Xiaomi: how to name a brand in Russian and other languages?

Why is the name of Xiaomi so important?

Xiaomi has gained worldwide popularity with affordable and technological devices, from smartphones to smart light bulbs. But even for experienced users, the confusion is: how to call this brand? “Xiaomi”, “Xiaomi”, “Shaomi” or even “Mi”? Pronunciation and spelling errors are found even in official stores, on websites and in the media.

It's not just about literacy. The wrong name can lead to problems finding information, ordering products, or communicating with support, for example, if you're looking for firmware for Redmi Note 12 but you write "Xiaomi Redmi," the search engine can produce irrelevant results, and in some countries, mispronunciation is even considered disrespectful to the brand.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 📜 The official position of the company on writing and pronunciation.
• 🌍 How the name sounds in different languages and why mistakes are common in Russia.
• 📱 How to call Xiaomi sub-brands: Redmi, POCO, Mi.
• ⚠️ Common myths and misconceptions (such as why “Mi” isn’t always correct).

The official name of the brand: what says Xiaomi

According to the official website, the company is registered as Xiaomi Corporation, and in Latin, the name is spelled like this, with a capital X and lowercase iaomi. It's not an acronym, but a full-fledged word that means "prosthe" in Chinese» (, xiǎomǐ).

In 2018, the brand rebranded and simplified the logo by removing the Mi (which was previously associated with the smartphone line), and Xiaomi is now a single name for the entire ecosystem, including Redmi, POCO However, in some countries (e.g. India) Mi is still used as a separate brand for low-end devices.

⚠️ Note: On the official Russian-language website mi.com/ru The company uses the spelling of "Xiaomi" in the headlines and "Xiaomi" in the logo. This is not a mistake, but a conscious choice to adapt to the Russian language.

In 2021, Xiaomi applied for the Mi name as a separate brand in the EU, but Later pulled it down to avoid confusion. Now Mi is either part of the model name (e.g. Mi 11) or an ecosystem designation (e.g. Mi Home for smart home).

How to pronounce “Xiaomi” in Russian correctly?

This is where the major controversy begins. In Chinese, the name is "Xiaomi»** (, xiǎomǐ), where:

• 🔹 xiǎo — «siao (first syllable, with a soft "s" sound and a diminishing tone).
• 🔹 mǐ — «Second syllable, with an ascending-down tone).

But there are no exact Chinese tones in Russian, so the pronunciation has been adapted, and the official recommended version is "Xiaomi"** (with emphasis on the first syllable).

• 📺 In the commercials Xiaomi in Russian.
• 🎤 Presentations and interviews with company representatives.
• 📄 In press releases and documentation.

However, in spoken language, there are often other options:

Why is there so much confusion? The thing is, in English, Xiaomi is pronounced "Shaumi»** (/ˈʃaʊmiː/), It's not the same as the Chinese or the Russian version, and many people mistakenly translate English into Russian, and that's where "Shaomi" or "Xiaomi" comes from».

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If you are in doubt how to pronounce it, listen to Xiaomi’s official YouTube videos with Russian subtitles – there announcers always say “Xiaomi”.

How to Write the Name Xiaomi: Rules for Texts

There are also nuances in writing. Here are the key rules:

1. Logo and brand: Always spelled Xiaomi (with a capital X). Options like "Xiaomi", "XIaomi" or "Hiaomi" are not allowed.
2. Russian texts: You can use “Xiaomi” in headlines and advertising, but in technical documents it is better to leave Xiaomi.

Hashtags and social media:

#Xiaomi

#XiaomiRussia

#MiFan

Examples of incorrect writing (even found on partner sites):

• ❌ «Charging for Xiaomi” (mistake in transliteration).
• ❌ «Smartphone Mi11" (model name should be with a capital letter and through space: Mi 11).
• ❌ «Xiaomi Mi tv TV (correctly: Xiaomi Mi) TV).

⚠️ Note: Always use the name as written in the invoice or on the box in customs documents or when you issue a warranty. For example, if the documents indicate Xiaomi 13 Pro and you write “Xiaomi 13 Pro”, this can cause problems with the identification of the product.

