From ordering at a local taqueria to meeting a new colleague, we’ve all felt that moment of hesitation before saying an unfamiliar word from another language. As Hispanic culture continues to weave itself beautifully into American life, these moments are becoming more common.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and to help everyone speak with more confidence, we decided to find out which words are causing the most trouble. We analyzed thousands of monthly Google searches for pronunciation help to create a definitive guide to the Hispanic foods, names, and places that leave Americans most tongue-tied.
Key Findings
Our analysis of tens of thousands of annual Google searches revealed a fascinating snapshot of the Hispanic words that spark the most curiosity across America.
Here are the most interesting findings from the study:
- A Four-Way Tie for the Top Spot: The food Birria, the name Jorge, the place Oaxaca, and the name Xochitl share the title of the most commonly mispronounced Hispanic terms. Each generates over 34,000 annual searches for pronunciation help.
- Trendy Foods Puzzle Palates: The dish Americans struggle with most is Birria (pronounced ‘BEER-ree-ah’), a flavorful stew from Jalisco, Mexico. It’s followed by the popular dessert Dulce de Leche (pronounced ‘dool-seh deh leh-cheh’), which garners over 22,000 annual searches.
- Classic and Unique Names Present a Challenge: The classic name Jorge (pronounced ‘hor-heh’) shares the top spot with the Nahuatl name Xochitl (pronounced ‘soh-cheel’), showing that pronunciation difficulties exist for both very common and less common names.
- Mexican Culture Drives Pronunciation Searches: A significant number of the top-ranking terms across all categories have roots in Mexico, highlighting the country’s deep cultural influence. This includes the place Oaxaca (pronounced ‘wah-HAH-kah’), foods like Birria, and brands like Tajin.
- Even Common Drinks Can Be a Mouthful: The refreshing rice-milk drink Horchata (pronounced ‘or-chah-tah’) is the most mispronounced beverage on our list, proving that familiarity doesn’t always equal easy pronunciation with 12,000 annual searches.
- Local Pronunciation “Hotspots” Emerge: The data reveals unique regional patterns. For example, residents of Indiana search for how to pronounce ‘Birria’ more than any other state, while people in Maryland are most likely to seek help pronouncing ‘Jorge.’
The Top 20 Hispanic Words That Leave Americans Tongue-Tied
To find the words that cause the most confusion, we compiled a list of hundreds of Hispanic names, foods, places, and brands. We then analyzed each one against search terms like ‘how to pronounce’ to rank them by the number of annual searches for pronunciation help in the U.S.
The food term Birria came out on top, tied with the names Jorge and Xochitl, and the place Oaxaca. Birria is a now-famous stew from Jalisco, Mexico. Its explosion in popularity across the U.S. has clearly led to a spike in diners wanting to order it with confidence, generating over 34,000 searches a year for its pronunciation.
Also ranking highly is the sweet confection Dulce de Leche, showing that desserts can be just as tricky as main courses. Popular brands like Tajin and Jarritos also feature prominently, proving that even household names can be a mouthful.
Here are the top 20 Hispanic words Americans are searching for pronunciation help with the most.
