More specifically, let’s talk the volcano eruption in Iceland. I assume you’ve all heard of it, it’s caused mayhem for airlines and people waiting to go anywhere, though they did start up air travel again. In fact, due to the volcano, Jim Groom won’t even be able to complete his much-anticipated plans to take an epic journey to Svalbard, Norway and fight polar bears!
What some of you may not know is the name of the volcano (or rather glacier above the volcano, in this case). I want you all to stop reading this post, find a piece of paper, and try to write down (with correct spelling!) the name. … Alright, are you done? Good. Look back up at your screen now. If you wrote “Eyjafjallajökull,” you’re correct! Yeah, it’s a mouth-full. But now we come to the bigger problem: how do you pronounce it? Look at it and try it. Eyjafjallajökull. In fact, it would be great if you all could try it, record it, and leave a link in the comments so I can laugh at you! 
And yes, thanks to YouTube I know how to spell and pronounce it! It only took my and my roommate 30 minutes the other night!
Most newscasters don’t even attempt pronouncing it, simply calling it “that volcano,” “the volcano in iceland,” or something of the sort. But when they do try, it’s pretty funny! Interestingly, even the Wikipedia pronunciation at the beginning of this first video is party wrong.
Or you could just watch these two ladies fail.
It’s an Icelandic word that literally means “island (eyja) mountain (fjall) glacier (jökull)”. You language-buffs may like to know that fjall is where the English word fell comes from, as in a mountain or hill. Yeah, leave it to them Vikings to make things unnecessarily hard. And just cause they can. The closest way to pronounce it I can think of using random English words is to say “heya fee-yacht-lie you-gut-th” (and say fee-yacht quickly). There’s a good example here. Or you could listen to this awesome Icelandic musician explain it live on tv!
If you were wondering: yes, that song will get stuck in your head. Enjoy! and I hope you’ve learned a little something about Iceland, your lack of language-skills, and the world at large!
Happy Trails and Namaste,
Sam.
