2006-10-24 06:44:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
Häagen-Dazs is an American brand of ice cream, established by Reuben Mattus in The Bronx, New York in 1961.
Contrary to common belief, the name is not European; it is simply two made-up words meant to look European to American eyes. This is known in the marketing industry as foreign branding. Mattus included an outline of Denmark on early labels to reinforce the Scandinavian theme. (Ironically, although Häagen-Dazs operates in 54 countries around the world, none of the company's 700 stores is in any Scandinavian country.) Mattus was, however, a European immigrant to the US, originally coming from Poland.
The playful spelling devices in the name invoke the spelling systems used in several European countries. "ä" (an Umlaut) is used in the spelling of German, Finnish, Slovak and Swedish language, doubled vowel letters spell long vowels in Finnish, Dutch, and occasionally German; and zs corresponds to /ʒ/ (as in vision) in Hungarian. None of these spelling conventions is used in pronouncing the name of the American product, which has a short a, hard g, and a final s sound. The closest real name to the fake Häagen is the Danish or Norwegian Haagen or Hågen; Dazs is a possible word in Hungarian due to the "zs" grapheme, but does not resemble any real name.
2006-10-24 06:49:20 · answer #1 · answered by my_belovd 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to common belief, the name is not European; it is simply two made-up words meant to look European to American eyes. This is known in the marketing industry as foreign branding (see also Heavy metal umlaut). Mattus included an outline of Denmark on early labels to reinforce the Scandinavian theme. (Ironically, although Häagen-Dazs operates in 54 countries around the world, none of the company's 700 stores is in any Scandinavian country.) Mattus was, however, a European immigrant to the US, originally coming from Poland.
The playful spelling devices in the name invoke the spelling systems used in several European countries. "ä" (an Umlaut) is used in the spelling of German, Finnish, Slovak and Swedish language, doubled vowel letters spell long vowels in Finnish, Dutch, and occasionally German; and zs corresponds to /Ê/ (as in vision) in Hungarian. None of these spelling conventions is used in pronouncing the name of the American product, which has a short a, hard g, and a final s sound. The closest real name to the fake Häagen is the Danish or Norwegian Haagen or HÃ¥gen; Dazs is a possible word in Hungarian due to the "zs" grapheme, but does not resemble any real name.
2006-10-24 13:52:10 · answer #2 · answered by l l 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't mean a thing !!
It's made up by a man from The Bronx, N.Y.C.
He made it sound more exclusive, for a better sale.
That's all
2006-10-24 13:49:37 · answer #3 · answered by artvds2708 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nothing...I saw it in the food channel, they made up the name to sound European...sad state of affairs huh???
2006-10-24 13:52:31 · answer #4 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the above answers say that it means nothing, I have come up with my own definition:
Creamy, sinful, absolutely heavenly, stick-to-your-thighs-like molasses dessert!
2006-10-24 14:23:08 · answer #5 · answered by manatee lover 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't think it has any particular meaning.
2006-10-24 13:54:01 · answer #6 · answered by thewordofgodisjesus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I JUST WATCHED THE SHOW ABOUT HTEM. IT MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. IT IS MADE UP!!
2006-10-24 13:52:59 · answer #7 · answered by sammi girls mom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