We claim dogs are our best friends, but we’d never call any of our human friends by the wrong name, right? Right. And that’s why we’re studying up on some tough dog breed pronunciation in hopes that we’ll never insult little Scruffy’s ancestral roots again. For as much love and affection as they bring into our lives, they deserve to be identified by their proper monikers. Check out the 14 dog breeds you’ve probably been mispronouncing below and how to correctly say them.
Dog Breed Pronunciation: 14 Breeds You’re Probably Mispronouncing
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Published Apr 7, 2021
1. Weimaraner
The wrong way: way-mar-ann-er
The right way: vahy-muh-rah-ner
The vahy is more in line with the traditional German pronunciation, but you could also get away with “why-muh-rah-ner.”
2. Papillon
The wrong way: pap-ill-on
The right way: pap-ee-yawn
FYI, papillon means “butterfly” in French. (Aww.)
3. Vizsla
The wrong way: viz-sluh
The right way: veesh-la
Like, “veesh, these humans are still pronouncing our breed wrong?”
4. Dachshund
The wrong way: dash-hund
The right way: dahks-und
Even though they do love to dash.
5. Newfoundland
The wrong way: new-found-land
The right way: new-fun-land
You know, because they’re so fun.
6. Shih Tzu
The wrong way: sh*ts-ew
The right way: she-dzoo
Did anyone else love pronouncing this the wrong way as a kid?
7. Bichon Frise
The wrong way: bich-on freeze
The right way: bee-shawn free-zay
A bougie name for a bougie pup.
8. Rottweiler
The wrong way: rock-wahy-ler.
The right way: rot-wahy-ler
You can even get away with rot-vahy-ler if you want to honor this pup’s German origin. But, yeah, there’s no “K” in the name.
9. Alaskan Malamute
The wrong way: mal-a-moot
The right way: mal-uh-mewt
Mute as in canceling sound.
10. Belgian Malinois
The wrong way: mal-ee-noise
The right way: mal-in-wa
If the fancy French pronunciation doesn’t suit you, calling these adorable pups Belgian shepherds works too.
11. Keeshond
The wrong way: keysh-ond
The right way: kayz-hond
Just in “kayz” you were wondering, this pronunciation is not as simple as it looks.
12. Samoyed
The wrong way: suh-moy-ed
The right way: sam-a-yed
Yeah, according to the Samoyed Club of America, you, me, everyone we know—has been saying it wrong the whole time.
13. Schipperke
The wrong way: ship-er-kee
The right way: skee-puhr-kee
Because they’re both skippy and perky.
14. Bernese Mountain Dog
The wrong way: bur-meez
The right way: bur-neez
Not to be confused with the Burmese pythons from Burma, think the Bernese Alps of Switzerland instead.
