Pronunciation of Przewalski

[KellyL]

I just discovered that I've been mispronouncing the new horse's name. Apparently it's Shev-ALL-ski (or Zhev-ALL-ski)? The p and r are not pronounced?

 

[DarthQuell]

That's real interesting. I pronounced it Pr-zeh-wal-ski

 

[Doran]

I just discovered that I've been mispronouncing the new horse's name. Apparently it's Shev-ALL-ski (or Zhev-ALL-ski)? The p and r are not pronounced?

P and R should be prononced, because it is polish last name. Every letter should be. Since its hard for foreigners, you can use p-horse or Shev-ALL-ski.

 

[DarthQuell]

Ok, I saw a video that pronounced it: Pshuh-val-ski's horse

 

[Fini]

huh, funny.
I call it Ptschee-VALL-ski

 

[avietar]

In Dutch we say Prez-wal-ski (horse).

Google translate tells me that in Polish it is pronounced 'psje-wal-ski'. Who would have thought.

 

[Markiz]

Is it Polish name tho ?

I just googled it and it says the guy that named the Horse was Russian

Furthermore google has English version of his name as Prjewalsky

 

[Doran]

Is it Polish name tho ?

Yes, this is definitely polish surname. Russification was back then common activity. He has polish origins. Hence polish name of horse (and gazelle too).
No matter which version of his story is true word ,,przewalski,, is from Poland.

 

[jcp011c]

That's real interesting. I pronounced it Pr-zeh-wal-ski

You're definitely not the only one. That's how I pronounced it too. Heck, it took me forever to learn how to spell it. I'm going to continue on pronouncing it incorrect.

 

[Markiz]

Yes, this is definitely polish surname. Russification was back then common activity. He has polish origins. Hence polish name of horse (and gazelle too).
No matter which version of his story is true word ,,przewalski,, is from Poland.

Alright then, it's settled

 

[Spiderhawk]

I had never heard the pronunciation until I watched an episode of Secrets of the Zoo
The keepers often call them Takhi

 

[peafowl]

i say 'sji-walsky'

 

[Vixei]

And in czech its "Převalský kůň", for lot of people unpronounceable. XD

 

[NZFanatic]

I've always pronounced it "Prts-valski".

 

[Sindy]

I pronounce it shev-ALL-ski after watching Secrets of the Zoo and hearing the keepers say it.

 

[markun]

I wouldn’t be opposed to a more general shift to use of the word ‘takhi’. It’s shorter, easier for many to say and reflects the local culture rather than honouring a foreign explorer.

Apparently ‘takhi’ means ‘spirit’ or ‘worthy of worship’ which is another good reason to use it.

 

[DarthQuell]

I wouldn’t be opposed to a more general shift to use of the word ‘takhi’. It’s shorter, easier for many to say and reflects the local culture rather than honouring a foreign explorer.

Apparently ‘takhi’ means ‘spirit’ or ‘worthy of worship’ which is another good reason to use it.

I was literally just reading about this. Takhi makes the horse sound more exotic, but Przewalski's wild horse is more iconic

 

[ElectricMonk]

At my local zoo they just call them Takhi.

 

[Erior]

Takhi horse sounds neat.

 

[sockeyejo]

Huh. I don't think I've ever heard it said out loud. In my head, it's prez-wall-ski but I've got a long list of words I habitually mispronounce as I only know them from reading so it's not that much of a surprise to add another to the list!