Pronunciation of French bike names and terms
03-24-08, 07:20 PM
#1
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Pronunciation of French bike names and terms
OK. I never studied French. I have an eclectic interest in things non-American, and have, at various times, taught myself to pronounce (though not understand) Romanian, modern Greek, and Turkish. I can also pronounce German (remainder from high school) and I speak a little Italian. However, French completely evades me. 27 letters, 18 of them silent, sometimes.
Now it occurs to me that I can't even properly say the names of some common French brands, like:
Huret
and wouldn't I like to be able to refer to "Rene Herse" in polite company (should I find any) without looking like an Arse?
And what about that famous Mhendricks/East Hill concoction, the "mixte"?
How do you pronounce these words, when you must?
And what other terms do we need to know how to pronounce so that we can indicate to le mechanic le problem con le derailleur on our randonneur?
Now it occurs to me that I can't even properly say the names of some common French brands, like:
Huret
and wouldn't I like to be able to refer to "Rene Herse" in polite company (should I find any) without looking like an Arse?
And what about that famous Mhendricks/East Hill concoction, the "mixte"?
How do you pronounce these words, when you must?
And what other terms do we need to know how to pronounce so that we can indicate to le mechanic le problem con le derailleur on our randonneur?
03-24-08, 07:25 PM
#2
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Meekst!
03-24-08, 07:27 PM
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Huret... Eur-eh, as far as I can tell anyhow.
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03-24-08, 07:29 PM
#4
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Ha! I just found this on Sheldon Brown:
'In French, "mixte" would be pronounced "MEExt", but normal U.S. bicycle industry pronunciation is "MIX-ty"'
I had been pronouncing it like it was Italian, which, if they had an "x" would be kind of like "MEEKST-ay"
But please say that no one really says "mixty," as in "Lordy, lordy, mixty's sixty."
'In French, "mixte" would be pronounced "MEExt", but normal U.S. bicycle industry pronunciation is "MIX-ty"'
I had been pronouncing it like it was Italian, which, if they had an "x" would be kind of like "MEEKST-ay"
But please say that no one really says "mixty," as in "Lordy, lordy, mixty's sixty."
03-24-08, 07:30 PM
#5
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I agree with this person's pronunciation of Huret:
https://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.as...10311.1187.eml
It's kind of tough to write out phonetically. I believe Herse is pronounced like 'herz' -- as opposed to his.
https://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.as...10311.1187.eml
It's kind of tough to write out phonetically. I believe Herse is pronounced like 'herz' -- as opposed to his.
03-24-08, 07:32 PM
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03-24-08, 08:28 PM
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Americans sound so stupid when they insist on saying Pougeot. In French, the vowel sound for 'eu' is supposed to be pronounced like the 'oo' in the english word hook.
03-24-08, 08:31 PM
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Which syllable gets the accent?
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
03-24-08, 08:42 PM
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"Huret" is pronounced "crap." Rhymes with "sap."
"Rene Herse" is pronounced "very cool." Saying "Herse" to sound like a vehicle for hauling coffins is also acceptable.
"Mixte" is pronounced "girl's bike."
Flame-replies coming in five, four, three . . .
"Rene Herse" is pronounced "very cool." Saying "Herse" to sound like a vehicle for hauling coffins is also acceptable.
"Mixte" is pronounced "girl's bike."
Flame-replies coming in five, four, three . . .
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03-24-08, 10:15 PM
#10
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I've always heard, and therefore said, mixte as "mix-tee".
Panniers is the one that gives me fits.
Panniers is the one that gives me fits.
03-24-08, 11:23 PM
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Pannier IS French, meaning basket.
Huret: pronounced like 'Hooray!' . . . but leave off the 'H' sound.
Americans tend to Anglecize words, but then have you ever heard a Frenchman pronounce "Tucson" . . . invariably they pronounce it as Tuck=son.
Huret: pronounced like 'Hooray!' . . . but leave off the 'H' sound.
Americans tend to Anglecize words, but then have you ever heard a Frenchman pronounce "Tucson" . . . invariably they pronounce it as Tuck=son.
03-25-08, 06:29 AM
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The common French pronunciation of "Peugeot" is IPA: [pøːˈʒo]. In England it is usually pronounced /ˈpɜːʒoʊ/ "PERzho", while Americans pronounce it /puːˈʒoʊ/ "pooZHO" or /ˈpjuːʒoʊ/ "PYOOzho". Peugeot cars have been given the nicknames: 'pug' and 'pugs' in the UK. In Malta some people pronounce "Peugeot" as PUGU. In those parts of North Africa that were colonised by the French - Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco - "Peugeot" is often pronounced in the same way as the word "bijou" ("jewel"), both because of the sometimes indistinguishable quality of vowels in Arabic when translated into French, and through affection.
03-25-08, 06:33 AM
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A pannier (IPA: /ˈpæniɚ/) is a basket, bag, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over the back of a beast of burden, or attached to a bicycle or motorcycle.
03-25-08, 07:19 AM
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Language is for communicating. If your funny (albeit correct) pronunciation of foriegn bike brands
and parts doesnt get the point across, then you have failed. Save the diction lessons for people
who specifically ask for it.
and parts doesnt get the point across, then you have failed. Save the diction lessons for people
who specifically ask for it.
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03-25-08, 07:20 AM
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I stick to bikes & bike stuff I can pronuncicate: RAW-lee, mee-YAH-tah, shwin, nih-SHEE-kee, shih-MAH-no, sun-toor...
And I often shop at Tar-ZHAY.
And I often shop at Tar-ZHAY.
Last edited by bcoppola; 03-25-08 at 07:33 AM.
03-25-08, 11:47 AM
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No, it isn't. Panier is french for basket. Look it up in a french/english dictionary, or if you do not have one handy you could use freetranslation.com. Or, God forbid, you could have checked my previous link on the subject. If that's still not enough here is a definition that even includes a sound file of the pronunciation, give it a listen.
03-25-08, 12:24 PM
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No, it isn't. Panier is french for basket. Look it up in a french/english dictionary, or if you do not have one handy you could use freetranslation.com. Or, God forbid, you could have checked my previous link on the subject. If that's still not enough here is a definition that even includes a sound file of the pronunciation, give it a listen.
[Middle English panier, from Old French
03-25-08, 12:46 PM
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03-25-08, 01:03 PM
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
03-25-08, 01:16 PM
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The common French pronunciation of "Peugeot" is IPA: [pøːˈʒo]. In England it is usually pronounced /ˈpɜːʒoʊ/ "PERzho", while Americans pronounce it /puːˈʒoʊ/ "pooZHO" or /ˈpjuːʒoʊ/ "PYOOzho". Peugeot cars have been given the nicknames: 'pug' and 'pugs' in the UK. In Malta some people pronounce "Peugeot" as PUGU. In those parts of North Africa that were colonised by the French - Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco - "Peugeot" is often pronounced in the same way as the word "bijou" ("jewel"), both because of the sometimes indistinguishable quality of vowels in Arabic when translated into French, and through affection.
03-25-08, 01:52 PM
#24
My bikes became Vintage
According to the Youtube video, "mixte" is pronounced the way I've pronounced it all my life, i.e. exactly like the English word "mixed". I feel vindicated. With all the pseudo intellectuals saying it should be pronounced "meext", I was going to start saying "mix-tee" in protest.
03-25-08, 02:24 PM
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