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Know your edamame from your tzatziki? These are the 12 foods you’ve probably been pronouncing all wrong

Next time you find yourself struggling to order in a fancy restaurant consult this handy guide

So you’re looking at a menu and you really fancy the Quinoa and Edamame salad – but can you pronounce it.

If you’ve ever suffered a hot flush at the thought of ordering a meal, and ended up pointing at the dish mumbling “I’ll have the beef”, help is at hand.

Greek dip tzatziki is one of the most commonly mispronounced words
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Greek dip tzatziki is one of the most commonly mispronounced wordsCredit: Getty Images

The Co-op and The Oxford Dictionary have compiled a list of fancy foods we Brits find it almost impossible to get our mouths around.

Do you know how to order a Nicoise or ask for Bouillon at your local shop?

From Tzatziki to Proscuitto, Bouillabaise to Ceviche, once you have mastered this lot you need never stumble over a restaurant menu again.

Edamame beans are difficult to get the tongue round
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Edamame beans are difficult to get the tongue roundCredit: Internet

So here is a handy guide to the top 12 foods you have probably been pronouncing all wrong and, more importantly, the correct way to say them.

Tzatziki

This Greek cucumber and yoghurt dish is the ideal accompaniment to meat dishes such as kebabs and is also a moreish summer dip.

It's not surprising that it's name baffles even the most seasoned diner.

Try pronouncing Tzatziki like this: tsat-si-key.

Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaise is a traditional Provencal fish stew originating from the southern French town, Marseille.

There are usually three types of fish and shellfish used in the tomato-based dish which can be selected to suit your preference.

So, if you find yourself in a French restaurant or sourcing ingredients to test out a new dish at home, this one should be pronounced: boo-yah-behss.

Prosciutto ham is often served as a snack or as a starter with melon
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Prosciutto ham is often served as a snack or as a starter with melonCredit: Getty Images

Ceviche

This Latin American dish is popular among those who enjoy Sushi and as it is only served in finer restaurants, you want to be able to show off your pronunciation skills.

The name of this cured fish bowl sounds like: seh-bee-tche.

Parmigiano Reggiano

What better way to complete a pasta meal than with a topping of tasty cheese.

When ordering the Italian cheese, you should ask for par-mee-djah-no rehd-djah-no.

Although just Parmigiano will probably be sufficient.

This vegetable powder can be used as a base for soups, broth or as a stock
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This vegetable powder can be used as a base for soups, broth or as a stock

 

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Edamame beans

These beans are most commonly served in Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants as a starter or side dish.

The pods are boiled or steamed and served with salt.

They can also be found frozen and fresh in some specialist supermarkets or health food stores.

So, if you get stuck trying to order the bean, try saying this - ed-a-mar-mei.

Bouillabaisse is a French stew made using provencal herbs, a variety of fish and a tomato sauce
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Bouillabaisse is a French stew made using provencal herbs, a variety of fish and a tomato sauceCredit: Getty Images

Nicoise

The Nicoise is a popular French salad containing tomatoes, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, olives, anchovies, lettuce and vinaigrette dressing.

Don't get caught up on all the letters, as the correct sound of the word is ni-swaz.

Prosciutto

Are you a ham fan?

Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked.

As the ideal meat for starters and main courses, don't miss out just because you're too embarrassed to say the name.

Remember Prosciutto as pro-shoot-tow.

Latin American seafood dish Ceviche prompts some fishy interpretations
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Latin American seafood dish Ceviche prompts some fishy interpretationsCredit: Alamy

Crudites

Many people eat crudites without actually knowing the correct name of the snack.

The sliced or whole vegetables dish, made up of veggies such as carrots or cucumber, is pronounced krew-dee-tay.

Quinoa

The multi-purpose grain quinoa has stirred multiple debates about how to pronounce the word.

Perhaps it depends which country you are from, but there is certainly one way to twist your tongue around it that will enable everyone to understand your order.

The grain is pronounced keen-wah.

Crudites have some people stumped but now you will never have to worry again
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Crudites have some people stumped but now you will never have to worry againCredit: Getty Images

Bouillon

As another diverse household staple, Bouillon can be used like a stock to make soups and broth.

In French a double 'll' turns into a similar sound as the English 'y'.

Therefore this vegetable powder should be pronounced as bo-yon.

Espresso

For some reason many Britons will ask for an 'expresso' despite there being no 'x' in the spelling.

For an authentic European accent that sounds as strong as a the small coffee - ask for an eh-spress-o.

A Nicoise salad is commonly made using tuna but a range of fish such as salmon can be used instead
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A Nicoise salad is commonly made using tuna but a range of fish such as salmon can be used insteadCredit: Getty Images

Rioja

If you're going out for a luxurious dinner then you're likely going to need a drink to go with it.

As the most famous Spanish wine on the market, Rioja is fairly inexpensive and is sold at most venues.

But the Spanish pronunciation of 'j' can make it hard to say the name that sounds like ree-o-ha.

The way to pronounce this Spanish wine is on the tipple of our tongues
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The way to pronounce this Spanish wine is on the tipple of our tongues

Closer to home, we recently raised the thorny subject of how to pronounce ‘scone’.

A study found that the majority of Brits think the name of the teatime treat should rhyme with ‘gone’ not ‘stone’.

And just in case you’re wondering six out of ten put the jam on before the cream.

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