Food Words Pronunciation | 50 Words Indians Say Wrong

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Food & Kitchen Words Pronunciation

50 food words Indians mispronounce — from pizza to quinoa, salmon to croissant!

🔤 50 Words 📋 5 Groups 🇮🇳 Hindi Guide 🎮 Quiz 📏 5 Rules

💡 Why Learn Food & Kitchen Words Pronunciation?

Food words are some of the most commonly mispronounced words in India! From Italian words (pizza, bruschetta) to French words (croissant, filet) to everyday English (lettuce, recipe, salmon) — food vocabulary is full of pronunciation traps.

Whether your child is ordering at a restaurant, reading a recipe, or talking about food in English class — these 50 words will ensure they say every food word correctly. Many of these words come from other languages, which is why they don’t follow normal English spelling rules!

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Italian Food Words (10 Words)

pizza

❌ Indians say: PIZ-za

✅ Correct: PEET-sah

🇮🇳 Hindi: पीट-सा

💡 Italian! ZZ = ‘ts’ sound

“Let’s order a pizza for dinner.”

bruschetta

❌ Indians say: broo-SHET-ah

✅ Correct: broo-SKET-ah

🇮🇳 Hindi: ब्रू-स्केट-आ

💡 CH in Italian = K sound!

“The bruschetta had fresh tomatoes.”

gnocchi

❌ Indians say: g-NOCHI

✅ Correct: NYOH-kee

🇮🇳 Hindi: न्यो-की

💡 G silent, CH = K!

“Gnocchi is an Italian potato dumpling.”

espresso

❌ Indians say: EX-presso

✅ Correct: es-PRES-oh

🇮🇳 Hindi: एस-प्रेस-ओ

💡 No X! It’s ES, not EX!

“One espresso coffee, please.”

mascarpone

❌ Indians say: MASCAR-pone

✅ Correct: mas-kar-POH-nay

🇮🇳 Hindi: मास-कर-पो-ने

💡 Italian! Ends in ‘nay’ not ‘none’

“Tiramisu is made with mascarpone cheese.”

risotto

❌ Indians say: ri-SOT-oh

✅ Correct: ri-ZOT-oh

🇮🇳 Hindi: रि-ज़ॉट-ओ

💡 S sounds like Z in Italian

“Mushroom risotto is delicious.”

pasta

❌ Indians say: PAS-ta

✅ Correct: PAS-tah (short A)

🇮🇳 Hindi: पास-ता

💡 A is short, not long

“I love pasta with cheese sauce.”

focaccia

❌ Indians say: fo-KA-chia

✅ Correct: foh-KAH-chah

🇮🇳 Hindi: फ़ो-का-चा

💡 CC = CH sound in Italian

“Focaccia bread is soft and fluffy.”

prosciutto

❌ Indians say: pro-SKOO-toh

✅ Correct: proh-SHOO-toh

🇮🇳 Hindi: प्रो-शू-टो

💡 SCI = SH in Italian

“Prosciutto is Italian dry-cured ham.”

#10

panini

❌ Indians say: pa-NEE-nee

✅ Correct: pa-NEE-nee (✓ but singular is panino!)

🇮🇳 Hindi: प-नी-नी

💡 Panini is already plural in Italian!

“I’ll have a grilled panini.”

🥐

French Food Words (10 Words)

#11

croissant

❌ Indians say: kro-SANT

✅ Correct: kwah-SON

🇮🇳 Hindi: क्वा-सॉं

💡 French! T is silent

“A chocolate croissant for breakfast!”

#12

filet

❌ Indians say: FILL-et

✅ Correct: fih-LAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: फ़ि-ले

💡 French! T silent, stress on LAY

“She ordered a chicken filet.”

#13

hors d’oeuvres

❌ Indians say: HORSE doo-VRES

✅ Correct: or-DURVZ

🇮🇳 Hindi: ऑर-डर्व्ज़

💡 Almost all letters are silent!

“They served hors d’oeuvres before dinner.”

#14

buffet

❌ Indians say: BUF-fet

✅ Correct: buh-FAY (food spread)

🇮🇳 Hindi: ब-फ़े

💡 French! T silent for food meaning

“The hotel has a breakfast buffet.”

