What are your favorite Camino misspellings on the forum?

[peregrina2000]

Mods and longtime regular forum members have surely noticed the way some common words are frequently misspelled. Though it’s not a big deal, it does mess with the search function. If you look for trains going to Pondeferra or Bilboa, you’re not going to find any!

This thread is intended to be a lighthearted (but maybe school-marmish ) effort to clean up some of our most frequent faux pas. I’ll start.

ALBERGUE, not albUrgue, not albUrgE, not albUErgue, not albergE, not aUbergue, not alberQue.

Auberge is the correct spelling in French, so I won’t count that as a misspelling.

What are your favorites?

 

[Bradypus]

So many to choose from...! The one which does tend to set my teeth on edge most is when people refer to "the Camino Francis".

 

[Former member 104756]

Auberge is the correct spelling in French, so I won’t count that as a misspelling.

Just a small point, not really a spelling issue but, given that you mentioned it. An Auberge in France is more typically a restaurant, which these days may or may not have hotel type accommodation attached. It’s usually not the equivalent of an albergue in Spain.

Pilgrim accommodation in France is typically a gite, not an Auberge.

Edited to add: As mentioned in a post below, you may see Auberge more often when referring to Auberge de Jeunesse - Youth Hostel.

 

[SabsP]

All the variants of O Cebreiro .

 

[C clearly]

when people refer to "the Camino Francis".

Yes, incorrectly spoken with the stress on the first syllable like the name Francis, instead of where it belongs on the second syllable - Francés.

 

[peregrina2000]

Pilgrim accommodation in France is typically in a gite, not an Auberge.

Well, then, that means that I can add “auberge” to my list of favorite misspellings of albergue. Thanks!

 

[peregrina2000]

All the variants of O Cebreiro .

I take it you are including the mistake of sticking in an apostrophe, where none belongs. I think someone once told me that Brierley spelled it O’Cebreiro, so that might explain it.

 

[lalaone]

Estella (town in Navarra) versus Estrella (beer) - I always have to catch myself on this one

 

[Former member 104756]

I think the Francis/Frances errors also come from some misunderstandings that Camino Frances is referring to a saint’s name, rather than Frances, the Spanish word for French.

 

[Bradypus]

I think someone once told me that Brierley spelled it O’Cebreiro, so that might explain it.

He did. I think it may have been a tip of his hat to his Irish ancestry....

 

[Purky]

It's been a while since I've seen "the El Camino", but that made me grin.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I still haven't figured out when to capitalize camino.

 

[woody66]

ALBERGUE, not albUrgue, not albUrgE, not albUErgue, not albergE, not aUbergue, not alberQue.

Yep i've bean piked up on that one okasionly

 

[Former member 104756]

I still haven't figured out when to capitalize camino.

Or in Australia, among other places, ‘capitalise’.

Not sure about Camino / camino? In thinking about it, I tend to capitalise camino when referring to a particular path/route, Camino Mozarabe. But not, for example, in the case of ‘I’m thinking about which camino (path) I’ll walk next’.

 

[Tincatinker]

I still haven't figured out when to capitalize camino.

Camino Frances. Camino Ingles. Camino Madrid. All nouns. Hacer camino- go for a walk

 

[K_Lynn]

Most recently someone mentioned Camino singles, which I know was an autocorrect error for Ingles, but I found it very amusing.

 

[lalaone]

If you look for trains going to Pondeferra or Bilboa, you’re not going to find any!

So true! But here is a fascinating example of how things can turn out otherwise, from a simple misspelling. Lourde versus Lourdes. The article is old and I do not see any updates. So perhaps it is less apt to happen now. Either sounds like a great pilgrimage to me, and I wonder if there *are* towns actually named close but not quite on main pilgrimage routes?

Isolated village mistaken for Lourdes thanks to pilgrims' GPS blunders

More and more tourists typing 'Lourde' into satellite navigation systems to end up in French village of 94 people

www.theguardian.com

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I don't know why, but I often get messed up spelling/ typing monastery...I often type it monestary and have to think twice to correct myself.

