How to Say "Pete Buttigieg" Correctly, According to His Husband

Pete Buttigieg, 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is currently running for president in 2020. Here's how to correctly pronounce his last name.

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  • Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is running for president in 2020.
  • People have been struggling to say his last name correctly.
  • It's pronounced "BOOT-EDGE-EDGE."

Hey, hi, hello, and welcome to the latest edition of how to pronounce the names of the 2020 presidential candidates. By now, you've heard of Pete Buttigieg—the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana who's competing with top Democratic contenders like Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. If you're tired of butchering Mayor Pete's last name while discussing his position on key issues like gun control, you've come to the right place.

As Buttigieg reminds us on his Twitter bio, it's pronounced "BOOT-EDGE-EDGE."

Not "BUTT-EE-GEEG," "BUTT-I-GEG," or "BOOTY-GEG."

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Pete's husband, Chasten Buttigieg, also posted a great reference on Twitter a few months ago with more options, just in case the first one doesn't do it for you:

"BOOT-EDGE-EDGE."

"BUDDHA-JUDGE."

"BOOT-A-JUDGE."

"BOO-TUH-JUDGE."

If you're an audio learner, NowThis made a helpful video on how to pronounce his name, and how not to. It includes candidates like Sen. Kamala Harris and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke as well. This ridiculous video also exists.

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The first Democratic debates take place on June 26 and June 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Buttigieg will speak alongside Joe Biden, Michael Bennet, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, John Hickenlooper, Bernie Sanders, Eric Swalwell, Marianne Williamson, and Andrew Yang on the 27th. The other 2020 Democratic contenders will speak on the 26th. The candidates were split up randomly across two nights because, well, there is a ridiculous amount of them.

Learn more about who's running for president in 2020 here.

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Rachel Epstein
Rachel Epstein

Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop.