The Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher has managed to be as controversial in her passing as during her time as prime minister. Her death also reminded me of a very common language mistake the Dutch make when they speak English, that being the pronunciation of the word iron. It's not a word that you need to use very often in a second language but with the media full of "The Iron Lady" it is a word that is being flung around on every TV news channel in the Netherlands.

The Dutch say "I - RON". In English it is pronounced "IYUN". Obviously I can see why non-natives wouldn't say it right. How we English say it has no actual relation to how it is spelt. But that is the way it is.

For years I have battled with my Dutch husband to get him to say iron the right way. It's been tough. And now everywhere I turn I hear "I - RON". The pinnacle was when I heard Sacha de Boer say "iron lady" in a way only the Dutch can.

So, it's not logical, or phonetic. But it is how it's said. I can only imagine there is a herd of English teachers in Dutch schools spreading this mispronunciation on a nationwide basis, from generation to generation. It's our job, as English native speakers, to give the word iron its dignity back. "IYUN". Shout it out - IYUN.

I know there are lots of words that don't make sense in the English language. I also know my pronunciation of some Dutch words leaves a lot to be desired but the thing about the word iron is that it is said wrong on a nationwide scale. How can that be? Where does this pronunciation come from in the Netherlands? I have one thing left to say - "IYUN".

Right, I'm off to start battling with Sacha de Boer.....

Are there other words that are misspoken on a national basis? Are there notorious words in other languages that are mispronounced by other nations?