How DO you pronounce GYROS?

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I always thought it was "yee-ros" cuz of those posters with smiling, lipsticked mouth saying "Say YEE-ROS," but when I pronounced it this way last night at a NYC take-out joint the guy behind the counter almost cut my head off. I barely made it out of there with my life, let alone with lamb and beef crushed together in a pita. Is this some sort of Arabs vs. Jews thing I'm not aware of???

― sexyDancer, Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I always say 'euros'

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/DB-Her.jpg

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"food poisoning"

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

donairs

― anthony, Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"processed meat & cucumber pouch"

― Kingfish Disraeli (Kingfish), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"guy-row"

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it actually is "Yee-ros", but it's become so bastardized by mispronunciation (isn't it the root of "hero", as in a hero sandwich?), that even the venders pronounce it as "J-AYE-ROW".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

it is, indeed, 'Jy-ROW'

i made up a joke once and everyone thought it was corny but I still think its funny:

"I ate ten gyros
and now I falafel"

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks alex!

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

That reminds me of a joke I made up once, to a chorus of groans: "I went to the doctor to find out what was wrong with me, and he said, 'I'm sorry to report: you've got a bad quesadilla.'"

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.coloradospringsnews.com/images/grandgyrosnick.jpg

I'll bet I know what he's smiling about.

― andy, Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

He's trying to balace the breadth of his forehead, I should think.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 13 May 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't much like lamb. Too lanolinish. But in many ways I believe Middle Eastern food is probaby the greatest, healthiest food of all. I always see the cool dudes sipping coffee in front of the El Halal markets, and I want to go in... but I'm embarrassed.

― andy, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm very glad this question was asked.

The first time I ordered one from Acropolis in the Gallery food court (not long after the Gallery had opened)*, I pronounced the "y" like the long i in "high" and the "g" like the "J" in "Jamaica." The person behind the counter then said something that sounded like "gyeero" (the "g" somewhere between a "g" and a "y" to my ears, but probably a distinct phoneme in Greek).

Recently when I have ordered, attempting to imitate the first pronunciation I heard, the person behind the counter usually repeats my order using the pronunciation I used when ordering my first "gyro."

*Local detail included mostly for Jess and other Philadelphians/former Philadelphians.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I always figured it was "YEE-ros," like those posters say. But because I grew up in a Greek family, I was trained to give the "YEE" a slight "gh" sound and trill the "r" a little, so it's more like (gh)YEE-rrros. But gyros have about as much to do with Greek cuisine as chop suey has to do with Chinese. Couldn't find a gyro to save my life when I was in Greece. Lotsa bad pizza, tho.

― m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

But gyros have about as much to do with Greek cuisine as chop suey has to do with Chinese. Couldn't find a gyro to save my life when I was in Greece.

This is what I've started to suspect.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

wow, the gallery. hey, you know where there's a good food court rockist? the basement of that "mall" on the corner of 16th (?) and walnut.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

sigyros

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

gee-row-ss, w/ a hard G and S. a bit like you're saying 'gross' in a silly way.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure which food court you mean.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I had too much for dinner though, so I think I want to get off this thread.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I had tons of gyros in greece. and I called them "gyear-o" when I was there.

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

or more like "year-o"

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's my ratings of all those foods:

dolmas = rule
souvlaki = rules
pita = rules
falafel = so-so... a bit mealy if too dry
tahini = rules
tabuleh = parsley overload... gets in your teeth

The best I ever had was an earthenware pot served to me by an old Turkish lady high in the Bulgarian mountains: a lamb stew, with red peppers and hominy. Served with fresh bread and hard liquor and cigarettes for two dollars.

― andy, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

heh, i thought this was about the english welfare system.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

No, that's this one: GOTHIC ANUS

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

We call them souvlakis here, that makes it easier. And theyre usually made with decent lamb on the spit over hot coals too, none of this mushy processed meat - proper chunky slices of crispy lamb, fresh tomatoes and lettuce, good tatziki and/or hummus, chilli sauce if you want it. Oh and onions, raw or i ask for cooked.

Theyre delicious and way healthier than other kinds of takeway. But then theres so many greeks in Melbourne someone hadda get it right.

Damn now I want a souv from Lambs.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

they're called kebabs in queensland....but then again, they are a little backward in these parts.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Kebabs in UK too.

