How To Correctly Pronounce “Marriott” (You’re Probably Saying It Wrong)

How To Correctly Pronounce “Marriott” (You’re Probably Saying It Wrong)

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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…

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?

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  1. Deborah Taylor Guest

    Does the mispronunciation of Marriott affect the corporation's bottom line?

  2. tuotuo Gold

    This is an old topic. As a long-time reader, I remember Nice Paul's comment: like idiot.

  3. UA-NYC Diamond

    I pronounce it “hatesconsumers”

  4. Anthony Guest

    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?

  5. Pl Guest

    I usually just pronounce it "shitty Marriott."

  6. modok Guest

    I always pronounced Hyatt as hy-att. Never heard anyone say hy-ett

  7. walester Gold

    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.

    1. Eskimo Guest

      At least he didn't say Bill and Steve pronounces "marry-ott", David was just trolling you dumbass.

  8. WestCoastFlyer Guest

    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.

  9. Ed Dennison Guest

    Overseas it's still Marriott noy et.

  10. Hank Tarn Guest

    I don’t mind British accents and pronunciations, it’s the Spanish and Chinese ones we need to watch out for.

  11. John D Guest

    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

  12. Michael Lissack Guest

    I thought it was pronounced "we hate guests" but then again guest services is not their native language either

  13. citieguy Guest

    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

  14. jjdh Guest

    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!

  15. JB Guest

    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 :)

    1. dbaggalert Guest

      Wow everyone stand up and bow to the almighty genius JB

  16. MoJoe Diamond

    Oh wow, can't believe I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time.

    I thought it was pronounced Bonvoyed.

  17. MoJoe Diamond

    Oh wow, can't believe I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time.

    I thought it was pronounced Bonvoyed.

  18. Ross Guest

    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."

  19. Christian Guest

    When they start doing loyalty correctly then I'll start making an effort to pronounce their name correctly.

  20. snic Diamond

    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.

    1. JAXBA Member

      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.

    2. snic Diamond

      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.

  21. snic Diamond

    After all, it's not pronounced "idi-OT", either.

  22. UncleRonnie Diamond

    Shocked American-English gets it wrong.

  23. InLA Guest

    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.

  24. Harold Guest

    yeah, dont care. still pronouncing it the wrong way

    1. JAXBA Member

      OK Hair-rolled, be like that...

  25. Kanaka Diamond

    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.

  26. CoryCesar Gold

    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.

  27. FallenSquirrel Guest

    The correct pronunciation of Hyatt is one syllable as in ‘hiat’ /s

  28. Not Lucky Guest

    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.

  29. Bad Horse Guest

    Apparently I have been pronouncing Marriott, chariot and Hyatt wrong this entire time.

  30. Stefan Guest

    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.

  31. Jack Guest

    Although, ET called his human friend Elli-OTT. Hmmm.

  32. Fixed it for ya Guest

    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.”

    1. snic Diamond

      Just say, "Bonvoyage, Marry-it!"

  33. CapitalMike Gold

    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 ‍♂️

    1. Calidude Guest

      You are visiting the wrong blog. This article is very interesting for most of us that enjoy OMAAT every day.

  34. Steve K Guest

    Don't ask the Taxi driver to take you to the “Merry-ette” !

  35. Peter Guest

    I think at this point, marry-ott is the canonical pronunciation regardless.

    1. Cam Guest

      Surely that depends where you live.

  36. Samo Member

    I'm more surprised about the first part of the pronunciation - Merriot rather than Marriot never even occurred to me!

    1. Albert Guest

      In 1920's Mayfair, then one could even imagine Mare-(y)-ut!

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

MoJoe Diamond

Oh wow, can't believe I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time. I thought it was pronounced Bonvoyed.

3
Kanaka Diamond

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.

3
Michael Lissack Guest

I thought it was pronounced "we hate guests" but then again guest services is not their native language either

1
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