Summit Notebook
Exclusive outtakes from industry leaders
U.N. climate deal in Copenhagen, or København?
A new U.N. deal to step up the fight against climate change is to be agreed this December in the Danish capital ‘Copenhagen’, or should that be ‘København’?
British and American English speakers often differ about whether to pronounce it “Copen’hay’gen” or “Copen’haa’gen”. And interviews for the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy summit this week are bringing varieties in between.
But what do Danes reckon? I called up an expert:
“We’d normally say “Copen’hay’gen in English,” said Ida Ebbensgaard,” spokeswoman for Danish Environment Minister Connie Hedegaard who will host the Dec. 7-18 meeting.
Or maybe delegates from the 190 nations can try saying the word in Danish — “København” (…pronounced something like “Sjobenhaavn”).
