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

‘It’s not necessarily that someone needs a specific degree or to know every word in the dictionary,’ said Robin Hamilton, a couples therapist. ‘It’s more: are you able to communicate with me?’ Illustration: Rita Liu/The Guardian

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”.