A-legro or A-laygro?

[Vinylseats]

As a child, I always referred to an Allegro as an "A-laygro" - because that's how my dad said it. I'm guessing that's because he's a piano player and the term "allegro" means fast..... or slow or something, in Italian. So, for the musical term, to say it correctly one must pronounce the 'e' as an 'ay'.

 

Whether this is officially the the same case for the Austin Allegro, I don't really know. As I said, I always called it an "A-laygro" but nearly everyone else I know has called it an "A-legro", which is generally what I call them these days so as not to look odd.

 

So, err, what do YOU call them? Vote now!!

[Albert Ross]

All-Aggro. Relating to the reliability, panel fit, and quality materials used.

[ChinaTom]

Presumably al-agrao followed by aw roit cocker.

[scooters]

Allegro is a word that has been used in the English language for several hundred years now. It is as you say an Italian word and Italian is the language used for musical notation. Some irony here as it means 'brisk'....could have been worse and called the Austin Presto which means rather fast. It should have probably been the Austin Moderato.

 

Both pronunciations you Suggest ate correct. In Italian the stress is on the second syllable...as you dad pronounced...in English all syllables have equal emphasis.

 

Personally I preferred Fords policy of naming their cars after low rent Gentleman's Special Interest Magazines

[ashmicro]

The 998cc one was the Austin Largo, and the Rover 213 was also known as the Sotto Voce. GM used Italian terms too, with the Vauxhall Nova known as "il mucchio enorme di escremento" in Italian speaking markets.

[dollywobbler]

Having grown up in Birmingham, home of the Allegro, the former is certainly the way it's most often pronounced, complete with a sort of Brummie-esque aaoooowww at the end that sustains for slightly too long.

 

Given that the Allegro wore the badge and grille, is this a good time to get into the Vanden Plarrr Vanden Plasss argument? (latter for me, though I always thought it was Plarrr until I found out about the Flemish origins).

[Negative Creep]

I've always pronounced it Al-egg-grow

 

 

Similarly, is Porsche pronounced Pour-shh or or Pour-sha?

[scaryoldcortina]

Allegro is a word that has been used in the English language for several hundred years now. It is as you say an Italian word and Italian is the language used for musical notation. Some irony here as it means 'brisk'....could have been worse and called the Austin Presto which means rather fast. It should have probably been the Austin Andante.

 

EFA

[tonedepear]

Rover 213 was also known as the Sotto Voce

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96i5buM7vmM

[ashmicro]

Correct Boxhead pronunciation of Porsche is Por-sha.

[Father Ted]

You say "potato"

 

I say

[Vinylseats]

Given that the Allegro wore the badge and grille, is this a good time to get into the Vanden Plarrr Vanden Plasss argument? (latter for me, though I always thought it was Plarrr until I found out about the Flemish origins).

 

"Orstin A-laygro Vanden Plarrr".

[face]

Is it true that the Allegro had to be renamed or something from France, as our Gaellic chums read it as "allez-gro", or "go fat man"?

 

I heard this potential dog shit years ago.

[Father Ted]

Is it true that the Allegro had to be renamed or something from France, as our Gaellic chums read it as "allez-gro", or "go fat man"?

 

I heard this potential dog shit years ago.

 

Probably from the same person who told me Twix was a rude word in French and thats why Twix bars are Raiders in Frogland

[RedSparrow]

It's Allegro.

And Vanden Plas should be said 'vanden-plass' for the record. Not 'vanden-pla'