#15

gourmet

❌ Indians say: GOR-met

✅ Correct: goor-MAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: गुर-मे

💡 French! T silent

“This is a gourmet restaurant.”

#16

cuisine

❌ Indians say: KWEE-zeen

✅ Correct: kwih-ZEEN

🇮🇳 Hindi: क्वि-ज़ीन

💡 Stress on ZEEN

“Indian cuisine is world-famous.”

#17

café

❌ Indians say: KAYF

✅ Correct: ka-FAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: क-फ़े

💡 French! Stress on FAY

“Let’s meet at the café.”

#18

soufflé

❌ Indians say: SOO-flay

✅ Correct: soo-FLAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: सू-फ़्ले

💡 French! Stress on FLAY

“The chocolate soufflé was perfect.”

#19

sorbet

❌ Indians say: SOR-bet

✅ Correct: sor-BAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: सॉर-बे

💡 French! T silent

“Mango sorbet is refreshing.”

#20

crêpe

❌ Indians say: KREEP

✅ Correct: KREP (short E)

🇮🇳 Hindi: क्रेप

💡 Short E, not long EE

“I love Nutella crêpes.”

❌

Commonly Mispronounced Foods (10 Words)

#21

salmon

❌ Indians say: SAL-mon

✅ Correct: SAM-un

🇮🇳 Hindi: सैम-अन

💡 L is SILENT!

“Grilled salmon is healthy.”

#22

almond

❌ Indians say: AL-mond

✅ Correct: AH-mund

🇮🇳 Hindi: आ-मंड

💡 L is SILENT!

“Eat almonds every morning.”

#23

herb

❌ Indians say: HERB

✅ Correct: URB (US) / HURB (UK)

🇮🇳 Hindi: अर्ब / हर्ब

💡 Americans say URB (H silent)

“Add fresh herbs to the curry.”

#24

recipe

❌ Indians say: re-SYPE

✅ Correct: RES-ih-pee

🇮🇳 Hindi: रेस-इ-पी

💡 3 syllables! Ends in ‘pee’

“Grandma’s recipe is the best.”

#25

lettuce

❌ Indians say: LET-yoos

✅ Correct: LET-is

🇮🇳 Hindi: लेट-इस

💡 Ends in ‘is’ not ‘yoos’

“Add lettuce to the sandwich.”

#26

quinoa

❌ Indians say: kwi-NO-ah

✅ Correct: KEEN-wah

🇮🇳 Hindi: कीन-वा

💡 Only 2 syllables!

“Quinoa salad is very healthy.”

#27

worcestershire

❌ Indians say: WOR-cester-shire

✅ Correct: WUS-tuh-shur

🇮🇳 Hindi: वुस-ट-शर

💡 Only 3 syllables! Most letters silent

“Add Worcestershire sauce to the soup.”

#28

açaí

❌ Indians say: a-KAI

✅ Correct: ah-sah-EE

🇮🇳 Hindi: आ-सा-ई

💡 3 syllables, stress on EE

“Açaí bowls are a health trend.”

#29

turmeric

❌ Indians say: TUR-meric

✅ Correct: TUR-mer-ik

🇮🇳 Hindi: टर-मर-इक

💡 3 syllables, don’t skip the middle

“Turmeric is used in Indian cooking.”

#30

cinnamon

❌ Indians say: SIN-na-mon

✅ Correct: SIN-uh-mun

🇮🇳 Hindi: सिन-अ-मन

💡 3 quick syllables

“Sprinkle cinnamon on the chai.”

👩‍🍳

Cooking & Kitchen Words (10 Words)

#31

oven

❌ Indians say: OH-ven

✅ Correct: UH-ven

🇮🇳 Hindi: अ-वन

💡 O sounds like ‘uh’ not ‘oh’

“Preheat the oven to 180°C.”

#32

spatula

❌ Indians say: spa-TOO-la

✅ Correct: SPAT-yoo-lah

🇮🇳 Hindi: स्पैट-यू-ला

💡 Stress on first syllable

“Flip the dosa with a spatula.”

