Pronouncing Rooibos

I've seen "ROY Boss" a couple of places. That's what I attempt. Toci

Close. The O is a long O like the O sound in "go". The S at the end is a bit like the s in words like station or ship.

Thanks. ROY-bos should get me through.

I am guessing, though, that the "ooi" is a tripthong, similar to the dipthong "oi", but with the "o" held longer or emphasized. There could be a subtle inflection there, also.

We need to find someone native to the area where rooibos grows, to find out for sure.

- David

From a South African web site:

Rooibos (pronounced roy-borss) - A popular South African tea made in the Cape from the Cyclopia genistoides bush. Rooibos is an Afrikaans word meaning "red bush". When people speak of rooibos they are referring to rooibos tea.

I just call it Roi-bush.

JB

snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com5/5/05

Hey, I read "ROY Boss," and thought Roy Fong of Imperial Tea Court. Then I read your header.

Michael Drinking a nice Bamboo Raw Pu'erh that was hell to extract from its bamboo cane, but well worth the effort. Listening to old Steeleye Span from the 70's.

I just consulted with a native South African. It is really along the lines that I suspected, namely an extended diphthong (or tripthong) with an embedded inflection. Kind of like the Australian Aborigine name Ooota as described in the book "Mutant Message Down Under."

My friend's reply to my inquiry is below. I may press him for clarification or for an audio clip.

Hmm , this is a difficult one :)

The Rooi part is Kinda like Roo - E - bos .

Bos is sort as in Post.

Hope that makes sense ?

Cheers ,

Nick

--- David Diam> Nick,

Rub - Bish