# British English pronunciation of foreign vowels

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-pronunciation-of-foreign-vowels/344828>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 16, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-pronunciation-of-foreign-vowels/344828 "2006-02-16T17:21:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-pronunciation-of-foreign-vowels/344828/41 "2006-02-18T06:55:38Z")

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> [@amarone](#):
>
> If you think the British are bad, listen to the American pronunciation of Des Moines and Des Plaines. And Piedmont. And Beaufort.

For Spanish examples, how about Los Angeles?

> [@jjimm](#):
>
> We’ve got hundreds, and they vary incredibly.

You may think so, but we Americans know the truth: every native English speaker east of Maine has exactly the same accent. Hopefully you foreigners will figure it out someday.

> [@Doobieous](#):
>
> I do speak Spanish, but when speaking English and pronouncing the town names as they should be pronounced, it comes across as stilted.

Yup, same here. I switch between English and Spanish in the same word often, and I often find myself lost somewhere in the middle. It just doesn’t feel right unless I Spanishize my English and Englishize my Spanish a little.

> [@amarone](#):
>
> This Brit says something like Halapeenyo. Is that wrong?

Yup. Hah-lah-pAYnyo. That’s how it’s properly pronounced in Mexican or South American Spanish, at least. I believe the Spaniards would prefer an /x/ sound (think Chanukah) for the opening “j”.

> [@Zeldar](#):
>
> Jaguar is one I like

This American pronounces it jag-wire.

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**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-pronunciation-of-foreign-vowels/344828/42 "2006-02-20T01:50:03Z")

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> [@PastAllReason](#):
>
> AWN-velopes for envelopes is an issue? Seems to be a common Canadian pronunciation.
> 
> And **Alan Smithee** there are quite a few Canadians this side of the Atlantic who could be hear to say hal-a-PEN-yo. Not that everyone does by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve heard quite often.

But that’s fine. It’s jew-LA-pee-nos that’s an abomination.

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