McDonald's say Brits have been pronouncing one popular food wrong for years
We've all got our go-to maccies order - but you may have been pronouncing it wrong when verbalising what you want in the drive-thru.
While most of the menu items are pretty easy to say, those who opt for the classic Filet-O-Fish have most likely said it incorrectly at least once. A poll conducted by the popular fast food chain of over 2,000 UK adults found this to be a common mistake, with a third (33%) of Brits pronouncing it wrong.
They opt for a Fil-LET instead of the correct pronunciation Fil-LAY. While it is one of the restaurant's classic burgers, it appears to have divided diners. The new research from McDonald's discovered that this nervousness extends beyond just the Filet-O-Fish where it found one in five (21%) admit to avoiding certain dishes in restaurants because they can't pronounce them confidently, with Gen Z diners (28%) the most likely to play it safe when faced with ordering a tricky menu item.
The classic fish burger is is made up of bread-crumbed white Hoki or Pollock fish on a bun, with tartare sauce and a slice of cheese. Keen to avoid fans potentially missing out, McDonald's has enlisted the support of pronunciation and etiquette expert - Grant Harrold, former Royal Butler.
Grant said: "Mispronunciation fear is leading nearly half (45%) of Brits to miss out on important culinary experiences, as fear of embarrassment prevents them from ordering dishes they want to try. I'm partnering with McDonald's to help bring that fear to an end, so fans don't miss out on all the delicious delicacies they might love but aren't sure how to pronounce."
It comes as McDonald's announced that the long-awaited Double Filet-O-Fish will be catch of the day in UK restaurants from July 1. A Double Filet-O-Fish will cost £5.29 and a Double Filet-O-Fish Everyday Value Meal will be priced at £7.39
The research from McDonald's also found the top 10 most mispronounced menu items included:
1. Bruschetta (broo-SKET-a) 62%
2. Acai (ah-sigh-EE) - 53%
3. Pho (FUH) - 53%
4. Gnocchi (NYOH-kee) - 52%
5. Croissant (KWAH-sohn) 38%
6. Charcuterie (shar-COO-ter-ee) - 37%
7. Filet-O-Fish (Fil-LAY) - 33%
8. Quinoa (KEEN-wah) - 29%
9. Espresso (es-PRESS-oh) - 22%
10. Mojito (mo-HEE-toe) - 15%
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