How do you pronounce this name?

Question

MAISONNEUVE

Answer 1

Don't lilke to rain on anybody's parade but the 2 answers above are far off the mark.

Maisonneuve:

MAY ZON EUVE
emphasis is on the last syllable
don't break out the final "e" as a separate sound

That last syllable is difficult for English speakers because there's absolutely no equivalent sound for the French "eu" vowel combination. Do you know the French words "eux" (them), "neveu" (nephew), "feu" (fire), "aveugle" (blind)? Or the identical sound in the French words "voeux" (wishes) and "oeuvre" (work)?

If you can find a French speaker to sound any one of these words, you'll never forget how "eu" comes out. Perhaps, also, you might know a classical musician who'd refer to the "oeuvre" of a particular composer, with the correct pronunciation.

Alternately, if you know phonetics, the dictionnaire Robert presents the "eu" sound as an "o" with a forward slash through it.

Probably the most famous bearer of the name in north America was Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve, who in 1642 founded the first permanent settlement that later became the city of Montreal, Quebec.

Hope this helps. Sorry there's no way to transmit the sound of "eu" through yahoo answers!

PS nope, nobody's got it yet. There's no "ff" at the end and the "v" is a hard "v." And it doesn't rhyme with suave. Go for the elusive "eu"!

Answer 2

May Son Uave(rhymes w/ Suave)

Answer 3

say men without the n =me
forget the i
pronounce son with a z =zon
pronounce neuve = nuff

me' zon nuff

Answer 4

I think this is how..

"May" "sun" "oo-vay" so like... Maysunoovay

but when u say it kinda connect the N and O, like.. Maysu-noovay

=]

Answer 5

May sohn new-ff