Is it "NoTRE" or "NotER" Dame?

[irishog77]

How do you pronounce:

I C U P

 

[mrmiller8]

That was the first thing I tried. Turns out it was WAY too comfortable up there. Please don't tell my wife.

Secret is safe with us, I'm just glad your not a coach.

 

[Emcee77]

Everything sounds right, but that l'u is hard to translate in english. It doen't quite sound like loo. That u is one of those letters where you really got to use your nose.

Right, the sound doesn't exist in English. If you want to hear it, try making an "eeeee" sound, and then, while continuing to make the same sound, purse your lips and you'll hear the sound change. It's like an "euw" sound. (haha ... no way to write that sound phonetically in English ... like aube says, got to use your nose).

Little differences like that are the hard things about learning another language. Try saying "oui" like "we" in France and just watch the disgust on francophones' faces. (It's a two-step, one-syllable word ... hint of "oo" sound, then a "we" sound).

I interact with fans and alumni of many different stripes, and I've yet to find a situation where one wouldn't sound like a pedant for pronouncing it in proper French.

Stick with the Anglicized NO-der DAY-m.

TOTALLY. I too was a French minor. I studied abroad in France. At one time I spoke decent French. I always pronounce it Not-er Daym. My rule is that when I'm speaking English, I speak English, even if the term is imported from another language. I also pronounce "gyros" like it's effing spelled, "jI-ros", not "year-os".

 

[NankerPhelge]

Good thing DShans hasn't seen this thread. We'd have a language essay by now. "Proper Grammer and Pronunciation in Six Different Languages."

 

[aubeirish]

Right, the sound doesn't exist in English. If you want to hear it, try making an "eeeee" sound, and then, while continuing to make the same sound, purse your lips and you'll hear the sound change. It's like an "euw" sound. (haha ... no way to write that sound phonetically in English ... like aube says, got to use your nose).

Little differences like that are the hard things about learning another language. Try saying "oui" like "we" in France and just watch the disgust on francophones' faces. (It's a two-step, one-syllable word ... hint of "oo" sound, then a "we" sound).



TOTALLY. I too was a French minor. I studied abroad in France. At one time I spoke decent French. I always pronounce it Not-er Daym. My rule is that when I'm speaking English, I speak English, even if the term is imported from another language. I also pronounce "gyros" like it's effing spelled, "jI-ros", not "year-os".

I do the same. That is also funny because the French butcher so many english words it's ridiculous. Le paaarking et le wifeee. Haha.

 

[ickythump1225]

While I'm well aware of the proper French pronunciation because my wife is 90% fluent in French, I pronounce it something like "Noder Dayme"

 

[IrishinSyria]

Noder Dame is an American University that kicks *** in football. Notre Daam is a French Cathedral.

 

[dshans]

Good thing DShans hasn't seen this thread. We'd have a language essay by now. "Proper Grammer and Pronunciation in Six Different Languages."

I'm workin' on it ...



And it's grammar, not grammer, dammit!

 

[DSully1995]

I do the same. That is also funny because the French butcher so many english words it's ridiculous. Le paaarking et le wifeee. Haha.

I dont know that many french who speak english too often, but damn english people butcher french, next person who say lazzai feeeer is getting smaked lol

 

[Emcee77]

I dont know that many french who speak english too often, but damn english people butcher french, next person who say lazzai feeeer is getting smaked lol

Lol true ... one of my pet peeves is how Anglophones don't even get close to making the French "-in" sound correctly. "Moulin Rouge" becomes "moo - lon rooge." I get that without training in French you don't know how to make the nasal "-in" sound properly, but we seem to have decided we aren't even going to try.

 

[aubeirish]

My personal favourite: Crème fraîche. I watch too many cooking shows.

 

[dshans]

I do not speak french but I was married to a french teacher for ten years. I picked up a thing or two – usually when she laughed at my attempts to parler français.

1) The school was founded by French priests so I don't think it a stretch to believe that the original french pronunciation has been americanized over the years.

