TORONTO — What’s in a name? No one really knows when it comes to this one city in Slovenia.
According to research conducted by Bolsover Cruise Club, the Slovenian city of Ptuj is the world’s hardest city to pronounce, with 92% of people butchering its correct pronunciation.
No, it’s not ‘put-ooj’, nor is its ‘tooj’ with a silent ‘P’. It’s actually pronounced ‘p-too-ee’, reports the company’s website.
According to the company, other tongue-twister cities include Portugal’s Guimarães (88%), Croatia’s Rijeka (84%), Macedonia’s Skopje (80%) and Mexico’s Oaxaca (76%).
People also struggle with South Africa’s Bloemfontein (73%), Slovenia’s Ljubljana (69%) and Switzerland’s ski resort Gstaad (66%). Wroclaw in Poland also has honourable mention, with many tending to pronounce it as ‘Rock-claw’ while it’s actually ‘Vrohts-wahf’.
Who knew?
The company also listed the world’s toughest landmarks to pronounce, with Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland coming in first at 98%. The Chao Phraya River (74%), Park Güell (68%) and Khao San Road (57%) also tripped up tourists.