 

[Massey]

A American President while on a visit to Australia made a speach and said he would like to thank the Austrian Navy for their help.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I take it you are including the mistake of sticking in an apostrophe, where none belongs. I think someone once told me that Brierley spelled it O’Cebreiro, so that might explain it.

I think that big O looks very lonely sitting all by itself. I admit to being an abuser of that apostrophe. I have BrierlEy's guide books and also have Irish relatives through marriages.

 

[Former member 104756]

A American President while on a visit to Australia made a speach and said he would like to thank the Austrian Navy for their help.

I believe it was George Dubya who thanked Austrian troops - in a speech in Australia.

 

[jungleboy]

ALBERGUE, not albUrgue, not albUrgE, not albUErgue, not albergE, not aUbergue, not alberQue.

I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to start a thread asking why people so often spell albergue with a q, so this is the clear winner for me.

 

[SabsP]

I take it you are including the mistake of sticking in an apostrophe, where none belongs. I think someone once told me that Brierley spelled it O’Cebreiro, so that might explain it.

Or the abbreviation O Ceb ( aiai ). O ' Cebrerio is another fine example.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to start a thread asking why people so often spell albergue with a q, so this is the clear winner for me.

Possibly a few Americans not paying close attention. The "q" looks very similar to a "g" (alberque), similar to Albuquerque, New Mexico with its que ending...just a thought as to possibly "why" people may think it is correct...forum newbies perhaps?

 

[Paladina]

Ah, be kind! Some of the offenders may not be native speakers of English; others may be dyslexic. Years of marking semiliterate essays have taught me to censor my comments, especially after impressing on a delinquent the importance of poofreading (sic!)

 

[alansykes]

my spellchecker, if I don't keep a very careful eye, can force me to commit some horrific blunders, including once changing San Roque into San Roquefort (although I expect he probably was a bit smelly).

 

[Bradypus]

Years of marking semiliterate essays have taught me to censor my comments, especially after impressing on a delinquent the importance of poofreading (sic!)

An English friend of mine was a schoolteacher and had to mark some homework about local wildlife. One girl mentioned "egog" several times. Martin tells me he took a minute or so before realising that it was a vaguely phonetic version of the local pronunciation of "hedgehog"....

 

[dougfitz]

Camino Frances. Camino Ingles. Camino Madrid. All nouns. Hacer camino- go for a walk

Is that the proper distinction?

 

[M2ME]

Ah, be kind! Some of the offenders may not be native speakers of English; others may be dyslexic. Years of marking semiliterate essays have taught me to censor my comments, especially after impressing on a delinquent the importance of poofreading (sic!)

Is that reading a book while seated on a misspelled footstool?

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Roncesvalles comes in for a lot of abuse, especially when pronounced. Ronsy-vall. Ronsays-valleys. Ron-scavole. The fun never ends!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Well, then, that means that I can add “auberge” to my list of favorite misspellings of albergue. Thanks!

Sorry, but there ARE places in France that call themselves "auberge," Auberge Borda being a good example.

The one that bugs me the most (which has been mentioned) is when people refer to "the El Camino."

 

[OZAJ]

Pilgrim accommodation in France is typically in a gite, not an Auberge.

Or Abri.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The one that bugs me the most (which has been mentioned) is when people refer to "the El Camino."

Yes, and as I know it, it is the "marrying" of a car and a truck in America around 1970.

 

[Anamya]

Ronsy-vall. Ronsays-valleys. Ron-scavole.

I just spit my coffee.

I'm a native speaker of Portuguese, and really don't mind much the language-butchering, because some people at least try. But the one that actually annoyed me was the person who turned to his camino companion and said "It's actually 'buen camino'" after another pilgrim wished them "bom caminho" in Barcelos...

