# How to pronounce these last names

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pronounce-these-last-names/646313>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pronounce-these-last-names/646313 "2013-01-07T03:40:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pronounce-these-last-names/646313/21 "2013-01-09T00:40:24Z")

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> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> Technically speaking, the original word [Rambouillet] would not be readily pronounceable to an English speaker, because y’all don’t have anything that matches the “am” diphthong sound. It’s not “ram” as in the sheep, it’s closer to “rank” (without the -nk sound). Same nasal sound as in “croissant”.
> 
> \< . . . \>
> 
> (Oh, and it’s likely named after the [French forest and royal hunting grounds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambouillet), not a person. Which itself is named after the local castle, which is named after… hell if I know. There’s a viscountship attached to the castle, but a quick search didn’t turn up any outstanding or even notable vicomtes de Rambouillet.)

I don’t think any French words are readily pronounceable to English speakers. 😉 (At least not to American English speakers.)

Thanks for all that follow-up, **Kobal2**. Your suggestion that it’s named after a forest and royal hunting grounds makes sense. The street is in a residential neighborhood near a country club and golf course. All the other streets in the area are named after famous professional golfers.

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