Club 80-90 Forums

I had our Austrian friend on the phone late yesterday and just by chance I was looking at Steyr Puch logos and badges (research, honest!) and when mentioned this, his reaction was "What? I don't recognise that name. Say again?"

My Anglicised Germanic pronunciation of "shTAY-air Pooch" was completely alien to his ears and so I said "You know, the manufacturers of the Haflinger that you did your national service in" then he exclaims:

"Ahh! You really must improve your pronunciation, or no-one will know what you are talking about when on the continent and talking to other enthusiasts"

Several minutes of Language-Lab comedy ensued (ja, ja, alles klar, Herr Professor etc)

The correct pronunciation, according to a native Ober Osterreicher is:

"schtEYEgrrAIRre (phlegmy rolling of the R's, even though there's only one) POOghh (soft breathy ch, similar to the German for book: Buch"

So now you know

Generally try to avoid saying it!
And how are we saying Haflinger & Pinzgauzer or what ever its called?

Haflinger & Pinzgauer are easy.

Steyr Puch is a bit of Mundfitness.

Really? We would never put a z and g together!

Pronounce it as Pinssgower - pins as in more than one pin, draw out the s and harden it so that it's a bit zeddy and then Gower as in the Gower halbinsel.

Haflinger is pronounced more like Haff-linger (like northern-speak for half, hard G, linger as in hang about)

It's a public service, don't you know!

Haha
I knew the puch sound, yup Poogh is the nearest you can get I think with a flemmy ch ending. Thats flemmy not Flemish. We'll compare when we meet... ?