As we bravely go forth into French automotive culture, we do so with great respect but equally great lack of knowledge of the French language.
Years ago, Automobile Quarterly did the car enthusiast a great service by publishing an article which listed many of the most difficult foreign words associated with the automobile, and beside each the English, phonetic pronunciation. The article was entitled, “Only Chickens Live in Coupes”, and was published in Volume 18-1, the first quarter of 1980.
We have, with permission of Automobile Quarterly, taken the French words from the article and reprinted them below. Also, our new contributor, Philippe Defechereux, has updated and greatly expanded the list. Most of these words, names and or places will become increasingly familiar to readers of VeloceToday. The AQ pronunciation guide is as helpful today as it was some 28 years ago, but try these on a French friend before a Parisian waiter!
Barquette
bar-kette
Beltoise, Jean-Pierre
jzan-Pierre bell-twahze
Behra, Jean
jzean bear-rah
Benoist, Robert
row-bear ben-wah
Berliet
bear-lee-ay
Berlinette
bear-lynn-ette
Boillot, George
Jzorje bwa-lo
Bolide
bo-leed
Cahier, Bernard
Bear-nar cah-yeh
Carrossier
Kar-ross-yeh
Carrosserie
Kar-ross-uh-ree
Cévert, François
fran-swa seh-vayr
Chenard et Walcker
shen-ar-ay walker
Chiron, Louis
lew-ee sheer-on
Cibie
cee-bee-ay
Citroën
ce-tro-en
Coupé
coop-eh
Cugnot
kewn-yo
Darracq
dar-rack (accent on first syllable)
De Dion Bouton
de-dee-own boo tone
Delage
de-laj (accent on first syllable)
Delahaye
del-a-aye (slight whisper of the h)
Depailler, Patrick
patrick duh-pa-yeh
Etancelin, Philippe
fill-eep eh-tahn-slan
Fournier, Henry
on-ree foor-gnay
Frère, Paul
Paul fray-r
Gatsonides, Maurice
gat-sohn-ee-dees
Gendebien, Olivier
oliv-yeh gzan-duh-bee-en
Grégoire
gray-gwar
Habitacle ("cockpit")
ah-bee-tackl (stress on first syllable)
Landaulet
lawn-doe-lay
Landaulette
lawn-doe-let
Le Mans
le-mawn (barely pronounce the n)
Levegh, Pierre
pierre luh-vayg
Magny Cours circuit
seer-kwi duh magny-koor
Molsheim (German)
mole-sime
Montlhéry circuit
seer-kwi duh moan-le-ree
Mulhouse (French)
mull-ooze
Panhard et Levassor
pon-ahr eh le-vass-or
Pau circuit
seer-kwi duh po
Paul Ricard circuit
seer-kwi duh Paul-ri-kar
Peugeot
pe-joe (very soft j)
Pironi, Didier
dee-dyeh pee-ro-nee
Prost, Alain
Al-ayn Prost
Reims circuit
seer-kwi duh R
Renault
re-no
Rosier, Louis
lew-ee rooz-yeh
Saoutchik
sow-chick
Schlesser, Jo
jo shlay-sayr
Sizaire et Naudin
seas-air ay no-dan
Sommer, Raymond
raymond som-ayr
Talbot-Lago
tal-bo lahgo
Todt, Jean
jzan tot
Traction-Avant ("FWD")
trak-sion a-van
Trintignant, Maurice
moh-riss tren-tee-gnan
Villeneuve, Gilles
jyll ville-nuh-v
Vitesse ("speed")
vee-tess
Voisin
vwa-zan
Voiture
vwa-teur
Voiturette
vwa-teur-et
Wimille, Jean-Pierre
jzan-pierre wee-mill
