Okay, I'm listening to BBC and I think there's a fundamental differance in how we pronounce "Adidas."

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Americans say "a-DEE-das."

BBC says "A-did-ASS."

Let's sort this out now.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:23 (nineteen years ago)

A'ddy-dass

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

No, we say 'A-did-ass' (stress on the first syllable). (xpost)

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:25 (nineteen years ago)

Is that a long "A"?

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:25 (nineteen years ago)

fuckin A

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:26 (nineteen years ago)

short but stressed
like me hahahahahahahahaaaaaaa

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:26 (nineteen years ago)

dunno why I said that, I'm not that short

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

Addy Dass

It's short for Adolf Dassler, as I'm sure you know.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

it was funny, though (stress on 'was') (xpost again)

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:28 (nineteen years ago)

I think the US pronunciation is more like:

uh-DEE-duzz

(there's no "a" sound - short or long - in it)

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:28 (nineteen years ago)

In Britain it is pronounced Adi Dass, which is fitting as it's the nickname for the Adidas founder Madchen mentions xpost. Where is Pinkpanther when you need her?

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

No, it's a corruption of the Old English "aditoff", worn for many years as an amusing T-shirt design before the Germans appropriated it and mistranslated the joke.

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

nate is right, that's correct. Ours (Americans) is more of a sexy latin pronunciation.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

Really? 'duzz' not 'duss'? (yet another xpost)

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

MY uh-DEE-duss

― kingfish has gene rayburn's mic (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

Adi Dassler (his brother founded Puma!)

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

His brother got pissed off and went and founded Puma, sorry Pooooma.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

I think you'll find that's 'poo-marhh'

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:32 (nineteen years ago)

While we're at it Nike like Mike (or like like), or Nike like Mikey (or pikey)?

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:32 (nineteen years ago)

Really? 'duzz' not 'duss'?

I've heard both. I'd say they're about equally prevalent.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:33 (nineteen years ago)

Nikey

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:34 (nineteen years ago)

Does anyone say 'porsh-a' anymore? I did when little, now I say just porsh.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:34 (nineteen years ago)

We pronounce that "Porky".

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:35 (nineteen years ago)

Here is the story that inspired this thread:
http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/17/nike-adidas-legal-cx_cn_0217autofacescan01.html

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

Nike was the Greek goddess of victory and probably should be pronounced 'nee-keh'. The swoosh is based on this:

ihttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Niké_Éphèse.jpg

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:38 (nineteen years ago)

oh balls

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:38 (nineteen years ago)

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b3/225px-Nike_ephesus.jpg

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

I would say "A-dee-das"... all run together with no syllable taking greater stress than another

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:41 (nineteen years ago)

rush push cash

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

I think you'll find it is:

A-dee-di-das-di-a-dee-das-diada-asssss

Actually.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

I'd feel like a chump saying "Addy Dass"

Say I say uh-DEE-duss.

― POOP BITCH (Mandee), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

No, the middle syllable is the greatest of all. xpost

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

What about...Diadora?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

Dear Dora

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.soleredemption.com/pics/blog/run1.jpg

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

uh-DEE-duss. uh-DEE-duss. The UK pronuciation sounds like a Horn of Africa capitol.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

Grøën Flahrsh

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

... there is no "UK pronuciation"

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

dee a dor ra

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

Dear Brits, Please listen to one Run-DMC.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

... that's a BBC pronunciation, which is probably based on how it's pronounced in its country of origin, i.e. Germany

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

... and, believe it or not, not everyone in Britain sounds like they read the news for the BBC!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

Ree boker

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

Are Run DMC German footwear enthusiasts?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:50 (nineteen years ago)

Just pronounce everything literally.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Run DMC used to live next door to Aersomith!

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Everyone in America sounds exactly like this
http://www.larryhagman.com/dallascolorfive.jpg
"A-DEE-DUHZ!"

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Both Dutch and German pronunciation are indeed: AH-dee-DASS.

― Eva van Rein (Gaia1981), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

snee kerrs

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

das ist korrect

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

... and, believe it or not, not everyone in Britain sounds like they read the news for the BBC!

! Dada, you've ruined my image of the British forever.

Are Run DMC German footwear enthusiasts?

I'm sure you're kidding. Or perhaps not a child of the 80s?

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

If it's wrong to say addy dass, then let me just be wrong. I don't expect to change the world.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:54 (nineteen years ago)

Now I'm listening to how GAP is trying to crack the UK market by hiring a team of euro designers. The british populace are saying very disparaging things about US fashions :(

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:54 (nineteen years ago)

Which station is this, Andy?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:55 (nineteen years ago)

The propaganda one or just one of the regular sports or news stations?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:55 (nineteen years ago)

Ha ha, I'm afraid Americans are not really renowned for their sartorial elegance

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:55 (nineteen years ago)

Spencer Chow is American.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

I went into Gap once, the shop assistants harass you.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

Dissin' the Gap? The Beeb can go bite it.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

Prince is American.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

"You're a walking tower of Adidas crap" - Mark E. Smith

― senseiDancer (sexyDancer), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

I listen to BBC World Service and also Radio 4 on the internet.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

we're obliged to stand and salute at the name 'radio 4'

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

The World Service is a bit rubbish. Did you know that?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

In comparison to what?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

1Xtra

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

Rinse

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

apparently not our media.
xxpost

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

LBC xpost

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

Talk Sport

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

Magic FM

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

the shipping forecast

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

Who came first, James Whale the famous British horror director, or James Whale the grebo-loving "shock jock"?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

The ~~Morality~~ Afternoon Play

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

Did you know there's a campaign to save the 'UK Theme' - the medley of hornpipes and stuff they play at about 4am

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

I like World Service because it lets the third world have their say. "Okay, now we have Wilson in Monrovia, what do you think?" etc. It's like I'm listening to the same thing the whole world is, therefore I'm a global villager.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

Remember when tv used to say goodnight? Where's that testcard with the creepy girl with the doll?