Xiaomi brands: how to call Redmi, POCO others?

Xiaomi operates several sub-brands, and each has its own naming rules:

An important nuance: since 2023, Xiaomi began to gradually abandon the prefix Mi in the names of smartphones, replacing it with Xiaomi. For example, the flagship Mi 12 was replaced by Xiaomi 13.

How to call Xiaomi in different countries?

The pronunciation and spelling of the brand vary depending on the language:

• 🇨🇳 China: (xiǎomǐ) — «It's always in the Latin, Xiaomi.
• 🇺🇸 USA/Europe: Pronounced "Shaumi» (/ˈʃaʊmiː/), but spelled Xiaomi.
• 🇮🇳 India: Mi is often used as a separate brand (e.g. Mi Store).
• 🇯🇵 Japan: (shaomi) — “Shaomi».
• 🇰🇷 Korea: (syaomi) – “Xiaomi”, close to Chinese.
• 🇷🇺 Russia: Officially – “Xiaomi”, but in colloquial speech there are all options.

In some countries, the name is adapted to local features, for example, in Thailand, Xiaomi is registered as a local name «เมี่ยวหมี่» (Miao Mi, which sounds like the original, but is written in local characters «شاومي» (Shaumi).

Interestingly, in 2019, Xiaomi sued companies that registered domains with errors in the name (such as Xaomi.com or Ziaomi.com), which was done to protect the brand from scammers who sold fakes under the guise of “original Xiaomi.”

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In Russia, the version of “Xiaomi” is officially fixed, but in technical documents and on packaging, the Latin spelling of Xiaomi is always used.

Common myths about the name Xiaomi

There are many misconceptions about branding, and we'll look at the most popular ones.

1. Myth: "Xiaomi translates to 'little rice'" Reality: Name means millet» (, xiǎomǐ), Millet is a cereal culture that symbolizes modesty and accessibility, which reflects the company's philosophy of "technology for all».
2. Myth: "Mi is short for Mobile Internet or Mission Impossible." Reality: Officially Mi doesn't stand for it. It's just part of the name (, mǐ), Although in marketing sometimes beat the phrase “Mobile Internet».
3. Myth: "In China, nobody says 'Xiaomi,' everybody says 'Mi.'" Reality: In China, the brand is called 'Xiaomi.' The word 'Mi' itself means 'rice' or 'metre', but it is not the name of the company.
4. Myth: "Xiaomi forbids calling her Xiaomi and fines her for it." Reality: The company doesn't penalize pronunciation errors, but the official material insists on "Xiaomi" except if the error is used for fraudulent purposes (for example, to sell fakes).

Another common misconception is that Redmi stands for "Red Mi," which is actually a separate brand, designed for budget devices, and it's not a color name. POCO It was an acronym for Powerful Cool, but now it’s just a name.

Practical Guide: How to Avoid Mistakes

To always properly name Xiaomi, follow these guidelines:

1. Oral speech: 🗣️ Say “Siaomi” (with emphasis on the first syllable). 🚫 Avoid Xiaomi, Shaomi, Mi (unless you mean a specific model).
2. In writing: ✍️ For the brand, use Xiaomi (Latin) or “Xiaomi”** (in Russian text). 📱 For models, check the official spelling on the website mi.com.
3. When looking for information: 🔍 If you are looking for firmware or accessories, use the Latin name of the model (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro).+ 5G, Not Redmy Note 12 Pro Plus»). 🛒 On AliExpress or in stores filter by Xiaomi brand, not “Xiaomi».

In supportive communication:

• 💬 Name the model exactly as it is specified in the documents (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro, not "Mi 13 T.P»).
• 📄 If you make a guarantee, use the name from the package.

If you are in doubt how to write the name of the device, use the official Xiaomi catalog - there are the correct names of all models.

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Save the bookmarks page mi.com/global — There are always the current names of devices in English, which can be copied for search.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions