A Man Called Ove - pronunciation query

[5foot5]

I have almost finished this. In my head I have been pronouncing Ove to rhyme with clove, cove or rove.

However, I just happened to mention the book to DH and he said "Oh isn't it pronounced Oh-vay"

So I just wondered whether any of you wise mumsnetters who maybe knew about Swedish names or had heard the book discussed anywhere had some insight as to which is the correct way to pronounce his name?

[PetuliaBlavatsky]

It's kind of like your DH said, but I would say more oh-Vuh than oh-veh. I am purely basing that on the film of the book though (it's in Swedish but subtitled).
Highly recommend both the book and the film!

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I assumed Oh-veh too, I don't know much scandinavian, but I was rhyming it with 'krone'.

[PhilODox]

I have said it more like "oo- ver" but with little stress on the "oo".

[anomoony]

oo-vuh where the oo is the same as in the word fool, but it sort of depends on which part of Sweden you're from.

[5foot5]

I am purely basing that on the film of the book though (it's in Swedish but subtitled).
Highly recommend both the book and the film!

There's a film? Oh my days thank you for mentioning that.

[PetuliaBlavatsky]

Yes, it's fantastic. I loved the book and the film actually lived up to it which doesn't often happen.

[Reccy2018]

I say Ove like Clove too

[purpleunicorns]

I pronounced it Ove as in Clove too. Fantastic book, I'll have to try and find the film

[Portulaca]

I pronounced it Oo-ver, to rhyme with hoover

[BikeRunSki]

The film is free on Amazon Prime.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The film is free on Amazon Prime. Is it really? Thanks for that Bike. I think you've just sorted my entertainment for tomorrow night

[BikeRunSki]

Amazon Prime video download I mean. They are not ervdibg out the dvd for free!!

[Optimist1]

My Swedish friend pronounces it er-ver (rhymes with fervour).

[ButDoYouAvocado]

On audible they pronounce it oo-ver

[banivani]

You won’t be able to get it right as English speakers, but something like Oh-vuh is close. You start with a long o like the o in hoover (it’s a slightly different sound I think but it’s too early for phonetics babes), then a straightforward v and then the e is the same as the initial e of effervescent. Short and sweet!

[banivani]

Credentials: born in Sweden, live in Sweden, have always lived in Sweden etc.

[AppleReader]

My friend who read the book pronounces it "Oo-Vuh." I guess with all these replies, only the author really knows. Regional accents and all that.

[PlanetJam]

I don’t know about the pronunciation but I love that book!

[banivani]

Regional accents - if you pronounce it in the author's home accent it might be different since the O can be a diphtong then. Maybe. Depending on the particular area you're from I think. Otherwise in all other Swedish accents the difference will be tonal really and for English-speakers the tone is hard to pick up. It's pretty much the same all over Sweden on the whole. Ooo-vuh is close enough, making sure the uh bit is like the first e in effervescent is better. One has to make allowances for foreigners ;)

[5foot5]

OK, my DVD of the film arrived yesterday. Viewing for the weekend...

[PetuliaBlavatsky]

I hope you enjoy it 5foot5!