# What is the correct pronounciation of Gogh, as in the one-eared painter. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366 "2011-05-26T22:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/21 "2011-05-27T03:56:08Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But if you’re an “Amurr-kin” from the midwest, like me, just stick with “Van Go”, or you’ll sound pretentious. And don’t say “Paree, Fronce” – or “Boccchhh” for Bach, either. That gave rise to a line in _Manhattan_. Diane Keaton makes some reference to Van Khawkh, and Woody Allen just looks at her in disbelief, saying “Van _Khawkh_?” The ironic thing is that Van Gogh himself came from Brabant, a southern part of Holland where the dialect doesn’t use the sound for /g/. At one time, the site [www.vangoghgallery.com](http://www.vangoghgallery.com) said: “it is quite likely that most Dutchmen pronounce his name incorrectly if we take his own pronunciation as a benchmark.” But that interesting factoid isn’t up on the site anymore. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/22 "2011-05-27T03:58:38Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Have you by any chance relocated from America to Britain? > > In my experience (having lived many years in both countries) American’s almost always say “Van Go” and British people almost always say “Van Gauf” (perhaps with just a hint of a K before the F). The latter seems to me to be a reasonable attempt to reproduce the proper Dutch pronunciation using phonemes that English speakers are used to pronouncing. It is not hard to say. I can see no justification for “Van Go” at all, except that for some random reason it seems to have caught on in America. Probably many Americans, never having heard anything else, think it is the correct Dutch, or the nearest they could reasonably be expected to get to the correct Dutch, but really it isn’t. I don’t think the British ‘van gauf’ pronunciation is that much better than the American. I think it gets the vowel better than standard American, but it doesn’t do a good job with either of the consonants (which should be the same sound). The initial consonant is the same in both dialects (at least more or less) but the final consonant ‘f’ in British is misapplied because it’s pronounced in the front of the mouth while ‘x’ (ipa) is pronounce in the back of the mouth. The American version isn’t much better, but at least the final sound is pronounced in the back of the mouth. An equivalent shift in sounds using stop consonants rather than fricatives would be pronouncing the word ‘dock’ as ‘dot’. I’m not arguing for the superiority of the American pronunciation, but I think the British has a similar level of mismatch with the original dutch. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/23 "2011-05-27T04:10:30Z")
I believe he preferred “Vinnie.” My surname is almost always mispronounced. When said correctly, it’s hard to guess spelling, so to make things easier on myself and others I also mispronounce it most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/24 "2011-05-27T05:02:13Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Yeah, as in “cough”. > > What? > > Stranger See, that’s why I didn’t say “always silent.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/25 "2011-05-27T05:26:15Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Because in American English, a gh at the end of a word is usually silent. As in “enough” ? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/26 "2011-05-27T08:09:22Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Because in American English, a gh at the end of a word is usually silent. Pray tell, in which words ending in gh are those letters pronounced in American English but not in other varieties of English? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/27 "2011-05-27T09:36:46Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > That gave rise to a line in _Manhattan_. Diane Keaton makes some reference to Van Khawkh, and Woody Allen just looks at her in disbelief, saying “Van _Khawkh_?” > > The ironic thing is that Van Gogh himself came from Brabant, a southern part of Holland where the dialect doesn’t use the sound for /g/. > > At one time, the site [www.vangoghgallery.com](http://www.vangoghgallery.com) said: “it is quite likely that most Dutchmen pronounce his name incorrectly if we take his own pronunciation as a benchmark.” But that interesting factoid isn’t up on the site anymore. It’s [here](http://www.vggallery.com/misc/pronunciation.htm). Having read that, I’m still not sure how to pronounce it. Even the Dutchies don’t seem quite sure. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/28 "2011-05-27T09:42:50Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Because in American English, a gh at the end of a word is usually silent. You get one of each in Loughborough. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/29 "2011-05-27T11:49:12Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I grew up always hearing it pronounced the same as “go,” … > > What’s the right way? Instead of characterizing it as “right way” or “correct” pronunciation, would it be better to describe it as “native” Dutch pronunciation? In other words, if you’re in America, the “right” way _is_ “go” as you’ve been doing all along. Likewise, what’s the “right” pronunciation for Mexico? Is it “MECKS-ee-koh” which everybody (including the most highly educated diplomats and newscasters) in the USA pronounce it, or is it the Spanish “may-HEE-koh” ? There was an art teacher start the Van Gogh lecture like this, “_Ok everybody, I’m going to mention the pronunciation of Gogh one time so you’re familiar with the sound but for the rest of the lecture, I’ll just pronounce it as ‘go’ ._” Therefore, the “correct” pronunciation is the one that matches the context and audience. If you pronounce it the Dutch native way, you’ll end up looking like a pompous ass if you’re standing on American soil. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/30 "2011-05-27T12:04:00Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > > Because in American English, a gh at the end of a word is _ **usually** _ silent. > > As in “enough” ? (Emphasis mine) No, more like “though,” or “dough.” [This might help you out](http://grammar.about.com/od/pq/g/qualifierterm.htm) . **Ruminator** : Well said! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/31 "2011-05-27T16:04:01Z")