And the most adorable thing is to hear "muchas gracias" said in whatever accent with a big smile once the waiter brings a large plate of food Everyone gets that one right, but the smile adds a lot to it!

 

[David Tallan]

So many to choose from...! The one which does tend to set my teeth on edge most is when people refer to "the Camino Francis".

Exactly the same for me (unless, perhaps, they are talking about a route in Italy).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

And the most adorable thing is to hear "muchas gracias" said in whatever accent with a big smile

You mean not even hearing Pilgrim spoken like John Wayne?

 

[trecile]

Nobody has mentioned the (incorrect) double L spelling of Compostela. With two Ls it would have a different pronunciation.

And let's not forget Bilboa.

Estella (town in Navarra) versus Estrella (beer)

Most native English speakers mispronounce Estella - the double L makes a Y sound, not an L sound.

I think that big O looks very lonely sitting all by itself.

In Galician A and O are both definite articles and mean the. The plural forms are as and os. I know that I was initially confused about the route named the Camiño dos Faros, because I thought that it meant that there were two lighthouses, but in this case it's the way of the lighthouses - dos means of the, not two as in Spanish.

Ah, be kind! Some of the offenders may not be native speakers of English;

It's not the English words that people have problems with, it's the commonly used Spanish words on the Camino.

Two mispronunciations that other pilgrims used that drove me a bit bonkers were the guy that kept called the Meseta the Masada, and a woman who pronounced Rioja as Rioka.

 

[David Tallan]

Two mispronunciations that other pilgrims used that drove me a bit bonkers were the guy that kept called the Meseta the Masada, and a woman who pronounced Rioja as Rioka.

Well, Masada is a high, dry plateau.

I can sort of see the Rioja/Rioka thing, too. Properly pronounced, the "j" in Rioja isn't that far off from the "ch" in "loch". A number of English speakers (and perhaps speakers of other languages without that sound) have difficulty with it. I can see them turning the fricative to the stop. If you have difficulty, though, probably better to substitute an "h" sound rather than a "k" sound. Just as if you can't pronounce the Spanish name "Jesus" properly, better to go with Hesus than Kesus.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Most native English speakers mispronounce Estella - the double L makes a Y sound, not an L sound.

But, as mentioned at https://www.italki.com/en/post/question-313441,

In Catalan, the double L is pronounced the same way as in Spanish, BUT if you see a dot between the "L's", that means that you have to pronounce a longer "L".
​

 

[trecile]

But, as mentioned at https://www.italki.com/en/post/question-313441,

In Catalan, the double L is pronounced the same way as in Spanish, BUT if you see a dot between the "L's", that means that you have to pronounce a longer "L".​

​

But Estella isn't in Catalonia! Nor is there a dot between the Ls.

 

[C clearly]

I still haven't figured out when to capitalize camino.

Camino Frances. Camino Ingles. Camino Madrid. All nouns. Hacer camino- go for a walk

Is that the proper distinction?

Almost. The examples were all "proper nouns" - the official names of something - so they should be capitalized.

I think it is optional - If you consider "Camino" to be short for "Camino de Santiago de Compostela" it would be capitalized. If you think of a "camino" as being a more generic word for "way" or "walk" (as a noun, adopted from Spanish) then don't capitalize.

The one that bugs me the most (which has been mentioned) is when people refer to "the El Camino."

Or "the Del Norte"

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Or "the Del Norte"

I suppose it is officially the Camino del Norte.

 

[pmusial]

Pintxos.

 

[trecile]

Pintxos.

???
That's the correct spelling.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Camino Frances. Camino Ingles. Camino Madrid. All nouns. Hacer camino- go for a walk

So - "the C/camino"? ..."my C/camino"? ..."on C/camino"?

 

[pmusial]

Yes, but I often see “pinchos”.

 

[C clearly]

I suppose it is officially the Camino del Norte.

Yes. Not the Camino Del Norte. "The Del Norte" is like saying "The of the North".

