Pronunciation of Iraq: Ee-rock, Ee-wrack, or Eye-wrack?

[Aristus]

For the record, "Ee-rock" is correct; it is an Arabic word which means "The chosen place".

[progressoid]

1. What about Ear-rock

[ben_packard]

4. and don't forget ear-rarc

[LiberalVoice]

2. Ee-rock is the closest pronunciation you have up there.

There's actually a bit of a guteral(sp?) noise you make while pronouncing the "Ee" part.

[Aristus]

5. It's an approximation. My father speaks a little Arabic, so I know

how gutteral it can be; but it's hard to reproduce on the written page.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems to me the people who would say "Eye-wrack" are the same ones who would say "Eye-talian".

[LiberalVoice]

9. lol

Me too...I grew up speaking arabic in my house cuz my dad is egyptian plus I lived there for a couple years. :)

[Wickerman]

3. Listening to Bush, it can also be said as 9-11, Freedom, Afghanistan, and

I'm afraid, Iran.

[Richardo]

6. Ear-RACHHHH

With the phlegmy-sounding 'chhhhhh' at the end.

[Merlot]

7. "me-ess"

[deutsey]

8. Ee-rock (see Kwag-mire)

[Merlot]

10. "a-wreck"

[KitchenWitch]

11. where is er-rack?

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. skrood. n/t

[LoZoccolo]

13. Ur-uk.

Their ISP is named uruklink.

http://www.uruklink.net

[Zuni]

14. It is now known as 'Freedomstan"

[RevolutionaryActs]

15. That is my number one pet peeve!!

People who say "eye-wrack" AHHHH!!!!! I want to beat their heads in and scream.

I really, really hate the people who say it slow like it's two words. "eye, wrack." :mad:

[CanuckAmok]

16. Arguably, "A Wreck"

depends on who you ask, I guess.

[Speck Tater]

17. Other: A-Wreck

actually, I pronounce it eh-rack

[bridgit]

18. ear-ock

[nytemare]

19. Those who watch the BBC and have Southwest Asia Service Medals

and some other educated or self educated folk pronounce it correctly.

I get mad at myself when I pronounce it wrong. I do sometimes. I didn't mean it. I swear.

[Goathead]

20. How about Mess'O-potamia?

[bloodyjack]

21. ih-rahk

[Heyo]

22. You forgot...

Ah-rack

[Boswells_Johnson]

23. I believe it's a cross between ee-rock and ee-wrack.

Ee-rock is more akin with American pronunciations, such as pawsta instead of pasta...