UKC

Fontainebleau isn't known for its crack climbing, but Pete Whittaker, Mari Salveson and Thomas Baxter spent a day seeking out the hardest and best cracks the forest had to offer. According to Pete, occasionally there's some 'real climbing' thrown in too - mainly on the top outs...

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Very fun and relaxing Friday night video

Fun video but why is it people have such an issue with pronouncing Fontainebleau correctly?!! It’s ’blow’ not ‘blur’!! Ça alors !

Actually if you listen to the French, they pronounce it both "blow" or "blur", depending on their accent. Both are correct.

I’ve only ever heard French people pronounce it ‘blow’ and French friends and colleagues who live in the area would quickly correct anyone who pronounced it otherwise. I’m sure there is a chance even Frenchies get it wrong, in the same way Brits get UK names wrong.

Yes, on the one occasion I visited it for a few days many years ago everyone pronounced it ‘blow’.

Hardly surprising as that's the way it's pronounced (or very close to that anyway - there's no closing of the lips to suggest a 'w' at the end.)

Also, the name derives from 'Fontaine belle-eau' (clear water source), and anyone who's ever wrestled with the subtle (to British ears) differences in French pronunciation of 'on', 'en' and 'an' will know that the French are often very particular about their vowel sounds!

Interesting. I didn’t know about the 'beautiful/clean water’ derivation. Isn’t the ‘ain’ bit pronounced as in English, e.g. mountain?

The second vowel sound in 'mountain' I'd say is a schwa, whereas the one in 'fontaine' is much more pronounced, being the same as in the English number 'ten'.

Whilst I applauded your stance on the correct pronunciation of the venue, I feel your ire is misdirected.

Rather than focussing on the minor miscreants who pronounce it "blur" or "blue", you should be castigating the utter morons who pronounce it "Font" which as ani fule no is actually a grading system not a venue.

😁

Don’t be too hard on them, they‘re only training for the Dollies

I would say the second vowel sound in mountainous is a schwa, whereas the second vowel sound in mountain is as in 'in'.