If you’re anything like me, you’ve done more than just raise an eyebrow at the appalling sound of Nutella pronounced as “New-tell-uh.” It just doesn’t make sense. It’s a hazelNUT, not a hazelNEWT.
And yet, there’s a great debate over the correct pronunciation of this delightful spread. All bias aside, there’s a real answer out there. I’m not guaranteeing it will be sensible, but I can guarantee that you couldn’t pay me to say “New-tell-uh.”
What Is Nutella?
I’ll cut some slack here for the “I’m not much of a sweet tooth” folks, despite my disapproval of this question being asked in the first place. Nutella is a tasty spread made of chocolate and hazelnut. It originated in Italy, where it is manufactured by the company Ferrero.
Ferrero is the same company that manufactures those little golden Ferrero Rocher candies your grandma always gets you for Christmas. That’s right — the ones you never eat because the nuts scare the shit out of you. Here’s the catch: The inside of those golden goodies tastes exactly like Nutella.
How to Pronounce “Nutella”
Despite it being a heavily disputed topic, there is a clear way to “correctly” pronounce the word. Kill the drum roll because the answer will make you feel silly. Nutella, according to the manufacturer Ferrero, is pronounced “New-tell-uh.”
This was previously confirmed in the company’s FAQ page, which reads: “Nutella (pronounced “new-tell-uh”) is a tasty, unique spread made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. Nutella has no artificial colors or preservatives.”
It has also been confirmed in several commercials.
The Feedback
Although we have confirmation on the correct pronunciation, it hasn’t quieted the outcry. One consumer tweeted: “We need an update of the potato, potatah song. ‘I say Nutella. You say Newtella. Let’s never see each other ever again.'”
Others are delighted in knowing that the pronunciation makes absolutely no sense. In fact, some people even spell it “Newtella.” Talk about delusional!
Maybe the pronunciation is your metric for deciding who your friends are, or maybe you’re fine with just decorating your toast with it. Either way, at least you can find condolence in knowing the truth. The ugly truth, in my opinion.