How do you say "Jiko?"

[brettb]

I just made a reservation and the cast member kept saying "J.eye.ko" and at the end he said, "I hope I'm saying that right."

I said, "I think it may be "Jeeko." Which is how I've been pronouncing it all along. But then I thought he may be right--even if he wasn't sure at all. After all, the "i" is before a single consonant that's followed by a vowel, so maybe it really should be a long "i" sound.

It wouldn't be the first time that I've seen a word in print and formed my own incorrect assumption about its pronunciation and been shocked when I've heard somebody else say it. And of course my initial reaction is to think they don't know how to pronounce it.... so I head to the dictionary and find out I've been wrong for years.....

Brett

 

[brettb]

I should have spent the two minutes googling before I posted.

From http://www.yale.edu/swahili/sound/pronunce.htm
the "i" in Swahli is pronounced like the vowel sound in the English word "be."

So it is "jeeko."

I'm a mpuzi, I guess.

Brett

 

[2ofUs]

We stayed at AKL in 2003 and ate at Jiko. To the best of my recollection it was pronounced "gee-ko" just as you thought. To clarify, call the AKL and ask a cast member there - I am sure they know?!?!

Whatever the case, the restaurant is very nice. The bar/lounge outside (Victoria Falls?) is a beautiful place to have a drink before/after dinner as well. Enjoy!

 

[erikthewise]

Just about every language other than English pronounces the letter "i" as "ee". I don't know why English is different in this way.

 

[Mickey_loves_Minnie]

I call it "Jeeko", but I haven't eaten there yet.

 

[Tim4WDW]

Jiko is pronounced "geeko". Either way you want to pronounce it, it still says "great food".

 

[vasoccermom]

Just got back less than an hour ago and had a great meal at Jiko (definitely pronounced Jeeeeeko). I'll post my dining reviews in the coming days. By the way, Jiko means "the cooking place" and they have a bar area around a wood burning oven where they cook a lot of the flat breads etc...very cool place to sit!
Stay tuned for the reivews!

Karen

 

[TDC Nala]

and it's not "Jiko's"

 

[Peter Pirate]

I pronounce it GREAT food!

 

[brettb]

Well, we already knew the food was outstanding.

See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=676295 about how we decided eat there again for this trip.

I only started this thread because the reservation agent I spoke to had never learned Swahili.

I hope it's as good this time!

Bett