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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

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IKEA now have 'tidy technicians' who will declutter your home for free!

IKEA now have 'tidy technicians' who will declutter your home for free!

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IKEA launches new limited edition range

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A peek inside IKEA's stunning new homewares range

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Trade in your old IKEA furniture for a gift voucher

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Hot tip: IKEA designer’s favourite item under $20

Hot tip: IKEA designer’s favourite item under $20

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How to get the most out of $50 at Ikea

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IKEA and Sonos launch new range of multi-purpose speakers

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IKEA have released a rainbow version of their iconic FRAKTA bag

IKEA have released a rainbow version of their iconic FRAKTA bag

The massive Ikea mid-year clearance sale is here

The massive Ikea mid-year clearance sale is here

Forty and fabulous - 10 reasons you should love the iconic Billy bookcase

Forty and fabulous - 10 reasons you should love the iconic Billy bookcase

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IKEA teams up with RSPCA to help pups in need

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Ikea recreates 'The Simpsons' and 'Friends' living rooms

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11 products you can get from Ikea that are actually handmade

This is the hidden section of Ikea you need to know about

This is the hidden section of Ikea you need to know about

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You're probably pronouncing 'Ikea' wrong

Turns out the Swedes don't say it the way we do - by Hannah Hempenstall
  • 11 Jun 2019
You're probably pronouncing 'Ikea' wrong

You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to.

And, as it turns out, when referring to the most famous Swedish furniture manufacturer, most English speakers pronounce it eye-kee-uh while the Swedes call it ee-kay-uh.

Who knew?!

How to pronounce 'Ikea'

It might seem like a small thing but if you're ever in Europe and want to buy a new lamp, bedside table or chest of drawers, it'll help to know how to find your favourite furniture store - you know, Ikea.

Zlatan Ibrahimović on Playoffs, Being Captain & His Kids

The big news on how to pronounce Ikea properly landed on a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live when Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic talked about filling his home with goods from the Swedish furniture giant.

Kimmel had to stop him and ask about the pronunciation.

Ibrahimovic laughed at Kimmel's eye-kee-uh, and corrected him. But, it turns out, both versions are correct.

Ikea is an acronym

Founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprid – when he was just 17 – Ikea began as a small mail order service.

The name Ikea is an acronym that stands for Ingvar Kamprid Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Elmtaryd is the name of the farm that Kamprid grew up on and Agunnaryd is the town where he lived.

So the pronunciation is actually dependent on how you say the letters of the alphabet, as opposed to English versus Swedish.

Fun Ikea fact

More copies of the Ikea catalogue are printed than the Bible.

  

This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.

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