How to Pronounce Goji Berry — and What Else It’s Called

Updated: May 2026

If you have been quietly unsure how to say goji berry out loud — whether at a health food shop, ordering online or just reading the label — you are not alone. It is one of those words that looks straightforward but causes more hesitation than it should.

How do you pronounce goji?

The standard English pronunciation is GOH-jee — two syllables, with the stress on the first. The “g” is soft, as in “go.” So: GOH (rhymes with “go”) + jee (rhymes with “tree”).

This is the pronunciation you will hear in UK health food shops, on British radio and in most English-language media. It is universally understood and entirely correct in everyday use.

What about the original Chinese pronunciation?

The word goji comes from a romanisation of the Chinese name for the berry, derived from one of the southern Chinese dialects. In Mandarin Chinese the berry is most commonly called gǒuqǐ (枞杞), pronounced roughly “go-chee.” In Cantonese the pronunciation is closer to “gau-gei.”

The English “goji” is an approximation of these sounds — close enough to be recognisable across languages, but adapted to work naturally in English speech. Our Asian supplier pronounces it closest to “gow ghee,” which you can hear in the short video below.

What are goji berries also called?

Goji berries go by several other names depending on the context:

• Wolfberry — the most common English alternative, used in botanical and culinary writing. Straightforward to pronounce and widely understood.
• Lycium barbarum — the Latin botanical name, used in scientific and technical contexts.
• Gǒuqǐ (枞杞) — the Mandarin Chinese name.
• Kei chi — the Cantonese name, used in some traditional Chinese culinary writing.

In everyday UK use, “goji berry” or “goji” on its own is entirely standard and universally recognised. “Wolfberry” appears occasionally on older packaging or in botanical contexts but means exactly the same thing.

Where to buy goji berries in the UK

Now that you know how to say it, our Tibetan organic goji berries are a good starting point — Soil Association certified, single ingredient, no additives. For practical ideas on how to use them, our post on what to do with goji berries covers everything from snacking to baking to tea.