You’ve booked your dream vacation… but can you pronounce it?
New search data shows thousands of Americans are secretly checking how to pronounce popular destinations before they even board the plane.The language experts at tutoring app Preply analyzed search trends to reveal the most popular vacation spots Americans struggle to say the most*, and how they’re actually meant to sound.
1. Machu Picchu, Peru – 3,100 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Match-oo Pick-choo” or “Ma-chew Pik-chew”
Correct pronunciation: “Mah-choo Peek-choo”
Topping the list with 3,100 searches a month for ‘how to say Machu Picchu’, this iconic Incan site continues to trip up travelers. A bucket-list destination, Machu Picchu offers breathtaking mountain views and a glimpse into ancient Incan history.
The biggest issue tends to be over-anglicizing the sounds, when the correct pronunciation is softer and more fluid: “mah-choo peek-choo.”
2. Yosemite, USA – 2,700 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Yo-se-might”
Correct pronunciation: “Yo-sem-it-ee”
Known for its towering waterfalls and giant sequoias, Yosemite is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.
Despite being one of America’s most famous national parks, Yosemite still confuses many visitors who misread the ending entirely, but it’s actually a four-syllable pronunciation: “yo-sem-it-ee.”
3. Caribbean – 2,600 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Care-uh-bee-in”
Correct pronunciation: “Kuh-rib-ee-uhn”
With 2,600 searches per month, even this broad tropical destination sparks debate. While variations exist, the most widely accepted pronunciation in American English leans toward “kuh-rib-ee-uhn.”
4. Versailles, France – 1,700 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Ver-sails”
Correct pronunciation: “Ver-sigh”
Famous for its opulent palace and gardens, Versailles offers a day trip steeped in royal history just outside Paris. This historic French destination often gets the full phonetic treatment from English speakers, but the correct version drops the ending almost entirely, landing on a smooth “ver-sigh.”
5. Maldives – 1,700 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Mal-dives”
Correct pronunciation: “Mol-deevz”
A dream destination for many, the Maldives still proves tricky to pronounce. The emphasis shifts away from “dives” and toward a softer “deevz,” making the correct pronunciation “mol-deevz.”
6. Barcelona, Spain – 1,400 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Bar-seh-lona”
Correct pronunciation: “Bar-theh-lo-na”
Even seasoned travelers can slip into anglicized habits here. In Spanish, the “c” takes on a softer “th” sound, giving the city its authentic “bar-theh-lo-na” pronunciation.
7. Nassau, Bahamas – 1,300 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Na-sow” or “Nass-ow”
Correct pronunciation: “Nah-saw”
Nassau offers vibrant markets, coral reefs, and easy access to some of the Bahamas’ best beaches, and also draws 1,300 searches a month from uncertain travelers. The correct pronunciation smooths things out into “nah-saw,” rather than emphasizing each syllable.
8. Phuket, Thailand – 1,200 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Foo-ket” or “Fuh-ket”
Correct pronunciation: “Poo-ket”
Phuket remains one of the most notoriously mispronounced destinations. The spelling can throw people off, but it actually begins with a soft “p,” resulting in “poo-ket.”
9. Quebec, Canada – 1,200 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Kwee-beck”
Correct pronunciation: “Keh-beck
Quebec offers a European-style getaway with cobblestone streets, French cuisine, and charming old-town architecture. The correct pronunciation is simpler than it looks, dropping the “w” sound entirely: “keh-beck.”
10. Reykjavik, Iceland – 1,000 monthly searches
Common mispronunciations: “Rake-ya-vick” or “Reek-ja-vik”
Correct pronunciation: “Rayk-ya-veek”
Iceland’s capital rounds out the list, with 1,000 searches a month. Its unfamiliar spelling leads many astray, but the correct pronunciation flows more naturally as “rayk-ya-veek.”