Chocolate fans furious after learning people are pronouncing Reese's completely wrong

Fans of iconic American brand Reese's are furious after hearing how some people are pronouncing it - but it turns out they had no idea they were saying it wrong this whole time

Iconic American brand Reese’s has been making waves in the UK in recent years, but many people aren’t quite getting its name right.

The company is famous for its Peanut Butter Cups, which consist of a chunky, decadent peanut butter filling in a sweet chocolate case. Owned by American titan of industry, the Hershey Company, the popular treat was created in the 1920s by former dairy farmer, and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey; H. B. Reese.

Creator Reese wasn’t a permanent feature at the Hershey company though - he was let go when the barn he managed was shut down to save costs. He decided to launch his own business after this, with the H.B. Reese Candy Company established in 1923.

The company operates as a subsidiary of Hershey and by 1969, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups became the Hershey Company's top seller. It remains one of the top-sellers in the world, with a reported $3.1 (£2.4) billion in annual sales.

The popular peanut butter treats are a staple during spooky season, with many trick-or-treaters coming home with a mini cup or two in their collection. While everyone knows the brand by its iconic orange packaging, one thing that stumps many is how to pronounce the brand's name itself.

Many people often say ‘Reesies’ or ‘Reesees’, but it’s helpful to think of how you’d say ‘Reese’s pieces'—the chocolate treats are pronounced ‘Rees-iz’, according to QuillBot. On social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, people have expressed their frustration over the many pronunciation blunders the brand name seems to inspire.

One said: “if you pronounce reese’s as 'ree-sees' I do not trust you”, while another agreed and penned: “Can't stand ppl who pronounce Reese's like 'ree - sea's'....”.

A third person joked: “I’ll throat punch a MF that says 'ree sees'.” And another quipped: “Serial killer behaviour honestly”.

One person confessed: “My bad, it’s how everyone else pronounced it around me growing up”. But others preferred to pronounce it the incorrect way. One declared: “I'm sorry I like whimsy”. Another said: “You’re so wrong lmao”.

Another person complained: “The entirety of North Dakota pronounces it that way and no matter how much I try to educate that the possessive of Reece doesn't magically add extra e sounds and that all the advertising says it the other way, folks still insist on being wrong”.

One person was especially irritated by the incorrect pronunciation being rather prolific and lamented: “Reese’s Pieces. THAT SHOULD MAKE IT EVEN MORE OBVIOUS; IT’S SUPPOSED TO RHYME WITH 'PIECES!!!' The final thing that makes me go f***ing insane is when people will actually change the pronunciation of pieces to 'pee-sees' to rhyme with their incorrect pronunciation of Reese’s.” And another simply added: 'Ree-Sizz' pieces. CMON PEOPLE.”

Other social media users were quick to point out the founder’s surname was Reese, so the added ‘s’ is merely to indicate possession and not to change the pronunciation of the name entirely.