How to pronounce bechamel the English way?
I had an argument with my friend the other day about the pronunciation of bechamel.
Everyone I know is pronouncing it like besha-mel. I've looked it up though and found out that the correct pronunciation is bay-shah-mel (according to Cambridge), which reports that the word derives from French. However, I've been told that if pronounced the English way it would sound like the former beh-shah-mel with the 'sh' sound, which I do not agree with since I'd pronounce bech- with a 'k' sound.
As far as I'm concerned there's no rule regarding this; it's one of those things you have to learn and memorise (see this thread), but I'd like to know if the English (incorrect) pronunciation of bechamel would sound like beh-cah-mel with the 'k' sound or the previously mentioned 'sh' sound.
Solution 1:
According to Wikipedia it is pronounced with the sh sound in both English and French. So I don’t know where you get your k pronunciation from. I have never heard anyone (English or French) say that.
Solution 2:
I actually sometimes pronounce it becka-mel, too, despite having studied French. However, my American Webster's dictionary pronounces it bɛʃ'-ə-mɛl. The ch is coded the same as in machine, and the e is shown with the short e vowel sound (as in best). Also, in my dictionary the stress is on the first syllable. It comes across as: besh'-a-mel.