1990-964

Hey all,

So here goes. I know this has been discussed in the past and Adrian made a very good case for Porsch. I am curious though because a buddy of mine and fellow p Car guy just came back from Germany and did some inquiry into this and got back unanimous response to Porsha. Does anyone know for sure how the family and company name is truly pronounced?

Newbium

jimq

It depends

MisterRisky

Let the argument re-commence!

Edgy01

Perhaps you can just ask Peter Por-she

andrew911

I always called it "poorsh"- that's what most people in the US were calling the cars when I was growing up and it stuck with me. I beleive the correct pronounciation is "poor- sha", but in 20 years of porsche ownership I have never pronounced it that way, and I always felt to pronounce it what is actually the correct way, or to correct people who say "poorsh" would sound very snobbish- that's just my feeling based on nothing much really. It just sounds more snobbish to say it with two syllables if that makes any sense (which it of course doesn't)

DarrylH

The letter "e" in German is always pronounced. But it's very lightly stressed when it happens at the end of a word. So "strasse" would have two syllables, but the "e" is barely heard. Same with Porsche. The biggest problem I hear with our North American pronunciation is the excessive stress given to the second syllable, almost to the same degree as the first. That's too much. Just very lightly pronounce the "e" and you'll be good.

The sound of "e" in German is almost like a cross between the long "a" and the short "e" in English. Not so much like "uhh" or "ahh" as many seem to do.

Computamedic

To the best of my knowledge - and the memory of my schoolboy German - the German language has no concept of "silent" letters. If the letter is there, come hell or high water, the Germans will say it!! By that reckoning a German will pronounce it "porsha".

However, how the rest of the World might choose to pronounce it has very little to do with German pronunciation rules. Hey, Americans and English can't agree on how to pronounce our own language - what right have we to insist on using the "proper" German way to pronounce Porsche.

Personally, I tend to use both - dependent on the company I am with. Most people will pronounce the word the way it would seem right in their own language - and in English the last "e" would be silent and to pronounce it as "Porsha" in a general setting would seem to be, as stated above, a little snobbish. In a Porsche environment, however - be it club, dealer, garage etc. - I would be inclined to say it in what I believe to be the "proper" way - as the Germans do.

There - I'm sitting firmly on the fence!!!

Regards

Dave

ilko

I pronounce it "Porsch-DUH!" There are so many topics on the subject already...

TR6

Depends on the circumstances. Right now, I'm pronouncing it "mun-ee pit".

GG Allin

I throw in a little east coast and say "porsher".

Indycam

Porsche rhymes with money ?

cobalt

Well according to the tee shirts given out at the 2007 San Diego Parade it is pronounced Porsch-uh, at least that is what they have printed on the front.

andrew911

This is a great explanation. So the proper way (in German) is more "poorsh-a"
with the "a" sound more soft and quick, almost one and a half-syllable if that makes sense vs. "poorsh..uh" with more of a 2 syllable slant.

cobalt

Maybe so but I spent a good portion of 1984 buying P-cars to bring back for the grey market and depending if I was in Switzerland or Germany they would pronounce it a little different..

In Germany it was more Porsch-uh and in Switzerland I heard a lot of Porsch-E. So as long as it is not Porsch you should be OK.