How do you say "Otto"

Fat Guy · January 13, 2003

How is Otto pronounced? At first I thought just like the name Otto would be pronounced in English were it a person's name. Then I noticed that a few knowledgeable people were saying it "OH-to." Then I remembered the infamous risotto pronunciation thread, where I was guaranteed that no word ending in "otto" would ever be pronounced with a long "o" sound on the first "o." So which is it? "AH-to" or "OH-to" or something else?

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

The word "otto" in Italian is not pronounced in any manner that would rhyme with top or hot. That is the English pronunciation. The Italian pronunciation is with a long "o", as would rhyme with hoe.

macrosan · January 14, 2003

The word "otto" in Italian is not pronounced in any manner that would rhyme with top or hot. That is the English pronunciation. The Italian pronunciation is with a long "o", as would rhyme with hoe.

Nope :biggrin: Of course, we have to allow for Italian regional dialect, but I know of no region of Italy which pronounces it as you describe. But then, we did have the same disagreement over risotto so I guess we're both being consistent :laugh:

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

The word "otto" in Italian is not pronounced in any manner that would rhyme with top or hot. That is the English pronunciation. The Italian pronunciation is with a long "o", as would rhyme with hoe.
Nope Of course, we have to allow for Italian regional dialect, but I know of no region of Italy which pronounces it as you describe. But then, we did have the same disagreement over risotto so I guess we're both being consistent

There must be a scientific way of settling this matter.

Perhaps two weeks in Italy? :wink:

tommy · January 14, 2003

i think i'll call the place and see how *they* pronounce it, as it doesn't really matter how ron, macrosan, or someone from a small village in tuscany might. :wink:

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

i think i'll call the place and see how *they* pronounce it, as it doesn't really matter how ron, macrosan, or someone from a small village in tuscany might.

what if *they* all pronounce it differently? :blink:

tommy · January 14, 2003

i think i'll call the place and see how *they* pronounce it, as it doesn't really matter how ron, macrosan, or someone from a small village in tuscany might.
what if *they* all pronounce it differently?

they run a tight ship. i'd assume that the management has instructed all of those who answer the phone on how to pronounce the name of the restaurant. :smile:

Edited January 15, 2003 by tommy (log)

La Niña · January 14, 2003

macrosan is right. But both o's on Otto are not identical to each other in pronounciation. The first one is a bit shorter. Who wants to dig up the risotto pronounciation thread?

Edited January 14, 2003 by La Niña (log)

macrosan · January 14, 2003

Tommy, you keep out of this !!!

Ron has exactly the right approach to this, and I think that visit to Italy is not only an excellent suggestion, but may even be tax-deductible. I also heard a rumor that eGullet has a contingency fund for exactly this type of vital research. I am available any time after March, Ron.

Hmmm, how do you pronounce that ? Is it Ron as in hoe or Ron as in Ron ? :laugh:

yvonne johnson · January 14, 2003

macrosan is right. But both o's on Otto are not identical to each other in pronounciation. The first one is a bit shorter. Who wants to dig up the risotto pronounciation thread?

Not pronunciation again.

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

(Fat Guy sorry he brung it up)

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

macrosan is right. But both o's on Otto are not identical to each other in pronounciation. The first one is a bit shorter. Who wants to dig up the risotto pronounciation thread?
Not pronunciation again.

Being wrong never stopped her. :shock:

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

Careful, Ron. Bad boy. Next gratuitous personal comment, from anybody, will get deleted and flogging will ensue. As you know we are very harsh censors around here. We live for the delete button. Go ahead, make my day.

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

Smilies denote joking.

I was under the impression that my disagreement with Nina and Macrosan, which has been ongoing since the risotto thread, was all in good fun.

(e.g. Macrosan and I are not really going to ask eGullet for money to go to Italy to decide the correct pronunciation.)

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

La Niña · January 14, 2003

Kill me for a misspelling why don'tcha?

I'm still right about the pronunciation though. Where the hell is that risotto thread?

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

We're talking about the Risotteria thread, right?

And actually, I'm the one who's right. Not that I've taken a position on Otto. But when I do, it will be right and all others will be wrong.

Suzanne F · January 14, 2003

Yes, Master.

Wilfrid · January 14, 2003

This being New York, I'll bet whoever answers the phone drops an inappropriate glottlestop on the double 't'.

Edited January 14, 2003 by Wilfrid (log)

Liza · January 14, 2003

Inappropriate Glottlestop :wub:

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

Um, glottal stop.

La Niña · January 14, 2003

Okay, here's what I said about the second and third syllables of risotto:

"The second and third syllables do not rhyme with "no" - it's a softer o, and we don't have it in English. The second and third syllables also do not rhyme exactly with each other - the third syllable has a slightly longer vowel. The the two t's are not pronounced like a d. It's a soft t - again, we don't have it in English."

Same applies for the two syllables of Otto.

Edited January 14, 2003 by La Niña (log)

Ron Johnson · January 14, 2003

Also known as the "G stop".

Wilfrid · January 14, 2003

Um, glottal stop.

Fair enough. At least I can pronounce it without one.

Fat Guy · January 14, 2003

I've just learned that the correct pronunciation of Otto is:

!Otto

Similar to how the !Kung people would pronounce the word. A click followed by "t . . . toh."

Sign In

How do you say "Otto"

Recommended Posts

Similar Content

Recently Browsing 0 members