A Guide to Perfecting Your Oktoberfest Beer Pronunciations
Firstly, let’s raise a toast to Oktoberfest, the globally celebrated beer festival that’s originated from Munich, Bavaria; a festival that kicks off from mid or late September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. It’s quite an event, filled with gallons of beer, mountains of bratwurst, and a carnival atmosphere that’s unrivaled. The festivities are not just limited to the fatherland. In the U.S., Oktoberfest celebrations loosely follow the same calendar. Gathering places sprout Oktoberfest-themed signs, grill succulent brats, and pour frothy beers into ceremonious steins. People just can’t resist the calling to get in on the fun. Prost!
This Fall, the witty linguists at language learning platform Preply decided to take a stab at correcting some of our tongue-tied attempts at pronouncing the names of classic German beers. Armed with their comprehensive guide on how to get the pronunciations right, it’s time to bid Auf Wiedersehen to your dodgy German and say Prost like a true Bavarian. A big thanks to Preply for these language insights. So, let’s dive in!
Paulaner
Born in Munich in 1634, this famous Bavarian beer has had its name butchered by Americans for almost as long. Paulaner is not exactly ‘Paul’ and an unidentified ‘Anner’. It’s pronounced a bit differently.
- Mispronunciation: Paul-ay-ner
- Correct pronunciation: Pow-lah-ner
Löwenbräu
Löwenbräu, another signature beer of Oktoberfest, has its roots deep in German history. Ideal for everyone who enjoys a traditional Bavarian lager. Next time you’re at the bar, here’s how to say it.
- Mispronunciation: Lo-wen-brow
- Correct pronunciation: Ler-ven-broy
Kölsch
This beer has a unique refreshing palette with a fantastic balance of malt and fruit flavours making it stand out.
- Mispronunciation: Coal-sh
- Correct pronunciation: Kool-sh
Augustiner Edelstoff
The Augustiner Edelstoff, renowned for its bright gold color, is the express ticket to hop city. Here’s how to pronounce it right and feel hoppy the right way.
- Mispronunciation: Aw-goo-stein-ur Ee-dell-stuff
- Correct pronunciation: Ow-gus-teen-ah Eh-dell-shtuff
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
The Germans don’t shy away from long words packed with syllables, especially when it comes to their beers. This particular variation is pale, amber, and worth the mouthful.
- Mispronunciation: Why-en-steph-ay-nur Hee-fah-wice-beer
- Correct pronunciation: Vy-en-shteh-fah-nur Heh-feh-vice-bee-ya
Hacker-Pschorr
An official tad of Bavarian Heaven, as they claim it to be. Get the correct pronunciation and step into your divine beer haven.
- Mispronunciation: Hak-er Psh-chorr
- Correct pronunciation: Har-ker Psh-orr
Märzen
Märzen is a type of beer brewed in time for Oktoberfest, and hence obtained its name, which means March in German.
- Mispronunciation: Mars-in
- Correct pronunciation: Mer-tsen
Berliner Weisse
A light, sour, wheat beer originating from the German capital. It’s not pronounced quite how you might think.
- Mispronunciation: Ber-lin-er Why-suh
- Correct pronunciation: Ber-lin-er Vice-r
Rauchbier
A distinct style of German beer, named after its smoky characteristics. Smoke up the right pronunciation.
- Mispronunciation: Ruh-chi-beer
- Correct pronunciation: Row-kh-bee-ya (row rhymes with now)
Erdinger
If you love the taste of beer but don’t want the alcohol, Erdinger offers an excellent alcohol-free option. Now, here’s how to pronounce it right for the Oktoberfest spirit.
- Mispronunciation: Er-din-jer
- Correct pronunciation: Air-ding-er
That’s all, folks! Next time you find yourself at an Oktoberfest celebration or simply ordering a German beer, you’ll have the confidence to get the pronunciation spot on. So, what are you waiting for? Start practising now and be prepared to impress all your friends with your newfound German linguistic skills. Zum Wohl!
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This guide is a great resource for anyone wanting to impress their friends at an Oktoberfest celebration or just improve their overall knowledge of German pronunciation. And while it may seem daunting at first, with a little practice, you’ll be saying “Prost!” like a true Bavarian in no time. Thanks, Preply, for helping us perfect our Oktoberfest beer pronunciations!
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Overall, this is a useful and entertaining guide to perfecting your Oktoberfest beer pronunciations. It’s always a good idea to learn the proper pronunciations of words, and this guide makes it easy and fun. As they say in Germany, “Trink ein Bier und alles wird gut!” (Have a beer and everything will be fine!). Prost!