Okay, someone help me out here, how do you pronounce "Niger?"

[Geoff R. Casavant]

In the last 3 days I've heard three pronunciations:

1. NYE-jer (this is the one I've always known);
2. nee-ZHARE (Robert Siegel on NPR); and
3. nye-JARE (clip of Tim Russert on DS).

Anyone know the true pronunciation?

[MN ChimpH8R]

1. BBC uses #2 nt

[wallwriter]

2. 1) is American 2) is British/almost French

3) is Russert's head in his ass.

[Lecky]

11. lol that was funny

[supernova]

3. It's #2, it used to be a French colony

so it's the French pronounciation.

[Moochy]

4. Its the french

You can pronounce it with french vowels or english ones. Therein lies the variation.

[Alien8ed]

5. NYE-GER

Exactly as it appears.

Unless, of course, you're not only French, but French with a "The Empire Will Rise Again!" thing going.... in which case, the Beeb's "Neejhair" is highly affected, but applicable.

[Moochy]

8. Vive La France

The empire will rise again!!

[Bridget Burke]

12. NYE-GER is not an option.

NYE-JER is the Anglicized pronunciation.

My Scandinavian-American Anthropology professor did her fieldwork there & used the correct pronunciation--#2.

France-bashing is a bit out of date, doncha think?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. Joseph Wilson...

(who ought to know) pronounces it #2. I believe it is the French pronunciation.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

7. Thanks all!

I figured #2 was correct, and #1 was an Americanization. Should have assumed #3 was just out of left field.

[bunny planet]

9. nee jere (rhymes with there, soft g sound or french pronunciation of j)

That's the way Joe Wilson pronounces it, and he, of course, would know.

[lizzieforkerry]

13. Are you pronouncing the nee as in knee or nay

Just want to be 100% sure I've got it right.

[bunny planet]

15. knee

[Bridget Burke]

10. #2 is correct.

My Anthropology professor did her fieldwork there & used that pronunciation.

[WinkyDink]

14. My preference

Is "im-PEACH'-ment".