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20 popular tourist attractions you’ve been pronouncing wrong

Interestingly, Paris, France has the most landmarks—five out of 20—commonly mispronounced.

Lim Yian Lu

·Contributor

Updated 14 May 2023 at 9:38 pm·4-min read

Louvre Museum in Paris, France is one of the most popular tourist attractions. (Photo: Getty)

While planning your itinerary for your next holiday, have you tried searching on Google how to pronounce the name of a particular landmark or tourist attractions? Especially if you don’t want to sound stupid or unknowledgeable, it is only natural to try and figure out the correct pronunciation.

By analysing such Google search data, the online language learning platform Preply has found the 20 most commonly mispronounced tourist attractions. Native language experts then investigated the linguistic background of the most mispronounced attractions, shedding some light on how to pronounce them correctly.

Here are the 20 most visited tourist attractions and landmarks worldwide people seek pronunciation guidance on. Interestingly, Paris, France has the most landmarks—five out of 20—commonly mispronounced. How many of these did you get right?

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20. Sacre Coeur (Paris, France)

Book a Sacre Coeur walking tour

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: sa-kuh kuh

Sacre Coeur, Paris, France. (Photo: Getty)

19. Neuschwanstein Castle (Hohenschwangau, Germany)

Book a castle tour!

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: noysh-vaan-stine kaa-sl

Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Germany. (Photo: KKday SG)

18. Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: ahng-kor wot

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Photo: Klook SG)

17. Buckingham Palace (London, United Kingdom)

Book Buckingham Palace ticket here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 960

How to pronounce: buh-kuhng-uhm pa-luhs

Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom. (Photo: Klook SG)

16. Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

Book Stonehenge tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,080

How to pronounce: stown-henj

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England. (Photo: Klook SG)

15. Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

Book Alhambra tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,200

How to pronounce: al-ham-bruh

Alhambra, Granada, Spain. (Photo: Klook SG)

14. Petra (Ma'an Governorate, Jordan)

Book Petra tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,440

How to pronounce: peh-truh

Petra, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan. (Photo: Klook SG)

13. Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

Book Parthenon tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,440

How to pronounce: paa-thuh-non

Parthenon, Athens, Greece. (Photo: Getty)

12. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

Book Taj Mahal tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,800

How to pronounce: taaj-muh-haal

Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra. (PHOTO: Getty)

11. Uluru (Northern Territory, Australia)

Book Uluru tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,160

How to pronounce: oo-luh-roo

Uluru, AUSTRALIA - July 4, 2015: Uluru at Sunset — Uluru at Sunset. (PHOTO: Getty)

10. Pompeii (Campania, Italy)

Book Pompeii tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,280

How to pronounce: pom-pay

The ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii near Naples in the Campania, the classical Roman city. (PHOTO: Getty)

9. Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

Book Arc de Triomphe tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,520

How to pronounce: ark duh tree-omphe

A day view of Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. The monument is in the sunlight and in the foreground of a clear summer sky. It is a popular tourist attraction. A number of people are visible at the base of the arc. — A day view of Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. (PHOTO: Getty)

8. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

Book guided tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 3,960

How to pronounce: ko-luh see-uhm

View of the exterior of the Roman Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, it is an amphitheater from the time of the Roman Empire, built in the 1st century. In ancient times it had a capacity for about 65,000 spectators, with eighty rows of stands. The Colosseum has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1980. City of Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe. — View of the exterior of the Roman Colosseum and Arch of Constantine. (PHOTO: Getty)

7. Niagara Falls (border of New York, United States, and Ontario, Canada)

Book Niagara Falls tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,440

How to pronounce: nai-a-gruh fawlz

Niagara waterfalls famous place to visit in summer, autumn and winter. All the year. — Niagara waterfalls is a famous place to visit in summer, autumn and winter. (PHOTO: Getty)

6. Machu Picchu (Cusco Region, Peru)

Book Machu Picchu tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,680

How to pronounce: mach-oo pee-choo

Machu Picchu, Cusco Region, Peru. (Photo: Getty)

5. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Book Burj Khalifa deck ticket here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,680

How to pronounce: buhj-kuh lee-fuh

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Klook SG)

4. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

Book tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 5,160

How to pronounce: hai-yuh suh-fee-uh

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo: Klook SG)

3. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Book tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 6,240

How to pronounce: eye-fuhl tow-uh

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France. (Photo: Klook SG)

2. Notre Dame (Paris, France)

Book tours and tickets here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 18,720

How to pronounce: noh-truh daam

Notre Dame, Paris, France. (Photo: Getty)

1. Louvre (Paris, France)

Book Louvre tickets here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 25,920

How to pronounce: loov-ruh

Louvre, Paris, France. (Photo: Klook SG)

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20. Sacre Coeur (Paris, France)

19. Neuschwanstein Castle (Hohenschwangau, Germany)

18. Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

17. Buckingham Palace (London, United Kingdom)

16. Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

15. Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

14. Petra (Ma'an Governorate, Jordan)

13. Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

12. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

11. Uluru (Northern Territory, Australia)

10. Pompeii (Campania, Italy)

9. Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

8. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

7. Niagara Falls (border of New York, United States, and Ontario, Canada)

6. Machu Picchu (Cusco Region, Peru)

5. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

4. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

3. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

2. Notre Dame (Paris, France)

1. Louvre (Paris, France)

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