Linguistic difference between father and son - any German input would be very we

1. 93

   Gordon Hamiltonposted 12 years ago

   Linguistic difference between father and son - any German input would be very welcome!!!
   
   Strange question but becoming frustrating. I acknowledge that my Dad has lived in Germany for nearly thirty years but he still insists that Germans do not pronounce the letter "W" and instead say "V". I have lived in Germany and never once heard anything to bear out his assertions. Germans pronounce the letter "W" as Brits and Americans do - unless they're only making me feel at home!!
   
   Any native Germans on HP help me out???
   
   Thanks!!!

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2. 89

   Rochelle Frankposted 12 years ago

   A German  will pronounce Volkswagen  "Folksvagen" BMW is "Bey-Em-Vey"
   Wiesbaden is "Viesbaden"  Wunderbar (wonderful) is  pronounced Vunderbar.
   My husband's family is German and I would say your dad is right.

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3. 82

   vox vocisposted 12 years ago

   Listen to your father, son "W" in German is in fact "V" :
   
   - BMW is pronounced "BAY-EM-VAY" (everything Rochelle wrote is correct)
   - LKW (truck) is prononuced  "ELL-KA-VAY"
   - WENN (if, whenever) is pronounced "VEN"
   
   Also, "V" is pronounced "FOW."
   - VATER (father) is pronounced "FATER"
   - VIER (four) is pronounced "FIER"
   - and my Italian last name beginning with "V" is pronounced with "FOW" and it's annoying!
   
   Believe me on this one; I'm not a native German, but I live in Germany, speak 5 languages, and hold a degree in linguistics
   
   It's nice that Germans make you feel at home
   
   And hey, I just remebered, Germans learn English gladly and when they speak English, then of course, they do proununce "W" as the Brits and Americans do (but not in their own language).
   
   You have to tell your Dad I'm on his side LOL

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4. 66

   Clive Donegalposted 11 years ago

   Yikes, my father and I disagreed about issues such as when I had to be home or whether I could get a new car. If your father has lived in Germany for 30 years, I'd yield to him on matters of how something is pronounced there. Unless you live there too.
   I say, When in ROme....

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