It’s an ongoing debate whether this sauce that’s made from hot peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, and vinegar is pronounced “See-rotch-ah” or “Sir-rotch-ah.” Although many people pronounce it differently, they all believe that they are saying it the right way. It seems as if people only can agree that the first “r” is silent. So, let’s end this debate on how to pronounce Sriracha right now so we can focus on just enjoying this delicious condiment.
The Origins of Sriracha
Over 80 years ago, Ms. Thanom Chakkapak created this sauce in the district of Si Racha in Thailand. Her friends and family encouraged her to sell it commercially, so she created Sriraja Panich. In 1984 she sold the company to Thai Theparos Food Products.
In the United States, Huy Fong’s Sriracha sauce comes from David Tran’s recipe. The green cap and rooster logo are a trademark of Huy Fong Foods. Restaurants have begun to include Sriracha in their dishes, and they mix it with other sauces to put on top of foods. It has become very popular in the U.S., and “Sriracha” is now a generic term for the sauce. Despite the many variations, everyone in Thailand knows that the true original is Sriraja Panich.
The Different Pronunciations
The Cambridge Dictionary supports the UK’s pronunciation of “sir-rotch-ah.” Oxford dictionary also pronounces it as “sir-rotch-ah”. For a third confirmation I checked Merriam Webster, which ALSO said “sir-rotch-ah.” You think the debate on how to pronounce Sriracha ends here right? Wrong.
Then I came across this video.
In Thai, it seems to be pronounced “see-rotch-ah.” This leaves us with the burning question: which is correct?
How to Pronounce Sriracha s
The difference in pronunciations has to do with where you are from and what accent you have. People with different accents may put the emphasis on different spots in the word. However, in the video above, creator David Tran pronounces it “see-rotch-ah,” and Thrillist confirms this pronunciation. But no matter how you use this sauce, pronounce it however you’d like and enjoy it.