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Pry-us -vs- Pree-us

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by 1x1, May 16, 2007.

  1. 1x1

    1x1 Member

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    I've noticed that in the UK they pronounce Prius Pryus, whereas Stateside we say Preeus. Supposedly prius is a latin word. Anyone know the latin pronounciation?

    I think the Brits might be right? There's an I but no E in Prius.
     
    #1 1x1, May 16, 2007
  2. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(1x1 @ May 16 2007, 12:22 PM) [snapback]443411[/snapback]</div>

    Prius supposedly means "first" in Latin.
     
    #2 priusFTW, May 16, 2007
  3. rachmaninoff

    rachmaninoff New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(1x1 @ May 16 2007, 12:22 PM) [snapback]443411[/snapback]</div>

    I took a few years of latin in school and as far as i can remember Prius in latin means before or, how i always remembered is "Prior". it would be pronounced pryus. I guess this could mean "first" in some context.
     
    #3 rachmaninoff, May 16, 2007
  4. priussoris

    priussoris New Member

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    I know when we first started looking at them in 02 we were corrected on the pronuciation of pryus thats how I called it then informed by salespeople it we preeus.
    I like prius as pryus.
    but who cares, its a great car no matter how you slice it!
     
    #4 priussoris, May 16, 2007
  5. Jack Kelly

    Jack Kelly New Member

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    po-tay-toh, po-tah-toh, to-may-toh, to-mah-toh...

    who're ya gonna ask what's "right", the Japanese, whose word, after all, it is (but who don't say it either way)? :huh:

    Or, you could follow the pronounciation employed by Toyota's TV advertising agency (pree-us), and assume that's "official"...
     
    #5 Jack Kelly, May 16, 2007
  6. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(1x1 @ May 16 2007, 09:22 AM) [snapback]443411[/snapback]</div>
    Well, I don't know, but we do say "raydeeus" when talking about a circle.

    Dave M.
     
    #6 dmckinstry, May 16, 2007
  7. daveleeprius

    daveleeprius Heh heh heh you think so?

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    Japanese pronounciation would be "pree-us" as their 'i' sounds like an 'e'.

    The Brits do things their own way and could care less what the rest of the world thinks. I first heard Prius pronounced like Pry-us when I saw the Top Gear segment on You Tube a bit ago, the one where they destroyed a Prius because it was such a horrible car compared to a modern diesel.

    Dave
     
    #7 daveleeprius, May 16, 2007
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