# Polish pronunciation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361 "2012-02-10T01:40:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361/1 "2012-02-10T01:40:49Z")

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How do you pronounce the name “Szczuczyn”? It’s the town in eastern Poland that my maternal grandmother came from.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361/2 "2012-02-10T02:25:48Z")

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Listen for the consecutive “sh-ch” sounds in a phrase like “fresh cheese”. Practice it a few times and try pronouncing it at the beginning of a word. “Sh-ch” “sh-ch” … “shch”. It’s somewhat akin to “st” in “stop” and more so to “sht” in “shtup”.

The town’s name, strictly, would be pronounced “_shchoo-chin_” (long “oo” like in “fool”). Stress on the first syllable. If that doesn’t flow off the tongue, "_shtoo-chin_ isn’t a bad attempt.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361/3 "2012-02-10T02:33:38Z")

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> [@bordelond](#):
>
> Listen for the consecutive “sh-ch” sounds in a phrase like “fresh cheese”. Practice it a few times and try pronouncing it at the beginning of a word. “Sh-ch” “sh-ch” … “shch”. It’s somewhat akin to “st” in “stop” and more so to “sht” in “shtup”.
> 
> The town’s name, strictly, would be pronounced “_shchoo-chin_” (long “oo” like in “fool”). Stress on the first syllable. If that doesn’t flow off the tongue, "_shtoo-chin_ isn’t a bad attempt.

Yep. [Here’s an audio example.](http://www.forvo.com/word/szczuczyn/)

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-pronunciation/612361/4 "2012-02-10T02:40:25Z")

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Got it. Thanks.