That volcano that erupted….

Eyafjallajokull. Apparently Icelanders all over laughed themselves silly over everyone’s failed attempts to actually pronounce this. I think most local newscasters gave up and simply said, “the icelandic volcano”

A few people challenged us to try to say it — especially after we essayed to try ‘good day’ or ‘thanks’ in Icelandic. Obviously, we aren’t native speakers, and anyone hearing our mangled attempts switched immediately to flawless, accent-less English.

Ay-uh-fyat-luh-yokult-luh

The last -luh is more of a swallowed clicky sound. The ‘ll’ in so many Icelandic words is really ‘tl’ — try saying ‘Atlantic’, it’s the first consonant sound there.

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