check their own doors and then cross-check their colleagues’ doors. For takeoff, the doors are armed, meaning that slides will automatically deploy if a door is opened. After landing, flight attendants must cross-check again to disarm the doors when approaching the gate, allowing passengers to deplane normally.

The purser is the chief flight attendant in the cabin. They are responsible for overseeing the duties of other flight attendants, filling out paperwork, and making sure that everyone is safe during their travels. The term comes from old seafaring days when the person in charge of a ship’s money or provisions (the purse) was called the “purser.”

The cockpit is the section of the aircraft used by the pilot and co-pilot. It holds the controls and instrument panel used to fly the plane, and on commercial airlines, it’s closed off to the rest of the cabin while in flight. This unusual word comes from the 16th century, when it was used to describe an enclosed space for bird fighting (gamecocks), back when the sport was popular. In the early 1700s, it gained nautical usage, describing a midshipman’s below-deck compartment. Like other maritime terminology, it made its way into aviation handbooks in the early 20th century, shortly after the invention of the airplane.

Yes, this can refer to a fan at a Grateful Dead concert, but in the airline industry, “deadhead” is the term used for a uniformed crew member who is flying, but not working. Deadheading happens often, as flight attendants are transported to their next assignment or back to their home airport after a shift. But it can sometimes cause confusion in the cabin, especially if a passenger asks the crew member to perform what would be a standard duty if they were working. So, if you see an airline employee in a window seat taking a snooze or watching a movie, they’re likely enjoying the flight as a passenger.

At an airport, the area that surrounds the gate where planes are parked and serviced is variously referred to as the apron, ramp, or tarmac. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the official term for the specific area surrounding the gate is “apron.” “Ramp” is essentially interchangeable with “apron,” but the former is an informal term used in the U.S. and Canada. The apron is also sometimes referred to informally as the “tarmac,” but that technically describes the entire area paved with tarmacadam.

In aviation, a red-eye flight is one scheduled to depart at night and arrive the next morning. Its nickname comes from the sleep deprivation involved in overnight travel, causing passengers to have red eyes from fatigue. The term was popularized in the 1960s, shortly after the boom of the airline industry, when overnight flights became available. A pink-eye flight will take off late at night and arrive before sunrise (and it doesn’t require antibiotics).

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Trying new cuisines and expanding your palate are marvelous experiences, but it can be difficult to order unfamiliar foods if you don’t know how to pronounce them. This list is for anyone who has ever looked at a restaurant menu and stumbled over the words in front of them. Whether you want to nail your next açai bowl order or impress your date by selecting gnocchi at an Italian restaurant, we have you covered.

Pronunciation: uh-SIGH-ee

These dark purple berries have become something of a smoothie-shop celebrity. The generally accepted pronunciation for this four-letter, three-syllable Portuguese term stresses the second syllable — “uh-SIGH-ee” — but many people seem to drop the “ee” altogether. Your order will likely still be correct, but the pronunciation is incorrect without the full three syllables.

Pronunciation: oh-ZHOO

This French culinary term means “with the juice,” and it typically shows up with roasted meat served alongside its own juices (pan drippings). Since the word is French, it’s pronounced “oh-ZHOO” (the “s” is silent). An important cooking note on au jus — it’s usually not thickened with flour or cornstarch, which is what makes it distinct from gravy.

Pronunciation: BOO(l)-yahn

Bouillon is a flavor-packed additive that makes a delicious broth for soup. The word “bouillon” is borrowed from a French term that translates to “liquid in which something has boiled” (aka broth). Introduced in 1908 by the Swiss company Maggi, bouillon comes in cubes, powders, and pastes, and in seemingly all flavors, including chicken, beef, fish, and mushroom. As for how to say it: The double “l” is nearly silent in the American pronunciation (“BOO(l)-yahn”).

Pronunciation: eh-SPRESS-oh

There’s no “x” in this one, but the coffeehouse hero sometimes gets mixed up with a similar word in English, “express,” resulting in the incorrect pronunciation “expresso.” Espresso is a strong black coffee made by passing steam through ground coffee beans. It comes from the Italian phrase caffè espresso, meaning “pressed-out coffee.”

Pronunciation: chuh-POHT-lay

This Mexican hot chili pepper rose to fame after a namesake American fast-food chain opened in the ’90s. “Chipotle” is a Mexican Spanish word that came from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. It’s mispronounced in many ways, but the most common culprit might be “chuh-powl-tay,” which swaps the correct placement of the “l” and “t.” The correct pronunciation ends with “lay,” not “tay.”

Pronunciation: NYOH-kee

“Gnocchi” comes from the Italian word nocca, meaning “knuckle.” These small Italian dumplings (often made from potatoes) can be found in restaurants and specialty groceries across the country, but their name is tricky for English speakers because its sounds aren’t very intuitive. The “g” is silent, as in “gnome,” but there is also an extra sound in the first syllable — it’s “NYOH-kee,” not “NO-kee.” (Americans also sometimes say “NYAW-kee,” which is an incorrect pronunciation of the “o” sound.)