― andy, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.vortechonline.com/bensen/grfx/B6-inair.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.winfried-h.de/about/Hejira.jpg

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I had tons of gyros in greece. and I called them "gyear-o" when I was there.

I shoulda noted that it's been years since I've been there, so I'm sure folks have gotten wise and accomodated all the Ugly American tourists who want themselves some "authentic" gyros.

My attempts to research the history of gyros via Google is being completely stymied by sites about helicopters.

― m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, It was in tourist areas, mostly, where all the gyros were.

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

gee-row-ss, w/ a hard G and S. a bit like you're saying 'gross' in a silly way.

oh so THAT'S what jeff lynne's singing!

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 13 May 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit's too vague ... I'm switching to shawarma.

― sexyDancer, Friday, 14 May 2004 00:12 (twenty-one years ago)

a good food court rockist

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 14 May 2004 04:49 (twenty-one years ago)

the point is, we call them shawarma here

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 14 May 2004 04:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't shwarma something different?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 14 May 2004 05:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i dont know what an authentic gheee-ros is, but all the ones ive had are delicious mystery meat cut into little slabs. shwarma is actual cuts of meat grilled on one of those spindle things with fat and spices drippin down from the top. i guess the guy with the fivehead is makin gheeeee-ros with one of those too. so the distinction is myster vs non-mystery meat.

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 14 May 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The gyros I used to get years ago had big fat chunks of meat. Now they are almost always thin little slices, like steak-ums, but better.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 14 May 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

hmm. musta been one of those authentic gyros.

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 14 May 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

How about: Geir - os?

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:52 (twenty-one years ago)

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NO

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Now he's working in a job with a future / he hands me me gyro / every two weeks / me I'm on the lookout for a proper transformer / er

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the time when i was in america i saw these signs for "gyros" with a kebab looking diagram, i thought it was supposed to be like "gyroscopic" because of the meat thing spinning round and that the meat comes out in a spiral helix thing, and i thought "haha! americans are so dumb".

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

pita = rules
Esp in Portugese (-> pita=pussy if I remember correctly)

we pronounce it hee-ross (the h is more guteral though, a little bit like a rasping sound?)

― jesus nathalie (nathalie), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.redbulldozers.com/heroesgray.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 07:06 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Revive. My gnome-like co-worker has just sat right beside me and ordered "a jie-row."

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Despite that being the WRONG pronunciation, it's at least somewhat logical given the pronunciation of gyroscope.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.seriesam.com/barks/dc_cblgg06_sm.jpg

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

In middle school, I thought Oops kinda looked liked Gyro Gearloose.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

just to fix the photo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/kenjuggle/heroesgray.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Why has he poked his finger into the gyro?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/kenjuggle/vogue.jpg

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Is that Ken trying to remember how to pronounce gyros?

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

I still don't know the answer! I tend to say "euros," though

― Tape Store, Sunday, 21 October 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

Gyros Childs

― calstars, Sunday, 21 October 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

There was never any consensus!

Half the people on this thread thought it was Guy-rows, others went with Jie-rows, a few mentioned Gee-rows, and I've heard it pronounced Ee-rows a few times myself.

Usually what I do is pretend to cough at the beginning of the words, and then end with "rows".

"Yeah, I'll just take a AHEBLECH!-row, please", and then when they give you the perplexed look, act like you're painfully clearing your throat while pointing at a nearby gyro and nodding. That's obviously the best way.

― Z S, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

Move here where you can call them donner kebabs and you don't get any of this geeerow jierow nonsense.

― ailsa, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:07 (eighteen years ago)

My girlfriend claims it is pronounced "Hueer-ows", with "hueer" rhyming with "queer".

FUCK

― Z S, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

But is it Donna or Donor?

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

Dictionary.com sez:

gy·ro
jeer-oh, zheer-oh; Gk. yee-raw
–noun Greek Cookery.
meat, usually lamb, roasted on a vertical spit, then thinly sliced, topped with onions, and usually served in a sandwich of pita bread.

― Z S, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:14 (eighteen years ago)

I'm pretty sure it doesn't rhyme with "Why row?", then. This thread is making me hungry.

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/51/76/23237651.jpg

― Z S, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:16 (eighteen years ago)

Gyro/Doner: http://www.pizzaplanets.com/images/Gyro.jpg

Shawarma: http://chowtimes.com/photos/2006/05/IMG_5256_edited-1-thumb.jpg

Souvlaki: http://z.about.com/d/greekfood/1/0/t/3/suvlaki-3086-25dec05-one-499.jpg

― G00blar, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

OMG WANT!

