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Old 12-14-2004, 06:09 AM
mosta mosta is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 94
Default Re: Pronunciation Poll

[ QUOTE ]
My favorite is "Gyro":

ji-ro
or
eur-o

Most Americans say "ji-ro" but the correct pronuciation is "eur-o". Go to any mediteranian country where gyros are eaten everywhere and ask for a "ji-ro" and they're gonna have no idea what you're talking about.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah they'll probably have absolutely no idea! and it doesn't make any difference whether they're Greek, or Lebanese, or Armenian, either, or of any other Mediterranean origin.

I can't vouch for the pronunciation of gamma in modern Greek, but if you're trying to be sophisticated I think it's much more significant to get the ending right: gyros (singular). -os is masculine _singular_, "one gyros please", and has been for millenia.
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