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ArchivesThis form of Michael also in Germany?
In the Netherlands, we usually spell Michael as Michaël. Nowadays, if one doesn't spell the name with 'ë', people will usually pronounce it in the American way, which bugs me. People in Germany used to pronounce Michael as Michaël (I know my grandmother does), but I doubt they still do that nowadays.
Anyway, let me get to the point - this board says that Michaël is the Dutch spelling, but does this occur in Germany as well? Is the spelling Michaël as German as it is Dutch?
Thank you in advance!
Lucille
Anyway, let me get to the point - this board says that Michaël is the Dutch spelling, but does this occur in Germany as well? Is the spelling Michaël as German as it is Dutch?
Thank you in advance!
Lucille
1
Replies
Hi Lucille,
The German spelling is Michael. There's no ë in the German alphabet. The pronunciation is MEE-chah-ell or MEE-chah-ale.
Three syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
You can listen to the ch-sound in the second syllable here:
http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/pronounce/
Choose "consonants, ch / chs / ck" on the left and then listen to the words
Blech - Stich - Bäche - möchte etc.
Regards, Satu
The German spelling is Michael. There's no ë in the German alphabet. The pronunciation is MEE-chah-ell or MEE-chah-ale.
Three syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
You can listen to the ch-sound in the second syllable here:
http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/pronounce/
Choose "consonants, ch / chs / ck" on the left and then listen to the words
Blech - Stich - Bäche - möchte etc.
Regards, Satu
1
It is true: there is no "ë" in the German alphabet. But the "letter" ë does appear in German books, espacially with names (not very often though). It helps get the pronunciation clear, for instance the Aleutes in German are called "Aleuten" which usually would be pronounced as "Ahloyten" but with the ë (as "Alëuten") it must be pronounced as "Ah-leh-uh-ten"
The two dots are called a "Trema" in German (the Greek word meaning "hole" for whatever reason). Few Germans know about this I'm afraid. With Michael there is no danger of mispronunciation so there's no need for an ë!
By the way, MEE-CHA-EL is the original Hebrew pronunciation of the name (at least in modern Hebrew; we don't know much about ancient Hebrew in that respect).
Andy
The two dots are called a "Trema" in German (the Greek word meaning "hole" for whatever reason). Few Germans know about this I'm afraid. With Michael there is no danger of mispronunciation so there's no need for an ë!
By the way, MEE-CHA-EL is the original Hebrew pronunciation of the name (at least in modern Hebrew; we don't know much about ancient Hebrew in that respect).
Andy
1