#33

whisk

❌ Indians say: VISK

✅ Correct: WISK

🇮🇳 Hindi: विस्क

💡 WH = W sound (not V!)

“Whisk the eggs properly.”

#34

knead

❌ Indians say: KA-NEED

✅ Correct: NEED

🇮🇳 Hindi: नीड

💡 K is silent! Sounds like ‘need’

“Knead the dough for 10 minutes.”

#35

sauté

❌ Indians say: SAW-tay

✅ Correct: saw-TAY / soh-TAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: सो-टे

💡 French! Means to fry quickly

“Sauté the onions until golden.”

#36

purée

❌ Indians say: PYOOR

✅ Correct: pyoo-RAY

🇮🇳 Hindi: प्यू-रे

💡 2 syllables, stress on RAY

“Make a tomato purée for the curry.”

#37

julienne

❌ Indians say: JOO-lee-en

✅ Correct: zhoo-lee-EN

🇮🇳 Hindi: ज़ू-ली-एन

💡 French! Cut into thin strips

“Julienne the carrots for the salad.”

#38

blanch

❌ Indians say: BLANCH

✅ Correct: BLANCH (correct!) or BLONCH

🇮🇳 Hindi: ब्लांच

💡 To briefly boil vegetables

“Blanch the tomatoes before peeling.”

#39

marinate

❌ Indians say: MARRY-nate

✅ Correct: MAR-ih-nayt

🇮🇳 Hindi: मैर-इ-नेट

💡 3 syllables

“Marinate the chicken for two hours.”

#40

caramel

❌ Indians say: KARA-mel

✅ Correct: KAR-uh-mul / KAR-mul

🇮🇳 Hindi: कार-मल

💡 2 or 3 syllables accepted

“I love caramel popcorn.”

🍰

Drinks & Desserts (10 Words)

#41

yoghurt

❌ Indians say: yo-GURT

✅ Correct: YOG-urt

🇮🇳 Hindi: यॉग-अर्ट

💡 Stress on YOG

“Have yoghurt with your meals.”

#42

espresso

❌ Indians say: EX-presso

✅ Correct: es-PRES-oh

🇮🇳 Hindi: एस-प्रेस-ओ

💡 ES not EX!

“Double espresso, please.”

#43

macchiato

❌ Indians say: ma-CHEE-ato

✅ Correct: mak-ee-AH-toh

🇮🇳 Hindi: मैक-ई-आ-टो

💡 Italian! CC = K

“One caramel macchiato, please.”

#44

cappuccino

❌ Indians say: cap-oo-CHEE-no

✅ Correct: kap-oo-CHEE-noh

🇮🇳 Hindi: कैप-ू-ची-नो

💡 PP = one P, CC = CH

“I love a hot cappuccino.”

#45

latte

❌ Indians say: LAT-ee

✅ Correct: LAH-tay

🇮🇳 Hindi: ला-टे

💡 Italian! E = ‘ay’

“One vanilla latte, please.”

#46

tiramisu

❌ Indians say: TIRA-mi-soo

✅ Correct: tir-ah-mee-SOO

🇮🇳 Hindi: तिर-आ-मी-सू

💡 Italian! Stress on last syllable

“Tiramisu is my favourite dessert.”

#47

meringue

❌ Indians say: mer-IN-goo

✅ Correct: muh-RANG

🇮🇳 Hindi: म-रैंग

💡 French! UE is silent

“The meringue was crispy and sweet.”

#48

sherbet

❌ Indians say: SHER-bert

✅ Correct: SHUR-bit

🇮🇳 Hindi: शर-बिट

💡 No second R! Not ‘sherbert’

“Lemon sherbet is refreshing.”

#49

praline

❌ Indians say: PRAY-leen

✅ Correct: PRAH-leen / PRAY-leen

🇮🇳 Hindi: प्रा-लीन

💡 Both pronunciations accepted

“Chocolate praline is delicious.”

#50

macaron

❌ Indians say: MACK-a-roon

✅ Correct: mak-ah-RON

🇮🇳 Hindi: मैक-आ-रॉं

💡 Not macaroon! Macaron ≠ macaroon

“French macarons are so pretty!”

