How do you pronounce 'xenophobic'?

[cardgame]

What, you don't pronounce that word with an actual x ?

Not sure if joking... you can't actually pronounce X, which is why it never headlines as a word starter.

 

[warpus]

You can in Polish, it's pronounced the same way as this word combo: "ks"

I think it's now a part of the Polish alphabet anyway, but maybe I'm wrong about that

 

[yung.carl.jung]

I believe that Zeno (the Greek philosopher) is pronounced zeeno, but when it's the Greek root spelt with an x, then it's zenno or zennuh.

No continental European pronounces "e" like the American/British "ee". The Anglo "ee" is more like an "i", but not really. Rather the "e" is pronounced like in the English "meh". I hope Kyr can shed some light on this. I usually just end up pronouncing Greek philosophers as I would in German/Latin. Now if you're wondering what ancient greek sounds like, this video seemed pretty convincing:

I also found this very nice list which reinforced my belief that the German/Latin/Spanish/Italian (basically the same) pronounciation of the vowels is correct:

• Final "e" is always pronounced: Athene = a-THEE-neh.
• "Ch" is pronounced like "k," never as in "church."
• "C" is pronounced soft (like "s") before "e" and "i" sounds, otherwise it's pronounced hard (like "k"). (This is quite unhistorical; in ancient times all "c"s were hard, but we are used to pronouncing "Caesar," "Circe," etc. with a soft "c.")
• The same applies to "g"; soft (as in "giant") before "e" and "i" sounds, hard (as in "gate") otherwise.
• "Th" is always smooth, as in "thigh," never rough, as in "they."
• You can pronounce the vowels as in English, but you will be a little closer to the ancient pronunciation if you pronounce them as in Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, etc.).
• "Ae" and "oe" can be pronounced like "e."
• General rules of accent:
  • If a name has two syllables, accent the first.
  • If a name has three or more syllables, then:
    • accent the second-to-last syllable, if it's long;
    • accent the third-to-last, otherwise.
  Unfortunately, the decision is determined by whether the syllable is long in Greek! However, if the syllable contains a diphthong or contains a vowel followed by two or more consonants, it is guaranteed to be long. Beyond that, you are on your own, I'm afraid.
• Examples: Aeschylus = ES-kih-lus or EE-skih-lus, Aphrodite = ah-froh-DI-tee, Herodotus = heh-RAH-do-tus, Thermopylae = ther-MO-pih-lee, Thucydides = thoo-SIH-di-des.

Source: Crosby & Schaeffer, Intro. to Greek, sect. 66.

 

[Perfection]

Why don't people like @Xen?

 

[REDY]

Well this is my English lesson for todays. I pronounced it as xen and not as zen.

 

[Takhisis]

Ksenofobic

/zinəˈfəʊbɪk/

/zinəˈfəʊbɪk/ and /ksinəˈfəʊbɪk/, myself, depending on how recently I've been using languages that actually pronounce their words as they're written.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I believe that Zeno (the Greek philosopher) is pronounced zeeno, but when it's the Greek root spelt with an x, then it's zenno or zennuh.

"Zeno" = "Zeeno" for me.

"Xena" = "Zeena" for every Xena: Warrior Princess fan who actually pays attention to the show. A lot of them insist on pronouncing Gabrielle's name the same as "Gabriel", which makes zero sense at all, since the character has never been identified that way on the show.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Xenophobic = Zen-uh-fobic

But to me it's zeen-uh-fobia. I have no idea why. Any other Irish people care to comment?

 

[Arakhor]

The Classical Latin diphthong ae is akin to the Ancient Greek ai, pronounced eye. For example, Caesar/kaisar. Modern Greek probably pronounces it differently.

 

[Takhisis]

The Classical Latin diphthong ae is akin to the Ancient Greek ai, pronounced eye. For example, Caesar/kaisar. Modern Greek probably pronounces it differently.

Basically:
αι (no diæresis) is pronounced the same as ε (IPA: ε/e)
αϊ (with diæresis) is pronounced separately: α·ι (IPA: ai)

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I pronounce it whichever way gets a rise out of @Kyriakos

 

[Arwon]

zen-ə-FOH-bic

 

[Takhisis]

I pronounce it whichever way gets a rise out of @Kyriakos

Then repeat after me: έχω τρεις όρχεις. Eho tris orhis.

Moderator Action: Remember, you must supply a translation if you are going to use foreign words and phrases. --LM
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Birdjaguar]

Why don't people like @Xen?

He has hardly been around for quite a few years. IIRC he was a Byzantine fanatic. I liked him just fine.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

That's so weird, but only because I've never heard it said like that.

You know what I find even more weird? The way British people say "height". You guys pronounce the second "h". I can't even do that. I try to pronounce it but then I just sound like someone with a speech impediment

I... what? Do you have an example of this? Like... Hi-hut?

 

[warpus]

I... what? Do you have an example of this? Like... Hi-hut?

I can't seem to find an example of this now, so it can't be a universal British thing.. but I've only ever heard British people say it. I'm not quite sure how to explain how it's said.. the second h is not silent. I have no idea how or why they do it, it sounds very odd, and unless I hear it again I won't be able to reproduce it

 

[Manfred Belheim]

I can't imagine how you could pronounce the second h without it sounding weird and I don't think I've ever heard that. But maybe that's just how it sounds to you and it wouldn't sound that way to me. Hmm.

 

[warpus]

I can't imagine how you could pronounce the second h without it sounding weird and I don't think I've ever heard that. But maybe that's just how it sounds to you and it wouldn't sound that way to me. Hmm.

It might have something to do with this

Not sure if this is what's going on, but I can't figure out a good way to search for this on youtube or elsewhere

 

[Arakhor]

I've never heard anyone put a th on the end either.

 

[The_J]

Not sure if joking... you can't actually pronounce X, which is why it never headlines as a word starter.

...what?
Why would you have a letter which you cannot pronounce o_O?

You can in Polish, it's pronounced the same way as this word combo: "ks"

I think it's now a part of the Polish alphabet anyway, but maybe I'm wrong about that

Exactly like that.