People are only just realising they’ve been pronouncing Mercedes wrong their whole lives
Mercedes is a globally iconic brand, synonymous with luxury, style, and innovation. However, it seems many people have been pronouncing its name incorrectly for years. The German automaker, founded in 1926 by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, and Emil Jellinek, draws its name from Emil Jellinek’s daughter, Mercedes.
Over the years, Mercedes has established itself as one of the most prestigious automotive names worldwide. Yet, despite its universal recognition, many have failed to master the correct pronunciation of the brand. A recent study by Saga car insurance tested Brits on their ability to pronounce the names of 30 top-selling car manufacturers, as well as spell them correctly and draw their logos from memory.
It turns out that Mercedes ranks as one of the most challenging names to pronounce. Only 20% of participants pronounced it correctly, while the majority defaulted to “Mer-say-deez.” The study accepted both the Spanish-influenced “Mer-th-eh-des Benz” and the more common German pronunciation, “Mer-say-dez Benz,” as correct.
The debate over how to say the name rages on. One Reddit user, seeking clarification in the Ireland subreddit, asked, “I say Merseedays. I don’t know where I picked it up. F1 commentators say mersaydees on TV, but they’re not Irish. Anyone have a recording of the old pronunciation?” Various responses followed: one person suggested “Mair-they-dayth,” another favored “Mur-Say-Deez,” while a third asserted that the authentic German pronunciation is “Mertz-saydez.” Others delved into a deeper discussion, even referencing the Spanish meaning of “Mercedes,” which translates to “Mary of the Graces.”
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the pronunciation debate continued to stir interest. One user humorously remarked, “Snoop Dogg once said Mercedes has 3 E’s and they’re all pronounced differently. I think about this a lot.” Another urged, “Stop saying Mercedes Benzzzzz. You may not speak German, but you can at least pronounce it correctly.”
The brand’s history was highlighted by the popular account Historic Vids, which shared a video featuring Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius. The clip confirmed the origin of the name, detailing how Jellinek named the car after his daughter to honor her legacy.
Despite ongoing confusion about its pronunciation, the Mercedes-Benz brand enjoys incredible recognition. According to Saga’s survey, the iconic three-pointed star logo was the second most recognizable among Brits. In fact, more than half of the respondents could accurately draw the logo from memory. Thanks to its simple design, 88% of those who attempted the logo’s drawing were successful. When it comes to spelling, Brits fared better—83% spelled “Mercedes-Benz” correctly, despite struggling with the proper pronunciation.
