OT: pronouncing a French name

[yossarian]

Just last weekend I was in some photo gear store. Sales associate had hard time to undestand my prononciation of Carl Zeiss. Since I was born in USSR and my first language is Russian (neither German nor English), I have no clue how to pronounce this name here in Toronto. So, my soviet [Karl Tseis] was not recognizible ([Ts] is in fact one sound), but a few moments later the guy asked me "Ah, you mean [Karl Zais]". So, what is the right German prononciation?

I agree that your pronunciation was technically correct. Have you heard the German
pronunciation of Mercedes? It's rather like "Mert-seh-dis". You were closer than the
guy in the store.

Fred

ps--at the risk of becoming a target, Mike Johnston took the Japanese "boke" and
added the "h" to suggest proper pronunciation--the second syllable is "eh", not "ay".

 

[lubitel]

one of the hardest things for me was getting used to the german pronunciation of Volkwagen.

because germans pronounce V as F and W as V

so it sounds like Folksvaagen

 

[ed1k]

Thank you lubitel. I was not that far, but that Tsa like in Tsar makes them crazy 🙂

 

[ed1k]

Have you heard the German
pronunciation of Mercedes? It's rather like "Mert-seh-dis".

Yes, I spent in Germany two weeks (and willing to visit this country again). When I pronounce Siemens like [zi:mens] people around also think I'm a freak.

 

[david b]

Dang it.....I thought this was a giclee thread.

🙂