None of the above. I would not know how to spell how to pronounce it, but most Americans have a very hard time saying it correctly. The CH involves a bit of a throat clearing thing if that makes sense. I seem to remember a website I saw some years ago that had a recording of how to say it.

and here it is...
http://www.hkpro.com/koch.htm

One of the most frequently asked questions to arise on the HKPRO boards is the correct pronunciation of Theodor Koch's last name. Most center around "coke" "kotch" or "kock".

In actuality, there are two ways to correctly pronounce Koch. Let's call them the American version and the German version. In German, the letters "ch" do not sound like they do in English. "Church" is not a ch combination that the Germans ever pronounce. It is more of a chhhh that somewhat sounds like phlegm being summoned from the rear of the throat.

As for the English pronunciation, the correct way is "coke." Former New York mayor Ed Koch ("Kotch") may have muddied things up, but if you get confused, you can always say, "HK."

If U call the customer service line and hear their phone automated message - it is coke

Not exact, but most proper for 'mericans would be "Coke".

A friend of mine who is half German asked his mother and she said "coke" as well. I always say Kotch and probably will continue to.

I agree with coke no matter what the internet says. When I lived in Wichita, I lived close to Koch Industries....it's 'coke'.

Just say H & K and be done with it.

Koch

I'll have another Please

Thanks!

Redhound80

Not to start a pissing contest here but I grew up speaking German, and in German Koch is NOT pronounced "Coke." "Coke" is the American version.

Achmed, the dead terrorist, says that his name is spelled, "A-C-Phlegm-..."
That's how Koch is pronounced, too: "Koc(phlegm)."

(I, too, grew up in a German-speaking household...and Yiddish-speaking, too, when my Grandma wasn't around to complain about it.)

Achmed is my hero!!!!!

Steve, that is the best way to explain it I have seen so far. Danke schön.

Bitte sehr!

I should've added that the "Coke" pronunciation is correct in one aspect, anyway: the pronunciation of the "o" in Koch.

Originally Posted by Redhound80

How do you properly pronounce the Koch in the HK name?

Is it as in kook,

or as in koe,

or as in kock,

or as in kotch?

Please help, thanks!

it is "COKE" as stated in the manual

Originally Posted by bophi

it is "COKE" as stated in the manual

Um, no, it's not. The manual is written for native English speakers, but the name Koch is German.
Ptarmigan and I, both German speakers, have just tried to explain how Koch is to be pronounced (see our last three posts in this thread).
The only "Coke" about it is the way that the "o" is spoken (long, as in Coke).
The "ch" part is voiced as if you were clearing your throat, or, as Achmed the Dead Terrorist says, "K-O-C-Phlegm."

Originally Posted by unpecador

Koch

Short and to the point - as well as correct.

Originally Posted by Redhound80

How do you properly pronounce the Koch in the HK name?

Is it as in kook,

or as in koe,

or as in kock,

or as in kotch?

Please help, thanks!

it is COKE

As a retailer, I've been told by representatives to use "coke" as well. You should try CZ's Ceska Zbrojovka on for size! (Chess-ka Seb-broy-yavka, as I understood it).

Originally Posted by bophi

it is COKE

...Only if you want a carbonated drink.

"Coke" but with some fizzzz at the end. Nice pneumatic device there..

"Cochhhhhhhhh"

Originally Posted by bophi

it is "COKE" as stated in the manual

Originally Posted by bophi

it is COKE

I was undecided, but now I'm going to have to go with COKE. Even though two people who grew up speaking German have presented their expertise, I simply can't go against arguments as persuasive and well explained as these.

Actually, I'm with Spartan. H & K works for me.

Originally Posted by Todd

I was undecided, but now I'm going to have to go with COKE. Even though two people who grew up speaking German have presented their expertise, I simply can't go against arguments as persuasive and well explained as these.

Actually, I'm with Spartan. H & K works for me.

Yeah it's a simple thing.. It's just in pronunciation of the "ch".. English gives it a "K" sound, and Deutch gives it a "chhhhh" sound. Working for a german company, I hear the differences everyday.

It's funny when one or two folks say something in grammatically correct English but the accent is so thick I think "WTF did you just say!!!!!" But I don't dare think that out loud because they run the show here. I just say "You bet!" with enthusiasm and go about my business as just another ignorant local plebe here.