📏 Rules & Patterns

Italian Words: ZZ = TS, CH = K, GN = NY

Italian pronunciation rules differ from English. Pizza has TS sound, bruschetta has K, gnocchi has NY.

pizza (PEET-sah), bruschetta (broo-SKET-ah), gnocchi (NYOH-kee)

French Words: Final T is Silent, ET = AY

French food words usually have a silent final T, and -ET ending sounds like ‘ay’.

croissant (kwah-SON), filet (fih-LAY), buffet (buh-FAY), gourmet (goor-MAY)

Silent L in Food Words

Several food words have a silent L: salmon, almond. L before M is often silent.

salmon (SAM-un), almond (AH-mund)

Espresso NOT Expresso!

One of the most common mistakes worldwide. It’s ES-presso not EX-presso. There’s no X!

espresso (es-PRES-oh) — never ‘expresso’

When in Doubt, Check the Origin

Many food words come from Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese. Knowing the origin language helps predict pronunciation.

Italian: pizza, pasta | French: croissant, café | Japanese: sushi, ramen

🎮 Quiz — Test Your Knowledge!

Question 1 of 10

‘Pizza’ is correctly said as:

APIZ-za

BPEET-sah

CPEE-za

Question 2 of 10

‘Salmon’ — which letter is silent?

Question 3 of 10

‘Croissant’ — is T pronounced?

AYes

BNo — French word, T silent

CSometimes

Question 4 of 10

‘Espresso’ starts with:

AEX

BES

CEKS

Question 5 of 10

‘Quinoa’ is said as:

Akwi-NO-ah

BKEEN-wah

CKIN-oh-ah

Question 6 of 10

‘Recipe’ has how many syllables?

A2 (re-SYPE)

B3 (RES-ih-pee)

Question 7 of 10

‘Worcestershire’ is said as:

AWOR-ces-ter-shire

BWUS-tuh-shur

CWORCH-ster

Question 8 of 10

‘Herb’ — is H silent (American)?

AYes — say URB

BNo — say HERB

COnly in British

Question 9 of 10

‘Latte’ ends with:

A-tee

B-tay

C-tuh

Question 10 of 10

‘Bruschetta’ — CH sounds like:

ACH (church)

BK (Italian rule)

CSH

🧠 Parent Tips

📅

One Word Per Day

Pick one word each morning. Use it in 3 sentences during the day. Consistent practice beats cramming!

🎯

Learn the Patterns

Don’t memorize each word separately — learn the rules above. Once you know “K before N = silent K”, you’ll get ALL those words right!

📺

Watch & Listen

English cartoons and movies help kids hear correct pronunciation naturally. Turn on subtitles so they connect spelling with sound.

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Encourage, Don’t Correct Harshly

Say “Actually, this word is said like…” gently. Never mock a child for mispronouncing — confidence matters more than perfection.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why are food words so hard to pronounce?

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Most tricky food words come from other languages — Italian (pizza, gnocchi), French (croissant, filet), and others. Each language has different pronunciation rules that don’t match English spelling patterns.

Is it ‘expresso’ or ‘espresso’?

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Always ESPRESSO! There is no X. This is one of the most common pronunciation mistakes in the world. It comes from Italian ‘esprimere’ (to press out), not ‘express’.

Why is the L silent in ‘salmon’?

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Salmon comes from Latin ‘salmo’. The L was originally pronounced, but over centuries English speakers dropped it because L-M is hard to say together quickly. Same reason L is silent in ‘calm’ and ‘palm’.

How do you pronounce ‘quinoa’?

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KEEN-wah — just 2 syllables! It comes from Spanish, which borrowed it from Quechua (an indigenous South American language). Most people wrongly say ‘kwi-NO-ah’ (3 syllables).

Should I use Italian pronunciation for Italian foods?

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For common foods like pizza and pasta, the anglicized pronunciation is fine. For less common words like bruschetta and gnocchi, using the correct Italian pronunciation shows sophistication and respect for the cuisine.

📚 All Pronunciation Guides — 50 Topics