---
title: British Travellers Are Dropping Destinations They Cannot Pronounce, Mostly for Fear of Sounding Rude
description: Nearly a third of British adults have dropped a destination because they were unsure how to say its name, and sounding rude is the main worry.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
updated: 2026-08-09T01:13:13.278Z
canonical: https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/britons-skip-destinations-they-cannot-pronounce
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/travellers-pause-unfamiliar-destination-125972.webp
categories: Smart Travel
content_type: News
region: United Kingdom
publication: Rich Travel Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

Nearly a third of British adults have decided against a destination because they were not sure how to say its name. Research commissioned by the booking platform Omio puts that at 30%, with a further 22% saying they are less likely to visit somewhere they cannot pronounce. Asked why, 30% point to the worry of sounding rude, 26% to plain embarrassment and 17% to the fear of being judged for getting it wrong.

British travellers also keep quieter about the places they cannot say. 26% are less likely to mention such a destination to friends and family, which leaves the harder names collecting less word of mouth, and one in five stick to the destinations they can already pronounce.

## Americans Walk Away From the Booking Far More Often Than Britons

The same questions put to American adults produce much sharper numbers on avoidance. In the US, 54% say the fear of getting a name wrong has stopped them booking a trip, against 30% in the UK, and 40% say they are less likely to visit a destination they cannot pronounce, against 22%. Some 45% of Americans keep quiet about such a place with friends and family, and a third retreat to destinations they already know how to say.

## Sounding Rude Worries British Travellers More Than It Does Americans

On the reasons, the two countries swap places. Worrying about sounding rude is the top British concern at 30%, well above the American 22%, while Americans are slightly more likely to worry about being judged, 20% against 17%. Those two figures point at a manners problem rather than nerves about the trip itself: what stops the attempt is the prospect of mangling somebody's home town in front of them.

## Nearly Nine in Ten British Travellers Want to Improve Their Pronunciation

In the UK, 85% say they actively want to get better at pronouncing destinations before they travel, against 61% in the US. Most are already working it out for themselves rather than asking anyone in the trade, with 42% using AI tools and search engines, 19% using platforms such as TikTok, and 13% asking a travel professional. American travellers lean more on video, with 39% using YouTube alongside 36% on AI and search and 29% on TikTok.

## A Polyglot's Advice Is to Break the Name Into Parts and Slow Down

Alex Rawlings, who was named Britain's most multilingual student in 2012 after being tested for fluency in 11 languages, has made a free pronunciation guide with Omio. Alex grew up in London, studied German and Russian at Oxford, went on to learn Hungarian in Budapest, and has written two books about language, including How To Speak Any Language Fluently.

His advice is to stop trying to reproduce the spelling. “Breaking words into smaller parts and practising them slowly can make a big difference,” Alex said. “Even a small effort is often appreciated by locals and can help travellers feel far more confident when exploring a new destination.”

> "Pronunciation can feel like a barrier, but it doesn't need to be perfect. The key is to focus on the sounds rather than trying to replicate every letter exactly."
> — Alex Rawlings, polyglot and language expert

## Ljubljana, Reykjavik and Montjuic Are Shorter to Say Than to Read

Three of the names British travellers stumble over come out much smaller once they are broken up. Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, is lyoo-BLYAH-nah. Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, is RAKE-yah-vik. Montjuic, in Barcelona, is mon-zhwEEK.

## FAQ

**Q: How do you pronounce Ljubljana, Reykjavik and Montjuic?**
Ljubljana is lyoo-BLYAH-nah, Reykjavik is RAKE-yah-vik and Montjuic is mon-zhwEEK.

**Q: Does it matter if you mispronounce a place name abroad?**
Less than travellers fear, on Alex Rawlings's account. His advice is to aim for the sounds rather than a faithful copy of the spelling, to break a name into smaller parts and to practise it slowly, and he says even a small effort at a local pronunciation is usually appreciated.

**Q: Where can you check how a destination is pronounced before you book?**
Most British travellers already check informally, with 42% using AI tools and search engines, 19% using social platforms and 13% asking a travel professional. Alex Rawlings has also put together a free pronunciation guide with Omio for anyone who wants a starting point before they go.