How to Pronounce gouda

CEFR level: A1

English: Gouda (cheese or the city of Gouda)

Say it like KHOW-dah

Phonetic breakdown

It begins with the Dutch guttural 'g' sound (like the 'ch' in 'loch'), followed by the 'ou' diphthong which sounds like the 'ow' in 'cow', and ends with a soft 'dah' syllable.

Common mistake

English speakers often mistakenly pronounce it as 'GOO-duh', using a hard English 'g' and an 'oo' sound instead of the Dutch guttural 'g' and 'ow' diphthong.

Usage tip

In Dutch, if you are referring to the cheese, it is more common to say 'Goudse kaas' (Gouda cheese), as 'Gouda' alone typically refers to the city.

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