I had a Belgian art teacher (in the US) who pronounced it to rhyme with “dog,” but half of what he said was incomprehensible anyway. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/32 "2011-05-27T16:40:57Z")
> [@Mister\_Cheech](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLTQv8RH1TE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLTQv8RH1TE) Check out post #13 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/33 "2011-05-27T16:53:34Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > …There was an art teacher start the Van Gogh lecture like this, “_Ok everybody, I’m going to mention the pronunciation of Gogh one time so you’re familiar with the sound but for the rest of the lecture, I’ll just pronounce it as ‘go’ ._” I’m an art teacher and you just gave me a good way to deal with this. Thanks! Hmmm, in fact, I think I’ll say “There are a number of ways to pronounce Vince’s last name [quick demonstrations, with pause for chuckling after I ‘hock a lugie’ with the northern Dutch version], and if anyone wants, I’ll send them a link to a very thorough discussion from a little Message Board i’m fond of…” ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/34 "2011-05-27T17:11:14Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > That gave rise to a line in _Manhattan_. Diane Keaton makes some reference to Van Khawkh, and Woody Allen just looks at her in disbelief, saying “Van _Khawkh_?” > > The ironic thing is that Van Gogh himself came from Brabant, a southern part of Holland where the dialect doesn’t use the sound for /g/. > > At one time, the site [www.vangoghgallery.com](http://www.vangoghgallery.com) said: “it is quite likely that most Dutchmen pronounce his name incorrectly if we take his own pronunciation as a benchmark.” But that interesting factoid isn’t up on the site anymore. Trust me, most if not all dutchmen know how to pronounce his name correctly (as it is done in the QI clip). Given that there is a whole bunch of regional accents in the Netherlands, which are well known among the Dutch, the pronounciation of his name might sound slightly different depending on where you are. You might be right that most dutchmen (who don’t live in Brabant) will pronounce it a bit ‘harder’ then Van Gogh did himself, but that doesn’t mean we can’t. If I wanted to I could start talking in an accent from Brabant, or the east, north, Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem, Rotterdam, Groningen, Friesland and the pronounciation of ‘Van Gogh’ will be slightly different each time. PLease note that I would never be able to ‘fake it’ in any of these accents for any length of time, but I would certainly be able to do so for a few words. Just like any native American could do the same for a Boston, New York, Southern or Canadian accent. Just because you don’t adopt a Bostonian accent every time you mention JFK, doesn’t mean you are pronouncing it incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/35 "2011-05-28T20:29:50Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > {snip}Likewise, what’s the “right” pronunciation for Mexico? Is it “MECKS-ee-koh” which everybody (including the most highly educated diplomats and newscasters) in the USA pronounce it, or is it the Spanish “may-HEE-koh”?{snip} Begging your pardon for the minor hijack…the Spanish pronunciation of “México” is MEH-hee-coh. Pray carry on.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/36 "2011-05-28T20:47:25Z")
The correct way is whatever way the majority of your listeners will understand you. So Van Go in the US, Van Gof/Goch in the UK. I hear Goch just as often as Goff in the UK - it’s the same sound as at the end of loch, so it’s not exactly an unfamiliar sound. > [@sjc](#): > > I don’t think the British ‘van gauf’ pronunciation is that much better than the American. I think it gets the vowel better than standard American, but it doesn’t do a good job with either of the consonants (which should be the same sound). The initial consonant is the same in both dialects (at least more or less) but the final consonant ‘f’ in British is misapplied because it’s pronounced in the front of the mouth while ‘x’ (ipa) is pronounce in the back of the mouth. The American version isn’t much better, but at least the final sound is pronounced in the back of the mouth. > > An equivalent shift in sounds using stop consonants rather than fricatives would be pronouncing the word ‘dock’ as ‘dot’. > > I’m not arguing for the superiority of the American pronunciation, but I think the British has a similar level of mismatch with the original dutch. What? The American version ends in a vowel. > [@Toucanna](#): > > Begging your pardon for the minor hijack…the Spanish pronunciation of “México” is MEH-hee-coh. Pray carry on.🆒 Yes, for Mexican Spanish, which is the most relevant, but Spanish Spanish (as in the country called Spain) pronounces it Meksiko. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/37 "2011-05-28T23:36:28Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > What’s the right way? The right way is always however the person with the name prefers. This is true of any name. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/38 "2011-05-29T01:14:39Z")
Wait until you hear how Americans pronounce _Gouda._ ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/39 "2011-05-29T08:41:11Z")
I once met a member of Van Gogh’s family. He is an accountant, living in Sydney, and still has the surname himself. He pronounces it “Van Goff” (in the Commonwealth way of pronouncing short o sounds, not the American “aw” way. I figure if it’s good enough for the family, it’s good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366/40 "2011-05-29T13:46:10Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Wait until you hear how Americans pronounce _Gouda._ That’s 'cause it’s no damned Gooda! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-gogh-as-in-the-one-eared-painter/583366.md?page=3)