OK, am I wrong, or are most of the others?

[rolfw]

My teeth have been grating with many of the commentators and pundits over their pronunciation of Kuyt the excellent Liverpool player.

Now as far as I know, the pronunciation is pretty much as it looks, but mainstream broadcasters are saying KOWT and it is really pissing me off as I find it disrespectful, that they can't be bothered to find out how to pronounce it properly.

Any cheeseheads (affectionate not disrespectful) comment on this and give the definitive answer?

 

[Mickha]

According to Five Live, they asked the player and he said his name is pronounced Kowt, but also said he didn't object to commentators who pronounce it Kite, either way he looks a good player.

 

[T_G]

I saw an interview where they asked him about his name, and what he produced was something between a bronchial caugh and the noise my cat used to make when producing a hair ball. He did say though that he does not mind how he is pronounced as long as he plays and scores.

 

[jimbo]

Try this Rolf ....

http://www.soccer-weblog.com/50226711/audio_how_to_pronounce_dirk_kuyt.php

 

[rolfw]

Thanks Jimbo.

Hmm, sounds more like Kowt than Kuyt, probably somewhere in between though

 

[Leee]

Uit as in Uitgang from the Snelweg is pronounced ohwt - a sound I can most liken to oh (öh more literally) with the w and t completing the sound.

So in English, Kowt is closest. More like Koewt or Kuhwt to slightly-change the o sound (if you can form it). Hard for you Island Apes, huh? ;)

 

[T_G]

Uit as in Uitgang from the Snelweg is pronounced ohwt - a sound I can most liken to oh (öh more literally) with the w and t completing the sound.

Another sound my cat used to do...

 

[rolfw]

Uit as in Uitgang from the Snelweg is pronounced ohwt - a sound I can most liken to oh (öh more literally) with the w and t completing the sound.

So in English, Kowt is closest. More like Koewt or Kuhwt to slightly-change the o sound (if you can form it). Hard for you Island Apes, huh? ;)

So is UIT pronounced the same as UYT?

 

[Leee]

practically.
Think of Rev Iain Paisley saying "out" and you're getting close....

 

[rolfw]

OK, so Kowt is wrong then, it is far more subtle than that and the presence of the Y is definitely a factor.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I thought it would be more like the coits (or qoits)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coits

 

[whatsthis]

I just think most commentators are scared of being misheard and it sounding like a female private part. But then ...