How to pronounce "Huygens"

Yes, we think we are smarter then the average cat and say "Hoygens". Well lets hear it from a real Dutch person...

frank.harvard.edu/~paulh/misc/huygens.htm

Sounds a bit... er.... :oops:

Living in Little Holland (Rossdohan, Kerry) I never thought to ask all my neighbours. Sounds like there are a couple of dialects on that recording with some saying How-Hens and others saying Howch-Hens. (Irish pron. of 'ch'). Reminds me of the first time I learnt to Van Goch correctly, Van Hewch (Irish pron. of 'ch').

I think I'll stick to Hoy-Guns for fear of spitting on people.

Yeah, there is no way I could attempt the Dutch pronunciation without it sounding rude.

I heard something like "How-Gun-t-zz" (the z's are a bit spitty alright)

LOL ... as a native dutch speaker I find it hillariously funny to see Irish and English people trying to pronounce Huygens!

The MP3 is kinda cool!

Cheers for the link.

Bart.

Not related but equally funny from uk.sci.astrnomy:

From: Pete Lawrence
While showing a group of primary school kids the delights of Saturn
the other night, I pointed out that the 'star' to the edge of the
field of view was in fact Titan. I then explained to them that
Huygens would be parachuting down to the surface of Titan. One of the
group asked what would eventually happen to it, to which I replied
that it would probably ultimately be destroyed.

One of the other kids then piped up "Awwww..... I like Titan!"

From Charles Gilman
That reminds me of someone who heard "The Huygens probe is being sent to
Titan, Saturn's largest moon" on the radio and wrote in to ask why Saturn's
largest moon needed tightening.

From Tony Rowsby, regarding BBC2 coverage on the night (Adam Heart Davies was presenting)
Is it me or is Rolf Harris looking younger?

Cheers,
~Al