Pronunciation: yee-roh or zhihr-oh

Americans are infamous for mispronouncing this one. These tasty pitas are often called “je-ye-rohs” in America, similar to the pronunciation of the first part of the word “gyroscope,” but this is incorrect. There are two accepted pronunciations for the dish —“YEE-roh” or “ZHIHR-oh” — neither of which has a “je-ye” sound at the beginning. The word “gyro” came into English in the 1970s when it was adapted from the Greek word guros (meaning “turning”), because the meat for gyros is made by turning a haunch of meat on a spit.

Pronunciation: mak-uh-ROHN

A macaron (pronounced “mak-uh-ROHN,” rhymes with “loan”) is a small French sandwich cookie that comes in many colors and flavors, while a macaroon (pronounced “mak-uh-roon,” rhymes with “spoon”) is a fluffy round cookie made primarily of egg whites and coconut flakes. Macarons have been around since at least the 1500s, when they were made for the French court. The history of macaroons isn’t quite as clear, but today, they’re a popular Passover treat in many Jewish households.

Pronunciation: fuh

This Vietnamese soup is often pronounced as “foe” by Americans — a word that rhymes with “go.” But the correct pronunciation is more similar to “fuh” (rhymes with “duh”). Pho is made of broth, herbs, noodles, and meat. The most popular types of this dish are the beef phở bo (rhymes with “bah”), chicken phở ga (rhymes with “gah”), and vegetarian phở chay (rhymes with “yay”).

Pronunciation: poh-KAY

Poké bowls have been popping up on many sushi restaurant menus and even in stand-alone restaurants. The word doesn’t rhyme with “coke” — that accent mark over the “e” means that it should be pronounced as “ay.” Poké is a Hawaiian word that describes a salad made from cubed pieces of raw seafood (often tuna) that is marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil.  

Pronunciation: KEEN-wah

These edible, starchy seeds are popular in salads and side dishes. Originally grown in the Andes Mountains by the Quechua people, the plant got its name from the Spanish spelling of “Quechua.” Often, the pronunciation of this word is overcomplicated. It’s simply “KEEN-wah,” not “kee-no-ah” or “kwin-no-ah” (or any combination of the two).

Pronunciation: SHUR-buht

Much to the surprise of many English speakers, there is no second “r” in sherbet. That’s right — it rhymes with “but,” not “burt.” This frozen dessert comes in many fruity flavors and is akin to ice cream. In the U.K., “sherbet” has a different meaning — it’s a powder used to add flavor, especially in drinks. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the misspelling of this word (adding an extra “r”) is so common that it accounts for nearly one-quarter of its citations.

Pronunciation: WOO-stuh-shir

Worcestershire sauce was named after a county in west central England. Today, it’s often used in marinades, stir-fries, and salad dressings. It pops up on almost every list of hard-to-pronounce words, but “Worcestershire” might be harder to learn how to spell than it is to pronounce. The most confusing part of the pronunciation is knowing which letters to skip. From the beginning, skip the first “r” and the “ce,” and barely say the second “r.” It should sound like “WOO-stuh-shir” (rhymes with “fir”).

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Can you name even 50 shades from the millions of colors that exist? The average English speaker bases color descriptions on 11 categories: yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, red, orange, brown, black, gray, and white. An object falls into one color category, or it becomes an amalgamation of two or more color categories — blue-green or red-orange, for example. These categories are the easiest way to communicate a description, especially when you throw in adjectives such as “light” “dark,” or “bright” to further specify a color’s shade. With a full spectrum of colors out there on display, it’s time we put face (color) to name. We’re going beyond turquoise, indigo, teal, magenta, and the like. Here are eight colors you’ve seen but perhaps never had a name for.

If you’ve spent some time watching ducks in the park, you’ll recognize this rich, bottle-green color. The name refers to a male mallard, also called a drake. The shade was first replicated as a dye in the early 18th century.

This particular shade of pink has been proved to reduce hostile, violent, and aggressive behavior, making it the perfect shade to paint holding cells. The official name of the color is Baker-Miller Pink, after the directors at the naval correctional facility where research concerning this color was done. Others might call the shade “Barbie pink” or “Pepto-Bismol pink.”

Instead of painting your walls ivory, off-white, eggshell, pearl, or beige, try eburnean. This yellowish-white has a Latin name that translates to “made of or relating to ivory.”

Falu is a shade of dye often used in deep-red paint. Think of the quintessential red barn door. Historically, the pigment was found in the mines of Falun, Sweden, which is where it got its name.

This pigment covers a range of yellow from deep saffron to mustard yellow. The easiest reference is the robes of Buddhist monks. The natural dye is sourced from the gum resin of various Southeast Asian trees.

Yes, this was a real color name coined during the Elizabethan era. Like Drake’s-Neck, this color is avian-inspired, but it’s a deeper reflection of a bird’s anatomy. The bright, light green color was specifically used in fashion as part of sensational marketing tactics to attract customers.

When something is described as puke-colored, the mind might run to green, yellow, or any combination of your recent meals. But in the 16th century, the high-quality wool used to make stockings was called “puke” (from the Middle Dutch word puuc, meaning “best grade of cloth”), so the deep-brown dye used for the hosiery was also called puke-colored.

Here’s a fun name for a bright, bold color reminiscent of a mix between raspberries and roses. It was invented in 1993 by Crayola, which first introduced it in the Big Box containing 96 crayons, and it was named by 5-year-old Laura Bartolomei-Hill in Crayola’s Name the New Colors Contest.

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