Aibu about how to pronounce loch

[Lime19]

Me and dh are having a disagreement about how to pronounce "loch" as in Loch Ness!

He goes all Scottish on that word and it sounds weird. It's like the ch sound in "Bach". He is a quarter Scottish but born and raised in Surrey!

I say it like "lock" because I'm English just like he is! I wouldn't say Paris or chorizo with a foreign accent.

This is light hearted but I'm right aren't I?

Is it "lock" or "loch with the ch bach sound"?

francis I'm with greatfuckability on the bark thing. To me bark = bahhk. Exactly the same sound. Unfortunately it seems, this is still the wrong way to pronounce Bach. (But I have to say, the only way I've ever heard it pronounced).

I think the best help anyone's given on this thread is the comparison to Rioja. Though I still probably pronounce that closer to Ri-ock-A, I can definitely imagine a more throaty pronunciation by someone better than me!

Menzies is another one to throw into the mix - traditionally it's not Men-zees.

Live close to Milngavie and tourists get it wrong all the way. You'd think if you were walking the west highland way you'd know where you're starting it. Similarly Strathaven. And Weymss Bay.

I think the place names are unfair, if you've come never heard them said, there's no way to know how to, they don't follow normal rules.

I think the place names are unfair, if you've come never heard them said, there's no way to know how to, they don't follow normal rules

Totally, and it's not just in Scotland. There are plenty of Cornish ones to trip people up eg Mousehole and Fowey. And even English ones like Teignmouth.

Leicester and Gloucester are confusing for foreigners, too.

And how about Strachan? How's that pronounced??

Or Garioch?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_velar_fricative
A sound used in many languages over the world.

I despise the willful mispronunciation of loch by the English. I had to change my horse's name because of it when we moved down here. And I am, mostly, English. Grrr.

I am Scottish and sometimes when English people try to say 'loch' with a big Scottish CH sound, it really makes me cringe. It always sounds a bit unnatural to me.

Obviously I pronounce it with a proper ch, but I don't think it's that bad if an English person doesn't.

Bach and Loch both have the same "k" sound to me.

super out of interest how would you pronounce 'lough' ? As in Lough Neagh or Lough Erne, not Loughborough or Brian Clough.

How do English people learn German or Spanish if pronouncing loch properly is so hard?

English living in Scotland and I cannot for the life of me get the -ch right, I just sound like Russ Abbot doing a very fake and overexaggerated taking he piss accent

I can however say Findochty!

We've a few place names up this way which confuse the tourists, Findochty is one, along with Craigellachie, Rothes and Alves. We also have a street which is called Cockburn Street and even people who actually live on the street call it Cock-burn. Amusement on a daily basis :D

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I can however say Findochty!

Um, right I know that's finechty not findochty... but is that not a ch still in the middle?

How about Culzean?

Culain.

Kull-ain. Not Cool-ain.

Ayrshire born and bred.

Re Findochty - yes that's it, but it's not at the end, that is where I struggle I think.

I am Scottish and sometimes when English people try to say 'loch' with a big Scottish CH sound, it really makes me cringe. It always sounds a bit unnatural to me.

This!

Scottishchick39 you must be very near me.
The Hairy Bikers did a show up here a few years ago and they pronounced Craigellachie Craigy-Lackey... I am not sure if they were being ironic though as I know Dave biker used to in fact live up this way (Huntly I think?)

We say Lock Ness

FoofFighter, I saw them doing that show at the Plainstones, think it was the most exciting thing to happen here in years haha!

I'm from a wee village that only locals can pronounce and most people think it's Welsh.

My DH says "lock" and he's from Glasgow - I say "loch" properly as I'm from the NE so you're never going to get everyone pronouncing it correctly. the same way.

Love Scottish place name pronunciation though - went to a pub quiz once where you had to spell the place which the Quizmaster said - a whole lot of head scratching!

They went into the pub I worked in so that's something at least - although it was my day off typically :( hmmm welsh sounding village, I can't think.. mind you I have only been here since 05