We base the love of our clothing on a lot of different categories; quality, price, origin. How about pronunciation difficulty? We’ve gone through years and years of ogling over brands we have no idea how to pronounce. And you know who’s to blame? The internet and rappers.
We see the name on our favorite websites, fuck up the pronunciation in our heads and move on with our lives. And then, rappers make it even worse by giving their own interpretation of the brand name’s pronunciation, often in jest or to keep their rhyme scheme tight. So before you buy your next piece of clothing, make sure you can say it correctly to that store manager helping you out before you completely embarrass yourself.
Aimé Leon Dore
Pronunciation: Eh-may Lee-on Door
First of all, what does Aimé Leon Dore even mean? According to an END interview with Aimé Leon Dore’s founder Teddy Santis, the name of the brand was originally supposed to be Aimé—the French word for “love.” But because “Aimé” was already trademarked, Santis added Leon Dore. “Leon” translates into Lion, his father’s childhood nickname. “Dore” is the last syllable of “Theodore,” Santis’ birth name.
Although none of this information will help when it comes to pronouncing it correctly, it’s nice to know the brand’s name isn’t just a bunch of French words mashed together.
Sacai
Japanese pronunciation: Suh-Kah-E
Western pronunciation: Suh-Kai
This is a tricky one because the Western pronunciation of Sacai, “Suck-eye,” rolls of the tongue so well. But seeing how Chitose Abe’s maiden name is Chitose Sakai, Sacai is likely pronounced the same way as her Japanese last name. The Japanese do not pronounce the “I” in ”“Sakai” as “eye.” It is pronounced as “E.” So in Japanese, Sacai is “Suh-Kah-E.”
Comme des Garcons
Pronunciation: comb-day gar-son (soft “n”)
Have you ever been so worried about butchering a brand name when pronouncing it to a store assistant, you just decided not to even ask about it? Yeah, Comme des Garcons has that kind of effect on people.
Balmain
Pronunciation: Ball-mah
Don’t worry about this one because 95% of rappers pronounce Balmain wrong. Most Balmain enthusiasts pronounce the French brand as “Ball-Main.” However it’s really produced as “Ball-Mah.” But come on, ain’t no one gonna pronounce that correctly. Shouts out to Kid Cudi for getting it right though.
Givenchy
Pronunciation: jhee-von-SHEE
Founded in France in 1952, this luxury brand is on the tips of many tongues who know anything about clothing, from bloggers to rappers all over. Just don’t be that douche asking for the “give-en-chee” Shark sweater.
Saint Laurent
Pronunciation: San-Lo-Ron
Even after Hedi Silmane dropped “Yves,” the most difficult part to pronounce of the brand’s original name, many still mispronounce the brand now known as Saint Laurent.
Suicoke
Pronunciation: Sui-Ko-Ke; Western pronunciation: Sui-Coke
Like Sacai, this is another Japanese brand whose name is commonly pronounced in a way that just rolls of the tongue better. The Western pronunciation of these clout sandals is like the fusion of the word “Suicide” and “Coke.” Although “Suicoke” sounds like the name for a wavy ass French Montana mixtape, the Japanese pronounce “Ke” as “Keh.” So it would be “Sui-Ko-Ke.
Raf Simons
Pronunciation: Răf-Sym-Mons
If you are a fan of A$AP Rocky, you likely know how to pronounce this designer’s name correctly because Rocky got it right when he dropped that banger “RAF.” But for those who pronounce Raf like “Wraith,” or Simons like the name of the American Idol judge, you’ve got it wrong all these years. Please don’t touch my Raf.
Miuccia Prada
Pronunciation: Mew-cha Prah-da
Most fans of Prada get the latter half of Miuccia Prada’s name correctly. However, many butcher her tongue twister of a first name saying everything from “Mi-uc-sia” to “M-ikea.” If you can correctly pronounce the words Mucinex and Chia Pet properly, you have the ability to pronounce “Mew-Cha.”
Stüssy
Pronunciation: Stoo-see
Nope, it is not Sta-see or Stuss-see. Even though Stussy is now turning 40-years-old, you will always hear one or two people mispronounce the brand’s name.
Hermès
Pronunciation: Ehr-mez
Perhaps one of the world’s most commonly mispronounced brand names is Hermès. That’s likely due to the number of rappers who have dropped the brand’s name in songs over the years but mispronounced it. Drake, Future, Rick Ross, and even Kanye West have all accidentally kept the “H” when pronouncing the name of the French luxury brand. The “H” in Hermès stays silent. A good way to remember that is if you somehow manage to buy your girl a USD$10,000 Hermès birkin, she’ll probably look at you in flabbergasted silence.
Cartier
Pronunciation: Kahr-ti-ay
Although most of us prefer calling Cartier eyeglass frames “Big Cs,” “Woods,” “Straightbacks,” and “Buffs,” it’s important to know how to correctly pronounce the name of the French luxury brand before picking up a pair of Givernys from your local jeweler. Like Hermès, many misprononunce the name Cartier because they do not acknowledge that one letter within the brand’s name is silent. In this case, it’s the letter “R.” So Cartier isn’t pronounced like “kahr-ti-her” but “kahr-ti-ay.”
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