A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Nestlé
Pronounced NESS-lay, this Swiss multinational food and drink company is a household name worldwide.
nestlé
NESS-lay
/ˈnɛs.leɪ/ · NESS · lay
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's a common brand name in grocery stores and in news reports about the food industry.
Where the word comes from
The company was founded by Henri Nestlé, whose surname means 'little nest' in German, referring to the bird's nest logo he adopted.
Common ways people get it wrong
- NESS-ul Some people might add an extra syllable, perhaps influenced by other words ending in '-le', but the correct pronunciation is two syllables.
- NEST-lee The final syllable is pronounced like 'lay', not 'lee'. Think of the word 'play' or 'say'.
Frequently asked
Is it Nestlé or Nestle?
The official spelling includes the accent mark: Nestlé. However, in everyday English, it's often written and pronounced without it.
How do you pronounce the accent on Nestlé?
The accent mark (é) indicates the 'ay' sound, like in 'say' or 'play'. It doesn't change the pronunciation from the base word 'Nestle'.
What does Nestlé mean?
The name comes from the surname of its founder, Henri Nestlé. In German, 'Nestlé' means 'little nest', which inspired the company's original logo.
How is Nestle chocolate pronounced?
The pronunciation of Nestle chocolate is the same as the company name, typically pronounced NES-lay in English.
How do you pronounce Nestle in Swiss?
In Swiss German, the pronunciation is closer to 'NEST-luh', with a slightly harder 't' sound and a schwa at the end.
What does Nestle mean in French?
In French, 'nestlé' is the past participle of the verb 'nicher', meaning 'to nest' or 'to build a nest'.
What is the English pronunciation of Nestle?
In English, Nestle is commonly pronounced as NES-lay, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
