Most people share funny memes and GIFs with friends and family these days, but how often does someone say “JIF” or “me-me” out loud when they mention one? If you are, you are wrong.
Tech terms, brands and products often have strange names or words. For example, when you clear the cache on your computer, do you say “cash-ay” or “cash”? Only one of these is correct. With that in mind, here are ten popular tech terms or brand names you’re getting wrong and how to say them right.
Cache
The term cache is often used when it comes to computers and technology. A cache is a special place to store temporary files that make a device, browser, or application run faster and more efficiently.
You have cache memory and web cache, and it’s often one of the first tips to fix a problem with your phone or computer. Someone might say, “Clear your cache and cookies.” Do not eat cookies. Clean them up.
- A common mispronunciation is: “kay-shay” or “cash-ay”
- Correct pronunciation: “money”
GIF
Okay, okay, before we get too carried away, let’s get the controversial “GIF” out of the way. But first, here’s a little background. GIF is a file format for animated images, and still, to this day, the Internet can’t seem to get the pronunciation right.
Some say that Steve Wilhite, creator of the GIF format, once said that “selective developers prefer JIF,” which is the correct pronunciation. But GIF stands for “Graphics Interchange Format” and the word “graphics” is spelled with a strong G, and that’s why the debate never dies.
Talk to me – grass, garden, gambling, gimbal, gif.
- A common mispronunciation is: Gif
- Correct pronunciation: GIF “g-if”
Ubuntu
Any die-hard techie can know all about Linux OS, and the most popular version of Linux OS is Ubuntu. It even works on computers, tablets and smartphones. And while this may not be as popular as GIFs or caches, many people still say it’s wrong.
- A common mispronunciation is: “You-bun-too” or “oo-bun-too”
- Correct pronunciation: “Yes-bon-so.”
Replenishment of Qi
You may have a Qi wireless charger in your car, on your desk, or on the bedside table. Wireless charging is an amazing technology that allows many gadgets and smartphones to be charged wirelessly without the hassle of cables and plugging in anything.
The real name for modern wireless charging is Qi wireless charging, and Qi is the international standard for the technology.
- A common mispronunciation is: It is literally filling in the letters “Q i”.
- Correct pronunciation: “cheese”
Sudo
Now that you know how to say “Ubuntu”, let’s talk about “sudo” next time. sudo is a Linux/Unix operating system that allows users to run programs with another user’s security privileges or elevated permissions. It’s the same as being an administrator on Windows.
“sudo” is short for “make superuser”. I accept. Although Sudo’s official website claims to be correct, I am one of the many people who have said this wrong.
- A common mispronunciation is: “sue-doe” or “pseudo”
- Correct pronunciation: “sue-doo” or “soo-doo”
IKEA
While IKEA isn’t necessarily a tech buzzword, the company is doing a lot with technology these days, and even sells a desk with built-in Qi wireless charging. Also, IKEA is a common name that I constantly hear mispronounced.
Adding confusion to the already tricky name, the official IKEA Instagram once posted a mispronunciation, and we never got over it.
“IKEA” is an acronym for the founder’s name, the name of his family’s farm and the location of that farm in a village in Sweden. nongvar KAmprad named his farm. Elmtaryd, and located in the village AGunnaryd, in Sweden. According to an interview with Quartz“When Ingvar founded IKEA in 1943, he said it in a typical Swedish accent, and it’s the right way.
- A common mispronunciation is: “Aye-ke-yah” or “eye-key-ah”
- Correct pronunciation: “EE-KEH-YAH.”
Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a Chinese company that makes smartphones, smart home appliances, internet services and more. Xiaomi is the 4th largest smartphone manufacturer in the world after Samsung, Apple and Huawei.
It’s a big brand. Hugo Barra, the vice president of Android product management at Google, left the search giant in 2013 to join Xiaomi, although he stepped down in 2017. The company has been popular with the government even though it doesn’t offer many devices. Many people know the brand but still say it is wrong.
- A common mispronunciation is: “zi-o-mi” or “zi-ao-mi”
- Correct pronunciation: “Sha-o-mi” or “Shau-mi”
mm
Memories are jokes. These are images with white or black text on the top and bottom, often saying something funny, that are posted daily on social media and in your message threads. Tesla CEO Elon Musk loves memes.
I’ve heard a lot of people mispronounce memes which boggles my mind. Next time you send someone a funny meme, maybe tell them how to say it properly.
- A common mispronunciation is: “meme” or “me-me”
- Correct pronunciation: “mmm”
ASUS
Another big brand in the computer world is ASUS, but no one seems to know how to pronounce the name correctly. ASUS is actually the 4th largest PC vendor, makes great motherboards, and has a tough name to call.
- A common mispronunciation is: “Ah-su-s” “ace-us”
- Correct pronunciation: “come on”
Huawei
Huawei is one of the most innovative telecom equipment manufacturers in the world. And even after the ban from the United States, it is still the 3rd largest smartphone manufacturer by volume. Huawei does a little bit of everything, but people everywhere still mispronounce its name.
Before the Chinese company went through all the American problems (that’s a story for another day), the company tested on the streets of New York City to help everyone pronounce its name correctly. All you need to know is that it doesn’t start with an “H”, not even a little bit.
- A common mispronunciation is: “Huawei”
- Correct pronunciation: “Wow-way.”
Don’t worry if you’re saying a bunch of these mistakes. It happens to the best of us. Even Sudo gives several pronunciations on its official website, which only adds to the confusion, and they are not the only ones.
The internet collective may never agree on what to call a GIF, and that’s fine. In the meantime, say and mark these tech terms the right way, and tell your friends.
The more you know, right?