 

[Pelegrin]

Nobody has mentioned the (incorrect) double L spelling of Compostela. With two Ls it would have a different pronunciation.

And let's not forget Bilboa.

Curiously Bilboa makes sense in Euskera. Bilbo is Bilbao in that language and the "a" at the end is the article "the". So, Bilboa would be "El Bilbao" .

 

[dick bird]

Camino (or Caminho) Portuguese. Also, rhyming Santiago with San Diego.

 

[Pelegrin]

Yes, but I often see “pinchos”.

Pincho, Pintxo. Both are correct. "tx" is "ch" in Euskera. Pincho = Tapa and Pintxo is a Tapa Basque style.

 

[Pafayac]

"the Cleveleys" for "Vallée du Célé" (Célé Valley, an alternative on Via Podiensis) !

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/looking-for-advice-about-camino-le-puy.81605/post-1154796

 

[jungleboy]

Yes. Not the Camino Del Norte. "The Del Norte" is like saying "The of the North".

Not about the camino but along similar (but worse!) lines, think for a moment about the baseball team called ‘The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’. I’ll wait below.







The The Angels Angels (of Anaheim).

 

[C clearly]

Yes, weird, but at least "Los Angeles" is the official name of the city.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Who'd think a "D" is not always a "d" in Spanish as to their use and meaning. Apparently all d's are not created equal.

"It's complicated".

How about this...
Finisterre (Spanish), Fisterra (Galician); I had learned that both spellings are correct.

Edited for a typo thanks to @JabbaPapa.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Their are too many to count.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Their are too many to count.

There are!
One thing I do know is that no matter the misspelled word on the forum, the majority of us know what word the person posting is saying. Thankfully there are no spelling tests given here.

 

[JabbaPapa]

The only two that do annoy me are "O'Cebreiro" and "the El Camino".

 

[JabbaPapa]

???
That's the correct spelling.

It's Pinchos in Spanish, outside of the pintxos region. Further south in Castilla than the Francès, you *never* encounter the pintxos spelling.

So, just like Fisterra/Finisterra, pinchos and pintxos are both correct, except regionally where one can be correct and the other not.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Most native English speakers mispronounce Estella - the double L makes a Y sound, not an L sound.

Pronunciation of -ll- varies between Spaniards ; in the way I learned it in Catalonia (Castilian spoken in the Catalan manner, not Catalàn itself), there's a silent -l- before the -y-. Some other Spaniards would pronounce the -l- more audibly.

Or "the Del Norte"

Well, there "Camino" is implicit, as in "the (Camino) Del Norte", so that one's not incorrect, in English anyway.

Camino Frances. Camino Ingles. Camino Madrid. All nouns. Hacer camino- go for a walk

Except when it's a verb :

Yo camino -- I walk/am walking. Yo camino el Francés hasta Santiago.

 

[Kathar1na]

Most native English speakers mispronounce Estella - the double L makes a Y sound, not an L sound.

Mispronounce it when they speak Spanish or mispronounce it when they speak English?

I would probably pronounce Estella with an L sound in English as I want to be understood and not show off my Spanish. This is actually a personal pet peeve of mine - people who pronounce for example Volkswagen or Skoda in English the way they are pronounced in German or Czech (and if they knew how to produce the letter Š on their keyboard they would probably write it that way in English, too ).

I know that the thread started with a discussion of common misspellings on the forum but has branched out into how to write and pronounce geographical words for locations of foreign countries in English. It is a minefield.

So, for writing in English: Camino Francés or Camino Frances? Navarra or Navarre? I always write Navarra although I know that it ought to be Navarre in English. O Cebreiro or Cebrero or El Cebrero? And while we are at it: La Coruña or A Coruña or just Coruña? Sevilla or Seville?

