A petty point of German pronunciation.

[Elok]

Is the prefix 'uber' pronounced like OO-ber, OY-ber, or some other way entirely? The reason I ask is that I referred to Bill Gates as the Uber-Goober a while ago only to have my dad tell me the rhyme didn't work because the word is pronounced with a weird guttural twitch at the beginning; oy-ber. But then, everyone else in America says oo-ber, and a guy won honorable mention in this week's Style Invitational for using my coined word, though he only meant a giant peanut. Naturally I'm a little irked. Can the German speakers of 'poly sort me out?

[Gangerolf]

http://www.wm.edu/CAS/modlang/gasmit.../ue/index.html
http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/pronounce/

edit: I think the ü in über is a "long ü".

I'm not German or an expert in German though, but I've always pronounced it like somewhere between oo and ee.

[MikeH]

I'd pronounce it ooober. And I'd rhyme oober goober just fine. Although I wouldn't understand what I'd said.

[Q Classic]

ü == ue, often pronounced like a long oo with a different sort of ending, but not like how your dad says it.

früh == froo
Prüfung == proofoong

[oedo]

nope. I don´t think there´s any word with an ü-similar pronounciation in English language.
the pronounciation of the u in words like turn or burn comes closest to the German ü.
if you know some Frensh, you can also try fumer (=to smoke). the u is pronounced like our ü.

[Japher]

Is it pronounced like the word "ewe"?

[Gangerolf]

nah... the u in turn and burn is more like the German ö isn't it?
If not then what's the English equivalent of the ö?

[oedo]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
nah... the u in turn and burn is more like the German ö isn't it?
If not then what's the English equivalent of the ö?

actually yes. the turn - u is closer to ö than to ü. it´s not exactly an ö. I think word or work would be better examples to describe an ö.
but as I said, there is no English word with an 100% ü-pronounciation, at least none that I know of.

[Kitschum]

There was a thread about the pronunciation of upsilon a while back. The German ü is like that, but the sound doesn't exist in English. Try forming your lips as if to say OO, but try to say EE instead. That should be an approximation.

[oedo]

Originally posted by Kitschum
There was a thread about the pronunciation of upsilon a while back. The German ü is like that, but the sound doesn't exist in English. Try forming your lips as if to say OO, but try to say EE instead. That should be an approximation.

cool, it würks.

[Locutus]

http://www.wm.edu/CAS/modlang/gasmit.../pronunce.html

Edit: oh, seems like Gangerolf already posted that link (or at least to the same site anyway)

[Gangerolf]

you googled for "german pronounciation" too?

[Ecthy]

damn you guys are weird, not only do you mix up diphtongs, you don't even know how to pronounce umlauts.

[Ecthy]

Kitschum

[Locutus]

Yeah, I first tried to put it in words, but since English has nothing even remotely similar...

[Ecthy]

hi Locutus, I forgot your first name

[Locutus]

Hey, Andy, it's Wouter

I don't think I used it much at the Meet, since I feared most of the people there couldn't remember, or even pronounce it

[Ecthy]

like Walter?

[Locutus]

Close, but no sigar

[Elok]

Yay. Using the ee/oo method, I think I have it, and it sorta rhymes. Thanks, kitschum et al!

[alva]

Originally posted by Locutus
Hey, Andy, it's Wouter

I don't think I used it much at the Meet, since I feared most of the people there couldn't remember, or even pronounce it

like Walter?

Try Wowter ( the second W is semi silent, IE don't overdo that one.)

Then again, chances are it's completely different in dutch then it is in Flemish

[Locutus]

Or just use the same ou as in mouse, house, couch, etc

Yes, it's the same in Flamish, though the Flemish seem to insist on spelling it as 'Wauter'

[alva]

We do? Hmm, well not much difference in pronouciation, is there

Should see or better hear what people do to mine
* shudders *