You can now order one with confidence.
It’s usually not about how tasty a gyro tastes, but about how to pronounce “gyro.” Is it jeye-roh, yee-roh, zhihr-oh? Let’s put an end to this debate. It’s a little easier than figuring out how to pronounce “GIF.”
The word gyro has two definitions and two pronunciations. Merriam-Webster defines a gyro as both a shortened form of gyrocompass or gyroscope, as well as a Greek sandwich composed of lamb, vegetables, and tzatziki sauce. You probably don’t know how to pronounce these 55 words that even smart people misspell.
The gyrocompass or gyroscope is pronounced jeye-roh in conversation, just as you would expect the word to be spoken. Gyros are pronounced yee-roh or zhihr-oh when you order them for lunch. The first one is a tad easier to say. When the waitress asks what you want to order, think of Jimmy Fallon and Luke Bryan’s “I Don’t Know How to Say Gyro” song: “No more fear-o, you’re a hero, ’cause now I know it’s gyro (yee-roh).”
In the 1970s, the word for this classic sandwich was borrowed from Modern Greek. If you ever travel over to Greece, you’ll want to know how to pronounce “gyro” the right way, as many English speakers have given their own twist to the pronunciation. Make sure you never say these words (and phrases) that make you sound stupid before you become too confident in your speech.