I’ve written in the past about how some airline names are frequently mispronounced. However, did you know that the name of one of the world’s biggest hotel groups is also often mispronounced, especially in American English? Let me explain…
In this post:
It’s pronounced “marry-et,” not “marry-ott”
How do you pronounce “Marriott?” In my experience, you’ll most commonly hear it pronounced as “marry-ott,” with an emphasis on the last two letters. However, that’s not correct, and instead, the hotel group is actually pronounced as “marry-et,” in a way that rhymes with “chariot,” or something along those lines.
It seems that the incorrect pronunciation is most common in American English, with those speaking British English more likely to pronounce it correctly.
Below is a video of David Marriott, Chairman of the Board of Marriott, explaining the pronunciation. He shares a story of how his wife used to be a teacher, and had a student named Elliott, who would address her as Mrs. Marriott (with the “marry-ott” pronunciation). Then she finally sat him down and asked him how his name was pronounced, and he said “ellie-et,” and she said “that’s right, it’s not ellie-ott,” and it’s the same for Marriott.”
I guess the pronunciation shouldn’t be that surprising?
Does it actually matter how you pronounce Marriott? I mean, no, not really, I suppose. But I’ll admit that I’ve gotten the name wrong for years, and also that I find that a lot of Marriott employees mispronounce the brand’s name.
American English can be funny at times, because there’s not much confusion about to pronounce “Hyatt.” I think just about all of us pronounce it “hy-ett,” and not “hy-att,” despite the last two letters being identical.
Other than that, the hotel industry is pretty straightforward with pronunciation, though airlines are a different story…
Bottom line
The correct way to pronounce Marriott is as “marry-et,” and not as “marry-ott.” At least in the United States, I find that the brand is mispronounced more often than not, even among employees. So while it might not be of much consequence, I figure it’s something that’s worth pointing out.
Have you been pronouncing Marriott correctly?
Does the mispronunciation of Marriott affect the corporation's bottom line?
This is an old topic. As a long-time reader, I remember Nice Paul's comment: like idiot.
I pronounce it “hatesconsumers”
Tomato Tomaatoe, as long as you can find the hotel and have a good visit.
Recently in Paris visits to Marriott properties, including Le Meridian, Marriott CDG and Courtyard CDG, we have experienced, lets call it and "Itch".
Starts with small bites on legs and arms, then it grows around your body, and it the bed and pillows.
Kept the AC on very cold, which was successful, but then we noticed the...
Tomato Tomaatoe, as long as you can find the hotel and have a good visit.
Recently in Paris visits to Marriott properties, including Le Meridian, Marriott CDG and Courtyard CDG, we have experienced, lets call it and "Itch".
Starts with small bites on legs and arms, then it grows around your body, and it the bed and pillows.
Kept the AC on very cold, which was successful, but then we noticed the red dots.
Really don't know what, we are not scientists, but we really suffered.
Yes compensation from Marriott, but what is going on with their corporation in Paris, where is the Hygienic standards?
I usually just pronounce it "shitty Marriott."
I always pronounced Hyatt as hy-att. Never heard anyone say hy-ett
Interesting. A very good friend and neighbor was a corporate executive at Marriott for many years before retiring. He reported directly to Steve Marriott, the son of the CEO. I showed him your story, and he said, "...No, Bill, not even Steve, my boss and friend, ever told me this."
Make of that what you will.
At least he didn't say Bill and Steve pronounces "marry-ott", David was just trolling you dumbass.
Don't care how you pronouce it. Stayed at a Marrio-et Courtyard this week the demolition would have been kind.
Crap brand, no matter how you say it.
Overseas it's still Marriott noy et.
I don’t mind British accents and pronunciations, it’s the Spanish and Chinese ones we need to watch out for.
Please also reference the Oxford English Dictionary, online. Aren't they the definitive source, even making the distinction (In Their Humble Opinion regarding US Englsh pronunciations)? And what would Webster say?
OED specifically says that the US pronunciation should be 'marry-uht'.
Maybe the CEO of Marriott is also pronouncing it wrong?
Ain't linguistics fun? Subscriber John D
I thought it was pronounced "we hate guests" but then again guest services is not their native language either
Thanks for pointing that out. As a non-American, I always wondered why so many people in the US, including friends and employees of the many Marriott hotels I stayed at, mispronounce it. Since you made this subject an article, perhaps you can also explain why Americans don't say "Eye-taly" for the home of pizza but many insist on saying "Eye-ran" or "Eye-raq"? Or why some people in the travel industry massacre the pronunciation of 'concierge'? lol
I'm surprised to see people saying it wrong. I never gave it much thought but it turns out I've always been pronouncing it correctly and hear most people do too!