As to Santiago de Compostela: You don't have to cut some extra slack for non-native speakers of English but have some mercy for the multilingual writers who are used to seeing the name of the town in Galicia correctly written with two ll in Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle (French), Santiago de Compostella (Dutch) and of course as Compostella in Latin on their Compostela document. When they write it with ll in English we can perhaps coin the term "Albuquerque effect" for this error.

As to the correct pronunciation of Roncesvalles in English, I have no idea. It is called Roncevaux in French and that's probably how many people heard the name of this location first pronounced at school in history class or literature class. Even the English Wikipedia article about Roncesvalles refers to the Battle of Roncevaux and offers the English spellings of Roncevaux Pass, Roncesvalles Pass and Ronceval Pass for the pass that is called Puerto de Ibañeta in Spanish.

There is a neighbourhood called Roncesvalles in Toronto, Canada ... click on the loudspeaker icon in the English Wikipedia article about Roncesvalles, Toronto to hear how it is pronounced in English.

 

[El Cascayal]

It really grates on me when folks write a variation of I am planning Camino, currently on Camino, just returned from Camino. Omitting “el” or “the” in front of “Camino”. Da!!
Agree, the worst is Francis and albuergue like hambuerger.
Laurie, What a can of worms you just opened.
The other annoying thing while walking El Camino del Norte () recently was walkers who passed me at the speed of light (that in itself is ok) and without looking sideways mumbled “buencamino” in one syllable with a flat tone sounding more like a f-U. But I digress.

 

[Tickbush]

Auberge de jeunesse=youth hostel

 

[Jodean]

I asked the taxi driver in Sarria to tell me how to say the name. Where is the accent. She pronounced it like Sorry-ya, not Sa-Rye-ya.

Have little idea how to pronounce French, so Roncesvalles is still a mystery to me. Raunches-Val? Raunches-valley? What is it?

Took me a while to realize Castrojeriz was one word, not 2.

The name I use is Jo. How should I tell Spanish speakers my name? I don't want to be called Ho.

 

[SabsP]

I asked the taxi driver in Sarria to tell me how to say the name. Where is the accent. She pronounced it like Sorry-ya, not Sa-Rye-ya.

Have little idea how to pronounce French, so Roncesvalles is still a mystery to me. Raunches-Val? Raunches-valley? What is it?

Took me a while to realize Castrojeriz was one word, not 2.

The name I use is Jo. How should I tell Spanish speakers my name? I don't want to be called Ho.

See this link, though indeed the French would also say " Roncevaux".

Roncesvalles pronunciation: How to pronounce Roncesvalles in Spanish, French, English

Pronunciation guide: Learn how to pronounce Roncesvalles in Spanish, French, English with native pronunciation. Roncesvalles translation and audio pronunciation

forvo.com

But certainly not Raunches like in Chaumes ( the cheese ).

 

[Former member 104756]

Laurie, What a can of worms you just opened.

Yes

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The name I use is Jo. How should I tell Spanish speakers my name? I don't want to be called Ho.

I sympathize. I absolutely hate being called Ricardo. Growing up I way too often was called Ricky Ricardo, a character played by Desi Arnaz on the I Love Lucy TV show.

 

[Caminogoat]

A American President while on a visit to Australia made a speach and said he would like to thank the Austrian Navy for their help.

South Korea became a republic after World War 2 and had its first democratic election in 1948. The newly-elected president was married to an Austrian lady (the marriage occurred while he was living in the United States). Koreans commonly refer to someone's wife as Mrs. wherever she was born: e.g. Mrs. California, Mrs. Indiana, etc., and the first lady was mistakenly referred to as Mrs. Australia.

 

[Icacos]

The other annoying thing while walking El Camino del Norte () recently was walkers who passed me at the speed of light (that in itself is ok) and without looking sideways mumbled “buencamino” in one syllable with a flat tone sounding more like a f-U. But I digress.

I’m sorry you are annoyed by this; we don’t know what burdens others are carrying, so perhaps it’s best not to judge. But feel free to rant tho’.

