View Message

[Facts] Pronounciation of old Dutch name?
Hello,Does anyone know the pronouciation and stress of the old Dutch female name (of Germanic origin) "Tjadduwee"? I would guess something like CHAD-due-way or cha-due-WAY, but I am not sure?Thank you!
vote up1vote down

Replies

It's neither of those. The correct pronounciation would be TYAH-duy-way.
vote up1vote down
I haven't heard of that name anywhere, ever, but I'm a native Dutch speaker so I'll try to go by my first instinct...CHAHD-due-wayThe "a" is quite a short vowel in Dutch (as are most vowels, really, compared to English), but is comparable to English "far". The "u" is quite complicated - it is, like the "a" also quite short. In English you pronounce words like "dew" almost like "choo", but in Dutch "du" doesn't have that "ch" sound you find in British English in particular. It's more like American "do", but the "u" leans more towards "ee" than English "ue" or "ew" (they lean more towards "oo"). The "w" is pronounced more at the front of the mouth, with the lips rather than the throat which English tends to have.I hope this clears it up a bit for you.
vote up1vote down