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ArchivesPronumciation of José
Why do pronunciation guides show the last syllable of Jose being pronounced as "say?" This is incorrect, and anyone using this pronunciation in a Spanish-speaking country will be recognized as an Anglo. The correct pronunciation is a flat "e," sounding like
"eh," or the first "e" in "enter."
Does anyone know where the use of "say" comes from?
"eh," or the first "e" in "enter."
Does anyone know where the use of "say" comes from?
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Replies
Yes, the "AY" sound come from the later A. The thing is that in Spanish, vowels have a dry sound and in English they are more like a compound sound, like this:
Vowel English prn Spanish prn
A "AY" as in Aid "UH" as in America
E "EE" as in English "EH" as in Exit
I "EYE" as in Icon "EE" as in Idiot
O "OW" as in Owen "OH" as in Octopus
U "YOU" as in Universe "OO" as in Boo
So when a person who thinks in English sees the Spl. José, s/he will read "how-say". Just as it happens with the RR sound in Spanish. I know very few Anglo speaking people who can really role those RRRRRs and say "WROWHOW" instead of "RRRRRROJO"(rojo) and "GWUHSEEAS" instead of "GRRRRRACIAS"(gracias).
It is the same with anyone trying to speak a foreign language...Try to get a French guy to prn Winnie the Pooh and you will get something like "We-NEE see Pough"(no offense intended. You should listen to a fellow Central American saying Mickey Mouse... you would pee of laughter...)
I talk too much, I know... :o/
~Magia~
Vowel English prn Spanish prn
A "AY" as in Aid "UH" as in America
E "EE" as in English "EH" as in Exit
I "EYE" as in Icon "EE" as in Idiot
O "OW" as in Owen "OH" as in Octopus
U "YOU" as in Universe "OO" as in Boo
So when a person who thinks in English sees the Spl. José, s/he will read "how-say". Just as it happens with the RR sound in Spanish. I know very few Anglo speaking people who can really role those RRRRRs and say "WROWHOW" instead of "RRRRRROJO"(rojo) and "GWUHSEEAS" instead of "GRRRRRACIAS"(gracias).
It is the same with anyone trying to speak a foreign language...Try to get a French guy to prn Winnie the Pooh and you will get something like "We-NEE see Pough"(no offense intended. You should listen to a fellow Central American saying Mickey Mouse... you would pee of laughter...)
I talk too much, I know... :o/
~Magia~
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LOL Magia! I liked your explanation of the vowel sounds... And next time I meet someone from France, I'll have to ask them to say Winnie the Pooh! I'm in my second year of Spanish, and unfortunately for me, I can only get my r's to roll if I'm not thinking about it. And even then I can't just stand there and do it for ten minutes like some people can! At least the years of practicing rolling r's in the shower has paid off a little bit...
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I've seen that too! I tried to persuade my boyfriend that "Hablou un pouquito espanoul" is not the way to pronounce "hablo un poquito espanol"... Anyways, "say" is the way an American would pronounce -se (like per se is pur say).
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Close, but no empanada...
Despite Latin Americans having become a fixture in most every town in the US over the last ten years, the prevailing American pronunciation of Jose (imagine the accent mark...) is Ho-Zay. In the same way, the Spanish "Rosa" is Ro-Za to a gringo.
Maybe if more Anglos would lend an ear (as well as an eye) to those gorgeous women on the Venezuelan soaps on Univision, we'd learn to speak properly.
- Da.
Despite Latin Americans having become a fixture in most every town in the US over the last ten years, the prevailing American pronunciation of Jose (imagine the accent mark...) is Ho-Zay. In the same way, the Spanish "Rosa" is Ro-Za to a gringo.
Maybe if more Anglos would lend an ear (as well as an eye) to those gorgeous women on the Venezuelan soaps on Univision, we'd learn to speak properly.
- Da.
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