I asked the taxi driver in Sarria to tell me how to say the name. Where is the accent. She pronounced it like Sorry-ya, not Sa-Rye-ya.

Have little idea how to pronounce French, so Roncesvalles is still a mystery to me. Raunches-Val? Raunches-valley? What is it?

Took me a while to realize Castrojeriz was one word, not 2.

The name I use is Jo. How should I tell Spanish speakers my name? I don't want to be called Ho.

This thread started with misspellings on the forum. It’s now moved firmly into mispronunciations. Still, it’s a fun thread.

 

[Bradypus]

I sympathize. I absolutely hate being called Ricardo.

Being a Roland who has occasionally walked through Roncesvalles has drawn the odd comment over the years. With every one thinking they are being highly original....

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yes

Yes, she did, and it's turned into a lot of "splitting hairs".
Maybe someone should start a thread on idioms next.

 

[Angela Blaschke]

Mispronounce it when they speak Spanish or mispronounce it when they speak English?

I would probably pronounce Estella with an L sound in English as I want to be understood and not show off my Spanish. This is actually a personal pet peeve of mine - people who pronounce for example Volkswagen or Skoda in English the way they are pronounced in German or Czech (and if they knew how to produce the letter Š on their keyboard they would probably write it that way in English, too ).

I know that the thread started with a discussion of common misspellings on the forum but has branched out into how to write and pronounce geographical words for locations of foreign countries in English. It is a minefield.

So, for writing in English: Camino Francés or Camino Frances? Navarra or Navarre? I always write Navarra although I know that it ought to be Navarre in English. O Cebreiro or Cebrero or El Cebrero? And while we are at it: La Coruña or A Coruña or just Coruña? Sevilla or Seville?

As to Santiago de Compostela: You don't have to cut some extra slack for non-native speakers of English but have some mercy for the multilingual writers who are used to seeing the name of the town in Galicia correctly written with two ll in Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle (French), Santiago de Compostella (Dutch) and of course as Compostella in Latin on their Compostela document. When they write it with ll in English we can perhaps coin the term "Albuquerque effect" for this error.

As to the correct pronunciation of Roncesvalles in English, I have no idea. It is called Roncevaux in French and that's probably how many people heard the name of this location first pronounced at school in history class or literature class. Even the English Wikipedia article about Roncesvalles refers to the Battle of Roncevaux and offers the English spellings of Roncevaux Pass, Roncesvalles Pass and Ronceval Pass for the pass that is called Puerto de Ibañeta in Spanish.

There is a neighbourhood called Roncesvalles in Toronto, Canada ... click on the loudspeaker icon in the English Wikipedia article about Roncesvalles, Toronto to hear how it is pronounced in English.

Huh? How do English people pronounce Volkswagen? I’m a native German speaker, and I’ve never heard Volkswagen pronounced any other way than the way I would say it.

 

[Former member 104756]

Yes, she did, and it's turned into a lot of "splitting hairs".
Maybe someone should start a thread on idioms next.

As long as it's not grammar or punctuation. Saints preserve us, as 'the sisters' used to say.

 

[Bradypus]

Huh? How do English people pronounce Volkswagen? I’m a native German speaker, and I’ve never heard Volkswagen pronounced any other way than the way I would say it.

We Brits are divided on the matter. Some of us would pronounce the "w" more like an English 'v' (as in Victoria) while others would sound it as 'w' (as in 'world'). The latter is probably more common.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Have little idea how to pronounce French, so Roncesvalles is still a mystery to me. Raunches-Val? Raunches-valley? What is it?

French : Roncevaux.

Spanish : Roncesvalles.

If it's any consolation, neither are easy to pronounce !!

And let's not even get started on the Basque ...

 

[Kathar1na]

It took me a while to remember the correct sequence of the bits and pieces that make up the name of the town commonly abbreviated on the forum as SJPP, especially before I had looked up the meaning of the town's name and before I had grasped why there is a foot and a port in the name. I often write it without hyphens but the correct spelling in both English and French is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

 

[M2ME]

As for the variations of “croissant”! Pronunciation and spelling.

