"Wheel of Fortune" contestant loses prize after pronouncing "flamenco" as "flamingo"

By: Stephanie Staudinger

Posted: Apr 10, 2018 2:53 PM CDT

A "Wheel of Fortune" contestant had a $7,100 prize erased when he mispronounced the word "flamenco," instead saying "flamingo."

"Flamingo dance lessons," the man said Monday, reading a completed puzzle that actually read: "Flamenco dance lessons."

The audience began to clap, thinking he had won a prize. That was when host Pat Sajak said, "Sorry."

Another contestant then successfully solved the puzzle.

"To explain: what we all heard was -- and I know you didn't mean to say it -- but you gave us a 'G' instead of a 'C','" said Sajak.

The contestant looked stunned as Sajak offered the explanation.

Earlier this year, a man on the show had a puzzle reading, "A Streetcar Na_ed Desire." He chose the letter "K" to fill in the blank, failing to solve the puzzle.