| Search term | Annual search volume | Category | Proper pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| how to pronounce birria | 34,800 | Food | beer-ree-ah |
| how to pronounce jorge | 34,800 | Name | hor-heh |
| how to pronounce oaxaca | 34,800 | Place | wah-HAH-kah |
| how to pronounce xochitl | 34,800 | Name | soh-cheel |
| how to pronounce dulce de leche | 22,800 | Food | dool-seh deh leh-cheh |
| how to pronounce joaquin | 19,200 | Name | wah-KEEN |
| how to pronounce tajin | 19,200 | Brand | tah-heen |
| how to pronounce jarritos | 15,600 | Brand | hah-REE-tos |
| how to pronounce juan | 15,600 | Name | hwahn |
| how to pronounce uruguay | 15,600 | Place | yoo-ruh-gwai |
| how to pronounce horchata | 12,000 | Drink | or-chah-tah |
| how to pronounce jose | 12,000 | Name | ho-zay |
| how to pronounce ximena | 12,000 | Name | hee-MEH-nah |
| how to pronounce chorizo | 10,560 | Food | chuh-REE-zoh |
| how to pronounce lucia | 10,560 | Name | loo-SEE-uh |
| how to pronounce paella | 10,560 | Food | pah-EH-yah |
| how to pronounce tres leches | 10,560 | Food | TRACE LAY-ches |
| how to pronounce chilaquiles | 8,640 | Food | chee-lah-KEE-lehs |
| how to pronounce flan | 8,640 | Food | flan |
| how to pronounce ceviche | 8,640 | Food | seh-VEE-chay |
From the Kitchen: The Most Puzzling Foods & Drinks
Enjoying Hispanic cuisine is a highlight for many, but correctly pronouncing the dishes can be a challenge when ordering. Our data confirms a keen interest in getting it right, showing that food and drink terms make up the majority of the top 20 most-searched pronunciations.
Taking the top spot is Birria (pronounced ‘beer-ree-ah’). This rich, slow-cooked meat stew from Jalisco, Mexico, has seen a massive surge in popularity across the U.S., leading to an incredible 34,800 annual searches for its pronunciation as foodies seek out the dish in everything from tacos to ramen.
In second place is the sweet confection Dulce de Leche (pronounced ‘dool-seh deh leh-cheh’). A staple in desserts across Latin America, this caramel-like sauce generates 22,800 searches a year from those looking to correctly name the treat. Rounding out the top three is the refreshing rice-milk drink Horchata (pronounced ‘or-chah-tah’), which proves that even the most popular beverages can be a mouthful.
Here are the top 10 foods and drinks that cause the most pronunciation confusion in the U.S.
| Search term | Annual search volume | Proper pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| how to pronounce birria | 34,800 | beer-ree-ah |
| how to pronounce dulce de leche | 22,800 | dool-seh deh leh-cheh |
| how to pronounce horchata | 12,000 | or-chah-tah |
| how to pronounce chorizo | 10,560 | chuh-REE-zoh |
| how to pronounce paella | 10,560 | pah-EH-yah |
| how to pronounce tres leches | 10,560 | TRACE LAY-ches |
| how to pronounce chilaquiles | 8,640 | chee-lah-KEE-lehs |
| how to pronounce flan | 8,640 | flan |
| how to pronounce ceviche | 8,640 | seh-VEE-chay |
| how to pronounce yerba mate | 8,640 | YER-bah MAH-teh |
What’s in a Name? The Most Mispronounced Hispanic Names
Pronouncing someone’s name correctly is a fundamental sign of respect, but different phonetic rules can make it a challenge. Our data shows that Americans are highly motivated to learn, with two names tying for the top spot, each generating a massive 34,800 annual searches for pronunciation help.
Sharing the #1 position is the classic name Jorge (pronounced ‘hor-heh’) and the less common name Xochitl (pronounced ‘soh-cheel’). This fascinating result shows a desire to master both very familiar names (especially those with the unique Spanish ‘J’ (jota) sound) and unique names of Nahuatl (Aztec) origin.
The Spanish ‘J’ proves to be a consistent hurdle, with Joaquin (pronounced ‘wah-KEEN’) coming in as the third most-searched name pronunciation, reinforcing the pattern.
Here are the top 10 Hispanic names that Americans struggle to pronounce the most.
| Search term | Annual search volume | Proper pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| how to pronounce jorge | 34,800 | hor-heh |
| how to pronounce xochitl | 34,800 | soh-cheel |
| how to pronounce joaquin | 19,200 | wah-KEEN |
| how to pronounce juan | 15,600 | hwahn |
| how to pronounce jose | 12,000 | ho-zay |
| how to pronounce ximena | 12,000 | hee-MEH-nah |
| how to pronounce lucia | 10,560 | loo-SEE-uh |
| how to pronounce paola | 8,640 | pah-oh-lah |
| how to pronounce andres | 7,080 | ahn-DRES |
| how to pronounce teresa | 7,080 | tuh-REE-suh |
America’s Pronunciation Hotspots: A State-by-State Look
Our data shows that pronunciation pain isn’t the same everywhere; from coast to coast, different states struggle with different words.
