Connecticut’s Most Mispronounced Word Might Surprise You

According to research conducted by Unscramblerer.com, Connecticut residents have been turning to Google for help pronouncing a particular word, and it's not one you hear every day. The study analyzed Google search data from January through October 2026 to find the words Americans most often look up when they aren't sure how to say something.

Here in Connecticut, that word is Curaçao, the Caribbean island known for its colorful buildings and blue liqueur. It's pronounced KYUR-uh-sow, so if you've ever stumbled over, it while ordering a drink, you're in good company.

New York has its own pronunciation problem. The word residents searched for most was Iran, pronounced ih-RAN in this study. That's a little surprising, considering how often the country appears in the news.

Nationally, the biggest troublemaker is Worcestershire sauce. More than 321,000 searches were recorded for help saying the name of the popular sauce. Apparently, putting it on your steak is a lot easier than saying it out loud.

The research suggests that unusual spelling, words borrowed from other languages, regional accents, and unfamiliar names can all make pronunciation tricky. One important distinction: these rankings measure Google searches for pronunciation help, not recordings of people actually saying the words incorrectly.

Connecticut's Most Mispronounced Word

• Curaçao — KYUR-uh-sow

New York's Most Mispronounced Word

• Iran — ih-RAN

America's Top Five Most Mispronounced Words

• Worcestershire sauce — WUUS-ter-sheer saws
• Gyro — YEE-roh
• Dachshund — DAKS-hund
• Niche — NEESH
• Porsche — POR-shuh

Honestly, Worcestershire sauce feels like a word designed to embarrass you at a dinner party. And if you've ever confidently ordered a gyro only to hear someone pronounce it differently, don't worry. At least now you have a few more words to practice before your next trip to a fancy restaurant.