Up until I was eleven, I pronounced Porsche in the plebeian, frowned-upon way. “I’ll take the Pour-sh,” I would tell my friends while we played racing video games and shoveled bags of chips into our mouths. Then I met an adult who actually owned one and they set me straight on the matter as I ogled their vintage 911.
“It’s pronounced a little like the woman’s name Portia,” he told me as I nodded and acted as though I understood, even though I had never met a single person with that name.
Since then, I’ve had countless opportunities to utter that name in a condescending manner, and not just regarding the brand. Several of Porsche’s models use names that look easy enough to pronounce, but aren’t. However, as the years roll on, I’ve almost stopped correcting people — as I’ve become absolutely convinced of a conspiracy where Porsche does this intentionally so those in the know can lord it over those who aren’t.
While I don’t have any real supporting evidence for this, Porsche did just release a video explaining how to pronounce the name of its newest model — the Taycan.
You probably assumed it is pronounced like the word taken, perhaps with the last syllable akin to can. But, no, it’s actually pronounced tī-khän, with the first syllable sounding identical to the business-type neckwear and the last syllable sounding like a medieval ruler presiding over central Asia.
“The Taycan will be the first purely electric Porsche. But do you know how to pronounce its name correctly? Watch the video to find out! By the way, Taycan can be roughly translated as ‘lively young horse’ because it embodies power and strength,” Porsche says in the video’s description.
Lively young horse would be an absolutely terrible name for a car, but Taycan isn’t much better, in my exceptionally wise, yet also admirably humble opinion. Presumably, the name translates better from German but I couldn’t find it used anywhere on German horse breeding websites — and I wasted an entire lunch hour looking. Very fishy.
This led me to ask five members of my extended family how to pronounce the names of various Porsche models I wrote on a piece of paper instead of eating the spaghetti my mother had prepared specifically for my holiday visit. Two got Macan wrong, three mispronounced Cayenne, and nobody knew how to say Taycan. When I corrected them, their response was typically “They probably should have spelled it that way, then.” My father, who only faltered with Porsche’s new EV, was especially annoyed — noting that “this exact thing happened when they started building SUVs.”
I know this doesn’t prove that Porsche intentionally makes these car names difficult to pronounce. but I remain steadfast in my assertion that there’s a conspiracy afoot in Germany. If they needed a horse-centric name, they could have called it the Friesian or the Appaloosa. Perhaps they were concerned with using a German breed specifically, in which case they could have gone with the Aegidienberger or Holsteiner….
Actually, those are all terrible names too. Way worse than the made-up Taycan. My apologies to Porsche’s naming team. Keep up the good work; you are clearly doing your best to cope with what you’ve been given. Just continue issuing videos to keep us up to date with your experimental (German) usage of vowels and I will do my utmost to ignore your twisted, elitist naming strategy.
[Image: Porsche]
is it three fifty-six or three-five-six? nine-eleven or nine-one-one?
Three-fifty-six and Neun-Elfer (Neun pronounced as “noyn”).
:)
Porsche is not pronounced like the name Portia, but Por-sche, with the e pronounced like the same way it is in bed, bell, etc…
https://youtu.be/Im2eYuGdmfY
Poor-shha
No, listen to the clip from Porsche themselves. German is spelled phonetically. If it was an Ah, it would be spelled Porscha
Pretty sure it’s pronounced “porsh” like porch, only with an sh. At least that’s how the greatest automotive expert in the woooorrrrld pronounces it.
Hmm, the clip was interesting. But actually, I would say that the pronunciation transcribed to English would be more like “Paw-sheh”. That guy didn’t really pronounce the “R”.
Jegg-you-are.
I thought it was “Jagg-wire”? ;)
I can’t believe this country. We pull down general Lee statues but still talking Porsche like something good.
Lee never won outside Virginia; had supply issues. Porsche wins world-wide; has almost no supply issues.
Americans (and not only Americans) were always fascinated by Nazis and Hitler in particular. Just watch History or AHC (ironically American Heroes) channels – all they are talking about 24×7 is Hitler and Nazi culture and paraphernalia. I watch these channels too. There is something in Nazism that even after 70 years people are attracted to it. And BTW Nazi Germany had the best army and most advanced weapons in the world. You can thank Mr.Porche for that too. BTW “The Triumph of the Will” is one of my favorite documentaries.
A$$-engined Nazi Sled…
Only pronunciation I need.
Slot car. Ass-engined Nazi slot car.
Squashed Beatle
It’s pronounced like Porcupine, with the pricks inside
Eugh
How terribly can one butcher the punchline? You’re supposed to compare them by saying a porcupine has pricks on the outside; to those with half a brain, it alludes to the joke that the pricks are inside the Porsche.
