10 words we've forgotten how to pronounce

The Week ^ | March 9, 2015 | James Harbeck

[ought-six]

The umlaut “o” sounds like the “ur” in the word “fur.” Thus, the German word “k(umlaut o)nnen” is pronounced “kurnen.”

Even though English is a Germanic language, we in the U.S. do not form our lips and tongue properly to accurately pronounce certain German sounds. It is very difficult for us (but it can be done).

One of the first exercises we engaged in in German class was spending hours trying to properly create the accurate sounds, and I’m sure anyone passing by the classroom thought we were nuts, what with all the strange sounds coming from us. I think the best way (the only way?) for us to properly pronounce German words would be a total immersion in Germany itself, where all one hears is German. I wish I could have done that when I was younger
(am in my 60s now).

[Savage Beast]

The umlaut “o” sound is like the “u” in the word “fur” but without the "r" sound. The German word können does not have the "r" sound.

[ought-six]

“The German word können does not have the “r” sound.”

Then all my text books are wrong.

[Partisan Gunslinger]

exspecially
untracked vs on-track
assessory vs accessory
cool calm and collective vs collected

[Savage Beast]

They must be.

You can get an audio of the pronunciation of können at Bing Translate: http://www.bing.com/translator/

Try Böse and Löffel too.