 

[JabbaPapa]

the correct spelling in both English and French is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Yes indeed, and one really does need to look up the hyphenating for each individual village, town, or city named after a Saint and etc.

 

[trecile]

I occasionally see marino wool instead of merino wool

 

[Bradypus]

I occasionally see marino wool instead of merino wool

Would that be the waterproof version?

 

[Pelegrin]

Here in Spain now there are lots of news about a Catalan politician who lives in Waterloo. Almost everybody here say it in English like Abba when the Spanish pronunciation is closer to the original Flemish ( I think). Vaterló.

 

[SabsP]

Here in Spain now there are lots of news about a Catalan politician who lives in Waterloo. Almost everybody here say it in English like Abba when the Spanish pronunciation is closer to the original Flemish ( I think). Vaterló.

Indeed closer, but we Flemish do pronounce it with a W and not with a V.

Loo to pronounce like French l 'eau.

 

[Kirkie]

As for the variations of “croissant”! Pronunciation and spelling.

Ok, away from spelling, and into pronunciation, that's ok...because I do love words, but am not keen on discussing spelling on this forum...you have drawn me in!
Spanish person speaking French, heard by a Scot...I could not quite get the word I was hearing but it turned out to be that word you quote. What I heard was coor-a-son.

 

[trecile]

Would that be the waterproof version?

No, that's meraino

 

[SBurgess]

Yes, weird, but at least "Los Angeles" is the official name of the city.

Actually, the official name of Los Angeles (in the state of California, USA) is:
El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles

 

[Kathar1na]

Here in Spain now there are lots of news about a Catalan politician who lives in Waterloo. Almost everybody here say it in English like Abba when the Spanish pronunciation is closer to the original Flemish ( I think). Vaterló.

Thank you for this comment! That's really interesting - that the Spanish pronunciation of the name of this smallish town in Belgium, albeit with a name known throughout Europe, is currently being replaced by the English pronunciation in Spanish news media. I do wonder, actually and now that you pointed this out, whether it has something to do with the widely known Abba song. It would not surprise me if this is how linguistic shifts occur.

BTW, today's Waterloo is located in the French-speaking part of Belgium; the current population is predominantly French-speaking (with about 18% expats and that includes the Catalan politician). Those who pay close attention will notice that the 'correct' pronunciation of Waterloo depends on whether you speak about the town in French, or in Dutch, or in English etc etc. And that kind of difference in pronunciation is considered to be quite normal ...

 

[M2ME]

Ok, away from spelling, and into pronunciation, that's ok...because I do love words, but am not keen on discussing spelling on this forum...you have drawn me in!
Spanish person speaking French, heard by a Scot...I could not quite get the word I was hearing but it turned out to be that word you quote. What I heard was coor-a-son.

Or your uncle’s irritated wife.

 

[Bert45]

Estella (town in Navarra) versus Estrella (beer) - I always have to catch myself on this one

That one is in the opening credits of "The Way". 'Estrella' is printed on the map.

 

[Pelegrin]

Thank you for this comment! That's really interesting - that the Spanish pronunciation of the name of this smallish town in Belgium, albeit with a name known throughout Europe, is currently being replaced by the English pronunciation in Spanish news media. I do wonder, actually and now that you pointed this out, whether it has something to do with the widely known Abba song. It would not surprise me if this is how linguistic shifts occur.

BTW, today's Waterloo is located in the French-speaking part of Belgium; the current population is predominantly French-speaking (with about 18% expats and that includes the Catalan politician). Those who pay close attention will notice that the 'correct' pronunciation of Waterloo depends on whether you speak about the town in French, or in Dutch, or in English etc etc. And that kind of difference in pronunciation is considered to be quite normal ...

