When listening to BBC Radio 4 this morning I was struck by a discrepancy, in the report of a rather distressing news item from Angers, about the pronunciation of that place-name. The newsreader pronounced its second syllable to rhyme (approximately) with 'air' and the on-the-spot reporter rhymed it (again approximately) with 'gay'. Which of them was right? As a graduate in French at London University I was embarrassed at being uncertain, particularly as I remember having lunch there some years ago while waiting for a train to take me to Sablé-sur-Sarthe. My own money is on the rhyme with 'gay', but I'd like confirmation one way or the other from a native French speaker. While I'm on the topic, is there such a thing as an on-line pronunciation glossary of French place-names? And, also while I'm on the topic, if anyone is kind enough to reply to my query, where am I most likely to find that reply? I'm a newcomer to blogs and chat-lines. Many thanks for your help. William

William, it's neither. It's the same sound as in my name (é), no diphthong and no [r] sound please. See this site, which offers recordings of French sounds (see sound [e]): http://www.languageguide.org/francais/grammar/pronunciation/. It should also help you with the pronunciation of French place names.

Enjoy your exploration of blogs and "chat-lines" ! :-)

How interesting, I too noted the different pronunciations of Angers while listening more than once to this distressing news item - nice to think of us language nerds out there thinking this in unison...

It's very good to think of you so fully employed, Celine. Gives the lie to the increasingly prevalent belief - and, sadly, not just belief but, I think, experience - that life is getting harder and harder for the individual freelancer, with everything being swallowed up by agencies or sent abroad to lower cost countries.

Heard the news again this evening. There was a distinct pause - almost an audible 'er' - before the newsreader pronounced it correctly this time. Teehee.

Angers is pronounced exactly like the reverse of "géant" (French for giant),or as "an" + "j'ai"
Better still, think of the second half of "boulanger." (boul -anger)
Reims is another often mispronounced place name. English people tend to say "Riimz" although it's pronounced in the same way as "rince" (think of "je rince", i.e : I rince)as as in "prince" without the initial "p" consonant.