HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Well the IWC pic forum has been absolutely torturous these last couple days, and I couldn't take it anymore so I ordered the new Ingenieur. So I figure I now need to know how to properly pronounce "Ingenieur". Who can anyone provide a pronunciation key for a native English speaker? My first guess is "IN - GEN - EE - OOER" but what do I know? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think we have to pronounce like the german : In like "incoming", Ge like "get", and neyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think we have to pronounce like the german : In like "incoming", Ge like "get", and neyer. Hrmm. So you think it's "IN - GE - NIE - ER" ? Is that correct? I think I'll just say "engineer" for now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 So I figure I now need to know how to properly pronounce "Ingenieur". Who can anyone provide a pronunciation key for a native English speaker? An Jen Year. It's French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 With that spelling, it looks French to me, so the gen part would be more like a "zse" sound (as in Zsa Zsa Gabor) ? Kind of like, In - Zse - Noo - Or Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Hrmm. So you think it's "IN - GE - NIE - ER" ? Is that correct? I think I'll just say "engineer" for now.... Well, take a look : http://www.chronometrie.com/watchsounds/watchsoundspage.htm IWC sounds german ! So i guess, it's the same for his model like Ingenieur. But Ingenieur is a french word... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWR Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 chronus and pugwash are both right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 But Ingenieur is a french word... Think about it, they're made in Switzerland, a country with more than one language. It's pronounced in French. An Jen Year. If you read those three words and don't try to be clever about it, you'll pronounce it as well as an English speaker can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think IWC is German. Why would a German company use a French pronunciation for a watch which has an AMG version (after the German automobile)? I'm thinking the French pronunciation isn't what's intended. And besides I have a little aversion to most or all things French, so I'll go with the German version anyhow. Now I wonder if the "EU" in ingenieur is pronounced like the "EU" in Deutsch? In which case this becomes even harder (for me) to figure out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think IWC is German. Why would a German company use a French pronunciation for a watch which has an AMG version (after the German automobile)? I'm thinking the French pronunciation isn't what's intended. And besides I have a little aversion to most or all things French, so I'll go with the German version anyhow. Now I wonder if the "EU" in ingenieur is pronounced like the "EU" in Deutsch? In which case this becomes even harder (for me) to figure out. Hrmm, Schaffhausen *IS* in Switzerland... It sounds soooo German to me. Hrmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think IWC is German. Why would a German company use a French pronunciation for a watch which has an AMG version (after the German automobile)? I'm thinking the French pronunciation isn't what's intended. And besides I have a little aversion to most or all things French, so I'll go with the German version anyhow. Now I wonder if the "EU" in ingenieur is pronounced like the "EU" in Deutsch? In which case this becomes even harder (for me) to figure out. Think to "Heuer" or "Heute". But now i don't know IWC -> german prononciation Ingenieur -> French word but German prononciation ? Doesn't sound logic to me... Check it out : http://www.chronometrie.com/watchsounds/watchsoundspage.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Think to "Heuer" or "Heute". But now i don't know IWC -> german prononciation Ingenieur -> French word but German prononciation ? Doesn't sound logic to me... Check it out : http://www.chronometrie.com/watchsounds/watchsoundspage.htm Ingenieur is apparently also a Danish word. I don't know if the actual etymology is French or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Ingenieur is apparently also a Danish word. I don't know if the actual etymology is French or not. Ok, I'll try this again. You appear to have been mistaken: I wasn't suggesting a possible way of pronouncing the word. I was telling you how to pronounce Ingenieur. If you want to pronounce it any way you like, feel free. I'll be over here pronouncing it correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I think IWC is German. Why would a German company use a French pronunciation for a watch which has an AMG version (after the German automobile)? I'm thinking the French pronunciation isn't what's intended. And besides I have a little aversion to most or all things French, so I'll go with the German version anyhow. You wouldn't be American perchance? Would you like some freedom fries? Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Hrmm, Schaffhausen *IS* in Switzerland... It sounds soooo German to me. Hrmmm. You do realise they speak both French and German in Switzerland, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Ok, I'll try this again. You appear to have been mistaken: I wasn't suggesting a possible way of pronouncing the word. I was telling you how to pronounce Ingenieur. From what I've found so far, you seem to be assuming the French pronunciation is universal. Yet I can't find anything to suggest ingenieur is a native French word nor that the French pronunciation would be used anywhere outside France (or French speaking areas). Ingenieur is also a German word, and having just translated the German wikipedia page I found this information about the word's origin : From latin gignere “bring” and/or ingenium “invention out, sense of sharp, munition”, then to the Italian ingegnere “master of building of wars”. Later finally generally transfer to terms like “masters of building of ships” and to “technicians”. Given what we do know for sure about IWC's locale, it would seem most intuitive that the intended pronunciation would be Swiss-German, wouldn't it? References (Google English translations of GERMAN wikipedia pages): Link 1 Link 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 You wouldn't be American perchance? Would you like some freedom fries? Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... Sure, a Big Mac and some freedom fries to go, please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 You do realise they speak both French and German in Switzerland, right? I don't know, but it seems logical. Still one has to wonder why they'd make an AMG version (associated with epic GERMAN engineering) of a watch called "engineer" if it were a French thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshot Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Pug is right IWC was founded by an American, duh! But the Ingenieur was designed by a Frenchman and the direct translation is from the French for engineer: http://www.frizzellweb.com/larry/ingenieur/ The AMG/IWC connection is about money and nothing else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Pug is right IWC was founded by an American, duh! But the Ingenieur was designed by a Frenchman and the direct translation is from the French for engineer: http://www.frizzellweb.com/larry/ingenieur/ The AMG/IWC connection is about money and nothing else An Jen Year it is then!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sql_pl Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 Yes, IWC was actually founded by an american F.A Jones. He moved to Switzerland... that's how we got "International Watch Co"... Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted October 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 Yes, IWC was actually founded by an american F.A Jones. He moved to Switzerland... that's how we got "International Watch Co"... Cheers! Ahhh, even better!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 I am glad that not only do I learn about watches when I frequent this board, I also get a lesson in history and a linguistics course at that. RWG rules!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TTK Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 The correct pronunciation is An jen ear....almost the same as 'ingenue'.....An jen oo....it's French.....IWC is Swiss founded by an American...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r11co Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 IWC is Swiss founded by an American...! All of a sudden I've gone off IWC.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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