How to Pronounce Hyundai

Hyundai is one of the most commonly mispronounced car brands in the United States. If you are in the market for a new vehicle or just want to learn how to say Hyundai correctly, here’s a simple guide on how to pronounce Hyundai.

The Correct Pronunciation of Hyundai

The correct pronunciation of Hyundai is:

“Hun-day”

• The first syllable sounds line “hun” (as in honey without the “-ey”)
• The second syllable sounds like “day”

Put together: Hun-day

Why Do People Say It Differently?

There are other people in the U.S. that you may hear say “Hy-un-dye” or “Hun-die.” The reason for this is often from reading the name phonetically in English rather than following the original Korean pronunciation.
Hyundai is a brand from South Korea, and in Korean, the name 현대 (Hyundai) means “Modern.” The company used a simplified two-syllable pronunciation in American marketing to make it easier and more consistent.

How Hyundai Says It in Commercials

If you listen closely to U.S. television or radio ads, you’ll hear the brand clearly pronounced as “Hun-day.” The company has intentionally emphasized this pronunciation in advertising to clear up confusion and keep branding consistent.

How Do We Say Hyundai?

We asked some of our staff how they pronounce Hyundai, below is the results:

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to say Hyundai, you can shop for your favorite Hyundai model and specials at Speck Hyundai of Tri-Cities with confidence you are saying the brand right.

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