RE:[CR]French Names and Pronunciations (Dave Whitney)

(Example: Events:Eroica)

In-Reply-To: <9DDBE7FB6F93D61181100008023DD54C306046@mail.sheridancorp.com>
References: <9DDBE7FB6F93D61181100008023DD54C306046@mail.sheridancorp.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 13:30:40 -0500
To: Dwhitney@sheridancorp.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Sheldon Brown" <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
Subject: RE:[CR]French Names and Pronunciations (Dave Whitney)
cc: Mercurys43@aol.com

Dave Whitney a écrit:
>After I butchered the pronunciation of my Motobecane and Ideale saddle for
>30 something years, an old bike mechanic suggested I get it right:
>
>Moto-Beh-Kahn

Close. "Moto-Bay-KAHN."

"Motobécane" is made up of two slang words for "bike" stuck together:

"Moto" = "bike" (motorcycle) "Bécane" = "bike" (bicycle.) Motobécane made both motorcycles and bicycles, so the name was quite appropriate.
>Ee-dee-el-ay

Close. "Ee-Day-AHL." Generally, the last letter of a French word is not pronounced unless it is "C" "R" "F" or "L" (handy mnemonic: "CaReFuL") or has an accent mark on it.

Stress is generally on the final syllable.

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