How do you pronounce bokeh?

yoyostock

I've seen it written and referred to, but have no idea how to pronounce it. Is it like "boke" (like "broke," without the r) or like "bouquet" or "boca" (as in Boca Raton) or something else? Help!

gus

I assume its said differently depending on what part of the worlk your from but i pronounce it 'book-uh'

mwgrice

See this article by Mike Johnston of the Online Photographer for a discussion of the pronunciation of bokeh (and bokeh in general).

BeachBill

See this.

wxwax

Just like "iceberg", with a silent i,c,e,b,e,r and g.

jsedlak

I always pronounced it bo-keh like in the article. bo as in boat.

Shima

I usually say bo keh... but it's sooo easy for me to slip into the Japanese pronounciation of bo-ke (bough-kay) because I'm conversationally fluent in Japanese so whenever I don't know how to say a word I'm apt to pronounce it Japanese style.

ed_h

I asked an expat friend of mine who has lived in Japan for the last 20 years or so. (Rob's a lawyer dealing in international trade)
his reply

Hi Ed,

I can't remember whether I sent you new years greetings so happy new year in case I didn't. May 2007 bring you continued health and happiness.

The word has quite a few meanings actually. It comes from the verb 'bo-ke-ru' which can mean to lose colour, fade and also to be dull or even feel dull. You can actually even call someone a 'boke' which is quite rude and means they are an idiot for doing something negligently. Out of focus is also correct for photography as you say and also blurred as in vision.

I know you didn't want a lesson in Japanese, just wanted to know how to say it but there you have it.

Bo is like Bo in 'Bob' and Ke is like Ke in 'kennel'.

Hope all is well.
Best regards

Rob

pug8

ed_h wrote:

Bo is like Bo in 'Bob' and Ke is like Ke in 'kennel'.

Yep, that's a good way of teaching it.

Tommyboy

jsedlak wrote:

I always pronounced it bo-keh like in the article. bo as in boat.

And keh as in Ken, apparently. It is Japanese, after all.

Stustaff

Tommyboy wrote:

And keh as in Ken, apparently. It is Japanese, after all.

I always pronounced it Bock (as in Dock) and eh (as in er)

For what its worth in this part of England! (Derbyshire) calling someone a Bokker means they are a chav or a scrubber.

DoctorIt

Stustaff wrote:

calling someone a Bokker means they are a chav or a scrubber.

oh yeah, that helps!

Stustaff

DoctorIt wrote:

oh yeah, that helps!

erm ok someone who has not much money and dresses poorly!

Like wearing horrible tracksuits and is common sounding usually.

Other words we use are Nubber or tramp!

here is the dictionary definition

Main Entry: chavPart of Speech: nDefinition: the lower class; uneducated and ignorant peopleExample: Etymology: perh. Romany chav childUsage: derogatory slang