Why Is It No One In Manhattan Can Pronounce "Gyro?" (Rome: loan, universities)

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

Lots of Americans pronounce foreign foods incorrectly. Italians pronounce mozzerella, "mutzadelle", but most Americans say "motzerella".

And lots of Italian-Americans use "gravy", the English word for a sauce made with meat drippings and flour, when they mean "tomato sauce".

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

Lots of Americans pronounce foreign foods incorrectly. Italians pronounce mozzerella, "mutzadelle", but most Americans say "motzerella".

The reason we poor benighted white-bread speakers pronounce gyro and mozzarella the way we do is because that's the way the spelling sounds in English. Unless you were around Italian or Greek or <insert ethnicity> people, how would you have any idea you were pronouncing their words correctly or not? I have no idea why New York Greeks mispronounce gyro, but I am 51 years old and only ever heard the correct pronounciation for the first time about five years ago, and I've been working in the city for 30 years.

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

The reason we poor benighted white-bread speakers pronounce gyro and mozzarella the way we do is because that's the way the spelling sounds in English. Unless you were around Italian or Greek or <insert ethnicity> people, how would you have any idea you were pronouncing their words correctly or not? I have no idea why New York Greeks mispronounce gyro, but I am 51 years old and only ever heard the correct pronounciation for the first time about five years ago, and I've been working in the city for 30 years.

I think this whole thing is ridiculous really.. you're mispronouncing them in Greek and in Italian... not in English... words change through languages.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Originally Posted by anders

The correct pronunciation is more like ka-SHOOSH-ko. (I've always refused to pronounce it the wrong way -- just on ornery principle.)

I grew up in an area with lots of Polish-Americans where they actually celebrate Kosciuszko Day with a parade, so I always heard it pronounced correctly ("ka-SHOOSH-ko"). I was surprised when I heard the local pronunciation.

Same thing with Gyros too. In my hometown there is a Greek diner in every neighborhood serving Gyros and it was always pronounced "yee-ro", then I arrived in NY and hear "Jy-ro" everywhere.

On the other hand, it seems that everyone in my part of Brooklyn, whether they are Italian or not, likes to use a form of faux Italian by saying "mootzarel" for Mozzarella and "Calamaw" for Calamari.

[clevedark]

I am laughing here, thinking of the time my friend came back red-faced after she tried to order a "hee-ro" and the guy behind the counter looked at her like she was an idiot, made her say it a few times, and then helped her out with, "You mean a "jie-row?"

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by BruceAdama

I take it you are a fellow Greek? I'm also always appalled how people can't pronounce the Greek foods the proper way. They don't even try. I mean, people don't go into a Del Taco, and ask for a "tor-tilla", or a "kes-a-dilla"... why do they have to pronounce gyro the wrong way?

This probably has to do with the global popularity of the dish, and the preferation of Spanish in to the American vocabulary. Go to most cities in the country, and count how many places serve standard Tex-Mex fare, or Carribean fare that uses common latin items, like tortillas, and compare that to all restaurants that serve a gyro. Really, have you ever heard gyro pronounced in a tv or radio campaign?

If the Greek language and cuisine was more publicized in American pop culture, people would be aware of their mispronunciation of this dish. However, because its not, the American butchery of it expands on itself.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by BruceAdama

It's REALLY supposed to be pronounced "yee-ro".

Oh, yeah, you're right. I just asked my husband, who was with me in Greece, and he said they pronounced it that way. I think it's Greek for hero.

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

Oh, yeah, you're right. I just asked my husband, who was with me in Greece, and he said they pronounced it that way. I think it's Greek for hero.

No, that's incorrect. The modern Greek word is 'guros' which is derived from ancient Greek 'gūros' which means circle, which is related to the turning of the lamb on the spit.

[cleasach]

Born and raised in Brooklyn here. The only people that I've heard say "kos-ki-OS-co are the traffic people on the radio.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by BruceAdama

I take it you are a fellow Greek? I'm also always appalled how people can't pronounce the Greek foods the proper way. They don't even try. I mean, people don't go into a Del Taco, and ask for a "tor-tilla", or a "kes-a-dilla"... why do they have to pronounce gyro the wrong way?

Sorry, but that's funny. People don't even try to correctly pronounce a word that they have no idea they are misprouncing?

As a person of Dutch heritage, I'm appalled that people can't even pronounce the name Breuekelen. They're always saying "Brooklyn."