We’ve all been there: Whether you’re ordering dinner at a restaurant or flipping through the pages of a magazine, you suddenly come across a word that you have NO IDEA how to pronounce. But there’s no need to be embarrassed or panic anymore – we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to say those tricky food words that always trip you up.
Raw vegetables
How can I say it: CRU-DIT-TAY
Antonis Achilles; Prop Stylist: Christine Kiely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Eating carrot sticks feels a lot nicer when you call them by their French name. While you might be tempted to pronounce this as “crew-dites,” watch out for that accent at the end. It’s a small trace of the French having a little party at the end of a word, like rosé. Hungry? Try our crudité spread benedict recipe.
Endive
How NOT to say it: AN-DEAVE
While this sounds fancier, it’s incorrect and frankly a bit pretentious. And to quote our favorite movie Steel Magnolias, “An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.”
The correct way to pronounce it is “in a dive.” To remember the correct pronunciation, use this reminder: “You DIVE In the pool. The bitterness of this green may turn some people off, but try it with something creamy or tart to balance the bitter taste, like this recipe for Stuffed Endives with Herbed Goat Cheese.
Gruer
How can I say it: GRU-YARE
This nutty Swiss cheese is our go-to for quiches. More intriguing than plain Swiss cheese and more nuanced than Cheddar, it’s best friends with ham and sausage; the subtle sweetness is the perfect partner for their salty smoky flavor. Hungry? Try this Sausage Cheese Croissant Casserole recipe.
Worcestershire
How can I say it: WOOSCH-TUR-SHURE
This spice is a mouthful for the uninitiated, but it’s a must-have in any Southern kitchen. If you’re not already using it to jazz up steaks, burgers, and even green beans, you should definitely give it a try. Here are 115 of our favorite recipes using Worcestershire sauce – you’re sure to find a few you like!
Gyroscope
How NOT to say it: JYE-RO
I’m ashamed to say that I’ve eaten hundreds of Greek Napkins in my life and EVERY TIME I trip over ordering them. The correct way to say it is “Yee-Roh”. I’ll just repeat it until it sinks into my brain: yee-roh, yee-roh, yee-roh, yee-roh. Well, that did it – now I’m hungry for yee-roh. Luckily, this recipe will do the trick!
OK
How can I say it: NOOOOOOO
Photographer Victor Protasio; Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist Lydia Purcell
Here are the French again with their impossible words! If you haven’t tried a Niçoise salad (usually consisting of tuna, hard-boiled eggs, olives and tomatoes), it’s probably because you looked at the menu and thought A) what the hell is that and B) how the hell do you say it , before giving up and ordering the chicken salad. If you want to try it at home before you dare to order it in a restaurant, try our recipe.
Bruschetta
How can I say it: BRU-SKET-TAH
Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning
No matter how pretentious you think it sounds, the correct Italian pronunciation of this bread appetizer has a “hollow” sound, not a “heard” sound in the middle. Will you sound like Giada de Laurentis pronouncing Parmigiano-Reggiano? yes But you would be right! However you say it, our sweet and hot pepper bruschetta recipe is delicious.
Green beans
How can I say it: AIRY-CO-VAIRE
Sometimes I think the French make up words just to laugh at us. The beans are like the green beans we love in the south, but thinner, more tender, and stringless! They’re a nice way to add a sophisticated touch to your dinner plate, especially if you get the pronunciation right. This Green Bean Almondine recipe is a great recipe to try.
This is just the tip of the lettuce iceberg when it comes to food words that are hard to pronounce. When in doubt, do what I do – point to the menu and say, “I’d like to order that, please.”
What food words travel You up?