20 International Beer Names That Are Commonly Mispronounced

(Courtesy Heineken 0.0 / correctly pronounced: hai·nuh·kn)

Ordering a beer from a non-English speaking country can be a cultural experience — unless you mispronounce it horribly at the bar.

From German classics to Belgian favorites, here are 20 imported beers that often trip people up, along with how to pronounce them correctly.

Hoegaarden (Belgium)

Mispronunciation: Hoe-garden
Correct pronunciation: HOO-gahr-den

Weihenstephaner (Germany)

Mispronunciation:: Way-hen-stephan-er
Correct pronunciation: VY-en-shtef-uh-nuh

Löwenbräu (Germany)

Mispronunciation:: Low-wen-brow
Correct pronunciation: LUR-ven-broy

Chimay (Belgium)

Mispronunciation: Chim-ay
Correct pronunciation: Shee-MAY

Duvel (Belgium)

Mispronunciation:: Doo-vel
Correct pronunciation: DOO-vuhl (rhymes with “shovel”)

Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)

Mispronunciation: Ur-kell
Correct pronunciation: PILZ-ner OOR-kwell

Franziskaner (Germany)

Mispronunciation: Franz-is-kane-er
Correct pronunciation: FRAN-tsis-kah-ner

Ayinger (Germany)

Mispronunciation: A-yin-ger
Correct pronunciation: EYE-ing-er

Spaten (Germany)

Mispronunciation: Spay-ten
Correct pronunciation: SHPAH-ten

Gösser (Austria)

Mispronunciation: Go-ser
Correct pronunciation: GUR-ser (with a soft “r”)

Köstritzer (Germany)

Mispronunciation: Cost-ritzer
Correct pronunciation: KERSH-trit-ser

Bitburger (Germany)

Mispronunciation: Bit-burger
Correct pronunciation: BIT-boor-ger

Leffe (Belgium)

Mispronunciation: Leef or Leffy
Correct pronunciation: LEFF

Estrella Damm (Spain)

Mispronunciation: Es-trell-a
Correct pronunciation: Es-TRAY-uh DAHM

Żywiec (Poland)

Mispronunciation: Zee-weck
Correct pronunciation: ZHIV-yets

Žatec (Czech Republic)

Mispronunciation: Zay-tek
Correct pronunciation: ZHAH-tets

Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Italy)

Mispronunciation: Peh-roan-ee Nastro Az-zur-oh
Correct pronunciation: Peh-ROH-nee NAH-stro aht-ZOOR-ro

Baltika (Russia)

Mispronunciation: Ball-tee-ka
Correct pronunciation: BAL-tee-ka

Erdinger (Germany)

Mispronunciation: Er-din-ger
Correct pronunciation: AIR-ding-er

Mahou (Spain)

Mispronunciation: Ma-how
Correct pronunciation: MAH-oh

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When in doubt, ask your bartender — they often know these beers better than your GPS knows where you are

So, don’t butcher the brew, bro — learn how to pronounce these popular International beers correctly.