Who’s Louie Vitton?

People often spell these very famous brands wrong: Do you?


Published on May 28, 2025


Credit: appshunter.io

Sure, we all recognize the brand with the three stripes: Addidas. Or is it Adidas? Would you be able to spot the correct spelling of very famous brand names? Well, hundreds of thousands of people each month fail to do so. Google’s records show massive numbers of searches for words like Louie Vitton, Gilete, Henikin, and Lecoste (spoiler alert: all are incorrect). Read on to discover some curious ways people spell brand names—and see if you can spot the real ones!

1

Adidas, Addidas, or Addias?

Credit: Max Letek

The three-stripe giant was founded by Adolf "Adi" Dassler in Germany in the 1940s. As we know, it’s one of the world’s biggest names in athletic apparel and footwear. Yet, misspelling the name is surprisingly common.

"Addidas" is wrong. So is "Addiddas." "Addias" just looks like a typo. It’s actually much simpler than many people think: it’s Adidas, like Adi-Dassler. Yet, over half a million people misspell it on Google every month.

2

Ferrari or Ferari?

Credit: Brandon Atchison

Founded in Italy in 1939, this legendary brand is synonymous with speed, luxury, and a very particular shade of red. These cars have won countless races and become a symbol of prestige.

So why the confusion? It might be the Italian pronunciation that trips people up. But "Ferari" just drops a letter too many. The correct spelling is Ferrari. On average, the brand is Googled with common misspellings around 123,000 times a month!

3

Haagen Dasz, Häagen-Dazs, Haagen Daz, or Haagen Daaz?

Credit: Courtney Cook

As many spelling options to choose from as there are available flavors. This luxurious ice cream brand, born in NYC, went a bit far in trying to evoke European flair. It’s not Danish or Swedish—it’s from the Bronx.

So why the umlauts in the name? The founders chose it to sound Danish and suggest "old-world craftsmanship," even though the word itself means absolutely nothing. The confusion is understandable. Here’s the correct spelling, once and for all: Häagen-Dazs.

4

Louis Vuitton, Louis Vitton, or Luis Vuitton?

Credit: Llibert Losada

The crown jewel of French fashion, founded in 1854 and famous for its iconic LV monogram, luggage trunks, and handbags. Its French pronunciation might be tricky to type out. "Louis Vitton" tries to keep the vibe but doesn’t hit the mark. "Luis Vuitton" is close in sound, but Luis is too Spanish to be French.

The correct spelling is Louis Vuitton. Easy to remember: two Os, two Us, two Is, two Ts.

5

Heinikin, Heinken, or… Heineken?

Credit: Stella de Smit

Founded in 1864 in Amsterdam, the green-bottle beer is one of the most recognized brands in the world. Its red star is famous across more than 190 countries. But spelling it? That’s another story.

"Heinken" is a usual slip. Heinikin is, again, close enough. But the correct spelling is Heineken. On average, the brand is Googled with common misspellings about 90,000 times a month!

6

Gillete, Gilette, Gillette, or Gilete?

Credit: Brett Jordan

The razor giant with the smoothest slogan—"The Best a Man Can Get"—was founded in 1901 by an American businessman (no, he wasn’t French). But King C.'s surname is a spelling trap for millions, even today.

"Gillete" is missing a letter. So is "Gilette." "Gilete" just gives up entirely. The correct spelling is Gillette, and it’s time we learned it!

7

Ascis, Asics, or Ascics?

Credit: Nik Shuliahin 💛💙

This popular athletic shoe brand hails from Japan, but its name is rooted in Latin: Anima Sana In Corpore Sano "A healthy mind in a healthy body." That should be enough of a hint to remember how to spell it!

It’s not "Ascis" or "Ascics". It’s "Asics," a very beautiful and simple-enough acronym.

8

Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Hillfiger, Hilfinger, or Hillfigure?

Credit: Anna Keibalo

You read that correctly — some people Google this brand as "Hillfigure." The red, white, and blue prep style might be iconic, but spelling this designer’s name is still a challenge.

The double "l" in "Hillfiger," the rogue "n" in "Hilfinger," and "Hillfigure" all turn up frequently in searches. The correct spelling is Tommy Hilfiger—and it’s misspelled roughly 23,400 times a month!

9

Lacoste, La Coste, or Lecoste?

Credit: Caste

That little green crocodile has stood for French casual elegance since the 1930s. This is another surname that confuses people. It belonged to the tennis legend nicknamed "The Crocodile" for his tenacity on the court.

But whether it’s mistaken for two words ("La Coste") or phonetically bent into "Lecoste," the spelling can trip people up. The correct way to write it is Lacoste.

10

Channel, Chanell, or Chanel?

Credit: Yves Monrique

Coco changed fashion; she changed the way the world saw elegance and simplicity, and taught us the power of a little black dress. And yet, her timeless name is often lost in translation.

"Channel" might sound correct, and to others, so could "Chanell." But there’s only one way to spell high fashion—and it’s Chanel.

11

Hiundai, Hyundai, or Hundai?

Credit: Mpho Mojapelo

South Korea’s automotive powerhouse is a puzzle both for pronunciation and spelling. Eventually, one might learn that the accepted pronunciation is "HUN-day."

What about the correct spelling? "Hundai" is an understandable and common detour. "Hiundai" is another widespread but incorrect one. The correct spelling is Hyundai. Yet, 605,000 times a month, people search using one of the incorrect options!