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

WOW

http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

The World Service is great - it allows the British the fantasy of thinking people in the rest of the world are still interested in them

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

I'm British and people seem interested in me.

http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/bbc_test/tcf320.jpg

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

I put BBC2 on in the middle of the night a few weeks ago, and saw the creepy test card. It lasted about an hour, before playing News24.

― melton mowbray (adr), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

just for emphasis

http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/bbc_test/tcf320.jpg

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

the gap is crap!

and its wayyyy overpriced in the UK, especially

― POOP BITCH (Mandee), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

The Gap BEGAN in san francisco (in 1968), yet I too believe it's horseshit.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

http://titinoburoggu.canalblog.com/images/t-gap.jpg

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

A few years ago I spent a month living in Frankfurt, helping to train people in my company's new office there. Adidas was (and is) one of their biggest business prospects, and they were quite amused to hear my American pronunciation. Endless laughter over that.

I also attended a German investor relations conference while I was there and was introduced to the IR director for Adidas. I had to mentally check myself constantly to make sure I wasn't mispronouncing it to her face.

― phil d. (Phil D.), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

Did you rap it for them?

I'm surprised that any tv station signs off anymore.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:45 (nineteen years ago)

"During an interview, Weinstein mentions three times that Adidas is a German company--using the German pronunciation, adi-das, with a stress on the final syllable--hoping, perhaps, that readers might recall that Adi Dassler once made boots for Hitler's Wehrmacht.

"Then, in a backhanded compliment, Weinstein notes that Adidas hasn't been this popular since, well, the golden days of disco, when pasty-skinned hedonists at Studio 54 wore three-stripe shoes.

"A few minutes later he's pointing out that Adidas isn't entirely virtuous: The Jan. 18 issue of Sports Illustrated charges that Adidas violated NCAA rules because it showed University of Tennessee football players displaying the three-stripe logo in one of its TV ads..."

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 18:46 (nineteen years ago)

Did you rap it for them?

No, but now that you say it I sorta wish I had. Nobody loves old-skool rap more than the German IR community!

― phil d. (Phil D.), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

It seems that "My Adidas/Peter Piper" was released in the US, but was only a b-side on the UK release of "Walk This Way".

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

We must undo this wrong.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 18:57 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know, it might be too late. I'm not sure how much interest British people would have in a 20 year old rap song that mispronounces the name of a popular shoe brand.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:00 (nineteen years ago)

Sounds like a surefire Number One to me

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:00 (nineteen years ago)

xxxpost, ah it wasn't on the UK version of Raising Hell? (assuming there was one.)

Adi Dassler once made boots for Hitler's Wehrmacht.

! *spits on shell-toes*

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

Do the British know that we must hear an old Oasis song on a current television advertisement?

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

You must hear it?

― Adidadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

Or be culled.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

I thought that was oasis.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

Do the British know that we must hear an old Oasis song on a current television advertisement?

Is it Mike Nike?

― Tehrannosaurus HoBB (the pirate king), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

It's "All Around The World". I can't remember what the ad is for.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

... Islamic Fundamentalism?

― Adidadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:10 (nineteen years ago)

Actually, I think it was cultural imperialism.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:11 (nineteen years ago)

I think it's a cellphone commercial. I remember the raven-maned welsh lass.

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

That was my second guess - followed by psycho-sexual torture and force-feeding (xpost)

― Adidadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

No, those campaigns are scored by Sleeper and Yazoo respectively.

― Codename: Paul Scholes (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not sure how much interest British people would have in a 20 year old rap song that mispronounces the name of a popular shoe brand.

Solution:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3381/adidasfrog2as.jpg

― phil d. (Phil D.), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:29 (nineteen years ago)

Ugh, I hate that ad. "AT & T...All around the wuuuuuuuhld, you've gotta spread the wuuuuuuhd..."

― Nemo (JND), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:30 (nineteen years ago)

Does crazy frog have a miniature frog penis???

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Friday, 17 February 2006 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

How is that a frog? It looks like one of those horrid creatures that crawls about beneath the toenails on tv :(

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

Arrgh! Another ad I hate! That one really gives me the creeps.

― Nemo (JND), Friday, 17 February 2006 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

That commercial won a bunch of awards! EVERYONE hated it but they remember the name LAMISIL!

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

I know I will never forget it.

But how would Lamisil be pronounced on the BBC?

― Nemo (JND), Friday, 17 February 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

Are Run DMC German footwear enthusiasts?

I understand the B-side was entitled "My Birkenstocks"

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 17 February 2006 20:46 (nineteen years ago)

Artist: Sir Mix-A-Lot
Song: Gortex

Posse in effect, scramble up, new rhyme
Big Goretex, crushed down, two time
Rumble in the street, neighborhood shakedown
Emerald City posse, gonna take this town
Suckers gettin' mad, swift kick, broke rib
Serve it in a dish, name it up, rib-tip
Metal in the front, big stomp, crush neck
Punks on tip, call the boots, GoreTex

Laugh if you want, but you might get crushed
Walk through the dangerous Hilltop brush
Bullet-proof, steel-toed, down to kick butt
Roughin' up character who drop weak cuts
One twenty five was the price tag on 'em
Cool brothers buy 'em, even though they don't want 'em
Style is a must, but the style is rough
China Beach boots couldn't crush more stuff
Strap 'em down, lace 'em up, get in the bucket
Reach for the tongue, pull it out, then tuck it
Ten pound boots could destruct all comers
My whole posse wears them Fort Lewis runners

― andy --, Friday, 17 February 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

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