While only the most-searched keywords generate enough data for a state-level breakdown, the results reveal a fascinating map of local curiosities.
For example, the vibrant cultural hub of Oaxaca is the top pronunciation search in Colorado, while the classic name Jorge is most puzzling to people in Maryland.
Here are the local findings from our study.
| Search term | Annual search volume | Category | Top State | Proper pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| how to pronounce birria | 34,800 | Food | Indiana | beer-ree-ah |
| how to pronounce jorge | 34,800 | Name | Maryland | hor-heh |
| how to pronounce oaxaca | 34,800 | Place | Colorado | wah-HAH-kah |
| how to pronounce joaquin | 19,200 | Name | South Dakota | wah-KEEN |
| how to pronounce jarritos | 15,600 | Brand | Iowa | hah-REE-tos |
| how to pronounce juan | 15,600 | Name | Washington | hwahn |
| how to pronounce jose | 12,000 | Name | California | ho-zay |
Other Interesting Tidbits From the Study
Beyond the main lists of foods and names, the data revealed several other fascinating trends about the words Americans are curious about.
- The Most Puzzling Place: Tied for the #1 spot overall is the vibrant Mexican state of Oaxaca (pronounced ‘wah-HAH-kah’). Renowned globally as a culinary and cultural hub, its name generates 34,800 annual searches for pronunciation help from curious travelers and foodies alike.
- The Trickiest Brand Name: The data shows that even brands found in nearly every grocery store can be a challenge. The popular Mexican spice blend Tajín (pronounced ‘tah-heent’) is the most mispronounced brand in our study, racking up an impressive 19,200 annual searches.
- The GOAT of Pronunciation Searches: Even the world’s most famous athlete isn’t immune to pronunciation puzzles. Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi (pronounced ‘lee-oh-NELL MESS-ee’) is the most-searched celebrity name in our study, proving that global fame still leaves many fans wondering if they’re saying his name correctly.
- A Taste of Mexico: A clear pattern emerged across all categories: terms of Mexican origin are the most common source of pronunciation curiosity. From the place (Oaxaca) to the brands (Tajín, Jarritos) and foods (Birria), the data highlights the deep and growing influence of Mexican culture in the U.S.
The Full Rankings: All Hispanic Words, Ranked
For those who want to dive deeper into the data, here is the complete list of all 95 Hispanic terms from our study that receive over 1,200 annual pronunciation searches in the U.S.