In Spain many people think that W is always pronounced like in English. Same for German words. Normative Spanish is W= V
Then, there are many people here who say Wamba ( Camino de Madrid) instead of Vamba.

 

[David Tallan]

Have little idea how to pronounce French, so Roncesvalles is still a mystery to me. Raunches-Val? Raunches-valley? What is it?

I wouldn't worry about the French pronunciation of Roncesvalles. Save that for Roncevaux.
I tend to pronounce Roncesvalles Ron•thes•va•yez (with a little roll on the "r", an unvoiced "th" as in "think" not "the", an unvoiced "s" as in "this" not "these"). Except when I was working on Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto.

 

[lalaone]

That one is in the opening credits of "The Way".

Goodness, I am intrigued and will have to rewatch the opening credits now! I remember scenes of slow progress on a map after Tom receives the call - is that where you saw it?

 

[David Tallan]

The name I use is Jo. How should I tell Spanish speakers my name? I don't want to be called Ho.

When I am in Spain, I give my last name as Tayan. That way they are more likely to spell it correctly or recognize it when they see it. It is just something I have learned to accept.

 

[lalaone]

Ok, away from spelling, and into pronunciation, that's ok...because I do love words, but am not keen on discussing spelling on this forum...you have drawn me in!
Spanish person speaking French, heard by a Scot...I could not quite get the word I was hearing but it turned out to be that word you quote. What I heard was coor-a-son.

I like this and would have liked to hear it! In American English, "cellar door" is one of the least romantic sounding words possible - SELLer door. Our French teachers told us it was the most beautiful in the English language, which became believable hearing them prounounce it: "cela d'or"

 

[David Tallan]

In Spain many people think that W is always pronounced like in English. Same for German words. Normative Spanish is W= V
Then, there are many people here who say Wamba ( Camino de Madrid) instead of Vamba.

How often does W occur at the beginning of Spanish words for Spanish people to become familiar with its correct pronunciation in that position? I had heard Wamba was very unusual in that respect.

 

[Pelegrin]

How often does W occur at the beginning of Spanish words for Spanish people to become familiar with its correct pronunciation in that position? I had heard Wamba was very unusual in that respect.

Yes, Wamba is the only one

 

[David Tallan]

Yes, Wamba is the only one

I blame the Wisigoths.

 

[pmusial]

OK, I stand corrected with regard to pintxos/pinchos.

 

[Bert45]

Nobody has mentioned (till now) the various spellings of 'Botafumeiro'. And, if we're bringing pronunciation into this debate, may I mention the number of people who think that the word for the way that people pronounce words is 'pronounciation'.

 

[El Cascayal]

we're bringing pronunciation into this debate, may I mention the number of people who think that the word for the way that people pronounce words is 'pronounciation'.

Oh no, someone earlier in this thread, (was it this thread?) already intoned one US President Bush, nucular (for nuclear ) anyone? Emoji looks like a seasonal punkin.

 

[Icacos]

… seasonal punkin.

I often hear it pronounced pungkin.

 

[KathyRugg]

Nobody has mentioned the (incorrect) double L spelling of Compostela. With two Ls it would have a different pronunciation.

And let's not forget Bilboa.


Most native English speakers mispronounce Estella - the double L makes a Y sound, not an L sound.

In Galician A and O are both definite articles and mean the. The plural forms are as and os. I know that I was initially confused about the route named the Camiño dos Faros, because I thought that it meant that there were two lighthouses, but in this case it's the way of the lighthouses - dos means of the, not two as in Spanish.

It's not the English words that people have problems with, it's the commonly used Spanish words on the Camino.

Two mispronunciations that other pilgrims used that drove me a bit bonkers were the guy that kept called the Meseta the Masada, and a woman who pronounced Rioja as Rioka.

Though slightly better than hearing it pronounced “Rio-jah” (with “j” as in “jump”! . I also cringe a bit at “Pampa-lona” and NaJEra (also with “J” as in jump and the second instead of the first syllable accented.