Results from a study found that 95% of people pronounce BMW incorrectly

Apparently, even car lovers get this one wrong.

A new study found that 95 percent of people don’t pronounce BMW correctly.

Despite being one of the most famous car badges on Earth, most of us are still getting hung up on those three little letters.

So, before you try to say it out loud, just know chances are you’ve been saying it wrong.

How are you supposed to say BMW?

BMW isn’t ‘bee em double-you.’

Because the brand is German, it’s pronounced differently. Well it’s supposed to be, anyway.

In German, the last letter is pronounced as a ‘vee’ sound, which makes it ‘bee em vee.’

That’s short for Bayerische Motoren Werke, or Bavarian Motor Works in English.

It’s a small detail, but one that even die-hard car fans miss.

According to research by Select Car Leasing, more than 95 percent of people get it wrong.

That’s a huge stat for one of the most recognized car brands in the world.

And BMW isn’t alone – Hyundai, Porsche, and Skoda all made the list of brand names we are butchering.

Turns out, familiarity doesn’t always equal fluency.

Other brand names we’re getting wrong

BMW isn’t the only brand with a name with more meaning behind its name than people realize.

Take AMG – those three letters stand for Aufrecht, Melcher, and Großaspach, the founders’ surnames and hometown.

Then there’s Audi’s four rings.

Everyone thinks they stand for all-wheel drive, but they actually represent four automakers that merged during the Great Depression – Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer.

Each one began as a symbol of identity before becoming a global logo.

These hidden meanings are a reminder that car names aren’t just branding.

They’re history in shorthand and sometimes, pronunciation is part of that story too.

So next time someone says ‘bee em double-you,’ go easy on them.

Just know you’ve graduated to the five percent who pronounce BMW right.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie