• Cowbob12@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    3 months ago

    Since we’re on the topic there’s this historical word that I haven’t heard pronounced in English, Alexander the Great had a bunch of generals that were called the Diadochi, I haven’t seen this term pronounced in English, but recently I’ve taken into account the way English speakers pronounce words and I was wondering if the way I’m pronouncing it in English is correct or if I am just wrong.

    I’ve been pronouncing it in an English context as: “Die-a-Dough-key” I’m no linguist so I’m not sure how to write pronunciations sorry if it looks dumb.

    • kronisk @lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      It’s Διάδοχοι so rather Dee-AH-Do-©hee with accent on A, actually more like thee-AH-do-hee but that might sound a bit weird if you don’t have a feel for greek pronounciation. A small tip is that “i” is never pronounced as in “die” in greek but as “ee” (or as in “tin” if short).

      Edit: I know modern greek, not ancient. The χ might have been more like a K (as the end of truck) in ancient times but I’m not sure. My suggestion above would be a lot closer to the correct pronunciation though.

      Dee-AH-doh-kee like in ancient greek is probably what you want to use. Sorry for the confusion.

    • GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      Wikipedia has the phonetic as daɪˈædəkaɪ/ dy-AD-ə-ky.
      Which with their pronunciation guide would come out as Die-Add-A(h)-Ki(te).
      I think.
      I might be wrong (and if I am, I’m sure someone will be along to correct me directly)