40 Celebrity Names You’re Pronouncing Wrong
We were way off on #17.
Some celebrity names are super easy to pronounce (looking at you Ben Stiller). On the other hand, some celebrity names are so complicated, we get tongue-tied just trying to describe their latest role in a movie. But today, we’re setting the record straight. We’re breaking down the phonetic pronunciation of those celebrity names you can’t quite grasp.
Charlize Theron
Correction pronunciation: Shar-LEES THAIR-en
Tip: More like “lease” and “hair” than “jeez” and “there.”
Téa Leoni
Correction pronunciation: Tay-UH Lay-OH-nee
Tip: Think Lay’s potato chips, rather than Lee’s jeans.
Amanda Seyfried
Correction pronunciation: Uh-MAN-duh SIGH-fred
Tip: It’s simply “sigh” and “fred,” as in the name Fred, and not “say-freed,” as most people say it.
Lupita Nyong’o
Correction pronunciation: LOO-pita Nee-yong-OH
Tip: She made a handy Instagram video to help us out.
Idris Elba
Correction pronunciation: ID-riss El-BAH
Tip: The “id” is short, like in the word, “bid.”
Rachel Weisz
Correction pronunciation: Ray-chul Vice
Tip: The “w” is really pronounced like a “v.”
Barbra Streisand
Correction pronunciation: Barb-RAH Strei-SAND
Tip: More like “sand” in the ocean than “zand.” Of course, Babs even got Tim Cook to change Siri’s pronunciation.
Gabourey Sidibe
Correction pronunciation: GAB-or-ay SIH-dih-bay
Tip: The “be” is really more like the word “play.”
Martin Scorsese
Correction pronunciation: Mar-tin Scor-SEH-see
Tip: It’s more like “sessy” and not “say-see,” as it’s usually pronounced.
Isla Fisher
Correction pronunciation: EYE-luh FISH-UR
Tip: It’s kind of like the word “eye” with “la” at the end.
Saoirse Ronan
Correction pronunciation: SUR-sha Ro-nan
Tip: The legend goes that Ryan Gosling explained it best, saying it sounds like “inertia.”
Joe Manganiello
Correction pronunciation: JO Mang-an-nell-OH
Tip: The “i” is silent, but you should probably just watch him explain how to say it.
Joaquin Phoenix
Correction pronunciation: Wah-KEEN FEE-niks
Tip: “Walking,” if you drop the “g” and make “in” more like “een.”
Demi Moore
Correction pronunciation: Duh-MEE Mor
Tip: Say the word, “duh,” and you’re almost there.
Ewan McGregor
Correction pronunciation: YOO-uhn muh-GREH-gur
Tip: It’s not just Evan with a “w,” it’s more like, “you” and “an.”
Idina Menzel
Correction pronunciation: uh-dee-NUH min-zel.
Tip: The only thing you should focus on is that the “i” is more like a long “uh.”
Quvenzhané Wallis
Correction pronunciation: Kwah-ven-jah-NAY Wall-es
Tip: See the youngest actor nom’d for an Oscar explain the pronunciation herself.
Steve Buscemi
Correction pronunciation: Steev BOO-shay-MEE
Tip: There’s no “shem” sound.
Marion Cotillard
Correction pronunciation: Mah-ree-AHN Ko-tee-AR
Tip: Try adding a French accent to really elevate it.
Rihanna
Correction pronunciation: Ree-AN-uh
Tip: The ending should be pronounced like the name Anna.
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