Know How To Pronounce "Weihrauch"

[Wunderwerks]

I've heard more people butcher the pronunciation of the name Weihrauch so I asked a German Language professor the correct version.  This is what he told me.

Weih - like "vie" as in 'to vie for something.'
 
rauch - yes, "rau" with the vowel sound the same as in "ouch", but then with a hard, German "ch" on the end.  Form a 'k' in your mouth, then force air over the top of your tongue, and you'll pretty much have the hard 'ch.'
 
[Some regions of Germany turn the 'ch' into an 'sh', but in Hochdeutsch, it is always hard.]

[CorvidKiller]

I hear a lot of people pronounce it like Vay rock, but if you asked a professor I guess he is right.

[Oldgringo]

I was taught in my German language class to pronounce the second vowel when there are two together; e.g., "ei" is pronounced as a long i.  Similarly, "w" is pronounced as "v" and vice versa.

[Wunderwerks]

Old Gringo.  That's what I was taught in my German class too many years ago.  I was surprised by this professor's response but he goes on sabbatical every other year to Germany and absolutely know one can tell he is an American.  He says the German language differs from one region to another much like the English language differs from Minnesota to Alabama to Boston to Texas. 

[QVTom]

HW is easier..........

[zielvier]

"weih" you can pronounce like "why" ..... and "rauch"  ask "babelfish" .
best regards Jochen

[Sfttailrdr46]

Old Gringo.  That's what I was taught in my German class too many years ago.  I was surprised by this professor's response but he goes on sabbatical every other year to Germany and absolutely know one can tell he is an American.  He says the German language differs from one region to another much like the English language differs from Minnesota to Alabama to Boston to Texas.

  Well if you speak to someone from Great Britain we speak American and have no right to call it English ( that was according to the British born parents of a high school friend)   

[Petey]

HW is easier..........

Much easier than...


Almost as much fun as ..

[QVTom]

Oktoberfest........  Requires no abbreviations

[ezman604]

I thought it was simply pronounced cha-ching.
 

[QVTom]

Followed by the dull thud of the skillet!  Then pronunciation becomes impossible.

[RedFeather]

Und tomorrow, klazz, ve vill dizkuzz "FWB".  Ach, NO, Otto, NOT "Friends mitt der benefits"!  Mein Godt, jungens deez dayz!

[Oldgringo]

Old Gringo.  That's what I was taught in my German class too many years ago.  I was surprised by this professor's response but he goes on sabbatical every other year to Germany and absolutely know one can tell he is an American.  He says the German language differs from one region to another much like the English language differs from Minnesota to Alabama to Boston to Texas.

  Well if you speak to someone from Great Britain we speak American and have no right to call it English ( that was according to the British born parents of a high school friend) 

Yeah, I've heard that before.  Was it from Piers Morgan?

[bokes]

I've heard more people butcher the pronunciation of the name Weihrauch so I asked a German Language professor the correct version.  This is what he told me.

Weih - like "vie" as in 'to vie for something.'
 
rauch - yes, "rau" with the vowel sound the same as in "ouch", but then with a hard, German "ch" on the end.  Form a 'k' in your mouth, then force air over the top of your tongue, and you'll pretty much have the hard 'ch.'
 
[Some regions of Germany turn the 'ch' into an 'sh', but in Hochdeutsch, it is always hard.]

I speak fluent German, so I thought I'd chime in. Just one thing to add to what Wunderwerks said:
the "ch" is a hissing cat sound. closest in English is when Scots pronounce "Loch Ness"
also emphasis on the first syllable, like: VYE-rauch

[HWNut]

[Monganese]

Everyone I know just calls them "why rack" (and Walther as "wal the") 

[HCAirgunner]

In German, the W is pronounced as a V. Conversely, the V has an F sound.

Think about this:

Most English speakers say "Volks Wagon" for Volkswagen.

But if pronounced correctly, it should sound like "Folks Voggen;" which makes sense, since it literally translates as "People's Car." (I think the Americanized equivalent would be "Family Car.")

The "auch" sound in German sounds like what we say when we pinch ourselves; i.e., "ow." Except there is a ch on the end which has the k sound. So it should sound like "owk."

Thus, Weihrauch should sound like "Vyer Owk" (where the "Vyer" sounds like the word "wire" except with the w sound being replaced by the v sound.)

Hope this helps!

[oldwolf]

I've lost count. So we have 4 or 5 correct ways to pronounce it? 

I'll just stick with the OP method for now. It's a whole lot closer to correct than the way I used to pronounce it which was "why-rock".

[HCAirgunner]

As far as I can tell, Wunderwerks, HWNut, and my message all explain the same sound. We just explain it differently.

[RedFeather]

And a big thank you Professor Hochundschpidt!  Just shoot der dammed tings!