How do you pronounce NIKON

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<p>I have a friend who is a photographer and also speaks Japanese. It's Nye- (long I, rhymes with rye)</p>

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<p>I'm sorry to be disagreeable, but this simply isn't right. I've studied Japanese for a few years in school now, in addition to spending a semester there, and this is not how it is pronounced. The Nikon Japan website has Nikon written in katakana as Ni-Ko-N. As in "nick" + "on." If it was pronounced Nye-kon it would be written in katakana as Na-I-Ko-N. Japanese is a very consistent language with regards to the pronunciation of the syllables, so much so that there isn't actually a syllable for "nye" in Japanese but rather it is the combination of the syllables "na" and "i" (pronounced like the "ea" in eat) that make a "nye" sound.</p>

<p>you mean 'aluminium' don't you? al - u - min - ee - um<br>

OK I think we have established the correct way to say Nikon, now lets teach the Yanks how to say Porsche. :)</p>

 

<p><em>This all makes me think of how people here in the US look at me when I pronounce IKEA. They have no idea what I'm saying so I translate for them Aikea - - then they know what I'm talking about.<br /> I go through the same with Nikon all the time. :-)</em><br>

I have to confess, I don't understand this attitude <em>at all</em> . What purpose does it serve to make oneself intentionally and repeatedly incomprehensible to the people with whom one communicates? I enjoy demonstrating my superior erudition and savoir-faire as much as the next one, but surely that pleasure has its limits. <br>

If Nikon (and Ikea, based on their advertisements in the US, which use the standard American pronunciation) can happily learn to live with the pronunciation of their brand names preferred by some 300+ million consumers, is it really any skin off your back to do the same? <br>

When in Rome . . . .</p>

<p>"When in Rome . . . ." From what you were saying I think you meant "When in <em>Roma </em> . ."- rolling the <em>R</em> , and with gusto! ;-)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>This reminds me of something that people used to say in Russia when I used to live there in the 1980s-1990s about the spelling and pronunciation oddities of English: "пишется 'Liverpool' а произносится 'Manchester'" ("it's spelled 'Liverpool' but pronounced 'Manchester'").</p>

<p>Actually, Alan, I meant Rome, New York. :-></p>

<p>I say N(eye)kon. <br>

A few months ago I had a phone interview with Sam Abell, and the mentioned the old Nikkormats, pronouncing the "Nik" as in "nick of time." Hadn't heard that one before.</p>

<p>Is this a good time to ask about Nike sportswear?</p>

<p>Well let's not get started about sportswear.......adidas (pronounce are - de - dah)</p>

<p>Kodak</p>

<p>...110 replies to whether it's pronounced "toe-may-toe" or "toe-mah-toe"?</p>

<p>Meanwhile, there are dozens of questions from new photographers on the <a href="../beginner-photography-questions-forum/"><strong>Beginner Photography Forum</strong> </a> waiting for patient, helpful, accurate information. Not to mention a few unanswered and under-answered questions on the Nikon Forum.</p>

<p>Last one to leave this party, please turn out the lights and be sure to leave a cold beer for me in the fridge.</p>

<p>Semi-seriously, happy new year, folks. Y'all are terrific, if sometimes a terrific PITA. Lemme see if I can sum up 2008:</p>

<ul>

<li>How to pronounce "Nikon".</li>

<li>'When is the Next Big "X" coming?'</li>

<li>Anything "vs." Everything</li>

</ul>

<p>Oh, well. Beats working.</p>