"Michel Boucher" > wrote in message
...
> "Janet" > wrote in news:6csag2F3hevlnU1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>> Now let's establish whether cumin is pronounced kooMEEN or CUEmin. <G>
>
> Koo-men, as it is from the Spanish, comino, through the French cumin.
> Nowhere in those previous conditions was the first syllable pronounced
> "kyu-".

I'm perfectly happy to adopt koo-men, but where is the emphasis, if any?
Most of those who've I've heard pronouce it that way put it on the first
syllable.

<snip>
> Or you could avoid that and pronounce it "jira" (as in jeera, not jyra)
> which is the Indian word.

Or one could call it cumin when used in Mexican-derived dishes, and jeera
when used in Indian food. <G>

> Further to this:
>
> Do you say "sil-antro" or "chil-antro"?
>
Personally, the former. I've never heard the latter pronunciation.

> Do you write "à la mode" (the proper way)

Yes.

>or "ala/alla mode" (as though
> it was Italian)?

Never seen that, either.

> Do you say Eye-rak or Eerák (with emphasis on the last syllable)? Guess
> which one is correct (hint: it's not the way you would read it).

I've always leaned in the direction of ih-RAHK and ih-RAHN, personally. I
have no idea whether it is "correct. "