Some travel mistakes cost you money, and others earn you confused stares. For Sameera Reddy, it almost got her “slapped” by the Goans. At least, that’s how she remembers it. In the latest episode of Tere Gully Mein, Sameera Reddy takes us straight into the beating heart of Goa’s seafood culture: the iconic Mapusa Fish Market.
Sameera Reddy’s Funny Goa Pronunciation Mistake
Amid baskets overflowing with the morning’s freshest catch, she pauses at one particular fish and immediately bursts into a story that every newcomer to Goa will probably relate to. Pointing at the prized Chonak, she confesses that when she had first moved to Goa, she confidently called it “choh-nuck.” One tiny change in pronunciation and one very big cultural mistake!
“The Goans were ready to slap me,” she laughs.
Of course, she says it jokingly, but the point lands. In Goa, words aren’t just words, but carry identity and generations of tradition. The names of local ingredients, especially seafood, are woven into everyday life, and people instantly know when you’ve got them wrong. Learning to pronounce them correctly isn’t about showing off, but about respecting the place you’re living in.
So, how do Goans pronounce it? It’s pronounced as “so-nuck fish”.
That’s what makes this moment so unexpectedly charming. Sameera Reddy isn’t trying to sound like a local, but is happily owning the fact that she once got it completely wrong.
Also Read: Exclusive: From Temples To Local Drinks, Sameera Reddy Shares Things She Learnt After Moving To Goa
A Walk Through Mapusa Fish Market’s Seafood Paradise
And then the market takes over. Every few steps, there’s something new to discover. Piles of glistening seafood line the stalls while vendors enthusiastically introduce different varieties of fish that have been feeding Goan homes for generations. Tiny pomfrets make an appearance, followed by basket after basket of fresh local catch that reflects just how seafood is stitched into Goa’s culinary identity.
If you’ve only ever associated Goa with beaches and beach shacks, this episode reminds you that some of its best stories are waiting inside its local markets. And before you plan your own visit to Mapusa, here’s one takeaway you’ll definitely want to remember. It’s ‘so-nuck’, not ‘cho-nuck’!
Also Read: This Tangy Goan Mango Coconut Curry By Sameera Reddy Is A Must-Try This Summer; Recipe Here!
Stay tuned for the full Tere Gully Mein episode on the Curly Tales App and the Curly Tales YouTube Channel.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
FAQs
What mistake did Sameera Reddy make in Goa?
She accidentally mispronounced the popular Goan fish, chonak, much to the amusement of the locals.
Where did Sameera Reddy share this story?
She shared it while exploring the famous Mapusa Fish Market in Curly Tales' Tere Gully Mein.