10 Mispronounced Country Names

10 Mispronounced Country Names

From Kiribati to Kyrgyzstan, we list the most commonly mispronounced country names

When Donald Trump mispronounced Namibia as “Nambia” in 2017, he became the subject of widespread ridicule. Journalists wondered whether he meant Zambia or Gambia, while social media users mocked memes and one enterprising tweeter took the opportunity to unveil a new title for Lonely Planet.

We at Atlas & Boots felt sorry for Trump because we mispronounced a country or two during our time as travelers.

In our latest video, Peter mispronounces the Gasherbrum Range as Gasherbrown, even though he's fully aware of it (he spends enough time reading and dreaming about mountains, believe me). This led us to examine some of the most commonly mispronounced country names - listed below to keep you from making a faux pas if, like Trump, you're having lunch with the country's president.

1. Kiribati

Wrong: KiribatiRight: Kiribass (Link)

alt="Kiribati is one of the most mispronounced country names">DreamtimeKiribati is one of the most mispronounced country names

When we set off across the South Pacific as part of our world tour, we tried to find a way to Kiribati. Unfortunately it was simply too difficult logistically and so we postponed it to a later date. Its remote location perhaps explains why Kiribati is one of the least visited countries in the world (and why no one knows how to say its name).

The country consists of 33 islands and has a total area of ​​800 km2, but extends over 3.5 million km2 of ocean. This means that Kiribati is the only country in the world that falls in all four hemispheres, spanning the equator and extending into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

2. Qatar

Wrong: cut-taarRight: cut-ta (link)

alt=“We’ve been mispronouncing Qatar for years”>No8/ShutterstockQatar is pronounced more like 'cutter'

In 2017, Peter and I met an American academic on our trip to Djibouti (pronounced jibooti). He was telling us about his time on Cutter and it took us a moment to realize he was referring to Qatar. We assumed he had mispronounced the name.

We were then reprimanded when we recently discovered that it was we, not him, who had mispronounced Qatar. The second syllable is slightly lengthened, but not as much as we thought, making the name more “cutter” than “cut-TAAR.”

3. Lesotho

Incorrect: leh-soh-tohCorrect: leh-soo-too (link)

alt=“The winding Sani Pass in Lesotho: mispronounced country names”>Lukas Bischoff/ShutterstockThe winding Sani Pass in Lesotho

We visited Lesotho in 2018 and I was surprised to learn that it was pronounced leh-soo-too and not leh-soh-toh. That's not the only thing that surprised me about the country. I knew little about Lesotho before our visit, and I admit I was expecting a dusty bowl of a country caught like a fly in South Africa's fist. What I found were lush folds of velvet green and dramatic landscapes that could have come from Lord of the Rings.

I was also surprised to learn that Lesotho is the “highest country in the world”…sort of. It has the “highest lowest point” of any other country: 1,400 m (4,593 feet), hence its nickname “Kingdom of Heaven.”

4. Kyrgyzstan

Wrong: ker-jis-tanRight: ker-gis-tan (link)

alt="Kyrgyzstan is also called the Switzerland of Central Asia">LightField Studios/ShutterstockKyrgyzstan is also called the Switzerland of Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan is one of only two countries that average above 2,000 m (6,561 ft), the other being Lesotho. The mountainous Tian Shan region covers 80% of the country, earning it the nickname “Switzerland of Central Asia.”

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country (one of 45 in the world) but benefits from Issyk-Kul, the second largest high mountain lake in the world (behind Lake Titicaca in South America).

5. Niger

Wrong: nye-gahRight: nee-zher (link)

alt=”mispronounced country names: Niger takes its name from the Niger River”>Catay/ShutterstockNiger takes its name from the Niger River

Like Kyrgyzstan, Niger is a landlocked country. The country takes its name from the Niger River, which flows through the southwestern part of its territory. The name Niger comes from the expression gher n-gheren, which means “river among rivers” in the Tamashek language.

Niger is classified by the UN as one of the least developed countries in the world. It is the fourth poorest country in the world. In addition, fundamental rights issues such as slavery, which was only banned in 2003, are an ongoing problem.

6. Colombia

Wrong: col-um-biaRight: col-om-bia (link)

alt="Colombia is one of the most mispronounced country names">Mark Pitt/ShutterstockColombia is one of the most mispronounced country names

Colombia is the only American nation named after Christopher Columbus, the “discoverer” of the New World. It is a country of remarkable diversity in terms of flora and fauna and is classified as one of only 17 “megadiverse” countries. In fact, it is the second most biodiverse country in the world after Brazil, which is ten times larger.

7. Laos

Incorrect: laow or laow-ossCorrect: Laus (link, US pronunciation)

alt=”mispronounced country names: Laos has a number of mispronunciations”>Nathapon Triratanagate/ShutterstockLaos is one of the few remaining communist states in the world

The landlocked country of Laos is one of the few remaining communist states in the world, along with China, Cuba and Vietnam.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy, but expansion has been slowed by the huge quantities of unexploded bombs littering the farmland - mostly dropped by the US military during the Vietnam War. Therefore, only a small part of the country's agricultural land was cultivated.

8. Liechtenstein

Wrong: lich-ten-stineCorrect: lick-ten-stine (link)

alt="Liechtenstein is pronounced with a hard 'c'">Stifos/ShutterstockLiechtenstein is pronounced with a hard 'c'

Liechtenstein is a tiny dual landlocked country located between Switzerland and Austria, both of which are themselves landlocked countries. Liechtenstein is considered one of the safest countries in the world; The prison population currently stands at 12 total (although those serving longer than two years do so in Austria or Switzerland).

Liechtenstein is known as a tax haven but has taken steps in recent years to reposition itself as a legitimate financial center.

9. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Wrong: nev-issRight: nee-viss (link)

alt="mispronounced country names: Nevis Peak on the island of Nevis">Sean Pavone/ShutterstockNevis Peak on the island of Nevis (pronounced nee-viss)

The Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevis became independent from Great Britain in 1983. There was some discontent, but a 1998 referendum in Nevis failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed for secession and so the islands remained together.

Today they offer a tropical paradise far from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. We visited Nevis in 2013 and found an island with pretty beaches and dramatic views, not least of Nevis Peak, a stratovolcano that rises to a height of 985 m (3,232 feet).

10. Nepal

Wrong: neh-paalRight: ni-paul (link)

alt="The summit of Mount Everest seen from base camp">Atlas & BootsThe summit of Mount Everest seen from base camp

Nepal borders China and India and is home to eight of the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest (which might explain why it's officially Peter's favorite country). He visited earlier this year and was enchanted by the Himalayan landscape.

Unfortunately, despite its income from tourism, Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. In April 2015, a devastating earthquake killed thousands of people and destroyed numerous historic sites and villages. Billions of dollars have been promised, but political infighting has delayed much of the reconstruction.

Main image: SantiPhotoSS/Shutterstock

      .