Admit it: there are so many words (fashion designers, indie bands, GOOP-y foods) that we all mumble through because we're 87 percent sure we're saying them wrong. Or, even more awkward, we attempt to sidestep having to say them at all, which ends up a bit like a game of Catchphrase. ('You know that band? The girls with the perfect Coachella-y hair? They're friends with Taylor Swift?')
To keep you from doing that awkward dance or mumbling through your dinner convos, we rounded up a few dozen of the most common pop culture things people keep mispronouncing, and broke each down into a Right Way vs. Wrong Way syllable-by-syllable guide. Go ahead and study up (the Cannes Film Festival starts next week, for example).
Blake Lively at the Cannes Film Festival 2015.
ACAI (LIKE THE SUPER FOOD)
The Wrong Way: ah-kai
The Right Way: ah-sigh-ee
ANNA FARIS (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: Ann-uh Fer-iss
The Right Way: Aww-nuh Fer-iss
AGAVE (LIKE THE CACTUS)
The Wrong Way: ah-gahv
The Right Way: ah-gah-vay
ANGELA MERKEL (LIKE THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR)
The Wrong Way: Anj-uh-la Muhr-kehl
The Right Way: Eng-uh-la Muhr-kehl
ANN DEMEULEMEESTER (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: Ann Deh-mule-mee-ster
The Right Way: Ann DEH-moo-leh-MEE-ster
BJÖRK (LIKE THE SINGER)
The Wrong Way:, Buh-jork, or Buh-jerk
The Right Way: B-york
BON IVER (LIKE THE BAND)
The Wrong Way: Bahn Eye-vur
The Right Way: Bone Ee-VARE
CANNES (LIKE THE CITY/FILM FESTIVAL)
The Wrong Way: Kan
The Right Way: Kahn or Can-z
CHLOE SEVIGNY (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: KLO-ee SEV-ee-nee
The Right Way: KLO-ee SEV-uh-nee
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN (LIKE THE SHOE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: Chris-tin Loo-boo-TIN
The Right Way: CHRISH-tee-ahn Loo-boo-TAHN
COUTURE (LIKE THE MADE-TO-ORDER CLOTHING)
The Wrong Way: co-toor
The Right Way: coo-toor
DEADMAU5 (LIKE THE DJ)
The Wrong Way: Ded Mau-fai-v
The Right Way: Dead Mau-ss
DIE ANTWOORD (LIKE THE BAND)
The Wrong Way: Dai-Ant-werd
The Right Way: Dee ANT-vword
DEMI MOORE (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: DUH-mee Moor
The Right Way: Dem-ee Moor
GIF (LIKE THE ANIMATED IMAGES)
The Wrong Way: gif
The Right Way: jif
GIVENCHY (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: giv-in-chee
The Right Way: jhee-von-shee
GOTYE (LIKE THE BAND)
The Wrong Way: goat-yay
The Right Way: GAW-tee-yay
HAIM (LIKE THE BAND)
The Wrong Way: hame
The Right Way: hahy-uhm
JULIANNE HOUGH (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: Joo-lee-ann How
The Right Way: Joo-lee-ann Huff
LYKKE LI (LIKE THE SINGER)
The Wrong Way: Lee-kee Lee
The Right Way: Lick-ee Lee
NARCISO RODRIGUEZ (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: nar-SEES-oh Rod-ree-gez
The Right Way: Nar-SIS-oh Rah-DREE-gez
NICOLAS GHESQUIÈRE (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: Nik-oh-lis Guess-k-yair
The Right Way: Nee-coh-lah Guess-k-yair
PRABAL GURUNG (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: Prub-ehl Goo-roong
The Right Way: Praw-bal Goo-roong
QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: Kwuh-ven-johnny Wall-iss
The Right Way: Kwuh-ven-zhuh-nay Wall-iss
RALPH FIENNES (LIKE THE ACTOR)
The Wrong Way: RAL-ff Fi-EHN-es
The Right Way: Rafe F-eye-nz ines
ROCHAS (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: Roh-SHA
The Right Way: ROW-shahs
RYAN PHILLIPPE (LIKE THE ACTOR)
The Wrong Way: Ry-en Fill-ip
The Right Way: Ry-en Fill-up-pay
SAOIRSE RONAN (LIKE THE ACTRESS)
The Wrong Way: Sore-see Ronan
The Right Way: Seer-shah Ron-in
SADE (LIKE THE SINGER)
The Wrong Way: Sayd
The Right Way: Sha-day
SHISEIDO (LIKE THE MAKEUP BRAND)
The Wrong Way: She-sigh-doe
The Right Way: She-say-doe
SRIRACHA (LIKE THE HOT SAUCE)
The Wrong Way: Sir-rah-cha, Sree-rah-cha, or Siri-rah-cha
The Right Way: See-rah-cha
SUFJAN STEVENS (LIKE THE SINGER)
The Wrong Way: Suf-jin Stee-vehns
The Right Way: SOOF-yawn Stee-vehns
THAKOON (LIKE THE DESIGNER)
The Wrong Way: THA-koon or TUH-koon
The Right Way: Taa-koon
By the writers at ELLE.com.