Gak. I meant to say, "I'll bet that played a ROLE in their thinking." They make pizza, not rolls.

I hate it when that happens.

- Larry

Aw, Larry, I just thought you were being really clever.

Have you been the the University of Notre Dame or the city of Des Moines? We clearly have American pronunciations for certain foreign words. I don't think knowing the rules of Italian pronunciations makes one an expert in how to pronounce Bruschetta in America.

Any Iowan would know you are not from Iowa if you pronounce the s at the end of Des Moines, but not a single one would use the "correct" French pronunciation.

I think we (including waiters and waitresses) should be polite and good-humored when discussing any differences in pronunciations of foreign words commonly "mispronounced" in American. It's interseting conversation.

Broo-SKAY-ta

And before anyone jumps in and criticises the resurrection of an old thread I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading this today .
( A former Brushetta sinner!)

True. This was/is a fun thread.
US place names can be especially challenging for foreigners if those places originate from a foreign language but you have no clue how they got anglisized (is this a proper word?) in pronounciation.

I enjoyed it too as I wasn't here on fodors last time it surfaced.

i particularly enjoyed flanner's contribution as it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say:

<<n English, "cilantro" is pronounced "coriander">>

and like Patrick, i can't stand it however it is spelt or pronounced. I don't know about its tasty soapy, but it definitely tastes 'yuck" to me.

now while we're on pronunciation, and taking up cowboy's idea, can someone help me with "Poughkeepsie"?

Last time I got a train to New York, the guard called it P'kEEpsie.

But living in a microtown which, however the guard pronounces it, half the train thinks ought to be pronounced differently, I wouldn't assume that's authoritative.

Puh-KIP-see is the way I usually hear it.

While I have no problems with the French "Buttes", I won't even tell you how I tried to pronouce Butte (Montana).

>>>I don't think knowing the rules of Italian pronunciations makes one an expert in how to pronounce Bruschetta in America.<<<

I think it does make a difference. You should not capitalize bruschetta for a start (or euro). Proper nouns tend to be treated differently.

To add to the discussion, a slightly different pronunciation on the plural - bruschette.

Last time I got a train to New York, the guard called it P'kEEpsie.
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You come to the US and visit Poughkeepsie? The origin is American Indian. And in the US we call the guard a conducter or engineer depending on who said it.

In NYC we say Pah-KIP-see.

My father grew up near there - and it was always Pah KIP see.

And we have a lot of native american names that some people may not get starting with Manhattan.

However, we have stuck with the British pronunciation of Greenwich (Gren-itch, not green-which) for both the town and the neighborhood in Manhattan. (Although people from other parts of the country often don;t get it.)

Though, in Manhattan, Greenwich is pronounced "The Village."

And Manhattan is pronounced " the city."

"The City" is actually Oklahoma City to the rest of the state.

I just have to butt in here, because my office is in Poughkeepsie.

But, better yet, I once spent a weekend in Pocahontas, Arkansas (don't ask) and found a nearby town named "Poughkeepsie" When I asked about it, I was told it is pronounced "POW kip-see."

I really wanted to go there, but we didn't have time to drive the 30 or so miles to see it.

But, better yet, I once spent a weekend in Pocahontas, Arkansas (don't ask) and found a nearby town named "Poughkeepsie" When I asked about it, I was told it is pronounced "POW kip-see.">>

Butte in all you like, Taconic! did you know that Pocahontas is buried in Gravesend in Kent? she allegedly came to Cornwall hence the name of a town here "Indian Queens" but a more likely explanation is that the town is named after the pub there which was renamed the Indian Queen after Queen Victoria was made Empress of India.

but I digress. thank you for the pronunciation of Poughkeepsie. How I know that such a place exists I have no idea, but should I go there, at least I'll know how to pronounce it. And I'll be sure to some and visit you in your office!

at the beginning of the meal it is pronounced bru-sketta then after many glasses of kianti it is pronounced bru-shhhhhetta

time for a grappa!

Butte in all you like, Taconic! did you know that Pocahontas is buried in Gravesend in Kent?
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I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and the area was called Gravesnd. And we used to go fishing in Dead Horse Bay. No wonder people thought we were tough guys.

I wonder how long it's going to be before someone brings up "Billerica"?