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So, I often hear this word pronounced two different ways. I've always pronounced it KaLASHnikov myself, however, I always hear KaLISHnikov. What do you guys say? For those of you who say it with "lish", where do you get that from? I'm not looking to start debates or anything, I'm just honest to goodness curious how one might get that particular pronunciation. So gents, care to help me out?

I know pronunciation of words in the gun community if often debated - especially when the origin of the word is foreign - I personally don't really care if someone pronounces a weapon one way or another, but I just get curious where we (Americans) get some of our pronunciations from. I generally try to pronounce something the way a native speaker of the country of its origin would if it doesn't confuse people or make me look silly.

kəlăshʹnəkäf ( ke-lash-neh-kof)

AK47 in most eastern European/Russian places is referred to as a Avtomat Kalashnikova or a kalashnikov not ak47

I just refer to mine by the effect they have....

So I call mine "liberal incontinence devices".

74novaman wrote:I just refer to mine by the effect they have....

So I call mine "liberal incontinence devices".

Now that's funny.

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov (Michael "Timmy's son" Kalashnikov)

However you say it, the dude designed a amazing weapon...

74novaman wrote:I just refer to mine by the effect they have....

So I call mine "liberal incontinence devices".

do I pronounce that lib-ral ( ˈlib(ə)rəl) or lie -brawl ( lī - brôl ) ?
What are these funny characters anyway?

JeepGuy79 wrote:kəlăshʹnəkäf ( ke-lash-neh-kof)

AK47 in most eastern European/Russian places is referred to as a Avtomat Kalashnikova or a kalashnikov not ak47

So, they call the rifle, whatever version it may be, the Kalashnikov, after the designer...sort of in the same way as calling the M-1 rifle the Garand...I'm going to start doing that from now on...it makes sense, more sense then calling it an "AK47" when only a specific type were actually designated that.

Heartland Patriot wrote:

JeepGuy79 wrote:kəlăshʹnəkäf ( ke-lash-neh-kof)

AK47 in most eastern European/Russian places is referred to as a Avtomat Kalashnikova or a kalashnikov not ak47

So, they call the rifle, whatever version it may be, the Kalashnikov, after the designer...sort of in the same way as calling the M-1 rifle the Garand...I'm going to start doing that from now on...it makes sense, more sense then calling it an "AK47" when only a specific type were actually designated that.

GAR-and or ga-RAND?

SwimFan85 wrote: GAR-and or ga-RAND?

Neither. It's pronounced Gerand, rhymes with errand.

"Pronunciation of the name Garand is often disputed, being pronounced variably as /ɡəˈrænd/ or /ˈɡærənd/. Descendants of John Garand and his close friend Julian Hatcher generally agree that it is the latter, rhyming approximately 'errand.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Garand" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AndyC wrote:

CEOofEVIL wrote:I've always pronounced it KaLASHnikov myself

You're doing it right - It's LASH, not LISH.

Not just cause I'm fearful that AndyC MIght sneak over and kill me in my sleep otherwise (your avatar conveys a myriad of emotion), but this is also how I have always heard it in my head. And in my ears when watching/listening to any sort of expert on my magical talking boxes. This is backed up by the way I was taught Phonics in school (worked for me!). Granted I do not speak, read, or understand Russian, or the Cyrillic alphabet that correctly forms the words in the written language. The English approximation seems to bear this out. Don't get me started on the proper pronunciation of "Garand" or "Mosin Nagant".

I've lived in Russia and speak it pretty well. I recall it being KaLASHnikov. Most Russians refer to it as the Kalashnikov or Kalash (as slang). I've never heard one refer to it as the AK or AK47.

USAFgoober wrote:I've lived in Russia and speak it pretty well. I recall it being KaLASHnikov. Most Russians refer to it as the Kalashnikov or Kalash (as slang). I've never heard one refer to it as the AK or AK47.

There ya go.