12

Lamborgini, Lamborghini, or Lambogini?

Credit: Toni Zaat

If you can tell which of the three is correct on the first try, congratulations: you are a pro. Founded to rival Ferrari, this Italian supercar brand is all about roaring engines and luxury speed. But all those syllables can make one swerve.

"Lamborgini" drops an "h." "Lambogini" is a bit too off. Indeed, the correct spelling is Lamborghini. Another of the most mixed-up brand names googled every month!

13

Dolce & Gabbana, Dolcce Gabbana, or Dolce and Gabana?

Credit: Arno Senoner

Finally, can you tell which one is correct? Another Italian luxury brand that leaves us staring at the keyboard. Founded by Domenico and Stefano, this brand’s name is a unison of both their surnames.

The first mistake is forgetting the ampersand—it is indeed part of the name. Another mistake is adding an unnecessary second "c" to "Dolce," or subtracting a necessary "b" from "Gabbana." So, here’s the correct spelling: Dolce & Gabbana.


Ancient tunes

Music is everywhere: Discover 10 of the oldest instruments in the world!


Published on May 28, 2025


Credit: Karim MANJRA

Music has been a part of our civilization since ancient times: In fact, some archaeologists believe that humans have played and enjoyed music since the dawn of time. In any case, while music understandably evolves as we do, the sense of wonder and magic that we feel whenever we hear a particularly good song is probably similar to what our forefathers felt. However, it is true that the ancient times didn’t have the instruments we know today, so we have decided to highlight 10 instruments from the past: Some of these instruments are the direct ancestors of some of our modern instruments, while others remain relevant to this day. Enjoy!

1

Lute

Credit: Birmingham Museums Trust

We’ll start with the closest ancestor to the quintessential musical instrument of our times. While the guitar reigns supreme in any rock band worth its salt, the lute was definitively the instrument of choice for most Renaissance musicians. However, the origins of this instrument date back a lot farther: Some Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depict musicians playing early versions of the lute.

2

Ocarina

Credit: Luigie Guissepe Marin Astete

The ocarina, also known by the less dignified name of "potato flute", is one of the oldest instruments out there, dating back 12,000 years before our time. Most ocarinas are comprised of an enclosed space, usually made of clay or ceramic, and they have between 4 and 12 finger holes and a mouthpiece. The earliest versions of this instrument were found in China, where it played an essential part in the development of this civilization’s music.

3

Didgeridoo

Credit: Philipp Aleev

The didgeridoo is one of the peculiar instruments in this article. Developed by Australian aboriginal tribes at least 1,000 years ago, the droning and unique sound of the didgeridoo comes from its distinctive (and difficult to master) breathing technique. Traditionally, didgeridoo makers made use of trees that had a large termite presence since their activity would render the branches of these trees hollow and perfect for making this instrument.

4

Gong

Credit: Manuel Cossio

Nowadays, the gong is considered more of a ceremonial tool than a traditional musical instrument: For instance, a gong was once struck at the start and end of trading on Wall Street until it was replaced by a bronze bell in 1903. However, you can still see this percussion instrument present in some orchestras, especially in those who regularly play traditional music from Southeast Asia and East Asia.

5

Pan flute

Credit: SHVETS production

Have you ever wondered where the Pan flute got its name? It comes from Pan, the Ancient Greek god of nature and shepherds. This god is usually depicted with the hindquarters of a goat and playing this traditional instrument. Interestingly, the pan flute is, to this day, an essential part of traditional South American music, and it is found in pieces all over the continent.

6

Maracas

Credit: Alena Darmel

Before becoming a staple instrument in traditional Mexican music, the earliest version of the maracas could be found in pre-Columbian societies in Latin and South America: Ancestors to the maracas we know today were present in places like Brazil, Venezuela, and even the U.S. state of Florida.

7

Trumpets (Tutankhamon)

Credit: Chris Bair

In 1922, when archaeologist Howard Carter excavated Tutankhamun's tomb, he came across a pair of silver and bronze trumpets, the earliest version of this instrument at the time. Nowadays, we know that other ancestors of the trumpet could be found in Scandinavia (known as the lurr) and in Ancient China.

8

Lyre

Credit: Hert Niks

Just like the pan flute, the lyre is one of the quintessential instruments associated with the Ancient Greeks: The Greeks believed that it was created by the god Hermes, although Apollo, the god of music, is often depicted holding a lyre in his arms. Regardless, this instrument is closely related to the lute and, as such, it is a direct ancestor to both the harp and the guitar.

9

Koto

Credit: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

To this day, Japan holds its traditional instruments in high regard: It is not uncommon to see a skilled musician play the shamisen or the taiko drum. However, the instrument that is perhaps closest to this nation’s heart is the koto, considered Japan’s national instrument. The koto was brought to Japan from China during the 7th and 8th centuries, where it quickly became synonymous with traditional Japanese music.

10

Flute

Credit: Nishal Pavithran

We’ll end with the oldest known musical instrument in history. A pair of bone flutes was found by archaeologists in Germany, dating back to an outstanding 40,000 years before our time. What’s perhaps most moving about these rudimentary flutes is that experts believe that they were used in important ceremonies, or for something as important as storytelling: These simple facts are a perfect example of why music is so essential for our development as a species.

Looking for an extra scoop of literary fun?

Learn more with our Word of the day

ebullient

/ɪˈbʊljənt/