I've been pronouncing it right all along, while everyone around me constantly told me I was wrong lol. Even as a kid, I would call it by what is the "correct" name, because I hated the "marri-ott" pronunciation and thought the "-ett" ending just sounded better lol. I refused to change my pronunciation because I was a stubborn kid. Turns out I was coincidentally right :)
Wow everyone stand up and bow to the almighty genius JB
Oh wow, can't believe I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time.
I thought it was pronounced Bonvoyed.
Oh wow, can't believe I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time.
I thought it was pronounced Bonvoyed.
It's how one family chooses to pronounce a name that is originally French but has deep British roots. Hervicus Mariot, noted as "The Builder of Churches," is an early recording in the register of the Knights Templars in Warwickshire in 1185. According to Google AI, "The word "mariot" would generally be pronounced with a soft "a" sound like in "father", a rolled "r" or guttural "r", a short "ee" sound for the "i", and the...
It's how one family chooses to pronounce a name that is originally French but has deep British roots. Hervicus Mariot, noted as "The Builder of Churches," is an early recording in the register of the Knights Templars in Warwickshire in 1185. According to Google AI, "The word "mariot" would generally be pronounced with a soft "a" sound like in "father", a rolled "r" or guttural "r", a short "ee" sound for the "i", and the final "t" would be silent, resulting in a sound similar to "mah-ree-OH" or "mah-ree-OHT", with the stress on the final syllable."
When they start doing loyalty correctly then I'll start making an effort to pronounce their name correctly.
BTW, when everyone exclusively used FedEx instead of "Federal Express", the company did the logical thing and changed it's name to FedEx. Marri-it should do the same and change its name to Marri-OTT.
But it's a person's name. The name of the person in the video. And of other people who may or may not be participating in this conversatation.. It's Marriott as in Harriet.
So what? Someone above posted that the name comes from a Knight Templar in 1185 named Mariot, pronounced Mar-ee-oh. Should the Marriotts change their name's pronunciation to the way their ancestors pronounced it? After all, Mar-ee-oh was also a person's name.
After all, it's not pronounced "idi-OT", either.
Shocked American-English gets it wrong.
So is Marriott going to correct their own pronunciation of their own name in their own commercials?
BTW, the correct pronunciation of Bonvoy is “bhon-vay” with the accent on “vay.” Or so somebody posted somewhere on the Internet. I can’t remember who or when, but it must be true or I wouldn’t have read it.
yeah, dont care. still pronouncing it the wrong way
OK Hair-rolled, be like that...
Or just say "The hotel loyalty program devoid of global promotions." But it's starting to look like Hilton wants to challenge for that title.
And I've been saying, "Five years later and still no daily housekeeping and $18 to park in an open, ungated, and unlit parking lot." - Good to know "MAIR-ee-ett" will do.
The correct pronunciation of Hyatt is one syllable as in ‘hiat’ /s
not sure I've ever heard anyone use the "Ott" pronunciation! Seems bizarre -- but then I'm a pesky immigrant who should go back to my own country I suppose.
Apparently I have been pronouncing Marriott, chariot and Hyatt wrong this entire time.
That may be correct, but at times it doesn’t get you to your destination. I learned that in Bangkok best to pronounce it „Malli-ohd“ (not joking), but that was pre-uber.
Although, ET called his human friend Elli-OTT. Hmmm.
Respectfully, Ben, “marry-et” is also incorrect. The correct pronunciation for Marriott is:
“You know that hotel group that used to be decent but now considers their guests to be products (like cattle) and can’t be arsed to enforce basic brand standards? Marriott.”
Just say, "Bonvoyage, Marry-it!"
I scrolled up and down looking for the candid camera, checked the calendar if this could be an April fool (probably saying it wrong), but then it dawned on me that this was a serious blog post by an adult in a blog for adults……
Goodness me ♂️
You are visiting the wrong blog. This article is very interesting for most of us that enjoy OMAAT every day.
Don't ask the Taxi driver to take you to the “Merry-ette” !
I think at this point, marry-ott is the canonical pronunciation regardless.
Surely that depends where you live.
I'm more surprised about the first part of the pronunciation - Merriot rather than Marriot never even occurred to me!
In 1920's Mayfair, then one could even imagine Mare-(y)-ut!