2) Theatre (and centre) are french words that were given anglicized pronunciations when adopted by the British. The spellings were then americanized on this side of the pond.

3) I think of the french way of pronouncing "r" and "n" as using the tongue to prevent the sounds from escaping through the mouth and forcing them to escape through the nose.

4) I prefer to say "Notrah" without the nasal "r" but will say "Noter" or even "Noder" on occasion, depending on where I am or who I'm speaking with. I stick with "Daym" since "Dahm" or "Dem" would be too pretentious, even for me.

5) I notice aubeirish uses the British spelling of favourite rather than the American "favorite." Some seem to prefer The British "defence over the American "defense. Do your (not you're or yore) own thang.

6) When/if you head to NOLA (Nawlins), leave the "How to Pronounce French" guide book at home. Metairie becomes "Met-er-ee" or even "Met-ree."

7) Blame Nanker.

8) Go Irish!

 

[Emcee77]

I do not speak french but I was married to a french teacher for ten years. I picked up a thing or two – usually when she laughed at my attempts to parler français.

1) The school was founded by French priests so I don't think it a stretch to believe that the original french pronunciation has been americanized over the years.

2) Theatre (and centre) are french words that were given anglicized pronunciations when adopted by the British. The spellings were then americanized on this side of the pond.

3) I think of the french way of pronouncing "r" and "n" as using the tongue to prevent the sounds from escaping through the mouth and forcing them to escape through the nose.

4) I prefer to say "Notrah" without the nasal "r" but will say "Noter" or even "Noder" on occasion, depending on where I am or who I'm speaking with. I stick with "Daym" since "Dahm" or "Dem" would be too pretentious, even for me.

5) I notice aubeirish uses the British spelling of favourite rather than the American "favorite." Some seem to prefer The British "defence over the American "defense. Do your (not you're or yore) own thang.

6) When/if you head to NOLA (Nawlins), leave the "How to Pronounce French" guide book at home. Metairie becomes "Met-er-ee" or even "Met-ree."

7) Blame Nanker.

8) Go Irish!

lol, mais bien sûr; il est québécois. They do that in Canada.

 

[aubeirish]

I do not speak french but I was married to a french teacher for ten years. I picked up a thing or two – usually when she laughed at my attempts to parler français.

1) The school was founded by French priests so I don't think it a stretch to believe that the original french pronunciation has been americanized over the years.

2) Theatre (and centre) are french words that were given anglicized pronunciations when adopted by the British. The spellings were then americanized on this side of the pond.

3) I think of the french way of pronouncing "r" and "n" as using the tongue to prevent the sounds from escaping through the mouth and forcing them to escape through the nose.

4) I prefer to say "Notrah" without the nasal "r" but will say "Noter" or even "Noder" on occasion, depending on where I am or who I'm speaking with. I stick with "Daym" since "Dahm" or "Dem" would be too pretentious, even for me.

5) I notice aubeirish uses the British spelling of favourite rather than the American "favorite." Some seem to prefer The British "defence over the American "defense. Do your (not you're or yore) own thang.

6) When/if you head to NOLA (Nawlins), leave the "How to Pronounce French" guide book at home. Metairie becomes "Met-er-ee" or even "Met-ree."

7) Blame Nanker.

8) Go Irish!

I do live in a British colony.

My name is Alexandre and it used to get confused a lot for Alexandra. Not exactly the best thing for a macho like me. Now, I introduce myself as Alex when I meet with english speaking folks.

 

[Martibhoy]

Over the pond, we all pronounce it as the French would. After listening to American forces radio and ESPN for many years, I still can't pronounce it as y'all do

 

[BGIF]

While I'm well aware of the proper French pronunciation because my wife is 90% fluent in French, I pronounce it something like "Noder Dayme"

And you know if your wife's pronunciation is from her 90% or her 10% because ... ?

 

[Irish#1]

It's pronounced University of "We're kicking your a$$ in football"

 

[irishpat183]

This is 'Merica! Pronouce it how ever you want.

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