When I look back at my various traumas, I think the most damaging was the day I was informed some people in the UK call the pepper pictured below "jah-lop-pin-nos." And they are simply permitted to do so. No one's even arrested.
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When I was at secondary school, the language options were French & German, which given the highest % of British holiday travel was & is to Spain, seems like an error!
Okay I do this in my head because I’ve watched too much Trailer Park Boys though. Canada problems. Always have to remind myself not to say things like I’m Ricky.
I’ve called them that but in the way that Ricky Trailerparkboys says “raccoons” or “el camino”. I wasn’t aware that people said it that way on purpose???????? And they make fun of us for saying “herb” wrong???
Un-fun Fact: UK tourists are permitted to say things like this even in SPAIN, due to a treaty condition going back to the reign of George III, after Nelson's naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Talk about stolen valour...
I can always tell that someone isn't from anywhere near me when they pronounce it that way! 😆 (Hah-Lah-Pen-Yo) or (Ha-La-Peen-Yo) are both acceptable pronunciation where I'm from. Anything else and they're laughing at you in the Taco Shop but they'll be happy you tried anyway! 😂
Similarly alarming, apparently jalapeños are getting less spicy because of market pressure from white people?
Can't they just complain about how bell peppers are too spicy??
As a white person I can only apologize for my people.
it's because the vast majority of jalapenos are grown for manufacturers who want perfect control over the spice level of their products (i.e. mass-produced salsa), meaning a mild jalapeno with capsaicin added as needed. there are still hot varietals out there, but you won't find them at big stores.
@randomjeweler.bsky.social also pointed in this direction, and yes, apparently that's more accurate. Still market pressure, but you're right that it's not specifically because of white people. Unless you count the forces of Capitalism as white people which... I'm not saying I don't.
the fun part about the whole situation is that 999/1000 grocery store jalapenos i buy are about as hot as a bell pepper, and then once every couple years-- surprise! i get one randomly mixed in that tastes like a tiktok challenge that got banned after someone died. nature... finds a way...
They lure you into a false sense of security and next thing you know you're chopping them with bare hands, then realizing you have to pee and thinking "what could go wrong?"
I’ll direct you to the replies that correct me. They are getting less spicy but because of capitalism and mass production. Your call if that’s the same thing :)
Chillis aren't as hot when served still green like that. Red chilli peppers, such as birdseye, are much hotter and also more delicious.
You haven't lived till you have had a banh mi (with crunchy bread, rich pork, copious salad, and birdseye chillis) from any vietnamese french bakery in Sydney.
In defense of the land of my birth (I'm in CA) there was zero Mexican food there growing up. Saw an "old el paso" commercial once, thought it was highbrow.
But ask a Brit about indian food: You might as well take a seat...You'll be there a while.
OMG they yell about how one pronounces "croissant" and then do this. Everyone involved in the Mexican episode of Great British Bake-Off should have gone to prison.
I know a fellow named Nick Ybarra. His family has been here long enough that _I_ know more Spanish than he does. He pronounces his name "wye-barra". I want to pronounce it "ee-barra" but it's his name and he gets to choose how to pronounce it but it BREAKS MY BRAIN.
I work in a grocery store and can confirm many people do this 😬 Also people call tortillas “wraps” and I always show them the wraps and they go, “no the wraps to make the wraps” 🤦♀️
I have some dear friends who pronounce it like that and it makes my insides cringe but I just let it go.
Pronouncing the g in gyro is also a local thing that I still struggle with, but I’m the one getting weird looks when I ask for a year-o.
i've always half-way seriously believed that the Brits refuse to pronounce Spanish words correctly as part of lingering resentment for centuries of wars between the two nations
I remember a British program where 3 UK profs and 1 Spanish prof discussed the book Don Quixote, and every Brit said “Don Quick-zot,” which I’d never heard in my life.
Americans pronounce it wrong too, but much less wrong than that! And these were British professors of Spanish literature! Surely they knew how it was actually pronounced!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/1l5jw9/half_the_country_seems_unaware_how_to_properly/
It is filmed in my city and you see the guys kicking around.
LAP
N
O
Talk about stolen valour...
/smacks head
This moment has gone down in family legend so that his grandchildren may enjoy the laughter also.
Can't they just complain about how bell peppers are too spicy??
As a white person I can only apologize for my people.
Still, I hate it. Can we not keep anything in it's best form? 😢
You haven't lived till you have had a banh mi (with crunchy bread, rich pork, copious salad, and birdseye chillis) from any vietnamese french bakery in Sydney.
In defense of the land of my birth (I'm in CA) there was zero Mexican food there growing up. Saw an "old el paso" commercial once, thought it was highbrow.
But ask a Brit about indian food: You might as well take a seat...You'll be there a while.
"Where's the gwackie-molo!?" haunts me.
God damn, was that episode absolutely terrible.
https://bsky.app/profile/bobbylewis.bsky.social/post/3ki63oulrve2f
Of course even when I'm trying to say it in French I've got this horrible American accent.
I try to pronounce "croissant" correctly but I'm probably screwing it up.
"I *think* this is what refried beans are supposed to look like" (it wasn't)
"I'm afraid your 'tah-cos' are just too spicy"
😱
We see a bunch of letters and just take a run at them.
Gaelic confuses us no end!
If you'd like, we can help you pronounce the word "aluminium" properly too.
You're welcome 😁
Pronouncing the g in gyro is also a local thing that I still struggle with, but I’m the one getting weird looks when I ask for a year-o.