Raymond Chen, a Slate reader, is confused over how to pronounce the name of the recently arrested Chilean “Senator for Life”. He notes the following versions:
Most people: Pee-no-shay
BBC: Pih-no-shay
NPR’s Daniel Zwerdling: Pee-no-shet
As it happens, none of the above is entirely correct. A Chilean would say: “Pee-no-CHAY.” (If the accent sounds too contrived, “Pee-no-chay” will do.)
The common American formulation, “shay,” is probably an attempt to make the name sound French. Though possibly Gallic in origin, “Pinochet” is now a fairly common Chilean name. The “shet” formulation is an attempt to read a Spanish word as an English word. Explainer lacks a theory for the BBC.
Next question?
Explainer thanks Professor Carmen Marta Silva-Corvalan of USC for her help.
