新月形面包(“Croissant”)是美国人最难正确读出的第七个词。
美国中文网报道:美国人到了餐馆想点喹诺米(quinoa)时,可能担心读错而不敢太大声音说。有人看到花坛里的牡丹花时,只是指指点点,而不说出名字,可能也是怕说错。 
据市场观察(Market Watch)报道,这并非个别现象。字典网分析,喹诺米和牡丹花都是美国人最难读对的词。该网站分析声音播放次数和搜寻次数等内部数据,列出美国人最难读对的30个词如下:
1. affidavit [af-i-dey-vit]
2. almond [ah-muh nd, am-uh nd]
3. beget [bih-get]
4. cache [kash]
5. caramel [kar-uh-muh l, -mel, kahr-muh l]
6. coupon [koo-pon, kyoo-]
7. croissant [French krwah-sahn; English kruh-sahnt]
8. epitome [ih-pit-uh-mee]
9. espresso [e-spres-oh]
10. et cetera [et set-er-uh, se-truh]
11. façade [fuh-sahd, fa-]
12. fiery [fahyuh r-ee, fahy-uh-ree]
13. genre [zhahn-ruh; French zhahn-ruh]
14. haute [oht]
15. hyperbole [hahy-pur-buh-lee]
16. lambaste [lam-beyst, -bast]
17. mauve [mohv]
18. mischievous [mis-chuh-vuh s]
19. niche [nich]
20. peony [pee-uh-nee]
21. prerogative [pri-rog-uh-tiv, puh-rog-]
22. quinoa [keen-wah, kee-noh-uh]
23. reservoir [rez-er-vwahr, -vwawr, -vawr, rez-uh-]
24. salmon [sam-uh n]
25. sherbet [shur-bit]
26. turmeric [tur-mer-ik]
27. verbiage [vur-bee-ij]
28. Weimaraner [vahy-muh-rah-ner, wahy-, wahy-muh-rey-]
29. whet [hwet, wet]
30. Worcestershire [woo s-ter-sheer, -sher]
美国人不仅对有些词读不对,也有很多词不会拼写。谷歌为市场观察做的分析发现以下这些词美国人在拼写上最容易混淆:Grey, canceled, definitely, pneumonia, appreciate, Hanukkah, restaurant, ninety and niece.
来源:美国中文网

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