Pronunciation Help.

[ihpguy]

A few weeks back I heard it for the first time out of the mouth of Sec. of State Kerry.Now one of the talking heads just said is again.

When did Kiev become Keev. When I am back in the States and I go to some Eastern European goulash and schnitzel groaning board, do I now pleasantly order Chicken Keev or Keyv or Kyev, but never more Kyev?

Adam Smith, where oh where are you, when an aged and distraught Carioca puta needs you now more than ever?

[AdamSmith]

Well. Wikipedia says: Kiev (Russian: Киев) or Kyiv (Ukrainian: Київ [ˈkɪjiw] ( listen))

But it's all українська мова to me.

[lookin]

Pronunciation of Kiev

[MsGuy]

Just a guess, but I'd bet that the news organizations have been busy the past couple of months changing the place names in their style books from Russian to Ukrainian. Kharkov became Kharkiv, Donetsk morphed to Donets'k. Well, but Donetsk used to be Stalino, so plus ca change as the Froggies have it.

You say tomato, I say I'll invade your fucking ass if you change Kiev to Kyiv.

My spell check recognizes 'Kiev' as a legit proper name but rejects 'Kyiv'. Must have been a Russian mole amongst the programmers.

[Guest PasadenaCA]

I just heard the switch for the first time yesterday--everyone using it. I'll ask some Ukrainians.

[ihpguy]

Rhymes with Skeev as in "Get Your Skyvy Ass Over Here Pronto."

[Guest PasadenaCA]

The BBC had the traditional, two syllable version on this morning's news.

[ihpguy]

Those limeys can't get schedule right. How can one expect them to get Kyiv right?