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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

They don't know how to pronounce their own brand name...

260 replies

Robstersgirl · 12/03/2017 21:58

Pantene - It's PAN-TEN surely? Not PAN-TEEN as per this glam old ad.
AIBU?
m.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA

OP posts:
EmeraldScorn · 13/03/2017 02:20

A friend of mine pronounces Maybelline as May-bel-line and it really annoys me; I pronounce it as May-bel-lean; Her pronunciation might be right (I don't know?) but it sounds better how I say it (In my opinion).

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus · 13/03/2017 02:22

I apologise to Vanillamanilla, she was quite correct and I was wrong. Every day's a school day!

EmeraldScorn · 13/03/2017 02:25

I meant to add that Dunnes Stores and Primark are two completely different shops but Primark in the 26 counties (South of Ireland) is called Penneys but it's Primark in the North of Ireland and up here we pronounce it as Pre-mark not Pry-mark.

Pantene I pronounce as Pan-Ten.

Tartyflette · 13/03/2017 02:26

Er, in French the name Lauren would be pronounced Lorr-on, with the 2nd syllable stressed.
Like Yves St.Laurent.
The designer Ralph Lauren pronounces his Lau-REN.

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus · 13/03/2017 02:36

The designer Ralph Lauren pronounces his Lau-REN.

I googled after I'd posted the first time and found that he doesn't:

www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/fashion/style/news/a45645/how-to-pronounce-ralph-lauren/

Tartyflette · 13/03/2017 02:51

So LORR-en?
Ah, names, eh? Grin He can pronounce it how he likes, after all!
But in French.....

Teapot13 · 13/03/2017 03:52

Ralph Lifshitz was born in the Bronx and changed his name to Lauren at 16. Obviously his name is pronounced however he choses, but no one is silly for not knowing how to pronounce what is essentially a made-up name.

MDFalco · 13/03/2017 04:40

Panteen in Australia too. They don't do French over here, so the accent on the first e means nothing.

Does it actually have an accent on the name?

I remember the Kelly Le Brock ads in Australia, so the product was introduced as Panteen - which, without any accents, is logical.

Tresemme, on the other hand, used some sort of cod French pronunciation, which probably was a tie-in with the jokey way it was promoted.

Andylion · 13/03/2017 05:03

Panteen in Australia too. They don't do French over here, so the accent on the first e means nothing.

"Does it actually have an accent on the name?"

There's no accent on Pantene in Canada. Not even in Quebec. (I just googled it.) It's always been "Panteen".

Andylion · 13/03/2017 05:06

Tresemme, on the other hand, used some sort of cod French pronunciation, which probably was a tie-in with the jokey way it was promoted.

According to wiki:
"It was named after renowned hair care expert Edna Emmé.[1] The brand name is a phonetic translation of "well-loved" in French, (très-aimé)."

All I know is, it gave me a rash. I had bought this great honking bottle of it, too.

Georgiesgirl · 13/03/2017 05:15

My ex-husband, who is not necessarily to be trusted on all things, once told me that there is an advertising trick to pronounce brand names differently to get the ads noticed/ talked about.

CocoLoco87 · 13/03/2017 05:17

I never knew till after he died, how to pronounce David Bowie (I had the David bit right Grin)

Was it bowie to rhyme with now-ee or bowie as in rhymes with know-ee. He introduced himself as bowie rhyming with know-ee on a YouTube clip. Mystery solved! But does that mean his son was called Zowie as in Zoe?

LeeFiora · 13/03/2017 05:40

How about Schöffel? I pronounce it sherfel but that's just a wild guess.

Dumdedumdedum · 13/03/2017 05:45

Yebbut, not sure I understand why the problem is only with the second syllable, as the French don't say Panten, anyway (with the first syllable sounding like a kitchen utensil)? I'm useless at phonetics, so here you go! French Pantene
Apparently, David Bowie didn't know how to pronounce his surname, either, and used different versions according to his mood at the time, I think!

notaflyingmonkey · 13/03/2017 05:46

Why do Americans say 'erbal?

VintagePerfumista · 13/03/2017 06:08

Because silent H was the original pronunciation of most H words derived from Latin. That was the pronunciation still used when the first settlers went over and for some reason, for some words, it hasn't changed to a pronounced H.

FrenchLavender · 13/03/2017 06:25

kiwi I say Locksy - tan but Iam never sure if it's right. Confused

My friend says Locksy- tarnay but I don't think that can be right as there is accent on the e.

toomuchtooold · 13/03/2017 06:28

I didn't know about Cillit Bang but related, what makes me really happy, is that Toilet Duck is Ente in Germany and Canard in France.

SalemSaberhagen · 13/03/2017 06:47

In the episodes of Friends during which Rachel works there (and Ralph stars in it), I'm sure they pronounce it Ralph LoREN.

Mummatron3000 · 13/03/2017 06:54

I saw the tv advert for the Chicco next 2 me last night - chicco was pronounced "keeko" not "cheeko" as I'd always thought!

VintagePerfumista · 13/03/2017 06:57

Toilet Duck is called "Duck" in Italy Grin

seagreengirl · 13/03/2017 07:04

Apparently CEX is pronounced sex Confused

BalloonSlayer · 13/03/2017 07:15

Nestle definitely used to pronounce their name Nessles.

TobleroneBoo · 13/03/2017 07:20

Nutella Angry

pinkblink · 13/03/2017 07:28

There's more than one way to say Nutella?!

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