MGR Hooper! Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 (edited) Can anyone tell me if Heljan is pronounced as "Heljan" or "Helyan"? I've heard both being used widely, but wanted to know what was the correct way of pronouncing it. Edited May 24, 2019 by MGR Hooper! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 47137 Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2019 The correct form is Helly-anne. I got a lecture on this from someone with a lot of attitude. But when I tried this with a friend he looked blank. I've gone back to Hell-jan, and I'm waiting to see when someone uses the correct version. I've been waiting over two years already. - Richard. 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 I have always thought Helyan, but then wonder if I am being too clever (and very un-British) in trying to say a foreign word how native speakers would, rather than just anglicising it, as we do with Paris and Cologne, for example. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Decorum Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 “J” in German and Nordic languages is pronounced as “y”. Without trying to wind my uvula around Danish pronunciation, I think “Helyan” is a reasonably Anglicised pronunciation, which is how I pronounce it. I am, of course, out on a limb as usual. Pronunciation of the “j” as in English seems almost universal. Perhaps the Danes are so annoyed by the mispronunciation that they make locomotives with bits that fall off. 3 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Decorum Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 Welcome to my limb, caradoc! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2019 8 minutes ago, No Decorum said: . Perhaps the Danes are so annoyed by the mispronunciation that they make locomotives with bits that fall off. This would be funny if it was not so true 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prometheus Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 I used to pronounce it with a Y too, but got so fed up with traders and other modellers looking at me as though I was an idiot I gave up and went with the flow. Tony 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 58 minutes ago, No Decorum said: Without trying to wind my uvula around Danish pronunciation And certainly don't try and wind it round Danish bacon.... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 55020 Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2019 Another vote for the "Y" version from me 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2019 Same problem with "Braun" I say "brown" having a spattering of German but get blank looks when I use it. Oh! You mean "Brawn" when queried. I suppose I should say No you mean "brown" 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 I have relatives in Denmark, and while I don't speak Danish, I do have some idea of their pronunciations, and the 'j' is definitely a 'y' sound (agreeing with others here) - Hell-yahn or something like that. Just for amusement: the Danish letter 'y' is pronounced more like 'oo'. I was told to form my mouth to say 'ee' but try to say 'oo' at the same time. Try this in front of a mirror! 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 So HELYAN it is.....! 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
90rob Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 I had the same problem while trying to buy a camera many years ago. Having a thick 'ampshire' accent (very much like the engine drivers on the DVD of the Hayling Branch Line) I went up to London for the day and asked to see a Neekon. The assistant looked at me, puzzled, and then asked if I meant a Neyekon. I eventually found the correct way to pronounce it...Pentax. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 2 hours ago, melmerby said: Same problem with "Braun" I say "brown" having a spattering of German but get blank looks when I use it. Oh! You mean "Brawn" when queried. I suppose I should say No you mean "brown" I'm now wondering if there's one of those Downfall parodies, when Hitler gets upset because the British can't pronounce his girlfriend's name properly..... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Decorum Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 1 hour ago, MGR Hooper! said: So HELYAN it is.....! So long as you don’t mind being looked at like an idiot, apparently. We railway modellers should be used to that sort of thing, thought I do get Brawned off sometimes. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 2 hours ago, melmerby said: Same problem with "Braun" I say "brown" having a spattering of German but get blank looks when I use it. Oh! You mean "Brawn" when queried That's exactly what an acneous youth said to me the last time I went into the local shop that sells shaver foils and whatnot. "Don't be a smartarse, sunshine, it doesn't become you" sufficed. 18 minutes ago, 90rob said: I had the same problem while trying to buy a camera many years ago. Having a thick 'ampshire' accent (very much like the engine drivers on the DVD of the Hayling Branch Line) I went up to London for the day and asked to see a Neekon. The assistant looked at me, puzzled, and then asked if I meant a Neyekon. I eventually found the correct way to pronounce it...Pentax. As an ex-professional photographer, I feel obliged to point out that it's "Nikkon" if you're British, but "Nye-kon" with the noticeable pause 'twixt syllables if you're a Yank. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 I have a Warwick bass guitar. Someone once said to me they liked my Vor-vick, I thought they had a speech impediment. I call it a Worrick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 3 hours ago, SRman said: ... the Danish letter 'y' is pronounced more like 'oo'. I was told to form my mouth to say 'ee' but try to say 'oo' at the same time. According to my Danish dentist, the trick with his native tongue is to form most of the sounds partly at the back of the throat and partly down the nose, then having formed them authentically, slur each syllable into the one following it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2019 2 hours ago, spikey said: That's exactly what an acneous youth said to me the last time I went into the local shop that sells shaver foils and whatnot. "Don't be a smartarse, sunshine, it doesn't become you" sufficed. As an ex-professional photographer, I feel obliged to point out that it's "Nikkon" if you're British, but "Nye-kon" with the noticeable pause 'twixt syllables if you're a Yank. Then there's Ikea which should be pronounced ick-ear (more or less) not eye-kee-ah. I'm definitely in the "Helyan" camp, probably because I've worked for Finnish and Swedish companies in the past. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2019 2 hours ago, pete_mcfarlane said: I'm now wondering if there's one of those Downfall parodies, when Hitler gets upset because the British can't pronounce his girlfriend's name properly..... V2? - Sorry wrong von Braun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold D9020 Nimbus Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2019 Now try distinguishing between Peco and Piko... AFAIK they should both be pronounced pee-ko. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 23 minutes ago, D9020 Nimbus said: Now try distinguishing between Peco and Piko... AFAIK they should both be pronounced pee-ko. The first being something like "pee-koh", the latter more like "pick-oh? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 You say Kayto, I say Kahto 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted May 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2019 I know more people that use Hel-yan than Hel-jan or hely-an. Roy 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 7 hours ago, No Decorum said: Without trying to wind my uvula around Danish pronunciation Oooh errr missus! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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