Markovich wrote on 10/07/08 at 13:01:51:
MNb wrote on 10/07/08 at 10:43:33:
The big problem for foreigners is always to pronounce the sch. Dutch people also perfectly understand you if you pronounce this as sch from the English word SCHool. Some less literate people even write Skeveningen.
In English Skayveningen (the two e's like the e in English her) approximates best. I'll think of a French equivalent.
a) Like the "e" in "her," really? Or like the "e" in "led?"
b) And the "g" is hard, I take it? As in "get?"
c) Also is the "v" like an English "v" or like one of those German ones?
a) The first, but don't stress the syllables. The stress is on "Sche".
b) Doesn't make much difference in Dutch. The sound of "get" ("garcon") or "keg", it's almost the same.
c) Doesn't make much difference either. The "v" and "f", the "b" and "p" and the "s" and "z" sound about the same. I mean, from the context we usually know if "baard" (beard) or "paard" (horse) is meant.
I have found a few equivalents in French.
"Sche" pronounce like Ske or Sge (Sjke and Sjke sound particular, though we still will understand you) with the e from "etui" (which is also a Dutch word).
ve and nen pronounce like the last syllable of quatre, onze etcetera.
The French might prefer the spelling Skév'ning'n.
For "Gro" foreigners should prefer the soft consonant of garcon, girl indeed. The fanatics may try to growl like a dog and apply the resulting sound.