Message: "Re: This form of Michael also in Germany?"

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Re: This form of Michael also in Germany?

by Satu (guest)

6/12/2004, 5:51 AM

in reply to a message by Lucille

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

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- Andy (guest)

6/24/2004, 9:12 AM

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

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