Kate and Jordan face off against Google in a pronunciation contest in which, I think it’s fair to say, no one wins. Not to be confused with the newly coined ‘hangry’ which means you’re angry because you‘re hungry! The pronunciation of this word sounds like a long drawn out version of the English translation, but you wouldn’t realize that by looking at the word’s spelling. Irish names really are difficult to the outsider. Ensure you get the French ‘r’ sound correct at the beginning of the word. 21 Languages. It doesn’t look lengthy enough to be a three-syllable name, but this French/Catalan form of Anna is pronounced ah-nah-EES. Actually pronounced as written, but still a bit of a mouthful for French speakers! Je dois Tu dois Il/elle doit Nous devons Vous devez Ils/ells doivent 1st meaning : the notion of debt in the literal and figurative meanings : Combien est-ce que je vous…, We are open Monday - Friday excluding public holidays. A word that is equally as difficult for French speakers to say in English and English speakers to say in French (see below). Xiomara. Another hard-to-pronounce word that refers to a hard-to-explain figure of speech, synecdoche refers to using a part of something to refer to a whole (e.g. Georges, the French form of George, is pronounced zhorzh. A living language like English evolves and thrives precisely because it is spoken every day. Now for the list of the usual French names. ), and some only in particular situations (like if you included a teapot on your wedding registry). The city, which is often referred to as Wisconsin's second-oldest city, is … Remember, practice makes perfect! Contact Us, Thorough and Through “fuh-ruh” and “froo”. You need to master this to avoid telling people that they have a ‘beautiful bum’ instead! Unfortunately it’s arguably the trickiest of the lot! One final ‘llir’ word for you to wrap you tongue around. Ensure you get the French ‘r’ sound correct at the beginning of the word. This Irish surname nods to French-Norman origins. "all hands on deck"). PRONUNCIATION There is nothing worse than knowing the right word but once you pronounce it, people don’t understand you !! Here’s an A-to-almost-Z pronunciation guide that will give you the confidence to ask about that interesting dog next time you see one in the park. We never said the English language was easy. So let’s have a look at a few pronunciation rules. To that end, we came up with a list of names that may be a bit daunting to those unfamiliar with them. Is there a rule, how do the French know which one to use ? Baume & Mercier (bohm AY mer-SEE-AY) The ampersand is A because it’s French and it’s very soft; it’s a mid-range watch brand. Hélène, the French form of Helen, is pronounced eh-lehn. Pronounced by Native Speakers. The 20 UK place names that are hardest to pronounce – and how to say them Sep 16, 2016 From Bicester to Llanelli, Britain's towns and landmarks are a 'minefield of mispronunciation' Malheureusement (unfortunately)“mal-er-roous-mon”. Isthmus. Beaucoup (many) “bow-coo” One of the most commonly said … The ‘th’ sound doesn’t exist in French, and how could you know that ‘ough’ is pronounced differently in both words! Please. NOUS = ON In reality in 90% of the cases, they both mean « we » in English. Unfortunately (ha ha) this word is as hard to say as it looks, but practice makes perfect and once you’ve perfected it, you will enjoy the sound of it rolling off your tongue. Either way, it’s important to keep pushing yourself. We never said the French language was easy either…. And if you're still stuck, don't worry. 3. Vous recherchez des Cours d'Anglais? A reader once told us that the word "Rouen" is hard to pronounce "unless you're a goose". It seems that both languages have a plethora of difficult words to pronounce. Focusing on popular French last names, the cheat sheet makes it easy for anyone to pronounce these names that tend to be a bit of a mouthful. Once you know how to pronounce the word, your brain identifies it very rapidly when it hears it, so by…, VOUS or TU ?? With this word, you want to pay extra attention to its final syllables; you need to use a "k" sound, rather than a "ch" sound like the spelling might lead you to believe. Next time you want to order filet mignon at a restaurant, you should say "fil-LAY min-YON." Paul Mercier and William Baume. 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The name Tobin can sometimes be seen in variable ways such as Torbyn or Tobyn, amongst others. Some you might use everyday (like your eyes), some once in a while (“hardware store,” anybody? ~ The concept of last names, or descriptive names, can be traced back to the eleventh century France, where the concept of last names was born. The French Words that are the Most Difficult to Pronounce, In this video, French culture vlogger Kate of the YouTube channel. French people can’t help pronouncing this word the same as a female dog, much to most English people’s amusement! If you’re from here, then these words will be a piece of cake for you to pronounce, but tourists and newbies may stumble over a word or two. Protests in France over new law about filming police, Why You Should Be Watching Jacques Pépin’s Facebook Videos, 9 French Christmas Songs to Raise Your Holiday Spirit, 3 Books About France Made The Times Critics’ Top Books of 2020. (Times below in France - CEST), All courses available either in person or via Skype or Telephone. In this video, French culture vlogger Kate of the YouTube channel Unintentionally Frenchified sits down with Jordan Patrick, AKA Califo.Ricain for a special language challenge. A French speaker would pronounce chien like shee-en, but not so in Wisconsin. Coughlan The trouble comes when you try to name-drop this prehistoric primate two or three times in the same sentence, at Alpine French School © 2020 All rights reserved. Salomé, in French, is pronounced sah-loh-mee. This two-syllable word, which is pronounced “is-muss,” refers to a narrow passage of land between two seas.