ira asked: " "Bruges" is an English word?"

Yes. Now you know. Coincidentally, it is also French.

Just as "Rome" is an English word and also French.

I noticed that the OP hasn't returned. Maybe he/she figured it out on their own.

We tend to scare away people sometimes. Hmmm, wonder why.

Kate;

NO point was missed - my comments were not limited to objections when speaking a language other than English.

One should ALWAYS make attempt, out of respect, to use the native language of those to whom one is talking.
Proper names and city names are such a simple, no-brainer, place to begin I can't believe there are those trying to come up with excuses for not even trying it.

Well, some may have gotten carried away departing more information that is needed, but NEVER have I seen Brugges spelled --BRUSSELS! Was that meant as a joke?

Oh for pete's sake as long as people can figure out what city one is referring to what does it matter if one spells it as the "locals" do or as English speakers do???

I spell it BRUGGE because in my university days I actually lived nearby briefly and that is the way I "think" of it. I assume I would feel the same way about Wien (Vienna) if I had lived in Austria.

The poor OP is clearly a little confused about where Brugge is located. That has been clarified as has both potential "correct" spellings - Bruges or Brugge - so why the big fuss? Using the "local" spelling is NOT pretentious and using the "English" spelling is not incorrect on an English speaking board.

Ira asks: "If I go to Cairo, Egypt, do I have to pronounce it as in Cairo, IL?"

Certainly not, Ira. I would expect you to pronounce it Al-Qâhirah, which is what its inhabitants call it.

<<And then there is the Cannes/Caen dilemma. No solution for that one unless they spell it out or tell you what region it is in.>>

Is it really that difficult? The vowels are pronounced differently, and the n is silent in Caen. Or are you referring to pronunciation by non-French speakers?

<<Is the objective here to be understood by our peers or to show our infinite knowledge about foreign names and how they are pronounced?>>

Heh, heh, heh ...

<i>Or are you referring to pronunciation by non-French speakers?</i>

Obviously. The French have no problem at all pronouncing those cities, but no non-French speaker ever comes anywhere close to being able to pronounce Caen.