ZEENAT MOORAD: Nike or Nikey? Potato, potahto
The evolution of one of the most commonly mispronounced brand names in the world
A little over three years ago, two students, Ben and Kendal, wrote to Nike co-founder and chairman Phil Knight about a great pronunciation debate. Their letter, dated April 17 2014, reads: "Dear Mr Knight, we are writing to ask you to help us settle a score that will in turn answer one of life’s big unanswered questions. When one speaks of your great institution, is it pronounced: Nike/naIk (Ni-ke) or Nike/naI.ki (Ni-key). If you could please circle the correct answer and return this letter within the stamped, addressed envelope provided we will be tremendously grateful." According to the students, Knight’s confirmation "would help eradicate the social faux pas when mentioning the word Nike". It is, after all, one of the most commonly mispronounced brand names in the world. The others are Porsche (say porsh-uh), Huawei (wah-way), Audi (that’s Ow-dee not Or-dee) and Moët et Chandon (Mo-wett, definitely not Mo-way). Knight circled the word Ni-key. So it’s settled. And now that I’ve sa...
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