| Search term | Annual search volume | Category | Proper pronunciation | Top State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| how to pronounce birria | 34,800 | Food | beer-ree-ah | Indiana |
| how to pronounce oaxaca | 34,800 | Place | wah-HAH-kah | Colorado |
| how to pronounce xochitl | 34,800 | Name | soh-cheel | |
| how to pronounce jorge | 34,800 | Name | hor-heh | Maryland |
| how to pronounce dulce de leche | 22,800 | Food | dool-seh deh leh-cheh | |
| how to pronounce tajin | 19,200 | Brand | tah-heen | |
| how to pronounce joaquin | 19,200 | Name | wah-KEEN | South Dakota |
| how to pronounce jarritos | 15,600 | Brand | hah-REE-tos | Iowa |
| how to pronounce juan | 15,600 | Name | hwahn | Washington |
| how to pronounce uruguay | 15,600 | Place | yoo-ruh-gwai | |
| how to pronounce horchata | 12,000 | Drink | or-chah-tah | |
| how to pronounce jose | 12,000 | Name | ho-zay | California |
| how to pronounce ximena | 12,000 | Name | hee-MEH-nah | |
| how to pronounce chorizo | 10,560 | Food | chuh-REE-zoh | |
| how to pronounce lucia | 10,560 | Name | loo-SEE-uh | |
| how to pronounce tres leches | 10,560 | Food | TRACE LAY-ches | |
| how to pronounce paella | 10,560 | Food | pah-EH-yah | |
| how to pronounce chilaquiles | 8,640 | Food | chee-lah-KEE-lehs | |
| how to pronounce quesadillas | 8,640 | Food | keh-sah-dee-yah | |
| how to pronounce flan | 8,640 | Food | flan | |
| how to pronounce paola | 8,640 | Name | pah-oh-lah | |
| how to pronounce yerba mate | 8,640 | Drink | YER-bah MAH-teh | |
| how to pronounce ceviche | 8,640 | Food | seh-VEE-chay | |
| how to pronounce medellin | 7,080 | Place | meh-deh-YEEN | |
| how to pronounce elote | 7,080 | Food | eh-LOH-teh | |
| how to pronounce andres | 7,080 | Name | ahn-DRES | |
| how to pronounce teresa | 7,080 | Name | tuh-REE-suh | |
| how to pronounce barbacoa | 5,760 | Food | bar-bah-KOH-ah | |
| how to pronounce pozole | 5,760 | Food | poh-SOH-leh | |
| how to pronounce ana | 5,760 | Name | AH-nuh | |
| how to pronounce maria | 5,760 | Name | mah-REE-uh | |
| how to pronounce buenos aires | 4,680 | Place | bweh-nohs ay-rehs | |
| how to pronounce lionel messi | 4,680 | Celebrity | lee-oh-NELL MESS-ee | |
| how to pronounce flautas | 4,680 | Food | FLOW-tas | |
| how to pronounce guacamole | 4,680 | Food | gwah-kuh-MOH-lee | |
| how to pronounce tacos | 4,680 | Food | tah-kohz | |
| how to pronounce cartagena | 4,680 | Place | kar-tuh-HEY-nuh | |
| how to pronounce manuel | 4,680 | Name | man-yoo-el | |
| how to pronounce miguel | 4,680 | Name | mee-gel | |
| how to pronounce yesenia | 4,680 | Name | yeh-SEN-ee-ah | |
| how to pronounce cozumel | 3,840 | Place | ko-soo-MEL | |
| how to pronounce michelada | 3,840 | Drink | mee-che-LAH-dah | |
| how to pronounce pico de gallo | 3,840 | Food | pee-koh duh GAH-yoh | |
| how to pronounce adrian | 3,840 | Name | AYD-ree-ən | |
| how to pronounce empanadas | 3,840 | Food | em-pah-NAH-dahs | |
| how to pronounce guadalupe | 3,840 | Name | gwah-duh-loop | |
| how to pronounce natalia | 3,840 | Name | nah-TAH-lee-uh | |
| how to pronounce machu picchu | 3,840 | Place | mah-choo peek-choo | |
| how to pronounce bogota | 3,120 | Place | boh-goh-TAH | |
| how to pronounce daiquiri | 3,120 | Drink | DY-kuh-ree | |
| how to pronounce pupusa | 3,120 | Food | poo-poo-sah | |
| how to pronounce alejandro | 3,120 | Name | ah-leh-HAHN-dro | |
| how to pronounce arepa | 3,120 | Food | ah-REH-pah | |
| how to pronounce gutierrez | 3,120 | Name | goo-tee-AIR-ez | |
| how to pronounce reyes | 3,120 | Name | Rye-es | |
| how to pronounce zara | 3,120 | Brand | thah-dah | |