Audi’s version looks better. It’s name is easier to pronounce, too. Can’t afford either. Just saying…
“However, as the years roll on, I’ve almost stopped correcting people — as I’ve become absolutely convinced of a conspiracy where Porsche does this intentionally so those in the know can lord it over those who aren’t.”
Otherwise known as a “Shibboleth.”
At my local pub the bartender would tell you that you can finish your pint right now, pay him, leave the bar, and go get get in your special “Porsh-uh”.
Let’s not forget Jaguar. Jag wire or Jag u r.
Always Jag U are. Jag-wire is not proper English. Or British for that matter.
Well the Atari Jaguar was pronounced “Jag-waar”.
The difference between Porsche and Jaguar is that the former is a family’s name whereas the latter comes from a common noun that William Lyons, et al., chose to replace SS Cars. It’s tough to argue successfully that Brits’ approximation of a Portuguese approximation of Tupian word is better or more correct than Americans’ approximation of a Portuguese approximation of a Tupian word.
If Jaguar cared how Americans pronounce the company name–and I don’t think they do–they ought out to have chosen something else. Porsche pendants stand on much firmer ground than do people who think Jaguar must have a three-syllable pronunciation.
Still makes more sense than Touareg.
Try to pronounce “Zhiguli made in Togliatti”.
I’m reading this whilst sitting on my back Porch.
Since it’s somebody’s name I don’t think it’s douchey to try and pronounce it right.
Porsche makes overpriced cars that I don’t want.
Those of us who haven’t bought into the brand’s conceit are going to pronounce the names according to phonetic rules.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
I care about this as about much as I care about the BMW kids who get offended by the use of the abbreviation “M3” to refer to the Model 3. You presumably bought that overpriced car hoping someone would be impressed, but nothing has really changed. Get over yourselves.
Given that this is my position, I shouldn’t have posted anything — and I usually don’t. But someone has to say it now and then.
“I care about this as about much as I care about the BMW kids who get offended by the use of the abbreviation “M3” to refer to the Model 3.”
Except that ‘M3’ isn’t and never was an abbreviation for ‘Model 3’ (which doesn’t exist).
I was at a track day experience recently, and had an instructor in the passengers seat. He told me to move to the side of the track to let a Volkswagen go by. I moved over and a Boxster went past.
I like that pronunciation!
The passing car should have moved over, you (as the slower car) should stay “on line” and given the fancy VW a point by. The last thing you want to be is unpredictable on track so you should stay put and just lift slightly as the quicker car comes around. At least those are the rules I use with my students at HPDE events.
I was towards the left side of the road, the instructor reached over and turned on the left signal (RHD car)and then told me to move over, so the following car knew what I was doing.
Easier than rolling down the window and giving a wave to pass.
For me, it will always be “Porsh”.
At least the Germans learned how to pronounce “Hyundai” like “Sunday”:
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKfU_5jgupo”
TO-MAY-TO, TO-MAH-TO
Renault – Ren-alt or Ren-ohh
Peugeot – Pyoo-jowt or Per-joe
Dacia – Dace-ee-a or Dash-a
Jaguar – Jag-warr or Jag-u-ar
Hyundai – Hy-un-dai or Hoon-day
Subaru – Soo-barr-oo or Sib-arru (probably more or a NZ thing)
Dartson for Datsun. I mean FFS its phonetically spelt !
High-yun-dee-yay
Seems to me that “Porsh” was the English speaker’s way. But now we are supposed to be PC and pronounce it the native’s way. How about Volkswagen, then? The Germans pronounce it something like “fokes vagen”.
Reminds me of a joke I once heard:
What’s the difference between a pickup truck with a bed full of KKK klansman, and a Porsche?
.
.
.
.
.
With the pickup truck, the a$$holes are on the outside!
To be fair, I drive a BMW, and am well-aware that many people think us BMW drivers are just as worthy of derision.
To be fair, I drive a BMW, and am well-aware that many people think us BMW drivers are just as worthy of derision.
But for varying reasons over time. Ten years ago, you were a douchebag who ran over children in the street and flipped the bird to sweet little old ladies as you cut them off on the freeway ramp. Today, you’re a sad affluenza sufferer still fighting the previous status battle with your overpriced no-longer-the-ultimate-driving-machine (the douchebags have moved on to Audi)
Or if you’re William Shatner, it’s pronounced “tie-KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
That was my thought as well!
Since we’re talking about proper pronunciations, here’s a great video on Japanese car brands:
youtube.com/watch?v=l3K99MpJ3Sk