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I need help trying to pronouce Ljubljana!

I need help trying to pronouce Ljubljana!

Old May 20th, 2004, 10:35 AM
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I need help trying to pronouce Ljubljana!

I have been referring to this city to my husband a few times recently and for the life of me I can't figure out how to pronounce it. I'm butchering it so badly, I'm sure, that I'm even ashamed to post how I actually say it! Anybody care to help me with this one?

Thanks!
Tracy
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Old May 20th, 2004, 10:43 AM
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Hi Tracy,

I think it's Loob-lee-ah-na.

Patti
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Old May 20th, 2004, 10:46 AM
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Hi Patti!

Well what do you know, I think I was actually kind of close! Thanks so much!!

Tracy
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Old May 20th, 2004, 01:33 PM
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Hi
Try loobiyana. The "J" is pronounced as a "Y", in the language. Pretty sure anyway, it's a really nice small city. I do think I'm right..
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Old May 20th, 2004, 01:48 PM
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Hmmmmmm....I thought it was a bit more complicated than that, with the "j" being pronounced as our "y" and elided with the "l" So:

lyoob-lyana

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Old May 20th, 2004, 03:05 PM
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No, no "l", StCirq, if you meant "L". I was in an English class with someone from Slovenia, and he clearly pronounced Loobyiahna.

However, as I'm Brazilian, and far from being an expert in English phonetics, I can't swear by the way I spelled the word in "English".
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Old May 20th, 2004, 06:54 PM
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Hmmm ! I was there 3 nites and it seemed to be loob--YAHNA.
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Old May 20th, 2004, 09:37 PM
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I fancy you are all off the track a bit, although St Cirq comes closest.

I think it all has to do with the fact that [l] has two distinct pronunciations.

One of these is called the 'dark' [l] and is what we use in a word like "full".

The other is a "light" [l] as in the word "lick".

I only know for sure what happens in Russian, but since Croatian is also a Slav language it is very likely the same here. Writing /lj/ is their way of showing that the 'l' in Ljubljana is a 'light l'. So you just say "Lublana" trying to make each 'l' as in 'lick', but with a touch of 'y' behind it.

Harzer
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Old May 21st, 2004, 01:07 AM
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Surlok!!!
Always a pleasure to listening from you.
Te espero um dia em Lisboa / Joao
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Old May 21st, 2004, 04:53 AM
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Iwonder if it sounds different at night after you've had wine?
 
Old May 25th, 2004, 12:00 AM
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Dear João, glad to hear from you!

Do you know that all of my plans to go to Lisbon had to be cancelled, by one reason or the other...?

I haven't yet given up Lisbon, though.

And how do you think Ljubljana should be pronounced?
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Old May 25th, 2004, 01:11 AM
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I vote for St Cirq's lyoob-lyana
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Old May 25th, 2004, 03:43 AM
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Hi all,
I have been chuckling as I read this thread. We live in Ljubljana and love it. St. Cirq was correct. It is Leeyoo-blee-ahna. The Leeyoo is one syllable, do do not accentuate the Lee.

Cheers,
Jan
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