| how to pronounce mojito | 2,520 | Drink | muh-hee-toh | |
| how to pronounce chichen itza | 2,520 | Place | chee-chen eet-sah | |
| how to pronounce arroz con pollo | 2,520 | Food | ah-rohs kohn poh-yoh | |
| how to pronounce fernet | 2,520 | Drink | fer-NET | |
| how to pronounce isabella | 2,520 | Name | ih-zuh-BEL-uh | |
| how to pronounce isabel | 2,520 | Name | IZ-uh-bel | |
| how to pronounce patricia | 2,520 | Name | puh-TRISH-uh | |
| how to pronounce tamales | 2,520 | Food | tuh-MAH-leez | |
| how to pronounce lima | 2,520 | Place | lee-muh | |
| how to pronounce cortado | 2,520 | Drink | kor-TAH-doh | |
| how to pronounce malbec | 2,040 | Drink | mal-bek | |
| how to pronounce modelo | 2,040 | Brand | moh-deh-loh | |
| how to pronounce tijuana | 2,040 | Place | tee-WAH-nuh | |
| how to pronounce tulum | 2,040 | Place | too-LOOM | |
| how to pronounce camila | 2,040 | Name | kuh-MEE-luh | |
| how to pronounce daniela | 2,040 | Name | dan-YEL-uh | |
| how to pronounce iguazu falls | 2,040 | Place | ee-gwah-SOO fawlz | |
| how to pronounce piña colada | 2,040 | Drink | pee-nyah koh-lah-dah | |
| how to pronounce chimichurri | 1,680 | Food | chim-ee-CHOO-ree | |
| how to pronounce cholula | 1,680 | Brand | CHOE-LOO-LA | |
| how to pronounce enchiladas | 1,680 | Food | en-chuh-LAH-duhz | |
| how to pronounce fajitas | 1,680 | Food | fuh-hee-tuhs | |
| how to pronounce andes | 1,680 | Place | AN-deez | |
| how to pronounce camila cabello | 1,680 | Celebrity | kah-MEE-lah kah-BAY-oh | |
| how to pronounce castillo | 1,680 | Name | kas-TEE-yoh | |
| how to pronounce luisa | 1,680 | Name | loo-EE-zuh | |
| how to pronounce patagonia | 1,680 | Place | pat-uh-GOH-nee-uh | |
| how to pronounce perez | 1,680 | Name | PEH-rez | |
| how to pronounce rodriguez | 1,680 | Name | rah-DREE-gez | |
| how to pronounce selena quintanilla | 1,680 | Celebrity | Suh-LEE-nuh Keen-tah-NEE-yah | |
| how to pronounce chavez | 1,680 | Name | CHAH-vez | |
| how to pronounce churros | 1,680 | Food | choo-rohs | |
| how to pronounce santiago | 1,320 | Place | san-tee-AH-goh | |
| how to pronounce quito | 1,320 | Place | kee-toh | |
| how to pronounce tequila | 1,320 | Drink | tuh-KEE-luh | |
| how to pronounce patron | 1,320 | Brand | ˈpeɪtrən | |
| how to pronounce rojas | 1,320 | Name | roh-hahs | |
| how to pronounce salsa | 1,320 | Food | sahl-suh | |
| how to pronounce santander | 1,320 | Brand | san-tan-DAIR |
Methodology
To find the most commonly mispronounced Hispanic words, Argentina Expat compiled a seed list of over 200 common and culturally significant names, foods, drinks, places, brands, and celebrity names. Using Google search data (via Ubersuggest), we analyzed the average monthly search volume in the United States for the query “how to pronounce [term]” for each word on our list. The monthly volume was then multiplied by 12 to calculate the annual search volume. Only terms with an average of 100 or more monthly searches (1,200+ annual searches) were included in the final ranking. For the state-level data, the top keywords were analyzed using Google Trends to determine the subregion with the highest search interest over the past five years. Phonetic pronunciations were researched using Google’s search engine and online dictionaries. You can see the full data with screenshots here.
Public Use
The data and images presented in this Hispanic Pronunciation Index can be used freely for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. We only ask that you credit the author of the research (Argentina Expat) with a link to this page.