― ailsa, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

That doner looks a bit pitiful though. Our local does them in naan bread as an alternative to pitta, so you get this huge thing piled with meat and cabbage and onion and carrot and chilli and garlic etc

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:25 (eighteen years ago)

Great Kebabs/Shawarma/Souvlaki/Gyros I have known and loved:

Fattouch (now closed?) on St. Laurent in Montreal.
Al-Dar on Edgware Road in London (OMG the pickles in the sandwich!)
Oma Shawarma in Amsterdam (maybe the best; ate there maybe 4 times in three days?)
There was also this surprisingly awes gyro place amongst the horrid office-worker-lunch-places around Penn Station in NYC, like maybe 7th and 35th?

― G00blar, Sunday, 21 October 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

omg fattouch?!?!?! hahahaha!!!

― s1ocki, Monday, 22 October 2007 00:01 (eighteen years ago)

I would kill a lamb for some gyros right now.

― Jordan, Monday, 22 October 2007 00:10 (eighteen years ago)

If you can't say gyros, just say steendriver.

― Oilyrags, Monday, 22 October 2007 01:14 (eighteen years ago)

But is it Donna or Donor?

Donna, as in 'that doner, she's a right sweaty cow' (TM kebab shop jokers all over Britain). I also hear it referred to as Elephant Leg fairly often.

― Madchen, Monday, 22 October 2007 11:35 (eighteen years ago)

i'm only allowed to eat one kebab a year, but would it be different if it was a gyros?

― ken c, Monday, 22 October 2007 11:46 (eighteen years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/kenjuggle/vogue.jpg

oh man this was on my birthday, in NYC, several years ago

― ken c, Monday, 22 October 2007 11:47 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

i only have a kebab once a year but would it be breaking the rule to have GYROS during other times of the year?

― The smile on my face, disguises the case, I bury the truth deep down in (ken c), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:39 (sixteen years ago)

So a gyro is what I'm used to calling a donner kebab ie specifically that gross elephant's leg thing of meat?
When I lived up north I ate loads of kebabs, but they were really awesome tandoori chicken/lamb ones done proper like and in a naan, not a lame southern pitta. My favourite place for getting them had a coffin in the shop.
I guess that's not a gyro though (and where can I get one in SF?)

― Not the real Village People, Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:52 (sixteen years ago)

this is one of those things i willfully mispronounce as JY-RO just because it's easier for ppl to understand, makes the most sense and keeps you from looking like a pedantic douche.

Like saying "Sunno" instead "Sun"

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:55 (sixteen years ago)

i was talking about the "sunno" thing with my friend the other day. she said she just says "sun" and then forms a silent O after.

― nitzer Ed (s1ocki), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:56 (sixteen years ago)

but i say euro cuz that's how everyone says it.

― nitzer Ed (s1ocki), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:57 (sixteen years ago)

i also say "gyro" b/c (a) i am not Greek/Turkish/whatever; (b) i don't speak Greek/Turkish/whatever; so (c) i'd feel like a pretentious douche if i were to ask for "YEE-ros." it's the same reason why i don't call mozzarelli "mutz" or cappicola "gabbagool."

i do pronounce German words the way German people do, but that's b/c i have God knows how many years of high school/college German classes under my belt. so if people think i'm a pretentious dork for pronouncing "Wiener schnitzel" as "VEE-ner schnitzel," that's their fucking problem.

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:58 (sixteen years ago)

Issues^^^

― La religion est une fatigante solution de paresse (Michael White), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 19:00 (sixteen years ago)

whenever I order a gyro I usually use all three pronunciations ("I'll take a YEE-RO, Eur-O, JaYE-Ro, WTF-ever, please. Thanks.")

― king willie style (will), Wednesday, 24 February 2010 19:06 (sixteen years ago)

five years pass...

memories flooding back
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/kenjuggle/vogue.jpg

― ^ 諷刺 (ken c), Monday, 11 January 2016 21:03 (ten years ago)

just for one day :(

― kinder, Monday, 11 January 2016 21:13 (ten years ago)

http://pages.infinit.net/bluefire/Images/donair.gif

― am0n, Monday, 11 January 2016 22:19 (ten years ago)

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