VIDEO: Porsche Sets The Record Straight — THIS Is How You Say...Porsche

I remember one of the first times I said Porsche in front of one of the company's executives. I was at a major press launch and I was looked at like an alien.

Clearly, something was not right.

It was afterwards during a conversation I had with a friend of mine who was on the public relations side of the house clue me in. "You're saying Porsche wrong."

Oops.

Like most folks I was saying Poor-sh. In reality, the correct pronunciation is Poor-sh-uh. To better help all of our fellow enthusiasts, Porsche released a clip to make sure everyone knows how to correctly say its name. I am not sure if that's cool or terribly arrogant. Either way, here's the real deal!

Have you ever wondered about the right way to pronounce Porsche? Or do you know someone who pronounces it in a wrong way? Be sure to let them know about this video.

TheSteve - 12/10/2016 2:11:12 PM

+2 Boost

Great :-/ Now I gotta get a German accent to say a car's name right :-(

TomM - 12/12/2016 8:54:21 AM

+1 Boost

This is an interesting Dilemma. The word "Porsche" does not create the problems indicated.

It is actually the name of a person (Or family) - and in the English Language - the spelling of a proper name is not translated - they are spelled the same way they would be in their native language(if that native language used the same alphabet) - However - there is NO such requirement that we PRONOUNCE the name in the same way they would in the foreign language. WE do not have to all of a sudden develop a german accent. AS a result - in this case - the trailing "E" is not pronounced in the American Language most often - and therefore it would not be improper to pronounce the word without the "uh" at the end.

Another Example would be "Paris". It is completely proper for an American or English speaking person to pronounce it with the "ISS" sound at the end of the word - even in France - and it would be a little pretentious for an American to pronounce is without the "Iss" sound while otherwise speaking American.

In the end - the best rule is - if you are speaking German - include the "uh" - and if you are speaking English - it is YOUR choice - but without the "uh" is not wrong.

MDarringer - 12/12/2016 8:58:28 AM

+1 Boost

@TomM: Score one for ugly-American thinking.

TomM - 12/12/2016 6:06:33 PM

+2 Boost

At one time - my job was international for my company - and since I do speak several languages at a reasonable level - including german - and I learned a lot about pronunciation - depending upon which language I was speaking or was being spoken.

The word "Paris" is generally easy for people to understand. In American - we Include the "s" sound - and that is correct for our language - while in France they keep the "s" silent. If you are in a conversation where American (Or other English version) is predominant - pronouncing Paris with the "s" is correct. (Even if the conversation happens in France) - I will bet YOU never use the french pronunciation "Paree" when speaking American. This has nothing to do with the Ugly American - these rules predate our country.

Since we do not know the language that the conversation on the pronunciation of Prosche was in - we cannot actually say which is correct - However - if it was English -then saying it as "POURSH" would have been perfectly acceptable.

TomM - 12/15/2016 4:58:45 PM

+1 Boost

I forgot to mention - both Porsche and Paris are not original to Germany or France - they are both of Greek origin - if not earlier. Neither Germany or France can claim the right to have originated the words nor their original pronunciation.

MDarringer - 12/10/2016 3:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

@Agent00R the video contradicts your "Poor-sh-uh" suggestion. The video says "pour-sha". The word "poor" does not rhyme with "pour". The accepted pronunciation of "poor" has a "u" sound.

Poor people are not "pour" people but "pur" people...I'll spare the diacritical marks. :)