Eyjafjallajokull — the 16-letter, six-and-a-half-syllable name of the Icelandic volcano — has perplexed people and broadcasters worldwide.
To break it down: “Eyja” is the Icelandic word for island. “Fjalla” means a type of mountain. “Jokull” is glacier.
In the International Pronounciation Alphabet, it’s spelled [ˈɛɪjaˌfjatlaˌjœːkʏtl̥].
In English, it’s more like EY-ya-fyat-lah-YOH-kuht
The best pronunciation guide we found online — slow and not cluttered with other stuff — is found on Vocaroo, the premier voice recording service.”
As The New York Times explains, The “EY” rhymes with the word “bay.” The “k” is softer than an English “k,” almost like a hard “g.” And the “t” at the end kind of sticks for a second and pulls away with a hint of a glottal “l.”
Below, on YouTube, a compilation of mispronounciations from broadcasts around the world.
