Pronouncing 'RONCESVALLES' ??

[RENSHAW]

No matter how I pronounce Roncesvalles , I'm always corrected and by a myriad of pronunciations.
It seems as though everyone has a different interpretation. Here is the the one I like best .. now , the first sound is as if you were clearing your throat ......ghone - then .... thez and then bayethz - now you say it ............. ghone thez bayethz ........of course , this could be completely wrong. :mrgreen:

 

[William Marques]

This reminds me of when I was asked once where I crossed into Spain. "Irun" I said. ???? Iirun, Irrun, Iruun. Irn. Whatever I said she could not understand so I wrote it down. "Oh Irun, why did'nt you say."

 

[Peter Robins]

Basques will tell you it's 'Orreaga'

 

[SabsP]

I pronounce it : RONSESVALJES ( with a short A )

 

[oursonpolaire]

If you're from Toronto (where this street is the heart of the old Polish district), you will of course say Ron ses vales.

 

[Javier]

You are OK.-

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I say "Ron Sez VIE Ez," and so far none of the Spaniards has corrected me.

I have heard some amazing variations on that word. Ronsee Vall, Renso vays, RonsaValleys... in any case, it´s the pilgrim´s first big challenge!

 

[dewayneg]

RRRRon-Thes-Bye-Yes is how it is pronounced in Castillian Spanish

 

[Kitsambler]

But how do you say it in French? The French even spell it differently.

 

[MichaelB10398]

But how do you say it in French? The French even spell it differently.

Don't pronounce the "s"s and you will be fine.

Correction: for the French spelling just don't pronounce the "x"

Thank-you Sab

 

[SabsP]

For the french it is Roncevaux.

 

[oursonpolaire]

On the offhand chance that somebody is interested in how this part of Toronto was called Roncesvalles, it had to do with a retired British officer who had served in Spain and received a land grant there after the Napoleonic Wars-- just north of Virtue Street, we find Sorauren Avenue (known to a few pilgrims who took a really wrong turn walking to Pamplona) to commemorate another skirmish in the Peninsular War.

 

[Olivares]

This link has an audio pronunciation:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/ ... ncesvalles

 

[grayland]

This link has an audio pronunciation:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/ ... ncesvalles

That seems to match Reb's post pretty close. She may win the prize based on that (so far).
I forgot...what was the prize??

 

[fraluchi]

... it´s the pilgrim´s first big challenge!

Important is that a) you get there OK and 2) you get a spot where to sleep (either with or without snorers) :wink: