This might seem a little frivolous for consumer advice but many people do care about pronouncing a name correctly and worry about appearing foolish if they get it wrong. Especially if going into a shop and asking for the brand by name.
For years I always pronounced it, “mealy” and so did everyone else I had heard say it.
I sent an email to Miele. The reply advised it is pronounced, “meal-a”. Unfortunately the quality of this information didn’t live up to the high standards I expect from Miele because the letter “a” can of course be pronounced as it is in, “apple”, or as in, “ape”.
For a while I adopted, “Mealay” which is undoubtedly posher, but eventually I discovered that the correct way to pronounce Miele -at least by Miele themselves in the UK is – “meal-a” as in apple.
Richmal says
thank goodness for that! now I can go buy A Meal-a (as in apple) AKA Miele Cat & Dog Vacuum without having panic attack,
thanks for that!
Washerhelp says
Even some of the sales people don’t know how to pronounce it :-)
Tim says
At work, I sell spare parts for theese appliances in a call centre, miele is pronounced “me-lay” it’s funny what people ask for onoccasion over the phone such as “me-elle” and “me-lee” ah well. It’s all fun!
Miele Vacuum says
I bought the Miele Vacuum about four years ago and still think it was the best purchase decision I’ve ever made.And till date I am not sure how to pronounce it :)
Error Codes says
I service Miele appliances here in the US. I purchased a used Miele washer, and it’s proven to be a work horse. It’s funny to hear it pronounced wrong.
IGotIt says
Hi, live in Germany (I am not german) and I just found this article today. So the answer is:
1) First, break the word in two: “Mie” “le”
2) Pronounce “Mie” just saying a long “me”. In german e+i= a long english “e”
3) Complete saying “le” this way “leh” (NOT “lay”).
4) Miele = mee-leh (putting more emphasis on “mee”)
Washerhelp says
Thanks IGotIT. From what I’ve gathered it’s pronounced differently even by Miele themselves depending on which country they are in :)
IGotIt says
Sure, It will be pronounced differently in several countries because (or perhaps) they don´t have germans working there ;-)
But in Germany, where the brand comes from, will be pronounced the way I explained.
Something similar happens here with words like “Apple” and “Pall Mall” they (germans) insist to pronounce them “eppel” and “pel mel” ;-)
#1WASHEr says
Just saw this today and thanks IgotIT, i got it.
Its actually really simple and funny also. Its pronounced pretty much like – A WASHER without the -r. Wash-uh.
1. Long German “Mie” as in i+e = long “ee”
2. French “le” as in french for “the”.
And taking the pun – I fery much like Zie Cherman washuh fon Meee-luh.