🐕

Dog Breed Names People Get Wrong

Breed names borrowed from German, French, Hungarian and Chinese — almost none read as English.

WeimaranerVY-muh-rah-ner

German — the W is a V.

DachshundDAKS-hoont

German for "badger dog" — not "dash-hound".

RottweilerROT-vy-ler

German again: the W is a V.

Pomeranianpom-uh-RAY-nee-un

Five syllables, stress on the third.

Shih TzuSHEED-zoo

From Mandarin — closer to "sheed-zoo" than "shih tsu".

Bichon FriseBEE-shon free-ZAY

French — the final E is sounded.

Cane CorsoKAH-nay KOR-so

Italian — "cane" is two syllables.

SamoyedSAM-uh-yed

Often also "suh-MOY-ed" — both are used.

LeonbergerLEE-on-ber-ger

German breed — hard G at the end.

Chihuahuachi-WAH-wah

Spanish — no "hua-hua" at the end.

More mispronounced word lists

See all 30 lists →