Destinations lost in translation
‘Yosemite’ is apparently one of the most mispronounced tourist destinations on the planet.
It joins other oft-mispronounced places like Phuket and Ibiza, according to language learning platform Preply.
Preply has crunched the Google search data numbers to reveal a list of the top place pronounciation errors.
How to pronounce your favorite vacation hotspot is more complicated than it should be.
US national park Yosemite was named on a map of place names that people always pronounce wrong.
- Yosemite National Park, US
Correct: yoh-SEH-muh-dee / yoh-SEH-muh-tee
Incorrect: yoh-SEH-mi-nee or YOH-se-might
- Edinburgh, Scotland
Correct: ed-in-bruh / ed-in-buh-ruh
Incorrect: ED-in-berg or ED-in-buh-row
- Cannes, France
Correct: KAN
Incorrect: CON / CONZ
- River Thames, England
Correct: TEMZ
Incorrect: THAYMZ
- Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Correct: LOO-vruh
Incorrect: LOOV or
- Versailles, France
Correct: vair-SIGH
Incorrect: ver-SALES or ver-SAY-les
However, if you ever end up in Versailles, Kentucky, stick with ver-SALES.
- Seychelles, East Africa
Correct: SAY-shellz
Incorrect: say-CHE-les
- Ibiza, Spain
Correct: ee-BEE-tha
Incorrect: ih-BEE-za
- Phuket, Thailand
Correct: poo-KET
Incorrect: FUE-ket
This name still gets giggles from school kids and mischievous adults.
- Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda
Correct: an-TEE-guh
Incorrect: an-TEE-gwah
- Dubai, UAE
Correct: doo-BAY
Incorrect: doo-BYE
Amy Pritchett, Learning Success Manager at Preply, said: “There’s nothing more embarrassing than arriving at a new vacation destination and mispronouncing its name in front of a local—especially if you butcher the regional accent.”
“When you learn to say these place names correctly, I encourage you to sound like a native—or at least a savvy tourist.”
Ray Monty
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026