Mehd-V(y)EHD-yehf

Ever since Hillary Clinton failed to correctly pronounce the name of Russian president Dmitri Medvedev ("Medvuh.. vuh-devah, whatever") during that Ohio debate, I've been wondering how to say it myself. And now longtime Herald Tribune and N.Y. Times foreign correspondent Serge Schemann has written a piece that includes a phonetic spelling (courtesy of Voice of America): "mehd-V(y)EHD-yehf." Say it over and over (I've done it about 20 times now) and it gradually begins to feel half-negotiable.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 11, 2008 at 9:27 AM

comment #1

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

Hello, Dmitri?


Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 10:10 AM

comment #2

YRG Author Profile Page says ...

I have more trouble pronouncing Mahmoud Ahmidinejad than Medvedev.

Posted by YRG Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 10:12 AM

comment #3

Edward Author Profile Page says ...

Is Shia LaBeouf, Sheeya or Shyia - LaBoof or LaBuuf?

Posted by Edward Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 10:23 AM

comment #4

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

I have trouble putting the "th" in Spanish words like Barcelona without giggling.

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 10:23 AM

comment #5

DarthCorleone Author Profile Page says ...

I'll just pronounce his name "affront to democracy."

Posted by DarthCorleone Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 10:50 AM

comment #6

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

The Adventures of AquaVelva and MedEvac

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 11:07 AM

comment #7

gruver1 Author Profile Page says ...

Wells to Yves: Mahmoud Ahmidinejad is a snap. I ran a Maureen Dowd snippet a few months ag, cribbed from Katie Couric, that explained all you have to do is say "I'm a dinner jacket." His last name almost sounds like that, and it certainly has the same cadence.

Posted by gruver1 Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 11:12 AM

comment #8

Howlingman Author Profile Page says ...

Easy:

"Vlad-i-meer Poo-tin"

Posted by Howlingman Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 11:18 AM

comment #9

Edward Havens Author Profile Page says ...

Just think of Michael "I'm Better Than You" Medved and add an ev at the end. Med-ved-ev.

Posted by Edward Havens Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 2:37 PM

comment #10

TheJeff Author Profile Page says ...

I can't be bothered to dig it up now, but NPR did a whole story about the pronunciation of his name after the Hillary thing, and they have some Russian prof. saying correctly over and over if you really want to drill it in to your skull.

Posted by TheJeff Author Profile Page at March 11, 2008 2:50 PM

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