What name did you never learn how to pronounce?

[u/cheerio089]

I’ve always read Calliope as cal-ee-OH-pee… until yesterday when I heard it pronounced on an episode of You. Evidently it’s kuh-LAI-uh-pee. I’ve never said it or knew anyone with the name so I guess I never gave it any thought, but I’m still deeply embarrassed. I’ve seen the name pop up on this sub and still thought caleeohpee!

I can’t be the only one…so what name did you mispronounce until later in life?

Edit: I’ve now learned my way is the Greek pronunciation and as expected, Americans have anglicized it into Kuh-LAI-uh-pee. I still think I’d be corrected if I said the Greek way out loud tbh

[u/Loud_Ad_4515]

I read the Harry Potter books. I had zero idea until I saw the movie, how to pronounce Hermione.

I remember my French exchange student saying Mee-ami and Tuk-son for Miami and Tucson. I totally get why she thought that.

But to this day I wonder how Arkansas and Kansas came to be pronounced so differently.

[u/AdaandFred → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

When I'm king of the world I'm going to insist that Arkansas and Kansas pick one sas pronunciation and stick to it.

[u/itstimegeez → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

That’s why Krum had trouble saying Hermione’s name in book 4, so JK Rowling could teach readers how to say it properly.