Women are giving their partners the ‘Illiterate Boyfriend’ test: ‘Do your best to pronounce these words’

People online are distressed at men butchering words such as hyperbole' and hors d'oeuvres' - highlighting a gender reversal in intelligence gaps'

There are common non-negotiables we look for in a prospective partner. They should be kind, caring and thoughtful. Having a shared interest helps. So does remembering important dates and anniversaries. But how much does it matter if they know how to pronounce the word gnocchi"?

Turns out that's a potential dealbreaker, at least according to a (rather judgy) cohort on TikTok. See: the Illiterate Boyfriend" trend, which is testing some couples on the app. Users have compiled a list of what are essentially SAT words for women to ask their male partners to read. Many of these men - this is an overwhelmingly heterosexual activity - fail to finish the list unscathed. They trip over entries such as hyperbole", cynicism", diaphragmatic" and the oft-butchered French term, hors d'oeuvres".