The "V" in German is pronounced as an English "F." The "W" in German is pronounced like an English "V." So how do you get wisit from Visit. I have been asking this question for 25 years to no avail.
2006-07-09 00:51:04 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Not entirely correct. The "W" in German is not pronounced as an English "V". Example:
Wasser in German = Water in English. "W" pronounciation is the same.
The "V" in German can be pronounced two ways, either as "F" or as the English "V" (soft f). Example:
"Victor" = "Victor" (identical pronounciation in German and English)
"Vampir" = "Vampire" (identical pronounciation of the V)
"Vater" = "Father" (case where V is pronounced as F).
If a native German speaks English and "vampire" comes out sounding like "wampire", then that's simply a slip of the tounge. I'm a native German speaker and only do the "w" thing when I'm sloppy about my speech/pronounciation.
When Germans pronounce "th" as "s", that too is merely sloppiness. It isn't difficult to properly pronounce the "th" for Germans.
2006-07-09 03:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by scubalady01 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's only a language difference, Germans wonder the same thing about English pronunciation.
2006-07-09 08:14:55 · answer #2 · answered by Mr.Wise 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's some kind of overgeneralization. They expect to have to convert the "v" sound into the "w" sound so they do it sometimes even when they shouldn't.
Another example is when French-speakers pronounce "massage" as "MASS-idge"--they're used to having to pronounce French words differently so again sometimes they overgeneralize.
2006-07-09 07:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are thinking Russian, not German.
2006-07-09 07:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by Not Tellin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You say tomato I say tamato
You say potato I say STFU!
2006-07-09 08:37:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of their accent.
2006-07-09 08:03:32 · answer #6 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