I’ve Been Saying it Wrong for Decades

M. André Roubo in a 1769 portrait.

Before I gave my presentations at Colonial Williamsburg’s Working Wood in the 18th Century event, I decided to bone up on my pronunciations of the French authors I’ve been reading, translating (and apparently butchering) for the last 20 years.

Though I took two years of French, you must remember that it was in Arkansas, so the pronunciation was a bit backwoods: “Komo talley voo?”

So last week I visited a lot of pronunciation websites and listened, practiced and listened some more. I know the following guide isn’t perfect, but it might help you get a little closer. And you might just be shocked by how wrong we’ve all been saying M. André Roubo’s name…

Let’s start with André Félibien, who wrote “Principes de l’architecture, de la sculpture, de la peinture, &c.” (1676).

I’ve been pronouncing his name: An-dray Fa-LAY-bee-in. (Or: Filet Bien – good cutlet.)

In truth it should be more like: An-dray Feh-LEE-bee-un.

Then there is M. Hulot Pere, the author of the fa…